Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Goodbye 243 I'm done

I've probably owned close to a dozen 722s in 257 Roberts, still have one, and can't see a reason not to load it to its full potential. Since I only shoot varmints and medium game with my rifles chambered in 257 Roberts, the bullets that I load for them are all in the 75 thru 110 grain range, with the majority being 75, 87, and 90 grain varmint bullets and 100 and 110 grain medium game bullets. None of the bullets that I use are negatively impacted by using them in a short action or have positively benefited from using them in a long action.

I would agree that the 57mm/2.244" case length limits bullet weight/length options in the short, 2.84", action Remington magazine boxes. OTOH, I can't think of a .257" bullet better suited to shooting medium game with a 257 Roberts than the 100 grain Partition or 110 grain AB, both of which work flawlessly through the 2.84" magazines.

I currently have 10 rifles chambered in 257 Roberts, 3 long actions and 7 short actions. The long actions are a Mexican Mauser, a Swedish Mauser, and a Ruger 77. The short actions are a Marlin XS7, 3 Remington 700s, a Remington 722, a Ruger 77, and a Savage 11. My current favorites are a long action Ruger 77 RSI and a short action Remington 700 CDL-SF.

EDIT: The most frustrating 257 Roberts that I've owned was a sporterized 1936 style Mexican Mauser. It had a 1-12" ROT Flaig's barrel and would only shoot good groups with bullets in the 75 thru 87 grain range. It wouldn't shoot good groups with the normally reliable 90 grain Sierra BTHP, but would routinely go MOA or better with whatever 87 grain Hornady or Speer bullet I loaded in it ahead of 42 grains of IMR-3031. As picky as it was, you'd think that it was of the female gender. So I rebarreled it in 243.

I've probably owned close to a dozen 722s in 257 Roberts, still have one, and can't see a reason not to load it to its full potential. Since I only shoot varmints and medium game with my rifles chambered in 257 Roberts, the bullets that I load for them are all in the 75 thru 110 grain range, with the majority being 75, 87, and 90 grain varmint bullets and 100 and 110 grain medium game bullets. None of the bullets that I use are negatively impacted by using them in a short action or have positively benefited from using them in a long action.

I would agree that the 57mm/2.244" case length limits bullet weight/length options in the short, 2.84", action Remington magazine boxes. OTOH, I can't think of a .257" bullet better suited to shooting medium game with a 257 Roberts than the 100 grain Partition or 110 grain AB, both of which work flawlessly through the 2.84" magazines.

I currently have 10 rifles chambered in 257 Roberts, 3 long actions and 7 short actions. The long actions are a Mexican Mauser, a Swedish Mauser, and a Ruger 77. The short actions are a Marlin XS7, 3 Remington 700s, a Remington 722, a Ruger 77, and a Savage 11. My current favorites are a long action Ruger 77 RSI and a short action Remington 700 CDL-SF.

EDIT: The most frustrating 257 Roberts that I've owned was a sporterized 1936 style Mexican Mauser. It had a 1-12" ROT Flaig's barrel and would only shoot good groups with bullets in the 75 thru 87 grain range. It wouldn't shoot good groups with the normally reliable 90 grain Sierra BTHP, but would routinely go MOA or better with whatever 87 grain Hornady or Speer bullet I loaded in it ahead of 42 grains of IMR-3031. As picky as it was, you'd think that it was of the female gender. So I rebarreled it in 243.

My kids have had great luck with their pre 64 M70 .....

My kids have had great luck with their pre 64 M70 .243's, Mn whitetail, antelope and mule deer, a 80 grain TTSX placed right has worked just fine. I also have one as a loaner for folks just get started deer hunting up here, funny they had no idea that it shouldn't work on deer,.they've had no problems.

I've used the 243 for years. The 80 TTSX works well on game 'too big' for the 243. I'll keep killing deer with 100 SGKs too. No problem.