Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting Petload: 257 Roberts?

Many folks in Africa had great luck with the 7x57 and 173gr bullets at ~2300fps. You could make up some mild loads that launch a 175gr Partition at 2300-2400fps and have less than 14lbs of recoil in a 7 pound rifle (which is only 3 lbs or so more than a .257 Roberts with 100gr bullets). It would give you a +/- 3" point blank range of ~240 yards and you'd have enough velocity for proper expansion out to 300 yards.

That load would be a fine choice for big game if recoil is a concern.

I talked to a representative of my gun dealer today, which is Bass Pro in Rancho Cucamonga, CA. He said he couldn't find my purchase request. He went on to tell me that a .257 Roberts Featherweight might be hard to locate. After I explained to him that I had requested one and was told a day later that one was in transit to the store for me, he said he was going to check on it. He called me back a few minutes later and found the requisition order. He said it indicated a .243 Winchester. He apologized for the store's error. He said he will work tirelessly to try to fulfill his store's promise to me. I am confident that if it's possible to find a Featherweight .257 Roberts, he will get one for me.

I know employees are not infallible. However, I am completely confident that Bass Pro will do everything possible to locate a Featherweight .257 Roberts for me. Bass Pro Shops has always been top notch. But just in case, I will pray.


Take Care,

R

I know of a nice one for sale up here. Can you guys buy/import guns from Canada?

R: The Roberts and the 7x57 make a great "pair",and compliment each other nicely.Same case,different bore diameter.The Roberts for the varmint/deer gig,and the 7x57 for the general purpose,all round chores.Neither gulps a lot of powder and both kick lightly for what you get from them.

A 7x57 is just a rebarrel job away from any 270 or 30/06. The money thing is another issue.

For us rifle hobby guys the odd rounds like the 257R, and 7mmM never caught on because they don't fit most actions.

They are not popular here in the USA and never will be.

I got a neat old Brno 21F and it's a 7x57M. The round is too short for the magazine. A 7x64 would fit, so would a 280 or a 30-06.

When I had my .257 it was 42 grs. of IMR4350 behind Sierra 120 gr. GK's. Wish I still had that rifle. It was an older PF model 70 Featherweight.

That isn't what I've seen. The .257 Roberts is more popular now than it's been for many years. That's because the "rifle hobby guys" have kept it alive. Some of us have noticed it's very nice as is. Heck, even the .250-3000 still lives on simply because of our interest.
The 7X57 still has alot of appeal to those that appreciate classic, effective, light kicking rounds.
BTW, the .257 Roberts does just fine in a short action. E

Savage_99

I would not hesitate to use a 7X57 on any big game animal in North America, even big bears were I to use a bonded 175 grain bullet. I am sure such a bullet would penetrate both shoulders of the biggest bears.

The .257 Roberts is a proven cartridge with a stellar legacy. So is the 7x57.

Both of these cartridges had caught on and were extensively used. While their luster has tarnished somewhat, I do believe that they're in the process of burnishing. I can see why the .303 British lost favor. I believe its rim did it in. But both the Roberts and Mauser have anchored big game and will continue to do so. I do not see either going anywhere but into big game fields. I would not hesitate to hunt with either. There's magic in .284 projectiles.


Take Care,


R

overdrawn:

Your post is confusing to me.

1) why would you ask Leupold (a scope manufacturer) for loading data??

2) what does "PBT" mean?

3) how much 7828 are you using in your 257R to get over 3200 fps with 120gr bullets? Hodgdon lists 47grains as a maximum load, with a velocity of 2745fps. And 47gr of 7828 is listed as a compressed load. How can you get enough in the case to get velocities that are 500 fps higher than a maximum (compressed) load???

4) please identify yourself at the ranges where you shoot. If you are there, I want to leave

They shot about as good as the Sierra's in mine.

Yes it does! No issues killin chit with my short action Kimber.

I like the 100gn Hornady bullet and 48gn H4350. However, I recently loaded some 100gn Swift Sciroccos with 47gn H4350. I shot a feral billy goat with it and he dropped on the spot. The 100gn Scirocco penetrated diagonally through the goat and exited down his left ribcage leaving a hole about the size of a 20c piece (about an inch). Very happy with performance like that.