257 Roberts range report

[SheepDog]

I found places for 6mm, large calibers from 6.5 and up and this one for small stuff. If it is posted in the wrong area please feel free to move it.

I went to the range today but what made it special was my son and daughter-in-law came with me. I am going to make up names for them so if I forget you will know why:
Tom and his wife Shirley had picked up a new gun for Shirley to use hunting. It was a Remington semi-auto 3006. Now Shirley is almost as tall as my son, at just under 6' (he is 6' 4") and although she is slender she is no wimp. I was still doubtful about the 06 so I brought a 6mm x 30-30 and my 257 Roberts for her to try. After I sighted my 257 in with the new scope she had already decided the 30-06 was Tom's. After firing the 6mm x 30-30 she was in love! She fired the 257 a couple of times but decided in the end that she liked the 6mm. One of the nice things that came out of this was that my 257 actually showed some promise for accuracy. The loads we were using were just "junk" ammo I through together with some 100 grain HP Speer bullets and a charge of 45 grains of H414. The only ammo I had fired before this was factory Nosler 115 grain loads. They produced groups/ no patterns of 2.5 to 3 inches at 50 yards. My junk ammo produced groups of 1 to 1.25 inches at 100 yards. Now I feel better about working up some loads for this gun so I can use it for hunting. OH, since My son doesn't hunt I will have a new partner - and she's a lot better looking than my son!

 

[Tommie]

Just gotta love the .257 Roberts

 

[H380]

100gr Nos BTs and 100gr MKs and H380 shoot best in my 3 groove Lija. One problem with the 257 is magazine length vs factory throat length. You can't get "good" heavy bullets out far enough to get close to the rifling and fit in most 308 length mags. Custom barrel and throating fixes that and makes the 257 even better. Better yet make sure action has a 3"+ mag.

 

[shoot4fun]

I had been giving the 257 Roberts some thought for quite some time but never seriously considered using it for deer hunting. It was due to one of the most beautiful Ruger No.1 rifles I'd ever seen in the caliber belonging to a good friend and hunting buddy. I lusted for it for years but, unlike most every other gun he owned, it was never for sale. He passed away a while back and I just couldn't even think of trying to get it now. Then I saw that Kimber had come out with the light-weight 84M Hunter in 257 Roberts and it was right down my alley. Not a beauty for the eyes to behold but just my kind of hunting rifle (light, short and fast handling). I'm looking forward to getting in the woods next season for some "Bob Time".

 

[JRS]

The 257 Roberts is a killer, and has been for more than 80 years

 

[JLT]

Try the Speer 100 gr. soft points in that Roberts. If it likes them, you're all set for deer. I've used that bullet in game loads for as long as I can remember and it has performed about as well as one can expect for a game bullet.

 

[centershot]

I have a Remington Classic in that caliber. Long action, long magazine. I love it!

 

[gary0529]

The 257 Roberts is a killer, and has been for more than 80 years

I won a 257 roberts 3 years ago- now understand I have, like many/most here, an over-abundance of rifles to hunt with but the "Bob" has been the only rifle I grab when I head out to the back 40 to put a deer or three in the freezer.
don't know why it fell out of favor but it is light, accurate and deadly-always a one shot affair on whitetails.
My problem is how I have to justify the others in the safes- thankfully my long suffering wife has too many horses and I do believe she keeps her thoughts about too many guns is tempered by what the horses cost to keep.

If you are looking for a deer gun for a youngster or someone recoil sensitive don't look past the Bob.

 

[Brians356]

My cousin's wife surprised him recently with a custom-built walnut-stocked 257 Roberts she had built for his birthday. She's a real keeper, and the wife obviously is, too.
-

 

[JRS]

I won a 257 roberts 3 years ago- now understand I have, like many/most here, an over-abundance of rifles to hunt with but the "Bob" has been the only rifle I grab when I head out to the back 40 to put a deer or three in the freezer.
don't know why it fell out of favor but it is light, accurate and deadly-always a one shot affair on whitetails.
My problem is how I have to justify the others in the safes- thankfully my long suffering wife has too many horses and I do believe she keeps her thoughts about too many guns is tempered by what the horses cost to keep.

If you are looking for a deer gun for a youngster or someone recoil sensitive don't look past the Bob.

