Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .257 Roberts

I've recently joined 24hourcampfire and feel it will be not only a great source of information but educational, as well. Now, my question. I recently purchased a Winchester Model 70 XTR in 257 Roberts built in 1987. I am wondering if +P ammo is safe for this rifle. I do have some 117 grain Remington green box but would like to get a little more "pop" out of it and +P ammo gives me more ammo options. Thanx in advance.

Yes, the +P ammo will be fine in the rifle.

You'll have a large safety margin. Even the +P 257 ammo is pretty tame compared to other cartridges the Model 70 easily handles.

Exactly... IIRC, the Roberts was originally brought out with speeds in the 2400 fps range... Modern rounds for that same Roberts is now in the 2800 fps range - and it's still pretty tame..

Wonderful rifle you got there my friend..

If you're not yet a handloader, you'll want to become one if you want to have both performance and bullet weight options.

The best current production 257 Roberts factory ammo that I've shot is the 117 grain Hornady Superformance, as it has shot good groups in several different rifles chambered for this vintage cartridge.

What 260 said. Get into loading yourself for the Roberts. They are easy to work with. You will enjoy that rifle.

GreggH

257 Roberts is the little darling in deer cartridges in my eyes , i have purchased all the family a 257 Roberts rifles so we have 7 -257 Roberts rifles great cartridge you will enjoy this cartridge.congrats ,Pete53

Welcome to the 'fire, my fellow fan of the . 257R!

Fella can't hardly hit a barn from the inside with a Bob.



And Mod 70 Winchesters are the pits.


Riddle me this. Why can't the damn thing put all 5 in one hole? Maybe 'cause it was built in '51? I dunno. Frustrates the hell out of everyone within 5 shooting benches it does.

I had a Featherweight in 257 Roberts that I hunted with for many years, finally settled on Hornaday Light Magnum 117 gr, it was a deer killer, my nephews son now has it and is using Federal 120 gr ammo and has killed deer with it....you have a very fine rifle

I have a custom Mexican Mauser in 257 with a Douglas match grade barrel. She’s very particular…only likes 100 grain partitions, 42.5 gr IMR-4350 and WLR primers. Little bugholes on the target and DRT on deer.

Beautiful little gun.

Good luck with your Winchester! You will likely find some factory ammo that shoots quite well, but as stated above, it should really thrive in reloads. I am a big fan of the 117 grain Sierra Game King.

I have a Bob in a Ruger Hawkeye. It was part of a limited run that was sold to a Gun Store in Pa. I swear someone at Ruger worked it over before it left the factory. It came with a slicked up action, safety, and the trigger was adjusted down to about three pounds. Fit and finish out if the box was outstanding! Everyone that shoots this rifle loves it. I actually wish I had bought two of them. Mine helped harvest a deer about a week ago.

257Rob from the 50's in Super Grade..... not real common, very nice

I bought a 700 Classic. It is very pleasant to shoot. I should have bought one years ago

257 Roberts threads are ALMOST as popular as dog threads on the Fire.

I own one of each and like them both ..... a LOT!

That's cool.

I have an M70 Featherweight and a Ruger #1B in .257 Robt. I haven't done much with them as of yet but will probably do so in the very near future. The Ruger came with six boxes of Norma 100 gr. ammo That Ruger literally stacks them one on top of the other. I'm hoping to find a reload that does the same. The M70 so far has not shot all that well so may have to do some bedding and trigger work for openers and then go from there.
PJ

I load 100 grain Barnes for mine, less than an inch groups. 44.5 grains of IMR 4350

DigitalDan that looks beautiful - how about a another pic ?

I had one of those from that era and used +P ammo regularly. Also the +P ammo isn't all that hot. +P .257 is at ~ 50,000 cup.