Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Canada Is your 257 Roberts fussy/tempermental?

My son and I both have Model 70 Featherweights (1980 version).
They love the 117 gr. Remington RN (yellow/green box)which are no longer manufactured (so only a lucky find at a gunshow). Accuracy and groups are always more than satisfactory.
However, other common/still available factory rounds are proving very tempermental in both guns. Groups expand and move at random from one day to next.
Scopes mounts are solid and scopes are fairly new Bushnells.
Is this a problem in other rifles chambered in 257 Roberts?
BillR

I had a ruger m77 hawkeye in 257 roberts. Was the worst shooting rifle ive owned. put 2 on top of each other and the third one would end up 3-4 inches away. Tryed many different hand loads with the same results. Got rid of the gun,, still love the cartridge. Waiting on the 2012 shotshow special winchester m70 featherweight to be delivered. I hope its manners are much better than that ruger!

I once had a push feed Win 70 FWT in .257 that I modified with a longer throat and longer magazine box to allow for for 3" LOA. It was very fussy, the only bullets it shot very well were the Hornady 75 gr. HP and the Nosler Ptn 115 gr. Nothing in-between was worth using. I thought it strange, but maybe it was because it was not as originally designed from the factory.

I have owned at least 10 .257's and loaded for a few more. In general they're very unfussy. If they aren't it's usually due to sloppy chamber throats, which can be found in some Winchester Model 70's (both pre- and post-'64) and some Rugers.

In a correctly-chambered rifle the .257 shoots really well, especially with IMR4350 or H4350 and just about any 100-120 grain bullet.

I had a Remington 700 Classic in .257 when they first came out (1982 I believe.) It was pretty unfussy about its diet but if it had a preference it was for IMR 4831.

Jim

I bought a Kimber Montana in .257 Roberts last year and it has shot both 100 gr Barnes TTSX and 110 gr Nosler Accubonds very well.

Haven't tried anything else.

donsm70

I have a .257 in Remington mountain rifle so overall length is limited, accuracy was ok with store bought 117 grain and hand loaded 115 grain nosler, but I think I have found the load for this rifle with 100 gr TTSX and Hybrid 100V.

My experience with a 1985 PF M70 XTR is just like castnblast, modified just as his was except mine hates the 115 NPT more than any other bullet I've tried. But it will shoot to around 2.0" or less with a couple of different bullets and weights.

A custom Mauser in 257 Roberts likes everything I've fed it, factory, hand loads in several different bullet weights and it likes the 115 NPT too! Guess which one I'm going to keep?!!

Though an unfair comparison, my. 257 is ackely improved but whether im fireforming or shooting improved loads pretty much anything 90-117gr over 4831 or 4895 shoots very well..

Thanks to all for the replies regarding the 257 Roberts. I have been using IMR 4064 so will try switching to 4831. With a 22 inch barrel on a lightweight rifle the Winchester featherweight is a joy to carry in the bush. I would be more than happy with a 50 yard (my range limit) consistent one inch group (as it shoots with the factory 117 Remington RN). Where I hunt most deer shots are actually less than that distance.
BillR

I had a pre 64 M70 in 257 Roberts that I couldn't ever get to shoot. Funny part is, that it was formerly my Dad's and he shot it extremely well...I had witnessed it. After handloading many different combinations, switching scopes and mounts, thoroughly cleaning it...I sold it. Felt bad, as it WAS Dad's, but what the hey, a gun that doesn't shoot is a gun that doesn't shoot.

I still had the dies, brass, and what not, so bought a Ruger K1-A in a Bob, which is not renowned for being the best rifle in the accuracy department. I whipped up a load for it and to my disbelief, it prints clovers! Probably one of my most accurate rifles. Sad part is although I have hunted with it a bit, it yet has to draw blood. Patience.

On the same vein, I bought a Sako Bavarian for a moose hunt in the easy to please 30.06. Guess again. I shot 200's, 220's, and 180's, none of which would print satisfactorily. I seriously contemplated selling the gun, as I had a 7 RM that would fill the bill nicely. I tried out of desperation some 165 Partitions and struck gold. The rifle acted as though it was made for that particular bullet. The moose died.

100 GR. SPR SPBT Hodgdon H4831 .257" 2.770" 45.0 2660 29,100 CUP 49.0 3010 44,100 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT Hodgdon Hybrid 100V .257" 2.770" 44.0 2968 38,800 CUP 48.0C 3205 45,400 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT IMR IMR 4831 .257" 2.770" 46.3 2965 41,000 CUP 49.2C 3134 47,100 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT Hodgdon H4350 .257" 2.770" 43.0 2833 34,200 CUP 45.0 2970 45,400 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT Hodgdon H414 .257" 2.770" 44.0 2919 33,600 CUP 45.0 3098 44,500 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT IMR IMR 4350 .257" 2.770" 44.8 2896 38,400 CUP 47.7 3077 47,000 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT Winchester 760 .257" 2.770" 44.0 2919 33,600 CUP 45.0 3098 44,500 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT IMR IMR 4007 SSC .257" 2.770" 41.4 2894 41,800 CUP 44.0 3059 47,300 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT Hodgdon H380 .257" 2.770" 40.5 2868 37,800 CUP 44.0 3108 46,600 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT Hodgdon Varget .257" 2.770" 34.0 2724 34,400 CUP 38.0 2981 44,900 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT IMR IMR 4064 .257" 2.770" 38.8 2904 40,900 CUP 41.3 3076 47,300 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT Hodgdon BL-C(2) .257" 2.770" 36.0 2692 32,400 CUP 39.0 2958 45,400 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT IMR IMR 4895 .257" 2.770" 39.0 2921 41,200 CUP 41.0 3061 45,900 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT Hodgdon H335 .257" 2.770" 36.0 2776 37,200 CUP 39.0 3042 47,800 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT Hodgdon H4895 .257" 2.770" 35.0 2661 30,600 CUP 38.0 2990 46,100 CUP

100 GR. SPR SPBT IMR IMR 8208 XBR .257" 2.770" 37.1 2991 39,400 CUP 39.5 3085 44,700 CUP

I had a similar vintage Mod 70 .257 Roberts. The only bullet it didn't like was the original Barnes X bullets. Everything else was 1.5" or less. Usually less. It really liked the 100g Winchester Silvertip. For the past 10 years it didn't get anything, but reloads so I can't comment on current manufactured rounds.