It fell out of favor due to the marketing media, bullet makers and gun manufactures pushing the metric calibers. As the good R.G. Robinett has stated…. "The .257 can and does, out shine the calibers on either side"

 

[Boyd L.]

I have a Remington Classic in that caliber. Long action, long magazine. I love it!

+1....since a deal in 1983 brought me a first year production rifle.

 

[Brians356]

It fell out of favor due to the marketing media, bullet makers and gun manufactures pushing the metric calibers. As the good R.G. Robinett has stated…. "The .257 can and does, out shine the calibers on either side"

There have been a few dissenting voices along the way, like Dan Hackett, who loved the forlorn little 250 Savage, and his own 250 Hunter. And Bob Jourdan comes to mind, who mailed me his notes on his 250 Ackley Improved load development.

Want a head scratcher? Dig out your old Hodgdon Data Manual No. 26 (1992) and marvel at this, from the description of the 25-284:

"It is likely more custom rifles have been built in .25-284 than factory or custom rifles in .284 Winchester. ... Of the several wildcats spawned by the .284 Winchester, all except the 6mm, .25, and. 338 version have quietly faded away. ... Anything the 6mm[-284] can do to a Whitetail, Mule Deer or Pronghorn, the .25 [-284] can do better with a 120 grain bullet."
-
Read it twice, but you still won't find that "6.5-284" you missed.
-

 

[JEFFPPC]

I found places for 6mm, large calibers from 6.5 and up and this one for small stuff. If it is posted in the wrong area please feel free to move it.

I went to the range today but what made it special was my son and daughter-in-law came with me. I am going to make up names for them so if I forget you will know why:
Tom and his wife Shirley had picked up a new gun for Shirley to use hunting. It was a Remington semi-auto 3006. Now Shirley is almost as tall as my son, at just under 6' (he is 6' 4") and although she is slender she is no wimp. I was still doubtful about the 06 so I brought a 6mm x 30-30 and my 257 Roberts for her to try. After I sighted my 257 in with the new scope she had already decided the 30-06 was Tom's. After firing the 6mm x 30-30 she was in love! She fired the 257 a couple of times but decided in the end that she liked the 6mm. One of the nice things that came out of this was that my 257 actually showed some promise for accuracy. The loads we were using were just "junk" ammo I through together with some 100 grain HP Speer bullets and a charge of 45 grains of H414. The only ammo I had fired before this was factory Nosler 115 grain loads. They produced groups/ no patterns of 2.5 to 3 inches at 50 yards. My junk ammo produced groups of 1 to 1.25 inches at 100 yards. Now I feel better about working up some loads for this gun so I can use it for hunting. OH, since My son doesn't hunt I will have a new partner - and she's a lot better looking than my son!

I hunt whitetails with a Ruger#1 International. 34 grains 4064 and 117 Sierra Pro Hunters. Easy recoil and largest group I have shot is under an inch. It's 3 for 3 the last 3 yrs on Pa bucks.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

I let a family member talk me out of my '98 custom 257 Roberts several years ago to help fund a trip to RSA. Its' replacement is coming along nicely, ready to send to the stocker.
Brazilian 1908, DSTs, octagon barrel, and a blank of spurled walnut that will know your socks off.
This one isn't going anywhere.

 

[K22]

One of the best rifle cartridges ever designed and unforturnately lost popularity when the 243 was introduced. I had a chance to buy my uncle's when he stop deer hunting. I didn't buy it and I have regretted it ever since.

 

[SheepDog]

well, it was introduced using round nose bullets loaded at very "conservative" pressures even though it had more capacity than the 243 round. The 6mm Remington had similar problems compounded with a slow twist. Under those conditions it was a poor choice. Now that SAAMI has provided a +P load that is more in line with the strengths of modern bolt rifles and there are a few more spitzer bullets available it is a proven winner against the 243 and 6mm Remington and whatever they are calling it today.
I thought about getting a 25-06 for a while but it is just so far over bore that I lost interest. The 257 Roberts is a keeper.

 

[Brians356]

+1....since a deal in 1983 brought me a first year production rifle.

well, it was introduced using round nose bullets loaded at very "conservative" pressures even though it had more capacity than the 243 round. The 6mm Remington had similar problems compounded with a slow twist. Under those conditions it was a poor choice. Now that SAAMI has provided a +P load that is more in line with the strengths of modern bolt rifles and there are a few more spitzer bullets available it is a proven winner against the 243 and 6mm Remington and whatever they are calling it today.
I thought about getting a 25-06 for a while but it is just so far over bore that I lost interest. The 257 Roberts is a keeper.

