Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Considering a 257Roberts. Help!

Disagree all you want but you have two different people telling you the velocities they are getting in their long leade Ruger rifles with no signs of excess pressure.

That's why the Springfield ended up a 25/06. I could never get over 2900fps. with a 117gr. bullet/H4831 or Win. 785 and keep the primer pockets tight for more then 2-3rds. Saw a friend set back the lugs on a nice G33/40 mauser in 257 Roberts trying to load it to more then what it was designed to do. [/quote]

This is why I don�t recommend my Roberts loads to anyone � every rifle is different. But I see no compelling argument why the .257 Roberts should not be loaded to SAAMI +P pressures in a modern rifle.

The faith you have in your .270's negates the need for the .257 Roberts, other than the 'need' for something different.


If anything, go BIGGER!
.338 Win.Mag. is a great choice.
.375 H&H is even better.

On a side note, we have yet to recover a Partition from the Roberts. How much more does one think is needed than an accurate load that is not pushing the pressure envelope?


If you want more than take a chance with a 270. HA!

Since this was a response to my post I will assume it was directed toward me.

I don�t own a .270 anything, never have, but have long considered a .270 with a 150 Partition or better as the minimum I would recommend to an out of state hunter coming for a rare and maybe once in a lifetime elk hunt. My 7mm Mag with 160�s has served very well with a good percentage of bang-flops, but nothing a .270/150 couldn�t have done equally well.

A .300 was on my wish list for a long time, an itch I scratched a couple years ago. I�ve also wanted something in a .338 or .375 but wanted something without a belt. (As an engineer the superfluous belt offends.) Considered the Dakota and RUM cartridges but held off for various reasons. Looks like the new Ruger 375 that will be available next spring is just what I�ve been wanting.

My Marlins in .375 Win and .45-70 have both taken game. The .375 Win dropped a buck antelope at 167 lasered yards � 220g, in and out, bang-flop. The .45-70 was pushing a 350g North Fork to 2183fps and dropped a forkhorn mulie at 197 yards and a 6x6 bull elk at 213 yards. The buck went a few yards, pumping buckets of blood onto the fresh snow as it did. The bull never moved, it just tipped over. Have to say these experiences convinced me of the efficacy of big bullets, even at rather low velocities.

The .257 Roberts, however, has earned a permanent place in the safe. IMHO the .257 Roberts and the .25-06 are the ultimate dual-purpose cartridges. I use a 75g V-MAX for varmints and load 110g Accubond, 115g TSX, and 120g A-Frame bullets for the bigger stuff. The shorter-barreled Roberts get the nod as a truck and carry gun even though the .25-06 provides more top-end velocity. My Roberts has taken quite a few coyotes and prairie dogs but is a big game virgin � something I hope will change this coming weekend. The 120g A-Frames will be in the chamber.

At normal Roberts velocitys it hard to keep almost any 117-120gr. bullet inside the chest cavity of a deer or antelope. When I was shooting the Roberts my favorite bullet was the Hornady 120gr. H.P. The only bullet I ever recovered was when I shot a black bear that I had called in and spooked someway. I shot it in the rump running away and found the bullet way up in the chest . I consider that bullet too soft at 3000fps. plus in a bigger 25cal.

Recovered a 117 BTSP Hornady from #1 son's Roberts with IMR 4350....42.5 grains, a mild load but max according to the manual I used in 1988 (still use this manual)......he shot a spike buck in Mississippi with this very accurate load through the front right shoulder at 80 yards and I recovered the bullet after it smashed the left shoulder. Deer DRT. Since that kill, and especially since we now are more likely to see large hogs we have switched to the Partition. Also have increased considerably the powder charge for the rifle. But, those mild loads are always available for our grandchildren and ladies. That's what makes the Roberts such a great round.

So after reading all the flames back and forth, does this mean I should go buy the new Ruger .257? Its at $400.

Yep.

I have a Ruger MkII 257"bob" which I really like(after my 'smith fixed the trigger, that is) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />
It seems to like 100 grain bullets, I can get close to 3100fps out of a 100 grain pill. I am trying out some 75 grain Vmax for the coming spring varmint "season".
I think it is a cool rifle and caliber, not much muzzle blast or recoil. You should certainly buy one! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My cousin in Canada killed an elk with a 250-3000 Savage with one well placed shot. My father killed an elk in Colorado with his 257 Roberts. I have 2-250 Sav and 2-243 Win my next rifle will be a 257 Roberts since my brother inherited my fathers. Anyone who claims it is incapable of taking down large game is to lazy to put in the time to become the kind of hunter that doesn't have to rely on a 300+ yard shot to take an animal.

Snooze you lose. What VAnimrod said - "Yep".

Much as I like the .257 Roberts, it is hardly the ideal cartridge for elk-sized game. And a wise elk hunter prepares for a 300+ yard shot, then works for less. Sometimes closer isn't a possibility.

This little buddy did a bang/flop to a 257R yesterday. 100gr Hornady and about 50yds.

Nice Buck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

HBB