Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Which choice for deer?

Unfortunately writers like Craig Boddington have perpetuated the myth of the 257 Roberts being in nowhere land (to long for SA to short for LA). Truth is that the SAAMI listed COL of the Roberts (2.780")is shorter than the 260 Rem (2.800"), 7mm-08 (2.800") and the 308 Win (2.810"). Not to mention that probably over a million have been built on SA world wide.

257 Roberts.

A big thanks to everyone for your comments thus far! Looks like a lot of folks like the 260 Rem. Unfortunately though, I have found that of the couple of new rifles I may be interested in, neither one of them are currently chambered for the 260. Bummer! One of them is chambered for 243 and 257 though, and the other only in 243 of the choices I mentioned.

257 is a mid-length cartridge (e.g., not really a true SA, from what I understand, and certainly not a true LA like 25-06). Please correct me if I am wrong on that notion. With that said, would like to consider maybe a 25-06 or 280, but I already have a 270. Therefore, why bother with those two? Also, just bought a new Kimber Montana in 308, so I have no need for a 7mm-08; 260 is really pushing the envelope too, as far as being too close to the 308. I am liking the idea of the 243 or the 257. I have never owned anything smaller than a 7mm-08, so that is partially why I am thinking about something on the lower end of being able to handle deer-sized game.

For reference, I do not "roll my own," and probably never will. But, it seems as though there may be enough choices out there for the 257 Roberts from a factory ammo standpoint, right (or wrong)?

Finally, if it makes any difference, thinking about either a Browning BLR, or a Ruger Mark II Ultralight. Anyone care to comment on those two possible choices of rifles?

Thanks again everyone!

FWIW my understanding is that the .257 does in fact fit in the Short action. It's a matter of the entire cartridge length, not the case length. The 7x57 just misses fitting in the short action, because of the overall cartridge length allowance due to the longer, heavier, 7mm bullets.

Ruger, hands down.

The shiny, angular-stocked BLR does nothing for me, while the UltraLight is a sweet little rifle.

257 roberts.

Well, if yer gonna hang around this campfire much you'll hafta change that attitude a little.

You'll need to find and employ, on a regular basis, the best gunsmith the world has ever known, everyone's gunsmith is the best BTW....

And, you'll need to study up on the term "factory take off"....

Master those two things and there is no such evil as not finding a rifle in the proper chambering.

The 25-06 IS my choice BTW........

This may be a dumb question, but anyone know if the Ruger M77 Mark II Ultralight is fine with handling the various +P factory ammo loads in the 257 Roberts chambering? While I haven't yet looked into the subject to any great detail, I am certainly assuming there should be no problem.

If you mean strength wise the Ruger will be fine. I looked at the specs. and it seems the 257 is in a long action which I would prefer if I wanted a 257R.

Link to Ultra Light Ruger

Thats the spec for the 308. Now look up the 257 and you will see its longer.

I choose the 243 for my son. I have no idea if he is going to want to reload after I am no longer around to do it with him. It has a much better selection of factory fodder avaliable.

He has whacked deer and prairie dogs with it for 12 years with outstanding results and it would not be easy to take that rifle away from him.

Curious why Ruger doesn't have more short action options, like 7-08 or 260.

Thanks for the recent info this morning folks. Yes, I see what you mean, Savage. And, also, yes I was wondering if there would be any sort of trouble with the Ruger possibly not being able to handle the stronger loads, strength-wise. I didn't think there should be any problem coming from a new, modern rifle.

I remember that for a long, long time (years actually) Ruger never offered anything in the way of the 7mm-08. I am pretty sure I have seen a few models from them now that they have had out for awhile, and are chambered for 7mm-08 though. Seems like it took them a long time to finally jump on that bandwagon, however. I don't know of anything from them that has ever been offered in 260. Browning is the same way; I think they were offering a few models in 260 at first, but not anymore.

I agree that a far better selection in available ammo for the 243 certainly does give it an advantage in that department. You really think it can hold its own on deer when compared to the larger 25-caliber (e.g., 257 Roberts) rounds?

The Ruger is very strong as far as my experience goes. I would not worry about it at all and, in fact, I would consider Rugers to be stronger and better designed safety wise that some other guns.

The +P thingy is just to bring the old 257 Roberts up to regular pressures. Its not a hot load at all compared to most other rounds. What I think happened is that some old jap rifles got rechambered to the 257R and the pressure was lowered on the round and now its back up to normal.

Those Ultralights have only a 20" barrel and what with the expansion ratio of a 257R in that short barrel there is going to be some muzzle blast. What bullet weight would you really shoot in a 257R? Maybe 120 grs? The 7-08 can shoot 120 gr bullets you know. I would much rather have a 7-08 for game in a 20" tube big game rifle. The main cause of recoil is the powder charge and that accounts for 50% more recoil by weight than the bullet does.

I have an old rifle in the euro carbine bbl. length of 20.5" in 7/57 and the velocity is down just a bit but I like the gun. I would not want one with a 20" tube in 257R or 243 for that matter.

Good luck. "All guns good, shootem good"

I have used a 243 for deer for 30 years, killed too many to count. I hunt in Ga, Ala, and Ky. I hyave never lost a deer hit with a 243. I used a Ruger Ultra lite with the 18 1/2 inch bbl for several seasons but switched to a Weatherby with a 24 inch bbl. I handload a Sierra 85 grn hp @ 3300fps.

257 Bob... it and the 30-06 are my favorite two rounds.

DK and SMACARAC3,

I'm with you and the others who favor the 250 Savage as a perfect choice for deer and Pronghorns. I had a short-action Ruger barreled for that cartridge in about 1990 and have never had to "second guess" that choice. With the 100 grain Hornady SP backed by 38.5 grains of H380, it has been a stellar performer on deer, Pronghorns, and a lot of varmints. If there's a more "user-friendly" cartridge for these purposes, I don't know what it would be!

M. Bell

257 Bob and Nosler Custom ammunition if you don't load your own.

I'm a Roberts fan, have been for years...but in choosing between the cartridges you mention, as a deer-only rifle? 260.

Ive not tried one but Id go .260. I do like the ballistics of this cartridge for your intended purpose..........good luck.....................547.