Consider Hodgdon's data, both from 24" barrel, for 6mm Rem and 257 Roberts. The three highest velocities listed for 100-gr bullet are:

6mm Rem: 3140, 3142, 3137
257 Robts: 3205, 3134, 3108

These are statistically indistinguishable. However, the 257 Roberts pressures are limited to 47,800 CUP, while the 6mm Rem reaches 62,600 PSI. While the pressure units do not correlate directly **, we know the 6mm Rem is considerably overbore, so the 257 Rob must be significantly less overbore, and the case shapes and capacities are essentially the same. So the Roberts loaded to equal pressures will be more efficient and produce more velocity for a given bullet weight. And it can more easily handle 120-gr bullets, in fact it thrives on them. For a combination varmint / medium game rifle, the Roberts has the edge. (And my 250 Ackley Improved 40-deg beats them both. ;- 0 )

(** The Richard Lee load book 2nd edition, which compiles data from all the other mainstream publishers, lists these exact same Hodgdon velocities for Roberts 100-gr bullet at 52,600 PSI maximum, which if correct settles the issue, since the Roberts produces equal velocity at 10k PSI lower pressure. )
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[Boyd L.]

Consider Hodgdon's data, both from 24" barrel, for 6mm Rem and 257 Roberts. The three highest velocities listed for 100-gr bullet are:

6mm Rem: 3140, 3142, 3137
257 Robts: 3205, 3134, 3108

These are statistically indistinguishable. However, the 257 Roberts pressures are limited to 47,800 CUP, while the 6mm Rem reaches 62,600 PSI. While the pressure units do not correlate directly **, we know the 6mm Rem is considerably overbore, so the 257 Rob must be significantly less overbore, and the case shapes and capacities are essentially the same. So the Roberts loaded to equal pressures will be more efficient and produce more velocity for a given bullet weight. And it can more easily handle 120-gr bullets, in fact it thrives on them. For a combination varmint / medium game rifle, the Roberts has the edge. (And my 250 Ackley Improved 40-deg beats them both. ;- 0 )

(** The Richard Lee load book 2nd edition, which compiles data from all the other mainstream publishers, lists these exact same Hodgdon velocities for Roberts 100-gr bullet at 52,600 PSI maximum, which if correct settles the issue, since the Roberts produces equal velocity at 10k PSI lower pressure. )
-

If one could get a 120-135 grain bullet with a respectable BC, in a 8.5-9 twist Roberts for 500 m Rams and 115 grain Bergers for everything else, might be magic in HP silhouette.

 

[JRS]

If one could get a 120-135 grain bullet with a respectable BC, in a 8.5-9 twist Roberts for 500 m Rams and 115 grain Bergers for everything else, might be magic in HP silhouette.

You'll have to find someone to produce the correct length jackets for a 125-135 GR. bullet

130 GR. G1 would be about .6 in a 8.5 twist barrel.
135 GR. G1 roughly .63 in a 8 twist barrel.

Pretty respectable BC, eh

 

[RGRobinett]

You may do your Roberts a favor by trying RL-17 &/or Hodgdon Superformance - velocity, via the latter may well scare you to death! I have not been without a .257 Ack. Imp. (Roberts) since 1976, and have messed with many 25 Cal. cartridges - for hunting, the .257 Ack. Imp. remains my favorite.

Since its introduction, RL-17 has been my, "go to", .257 Ack. Imp. powder: 110 Gr. BT at 3330 FPS average, via both the 'ol Oehler & MagnetoSpeed chronographs - impressive, mild, and sub 1/2 MOA 5-shot groups via PacNor #3 contour, 24" BBLs. This velocity, for 110 Gr. bullet weight, is fully 220 FPS faster than any other [available] powder I have tried.

However, for the last outing, I decided to crack the seal on some SuperFormance, which had been sitting in the cabinet since its inception, in order to compare to my "pet" load. I was stunned to easily achieve MagnetoSpeed recordings of MV in excess of 3500 FPS! With no pressure signs! Via a decent bolt-action .257 Roberts, these should both provide a little more of a good thing! The BAD news: for these cartridge/powders, there is no published DATA. RG