Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Ruger M77 .257 Roberts.

Just picked up a nice older M77 .257 Roberts. What's everyone's thoughts on this caliber? I plan on using the Hornady 117 grain SST bullets.

I love 25 calibers.

I hate SST's


YMMV

+1

DF

+2

My brother and I both often hunt with a .257 and have taken whitetails, Axis and pigs with the 110 gr Accubond with a 2900 fps load. It's worked well.

Shot a few deer with the one I had. Only ever fed it one load, 90 grain Sierra Gameking HP over a max load of IMR-4064. 1/2-3/4" groups were the norm.

Bullet was pretty tough, shot through every deer I ever shot with it and none were over 75 yards or so.

Out of about 10 deer or so only 1 ever moved from where she stood and then went maybe 20 yards.

Wish I had that one back.

Great cartridge. Better if you handload. Do you?

Sweet little rifles. I've been eyeballing one at the LGS for a while now. Good luck with yours.

I shoot, mostly 100 grain Partitions and 110 grain ABs in my mid-capacity .257" bore rifles. A little faster/flatter and none have bounced off (yet). I have some 80 grain TTSX, but have not yet tried them, too many irons in the fire.

Thanks guy's for all your input!

I have his 'n hers or twin 77 "tangers" and they have been used on Whitetail, Mule deer and pronghorns with good results. Have not tried the SST bullets you listed and probably won't, because of all the good bullets out there.

One "tanger" is absolutely stupid accurate with 115 grain Nosler Partitions and has accounted for the largest Whitetail to date.

Beauties right there..

Glad to hear that the bullet worked out for you.

.25 CALIBER (.257) 90 GR. HPBT
The 90 grain #1615 Hollow Point Boat Tail bullet was designed originally as a varmint bullet, but it has taken on an expanded role. This bullet is extremely accurate at all velocity levels, making it suitable for the entire range of 25 caliber cartridges. It will perform as a varmint bullet at high velocities, but it may also be used on medium game from smaller-capacity cartridges, such as the 250-3000 Savage and 257 Roberts.
IMHO
Sierra's statement and your experience on killing deer with this bullet does not match mine and several others who have used it. In the early 1970s we started using it on deer and found it not to be reliable. However, we use it on varmints and pests for which it was designed. The redeeming characteristic is if it doesn't show good accuracy in a 25 caliber, most likely there is something wrong with the rifle.

My "Bob" is a 77 UL. A very good shooter and will kill about anything in the deer / pronghorn size range at sensible range with good bullet placement. My rifle seems to prefer the 115/117/120 weights but I rarely choose it for varmints as I have more dedicated rifles available.
One thing about experience, it leaves us old geezers hung up on what WAS factual 20, 30 or 40 years ago. Bullets and powders in 2016 are just not what was offered in the 70's, 80's or 90's so it's best to keep an open mind and see what your rifle likes that fits you requirements for taking big game.

Mine isn't a Ruger but a custom M-700, Brux.

My best two loads so far:

100 gr. TTSX over 47 gr. H100V, .03" jump at >3,200 fps with < 1/2" groups.

115 gr. NBT over 44 gr. H-4350, .02" jump at around 2,900 fps with < 1/2" groups.

Both loads proven killers of WT's and hogs.

DF

Beautiful rifles! Thanks for sharing!

When I loaded those I did so because I had called Sierra and asked what bullet to run in the Bob, the 90 was their recommendation.

Worked slicker than a gut for me. Which I must be in the minority because all of the Sierra bullets I have run in everything from 223s up to 300 Winchesters kill game rather quickly.

I've got 3-257 Rob in my cabinet; my son's custom Mauser and his first center fire rifle, my first custom a .257 Ackley Improved, and a Kimber 84M Classic Select. The Ruger is a good one I've always liked em.

I love the cartridge and have had great success w/ the 90 gr GMX, 100 gr Hornady, and 110 Accubond.

I am not a fan of the SST either but I highly doubt they'd give you issues on deer.

I did the same thing (calling Sierra for reccomendation) but I asked about a bullet for 243. Without hesitation the tech said 85gr. HPBT Gameking. Said he had been using it on deer for over 25 years. Told me that federal loaded that bullet in their premimum line if I wanted to try it. I did. It worked! I liked it!!

90 gt HPBT works great in a 250/3000 shoots well in my 25-06 but I have been reluctant to hunt deer with them in the -06. I think the SST would hold together well in the Roberts