One of my local shops has this poor 99% MKII on the rack for weeks now in 257Roberts. I have always been intrigued by the caliber - some say it can be finicky. But, I have so much faith in my 270's I see only a duplication of performance for the most part. A caliber for whitetail from a treestand? An occasional coyote? Am I missing something?

Yes, you�re missing a fine cartridge!

I picked up a used 22� Ruger M77 in .257 Roberts a few years back (3?) and mounted a used Leupold Vari-X III 4.5-14 on top. It has become my favorite bolt gun.

75g V-MAX @ 3600fps = coyote @ 480 yards, many at shorter distances, and many prairie dogs
115g TSX @ 3013fps
120g A-Frame @ 2947fps

It�s all good, don't delay!

Get it if the price is right!

You won't be sorry.

Less recoil, flat shooting and shoots a variety of wt bullets well.

I think I was getting 3300 out of mine with 87 gr? If I recall... I'll have to check!

Well said!!!

1

You will love it. It is one of the cartridges that my safe will not be without.

I have two and another one being built as we speak. The 257 is my personal favorite for deer hunting and it can handle a wide range of shooting chores.

I had one and let it go while "thinning the herd". