Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters 257 Roberts questions

The 100gn Swift Scirocco is another good bullet in the Roberts. I've only recovered one from a fallow buck taken at 20m and it weighed 79gn (79% weight retention).

Some complain about SSII accuracy.

If you work with the COAL, they can shoot. I've seen groups tighten with increased jump.

I don't see criticism about their terminal performance, they seem to perform very well on game.

DF

I like the heavier bullets as to me that's what seperatesthe 257 from the 6mms. For deer I've had good luck with remington cl 120s and the Hornady 117s in two different rifles. For powder I tend to use h414/ww760 as I have a lot of it. The AA, IMR and Hodgdon 4350 powders are also good bets and where I'd start.

They are not the most accurate .25 cal bullet actually. About an inch and a quarter is the best I can get them.

The 100gn Hornady IL is the most consistently accurate bullet I have loaded in several Roberts, two .250 Savages and a .25-06. And now they have stopped making it.

4350 and the 100 gr Ballistic tip or Barnes TSX shot best for me in several rifles. The 100 Hornady wasnt bad either.

I have had good luck over the years with H or I4350 with 100 grain partitions or ballistic tips in the Roberts.

The 110 Accubonds shoot extremely well in a 9 twist for me with H4350....

Monday I can post some.Huntz

I've loaded for about a dozen 257 Roberts over the last 40+ years and I currently own four different Bobs although I'm trying to reduce that number to just two...LOL!

All of them shot/shoot the 100 grain weight the best. Usually the most accurate bullet has been one of the Sierras (either the SBT or the SPT), although the 100 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip runs an extremely close second in my load data records.

As for the powder, the first choice has always been one of the 4350s (usually H but also IMR or A) for top velocity and accuracy, although recent tests with the new IMR 4451 show great promise. When not trying for top velocity, I used to use either IMR4895 or IMR4064, but nowadays I prefer H4895 or Varget.

Always thought I should get a Bob to "fill the gap" between my .25-20 and .25-06 AI.

My Bob likes the 110 gr. Accubond at 2900 over IMR 4831, don't recall the exact charge. But the current load of choice is the 100 gr. Hornady over 100V. It's exceptionally temp sensitive, though. I've had good luck in other bobs with the 4350's, but not this one for some reason. It's a #1 RSI and shoots very very well with both the Hornady and the AB.

Is there any real difference in the brass between the regular and +P or just hype?

It's usually a heavier, but why I don't know, because the standard brass is plenty strong enough for +P loads.

Yes. I was using +P loads in the Roberts before there was +P brass.

I think someone got nervous as soon as they figured out the Roberts could be loaded with powder slower than 3031 and 4064....and give more velocity.

Thanks for the information,Huntz

I tried hard to get them to shoot well in mine. No deal! I use 100gr Hornady SPs and 100gr NPs with IMR4831.


Scrounge around and try to find some new leftover R-P 257 brass. There's still a bit out there and it's a lot cheaper than the alternatives. I just bought 200pcs to go with my stash.

I see your WTB ad for dies .....



Don't overlook the Lee Collet die for the 257R. Works great, no lube, brass lasts a loooooong time.



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the 110 Accubond did not shoot well in my Kimber.

For an easier conversion that is the way to go. I'd use 30-06 brass but that's one heck of a lot more involved. That involves multiple dies and steps and neck turning, but it does result in some very good well fit brass.

I had a short action Ruger 77 Hawkeye re-barreled to .257 Roberts with a 24-inch Krieger 1-in-9" twist barrel specifically for heavier slugs. I've had the best performance out of 42.4 grains of H4350 behind a Hornady 117 grain BTSP seated to an overall length of 2.780" in non-Plus P Winchester brass with a WLR primer for 2812 FPS and groups of 0.793" and 46.0 grains of RL19 with the same bullet and primer combination in Remington brass for 2914 FPS and groups of 0.561".

4350 (I use H) is likely the best powder to start with. Bullets these days are so good, that just about any of them will sort a deer out in short order. The only 257 I have right now is a Ruger Ultralight. They aren't known for being tack drivers, so when 42 grains of H4350 pushing a 115 grain Partition gave me 1.5 inch groups I went hunting. I get similar accuracy with 115 NBTs. I haven'experimented much at all. Every deer I have shot where I have involved a shoulder has dropped in its tracks. I have recovered one bullet just under the far side hide.

Be patient with the brass. Cabelas just had RP in stock. I bought 2 bags for normal price. Reseller prices are obnoxious and unfortunately that's probably where a lot of the Cabelas brass went.

Lastly, it's just plain wrong to boast of a knock out walnut stock and not post pics!