long40shot
Gold $$ Contributor
I'm kicking the tires on getting a Roberts. Anyone ever had one. Pros/Cons?
Thanks
Matt
Thanks
Matt
Anybody like the 257 Roberts?
- Thread starter long40shot
- Start date
Back in the day it was a kick in the butt gun
I don't think it shouldn't still be . Larry
If I could only have two rifles for hunting in NA, the Roberts would be one. It is great, if you are a competent shooter and reloader, for anything up to Moose.
The other one would be my 338 LM.
I have not not owned one since I got out of the Army at Christmas of 1971.
The other one would be my 338 LM.
I have not not owned one since I got out of the Army at Christmas of 1971.
I think you might negotiate a pretty good deal on a gun with cartridge that many have never heard of. The .257 R is still an outstanding performer even if 70 + years old. The 257R can do double duty as big game or as varmint rig with lighter bullets. There-in lies it's appeal. Though the number of various weight bullets for .25 cals has been dwindling for several years there are still many available to suit your needs. .... Just about everywhere I go with mine it becomes a subject of conversation. A word of advise: if you're planning on reloading use +P brass. It's a little thicker than standard & will give you more reloads before failing. Remington now produces only one run of this brass per year. Jump on it when you find some...... Good luck with your decision!!
I have a Ruger 77 TS that I AI'd years ago. I got lucky, it's always been a shooter. Accuracy with 87 and 100 gr bullets is sub moa, (sometimes a lot). I use Hornady 100 gr IL's and no deer has survived one of them. I run them at 3130 mv, it's most accurate load. I just worked up a load with 87 gr Speers at 3240 for coyotes. I'm taking this rifle to Wyoming for mule deer next month and I want to use it coyote hunting before I go. I have tried various heavier bullets 115-120's and though they are o.k., not as consistent as 100's. If I were to build one or rebarrel this rifle I would definitely go with a 1 in 9 twist. Go for it, the standard 257 Roberts is great. Barlow
Go 6.5x55 and get better (Lapua) brass, better bullet section, and still get all the up-side of a mid-powered medium-bore long-action cartridge.
Preacher
Gold $$ Contributor
BUT it's not a quarter bore !!!!!!!!!
You don't need "many" when you can buy the best hand swaged 1/4 bore bullets on the planet
Preacher
Gold $$ Contributor
You don't need "many" when you can buy the best hand swaged 1/4 bore bullets on the planet
What he said !!!!
Between Randys excellant quarter bore bullets, and the Berger 115 VLD you just don't need any others..
If you do, the Nosler Ballistic tips from 85 to the 115's fill in the void...
Well said. To bad Berger discontinued their 87 gr. Match. Sub 1/2 MOA in my rig and devastating on small critters, as well as deer. Don't tell anyone I have a secret stash of those beauties.
boltman13
Gold $$ Contributor
I had a custom one built on a 98 Mauser action, with some engraving and engraved Redfield Jr rings. A really beautiful rifle. It was about a 1.25 MOA rifle with Nosler 110 gr Acubonds and killed like the Hammer of Thor on deer and antelope. Once I shot a cow elk at about 75 yards with a Nosler 115 Partition and she only went about 100 yds and was dead when I got to her, but it really isn't a reliable elk rifle. Based on the 7X57 case it can be a tight fit on a short action and heavier bullets. Brass can be found but may require online purchase as it is not a high volume seller. There are good factory hunting loads if you don't hand load. Again not for sale everywhere. When I decided to thin the heard I got rid of it and a 7X57 and got a Ruger American Rifle in 6.5 Creedmoor. Still if you want one it will do the job and has more oomph than a 243 Win. on deer size game. Best of luck.
In 1956 I had switch barrels all based on the 257 case. I had 6MM X 257, 257 Roberts and 6.5X 257. They were all HVY Varmint taper from the same barrel maker, same twist chambered by the same smith for a single shot Mauser action. They were fed various weights of custom made bullets.
Bottom line all three shot very small groups. But of the three, 6.5 shot just a little tighter, but I'd hate to have to live on the difference. Followed by the 6MM and the 257. These tests, though not scientific, pointed me in the direction of which caliber bullet do I want to end up making. But I don't think I would have made a mistake with either of the other two. There were no 6.5 match quality jackets available then, I had to use 25 caliber jackets to make 6.5's. Talk about "necessity being the mother of invention". I was surprised the bullets even grouped, but I did bring the 25 cal core seated jackets up to .2638" and the point up die brought them to .2641"
I'm dating myself, but the bullet making dies were made by my friend Fred Huntington of RCBS which stood for "Rock Chuck Bullet Swage".
Damfino
Gold $$ Contributor
Sentimental favorite. A dear friend of mine, who has since left the range, effectively used it in a variety of applications. He always said, "it was easily underestimated and more than adequate." Just seeing .257 Roberts reminds me of my friend. Thanks and good luck with your choice.
My first custom build was a.257 Robert's using a Douglas bull barrel, 700 Rem action. I necked down 7x57 Mauser Norma brass as it is the parent for the Bob. Bullet selection was limited but this gun shot 100 gr sierra's using H4350 into such a small hole I was encouraged to go to Oak Ridge and shoot it in F class...600 yds. This was my first experience but I had a good coach. I won my class with a very good score. Second trip was a repeat. I don'the hunt big game...varmint hunting. The 87 gr bergers were devastating but they were expensive and went out of production...I still have a few. A great cartridge for med sized game.
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