Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .243 Win or .257 Roberts?

I think I'm passing my M70 7x57 to my boy next fall. So, I'll need something to take it's place on my side of the safe.

It will be 99% for deer hunting. I don't have a brand I need to have but I'm thinking Kimber Montana at this point. I'm not opposed to having a custom or semi-custom either.

I hope to do a little deer hunting in a few western states but probably won't shoot past 300 yards. My longest shot near home at this point is probably about 150-200 yards, but will be more like 25-50.

I have factory ammo and will be able to reload for either.

I'd like to pick up a short action Kimber. It'll be a 243 or a 257. Right now my plan is to get a 243 Montana or a wood 257. So whatever type of rifle I'm feeling at the time will dictate which caliber I get.

If you roll your own, two peas in a pod... The .257 Roberts might have a slight advantage for mule deer at longer ranges with 120gr pills. But in the end, shot placement will trump all.

I am a big .243 fan. But have been considering building a .257 Roberts just because I've never owned one.

Either cartridge will do nicely for your intended use. I have the 243 and use it most every year on whitetails with the occasional antelope thrown in the mix. Hard to beat it's use in either. I've currently settled on the 80 gr TTSX running at about 3415 fps. I've attempted to catch one of these bullets using milk jugs filled with water. My attempt failed because penetration was thru 4 half gallon jugs and two gallon jugs for roughly 26 inches of water and jugs. That was enough for me that I'd have no issue using this combination up to cow elk.

My only quarter bore is a 25 WSSM that I've yet to mount a scope on. However, I have a good hunting buddy that uses his 257 bob for just about anything from antelope to elk using the 117 gr Sierra offerings.

Your decision will likely boil down to your preference really.

We've got a .243 Winchester in a Ruger Compact Carbine in the family and there's absoluely nothing we don't like about it. Myself I like the heavier bullets that the Roberts can handle plus still do what the .243 does with lighter ones.

http://stevespages.com/jpg/cd257roberts.jpg

Hard to top that 7x57. Either of the calibers you mentioned will fit the bill.

How about a 6.5? Something different?

.243

TZone, what Orion said...if you make your own ammo...go with the 257 Bob......I must know 20 guys that use a 243....once in a bit, think outside the box.

I'm not a fan of a 10 twist 243, so I'd go Roberts.

I've been pretty impressed with the .243 my son has but I admit a Bob is a classic that I'd love to own as well.

Were it me, and given what you've stated - I'd probably go .243 just because there's a ton of great bullets out there in 6mm these days, including some long slippery ones if things change and you start going longer than 300.

In the Kimber?

That's also why I'm not opposed to custom.

Yes, the Kimber 243 has a 1-10" twist, so does the 257 Roberts. I can do a 10" on a 25 not a 6mm

Those 'long slippery' ones ain't gonna work in a 1-10" twist Kimber.

Would you go Kimber over the other factory options?

If your only shooting a few hundred yards do you really need "slippery ones"

Did I say you did? Only said they won't work.

There are some decent game bullets that I've had no luck with in a 10 twist 243. Again, there is NO reason I can think of to straddle the 243 with a slower twist.

Im shooting the 95 NBTs in a 1 in 10 out to 500 yards. Don't know if they are considered very slippery compared to some, but they work.

In 223/257/7mm08 yes, in 243 no.

He also said he was willing to go custom - Semi Custom. Right now GB shows exactly 1 .243 Montana for sale and no 257's. Just kinda figured if he goes .243, custom/semi might be the way to go and then he's smart enough to twist quick.

But I agree - if it must be a Montana with no desire to rebarrel - I'd go Roberts.

I've got boxes of 90gr Swifts that don't like a 1-10" twist. For the 10,000000000 time, what elevation are you at?

Not sure why folks enjoy leaving stuff on the table. I'm betting bullets will not be getting shorter in the next 20 years.