Doing a new build...Why not 257 Roberts?

[justme]

I did a 25saum years ago , when brass was plentiful. You will not see hits thru any scope Ihave ever tried. Too much whack.But the Lilja 3 grove barrel is still going after 1100+ rounds. IT sure isn't something to cook in a dog town.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

6x47L is always a great choice for a longer Varmint rifle.

 

[choprzrul]

Nosler 257 Roberts +P brass

 

[searcher]

I have a .257 Roberts that I really like (as well as the 6BR, Dasher, etc), but if I were making up a .257 rifle from scratch, I'd also look at the .25 Creed as a rifle that can launch heavier (non-varmint) bullets. Then again, there is that .25 cal. bullet availability issue - not just finding .25 caliber bullets - but a good variety. I have been looking for weeks trying to find a particular bullet for mine that has been "out of stock" forever. I hate having to change bullets once I settle on something and have my dope sheets made up. If you must go .25 cal., If I were doing so, I'd be looking at the Creed too. There are other benefits of the Creed case, besides velocity. If you go with the Roberts, you do have the advantage of tweaking your reamer, throating, etc. as improvement over the standard.

 

[mauser284]

I would start with a much faster twist barrel than is traditional. This way you have options.

 

[284winner]

Picked up a really nice new bench stock and have a savage action laying around. Looking to do a new build. Primary use of the new build is long range paper punching 500-1000 yards and prairie doggin. Going on a rifle that will weigh 12 to 14 lbs to keep recoil low enough to see hits. Looking for something with enough accuracy and weight to easily confirm hits at 600 yards on varmints. Already shoot a 6br and several smaller chambers and have 260 Rem that is not a great shooter with varmint bullets I have tried out of it. Thinking about a 257 Roberts. Ballistics with 90gr SBK (wind drift) is better than varmint bullets I am shooting with my 6br. The other chamber I was considering is a 25br, but having a hard time finding a barrel maker that offers that in a savage prefit. Any comments or suggestions on accuracy of this cartridge, ease of finding brass, bullets, etc? Feel free to offer suggestions on another short action caliber that may work better.

Why not make it a . 257 Roberts Improved ? I'm working on a 25 Grendel for my next mini rifle. Cool .25 caliber round.

 

[std7mag]

@toasty ,

I do have another option for you.

I have a 26" Shilen HV Savage prefit in 250 Savage I'll sell you.

I was originally going to build a short range Benchrest rifle with it. But I'm trying to go to Wyoming elk hunting this year, so...

 

[toasty]

I appreciate all of the input and opinions. Learn new things all of the time through posts like these. Ended up ordering a Shilen 25br barrel a couple days ago. I would have probably bought that 250 savage had it been posted before I ordered the barrel. Looking forward to how it will do with the 90gr Sierra Blitzkings on pdogs next spring.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

Just because you can easily get top quality brass IMO the 25 Creedmoor is the easy button and a close second that would be in that same case size and also super easy would be necking down Lapua 6.5x55 to .257 making it a 25x55 Swede. Lapua 6.5x55 Swede brass at $110 per 100 is a bargain and lasts a very long time. A 25x55 Swede could be a real sleepy though.

If a person wanted to use a short action the 25 Creedmoor would be the way to go.

I like the 25 Swede idea.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

took a 270 Win on a Browning A Bolt and re barreled it to 257 Roberts, had it throated for my favorite 25 cal bullet, Speer 120 SPBT, all done up in a Bartlein 5R barrel. I use PPU 7x57 brass for my most accurate loads, and WW +P for everything else. It treads dangerously close to 25-06 velocity with that bullet, and shoots great! I think given the proper throating and a good barrel the Roberts will do anything a 25-06 will do. Of course I am only shooting deer with it, but I thoroughly enjoy my trigger time with my 257 Roberts. The throating is the key to it I think. Good luck! You can indeed make brass from 06 brass, there are several steps involved, but it's your decision. Redding form die, no lube gave me the best results, then lube and FL die, ream the necks, viola!

