Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 257 Roberts Bullet Choice

Howdy folks,
I have just bought a Stainless Ruger in 257 Roberts. Can't not figure out why. I am thinking I might use this deer hunting in the next season. Does anybody have any expeirience reloading this cartridge? What would be the maximum reasonable shot at a deer? I hunt the whitetail deer here in North Carolina. Thanks for any help.
Chris

I have reloaded a bit for the 257 and 250. The 100 Hornady always shot good in both. 115 Partitions in the 257 should work well on deer and you can get more out of it than any load manual will tell you.

The 90 Barnes X should work nice as well if you can get it to shoot in your rifle. Have had good luck with 4350 and 4831.

Have only used factory 120gr Partitions on deer with the 257R. Longest shot measured 397 yds on nice muley doe broadside, complete penetration through lungs.

My favorite bullets for the 257 are the 115 grain partition and the 117 grain Hornady sp.Favorite powder is reloader 22.

I load 90 gr Barnes xbt at 3350 fps with a stiff load of H414 out of one .257; 100 gr Speer bt's behind a milder load of H414 out of the other. The Speers kill pretty well; the Barnes shoot like lasers and kill like lightning bolts. I've also had good luck with IMR 4895 and 100 gr Hornady Spirepoints at about 3100 fps. I'll not give you the exact loads -- start mild and work up -- all rifles are different. I'm not that fond of heavier bullets out of the Roberts -- I think a 105 or a 110 would be about ideal if someone would make it.

muledeer,

Actually your wish is available. I've been using some "custom" bullets for the last couple of years with great success.

Clint Starke makes 25 cal. match bullets from 70 to 110 grains with one made in 96.5 grains that is superb for a 10 twist barrel. The 110's shoot like a house on fire! They also will handle game.

Jef Fowler makes 85 and 110 grain custom bullets that are tops in accuracy and make great hunting bullets.

Please bear in mind that these bullets are not made to be shot in 25-223's or similar small capacity cases. You should consider them for 257 Roberts or better as far as velocities are concerned. I should say that this applies to the heavy bullets. Clint's light bullets can be used in the smaller capacity cases with much success.

Regards.

One of these days, I am going to own a Ruger 77 Ultralight chambered for the Roberts. I have had my eye on this rifle for some time, it's just that every time I get money ahead, something else jumps up. ANYHOO, I already know that I want to mount a fixed 4x scope, and I hope to make the 117 grain round nose Hornady shoot out of it. Shots at deer here in my part of KY, seldom reach 200 yards, and are mostly taken under 100. It will be all I need to augment my 7mm-08 Mtn Rifle. I think my son is going to take it over, and I will be needing something to shoot at varmint deer with!

32-

I live her in N.C. too. What is the fartherst you can shoot deer at? I mean your skill level, I personally cannot shoot anything farther than 200 yards away. I just don't have the practice and the confidence to do it.

I have a 257 Roberts that I shoot the Hornady 117 grain round nose in. I have it zeroed for 100 yards. If I can hold it well enough, I could probably drop a deer out to 200 yards with it. Most of my hunting the farthest point away I can see is 120 yards or so. For me, anything that shoots farther than that is wasted on me here in N.C. when hunting at home.

Our small N.C. white tails don't take a lot to kill.

If you want to shoot farther I would recommend a a 75, 85 or 87 grain bullet. With good shot placement and a properly chosen bullet you should have no troubles dinging them out to 300 yards.

I think anything from Speer, or Hornady that is designated for deer or light skinned game would work properly.

I am currently working up a load with an 87 gr Pointed Spire point from Winchester Western, and a Sierra 75 gr Hollow point, and a Sierra 90 grain HPBT. I have some 75 and 85 gr Barnes X bullets I have not gotten around to, but just want to experiment with.

With my Ruger #1 and 90 gr Sierra HPBT using IMR 3031 I am getting 3000 fps and 1 inch groups at 100 yards. IT's not the greatest powder but just what I decided to try.

With my Sierra 75 gr HP using IMR 4064 with 44 grains I am getting 3450 fps and one inch groups at 100 yards.

With Hornady 117 gr RN using IMR 4064 at 35 grains I am getting 2550 fps and one inch goups at 100 yards.

hope this helps.

A Sierra Rep told me by phone that their 90 HPBT was the best deer bullet they had for the 250 and 257.

Didn't know Ruger made the 257 roberts in a stainless was told by the local gun dealer that they only come in blue so I got the blue one <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif" alt="" />. Have just begun to reload for the thing first loads loaded today. Didn't know what to try so loaded up some 90gr seirra's with 44.2 gr of H380 thats what the seirra book shows but my book is old the 2nd edition. Suppose to be around 3100ft but I put the OAL at 2.782 which is just .010 of the lands so should see a little more out of it. Will just have to see how accurate they are and go from there. Looked at the +P loading and didn't see much difference in them and the old data. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif" alt="" />

I've shot two deer with the .25-06, both with 100grain Nosler Balllistic Tips. My loads were fairly light (this was before I bought a chrono), so I guess it was loaded about like a Roberts.

The first bullet performed perfectly. The second struck a rib going in, and cartwheeled OUT THE BOTTOM OF HER BELLY <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif" alt="" /> The deer was standing broadside, and she was struck perfectly behind the shoulder. I was dumbfounded that a bullet could make a right angle turn inside an animal.

I would stick to either the 115 grain bullets, or 120's for deer.

Hey,

All of you guys shooting the Roberts in a Ruger I have a question?

Is the Ruger 257 Roberts built on an 06 action or short action? I was told the 7x57 and 257 were?

I am looking to build a 257 Bob AI but want the action length.

Thanks

35

long action

COOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!

I see a project in the works <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

35

no help here, cause mine is a falling block.

Just what preference might there be for a 257 Bob on a long action,verse a 25-'06 on the same?

Enquirin' minds wanna know...................

Just cus you wants one...is there a better reason?

Wellllllllllll,


Good Question????

Cuz it makes sense to me. Ummmm

If I am going to have something different make it my own. Ummmm

I can improve it and seat the bullet to the base of the neck. Ummm

Maybe because I like the idea? Ummmm

Why limit myself in C.O.L.?

Stick no real technical reason just like cartridges based on the 7x57 case.

I am sure I can think of more but its tooo early.

35

I weren't knocking your craving,but was curious to know the driving force.

I've built my fair share of stuff that appealed only to me and understand those urges.................

Stick,

I did not think you were knocking just could not explain the urge??? any better than my post.

Since you are the "KING of Quarter Bores" I thought initially I missed something. I thought about the 25-06 but it sounds so ordinary you know sometimes you just have to be different. I even thought about your pet 25-284 and the 25 Gibbs but the KISS priciple applys to this one.

I am building the rifle as a working rifle for Couse whitetail here in Arizona. Nothing really fancy, just a worker bee.

Thanks for the input.

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