Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger Ultra Light .257 Roberts

Anyone have a newer version of this rifle? A number of years ago I was looking at this combo and the word was that accuracy was just awful. Supposedly a combination of the pencil-thin barrel and too-long throat for the .257. I was wondering if that's still the case, or if they've fixed whatever issues were, or if that was just a rumor to begin with. Also, would the standard m77 be a better choice?

I'm not an accuracy freak, but I expect my bolt guns to do better than my levers, the worst of which still holds 2 moa.

I just bought one brand new about two months ago. I have a couple loads that will shoot about an inch, inch and a quarter at 100 and I haven't really spent all that much time with it. The thing is, three shot groups are about all you get out of the thin barrel. After that, the barrel heats and groups open up a bit. Mine seems to like 100 Grain Hornady Spire points and the new 110 grain Accubond from Nosler. Between those two bullets, I can take care of everything I need to shoot with a .257 Roberts.

Thanks CT, I have a Rem Mtn rifle so I'm used to the 3-shot string "limitation". I just need the first one to go where I want it to. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Do you know what kind of velocity you're getting out of those bullets? I've been thinking about loads and I'm guessing that 3000 fps is feasible with the 100gr and 2800 fps with a 115-117gr bullet with the 20 inch bbl. Also, what are those rifles going for in your neck of the woods, if you don't mind my asking?

I bought one a year and a half ago. The chamber is throated to normal length, unlike the long-throated Ruger 257Rob I bought back in 1976.
Accuracy was a real problem, until I changed the way I held the rifle at the bench. The front bag has to be at the receiver/barrel junction, and I have to hold the fore end with my left hand. Setting the fore end on the front bag and not hanging onto the fore end results in lots of muzzle jump, and no consistency.
It would seem that all those three inch groups were my fault, not the rifles.
The stock did need to be relieved because the fore end pressed the left side of the barrel. Before I sanded out the fore end, 100 yard groups ran as large as 8".
The barrel interior is very smooth and easy to clean. It fouls so little, 20 rounds between cleanings isn't a problem.

I question whether there was ver really a problem. Mine I think is a late seventies tang safety model. It shoots around 1.5 MOA at worst. The throat IS a tad long as I have loaded some rounds a bit longer than the standard OAL after using that Stoney Point OAL-tester thingie, though I can't remember the actual numbers. Never seemed to appreciably impact factory ammo though.

Anybody chrono some of their loads out of the 20" barrel?

I don't have a UL in 257 yet, but if you're worried about velocity in a 20" barrel, you can hedge your bets some by moving up the powder burning scale a little. Switch from a great Robers powder like 4831 for instance, to 4350. I've got two Bobs in standard M77s, and an Ultralight in 223. I love them all. Glassing the action, and floating the barrel seems to help a lot with accuracy too.

I think rugers, like any new bolt action rifles, can benefit from a little tweaking.

222Rem,

This is probably a whole 'nother thread, but I've found that the powders that produce the most velocity in a long barrel, also produce the most velocity in shorter barrels.

Not really concerned about velocity, I think I would like a 115-117 gr bullet with a mv of 2800 fps. I don't think that's too much to ask.

There was an article in Handloader a few years ago titled ".257 Roberts in a Carbine" or similar using a mannlicher-schoenaur with a 20" barrel. There was lots of load data and chrono data as I recall. I'm not home now so I can't find the issue. Maybe someone else remembers.

I don't have a chronograph, so I could not say for sure how fast those loads are going. I gave just a shade under 500.00 for my rifle, and got it at cost + shipping+ tax.

I purchased my Ruger Ultra Light in .257 Roberts two years ago, I just shoot the cheap green box 117 grains. At 100 yards hang just around an inch. Two years hunting and two deer, what more could a guy ask for.

mcarr, you're right, it definitely deserves it's own thread. That debate could battle on for at least 50 posts. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

2800fps seems a reasonable goal from a 20" barrel.

That might be fun. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

I'll let someone else stir the pot.

I have been playing with a 77 UL Bob for about six months. Lightened the trigger and free floated the barrel with a piece of credit card under the receiver ring flat and a little sanding of the barrel channel.

Will shoot 3/4" inch 3 shot groups and 1 1/4" inch five shot groups with favorite loads. With 47 grs. IMR 4350 it hits 3025 fps with Sierra/Hornady/Nosler BT 100 grainers, and 3100 fps with Barnes TSX. The 115-117 gr. bullets do get an honest 2800 fps from the 20 inch barrel. My best load with the heavy bullets is 46 grs. RL-19 and the 115 Nosler Partition.

My stepson will be using the last load on Elk during Colorado's late season. He can hit a paper plate consistantly at 200 yards and I won't let him shoot any farther.

I believe the UL/Roberts combo is just about ideal for deer hunting.