 

[Cloudrepair]

I appreciate all of the input and opinions. Learn new things all of the time through posts like these. Ended up ordering a Shilen 25br barrel a couple days ago. I would have probably bought that 250 savage had it been posted before I ordered the barrel. Looking forward to how it will do with the 90gr Sierra Blitzkings on pdogs next spring.

I would love to hear a report on how that does for you and details.

 

[std7mag]

Range report!!

 

[toasty]

When the barrel comes in a couple months and I am able to shoot it, will post up a range report. I have confidence it will shoot, just wonder what bullet/powder it will shoot the best. I think I am going to start with Varget and go from there.

 

[Preacher]

You'll be hard pressed to find anything better than H-4350 with 100's and up..
Vargets a bit fast, but works good with the 75's....

 

[Jeff Buchanan]

Has anyone here had a 257 Ackley Improved? I’ve been sitting on a set of Redding Competition dies for about 15 years. I need to sell the dies or build a sporter weight rifle. I have everything but a barrel to build. I was just curious about the accuracy potential. I’m fully aware of the brass issue.

 

[Orr89rocz]

I built a 257 bob because i happened to have a lot of brass given to me by my uncle since he had a bob. Mines a savage with a 20” er shaw barrel. Its very accurate with 110 sierra tipped gamekings and reloder 23. Runs about 2950 fps. Ive shot it out to 1375 yards on 10” steel. Killed one deer at 350 yrd with that load. Did good.

 

[SweaterDood]

Has anyone here had a 257 Ackley Improved? I’ve been sitting on a set of Redding Competition dies for about 15 years. I need to sell the dies or build a sporter weight rifle. I have everything but a barrel to build. I was just curious about the accuracy potential. I’m fully aware of the brass issue.

Ackley ‘Bob running a 3.220” COAL on a Defiance XM. 1st photo is bunch of cartridges with the (now defunct) Blackjack 131 bullet stuffed in. 2nd photo is the long Ackley been 2 factory Hornady rounds in .257 Rob. I run a 1:7.5t barrel and it has no problem between 100-135gr bullets.

I also have a 25x47L, but if I had it to do over and would actually own something chambered in a Creedmoor, the 25CM is about the closest thing to a unicorn cartridge I’ve seen.

To the OP:
For lighter bullets and varminting, that 25BR should be a fun setup. Enjoy!

 

[std7mag]

Has anyone here had a 257 Ackley Improved? I’ve been sitting on a set of Redding Competition dies for about 15 years. I need to sell the dies or build a sporter weight rifle. I have everything but a barrel to build. I was just curious about the accuracy potential. I’m fully aware of the brass issue.

I built a 257 Roberts AI on a Savage 111 with a 24" E.R. Shaw sporter with a 1:10 twist.

Been using RL19, and lately Vihtavouri N555 with 115-120gr bullets.
I haven't chronoed yet.
Really likes the 115gr NBT & Berger VLD.
Actually groups the 120gr Partitions well.

As for the "brass issue" I keep hearing people complain about, I've been using PPU 7X57 Mauser brass and running through a full length sizer. Trim, load and shoot.
Running this in my 257 Roberts also.

 

[nakneker]

Long live quarter bores. I’m currently enjoying a 25x47 shooting 110 BIBs, I have a 25 Saum Improved inbound, should be here next week. Sent Zack at ODCR a Kimber in 270 WsM, had Lilja copy the profile, I wanted to keep it light. It’s set up to shoot 110s, I have the heavy bullets with dial a deer rigs covered but I wanted something fast and light for this one. Came out nice. Rebarrelling a Kimber with a matching profile looked like a pain. I went old school and had the barrel bead blasted.

 

[Ozzyblu]

Has anyone here had a 257 Ackley Improved? I’ve been sitting on a set of Redding Competition dies for about 15 years. I need to sell the dies or build a sporter weight rifle. I have everything but a barrel to build. I was just curious about the accuracy potential. I’m fully aware of the brass issue.

My AI with a 1-10 twist shoot 100gr Barnes suprisingly well. H4350 at about 3100fps.