Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 257 Roberts twist rate

I've been trying out my newest Ruger 77, and Ultralight in 257 Roberts. The results w/ 117 grain bullets has not been all that great. It was cold and I do need to do some more shooting, but I noticed that on some barrel makers sites it list a twist rate of 1 in 9" for bullets over 100 grains. The Ruger website lists the 257R as having a 1 in 10" twist. Am I beating a dead horse trying to get 117 and 120 grainers to shoot?

bc: I've seen the recommendations for a faster twist also. All I can tell you is that I have had numerous M70's which shoot the heavier bullets just fine with a 10" twist. And I had a Ruger M77 which would not shoot 100grainers but did fine with 117's...guess it all depends on the gun. Jim

Afraid I don't have an easy answer for you. The first thing I hear from guys who buy them is that they bed it and get the trigger worked on. The barrels are light and thin so they will heat up fast and give crazy groups but you probably know that already. I was interested in that same gun and caliber as it looks super and sounds like what the market has been missing -something old, something new - and not a hint of "magnum" in the description. Looks like it would be very popular if it would just shoot well. It is not uncommon to hear accuracy problems with this gun and it is a dang shame. Wish someone would make a lightweight deer rifle that shoots standard 120grain factory ammo well (not BT's or HP's). There seems to be a lot of interest in a caliber that likes something between 100 and 130 grain bullets. The Roberts would be it (unless the 260 ammo loads come around) so I feel your pain if you are stuck with shooting 100 grainers. That isn't what you bought the gun for is it? Can I ask you - if, say, a Remington model 7 was available in a 257R would you have still bought the Ruger? I admit that the little Ruger sure is pretty.

There probably was a M7 in 257 around somewhere and I would not have bought it. I like the little Ruger. I also have a 77 MKII Ultralight in .308 and it shoots just fine. I killed 2 bucks with it this past season. I probably was in a hurry and the gun just didn't like that particular factory ammo all that well. I was just wondering out loud while waiting for another chance at the range. One of the finest rifles for accuracy I ever owned was a Savage 110 in 270, it shot only fair to poor with some factory ammo, but with handloads it was a real screamer. It was unbelievable what it could do. I killed 3 deer with it before passing it along to my stepson, so the moral is to keep trying.

I have built up several Bobs over the years all with 1-10 twists. They all did at least reasonably well with 115-117's. I used 100's a lot more, but that was just a personal choice, nothing to with accuracy. Whatever problem you have, I doubt that it is with the twist.

FWIW really light factory barrels are often problematic with grouping, try some forend pressure.

JimF

I have owned a few 257's over the years and at present have my "keeper" a 700 Classic with a 24" Shilen Super match. I specifically ordered that barrel with a 10" twist because I have NEVER had problems stabilizing any bullet up to 120 grains with the 10" twist. This rifle has fortified my feelings, since it will put 5 - 120 Partitions OR 115 Partitions into less than 5/8ths of an inch at 100 meters. It is a fabulous deer/antelope/caribou/black bear rifle that I will never get rid of. FWIW it sends that 120 out at 3070 FPS using a RL 22 load. Regards, Eagleye.

I have a Ruger 257 Bob that I have had for alittle over a year. Have only shot the 90 and 100 Grainers in it, but it shoots 2 touching and then throws one about 3/4 away high and to the right. I'm gonna try some of the Final Finish lapping bullets and see if it will help it a little. Have loaded up and down with several different powders and it's always about the same group. But .75" to 1.0" groups with a shiitty Ruger aint bad. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Thanks guys, for the help. I was just kind of mulling it over in my head 'til I can get to the range again. It was more than likely partially due to me not being able to concentrate. I also have an Ultralight Ruger .308 that shoots great, so I won't give up on those wimpy barrels yet. Just ruling out some ideas, getting ready for the next try at wringing it out.

Yep, you guys were right. The handloads I shot with 117 Sierras were 1/2" at 100 yards. It just didn't like the Hornady light magnums I tried in it.

If You have trouble getting good 5 shot groups. Try taking your shots 1 or two at a time and an hour or two apart with those light barrelled rifles. I had this problem with a ruger 77. I had trouble keeping them under 1&1/4 at 50. I set my target out to 100 and shot 10 over a three day period.results. 1&1/8

Sometimes a little epoxy bedding at the forend tip, where Ruger stocks typically have a little pressure-point, will really tame down light barrels.

I probably didn't give enough info on this rifle. It was bedded before I got it. You simply cannot believe how fantastic a job of bedding someone did on this rifle. You can see pics of it on my website, just follow the links. The factory loads I picked up did not shoot well, although I was in a hurry and didn't concentrate all that well. The first handloads with Sierra 117gr #1630 were nothing less than spectacular, with the largest group being 3/4". This is one sweet rifle and I was just a little worried when it didn't like the first load I tried. I'm not about to change a thing except to work up some loads.

bc: on your website you list your groups with the 117gr Sierra in your 257. 2 of the groups are listed as 40gr of Varget? Is that correct? I believe Hodgdon lists 37gr as max...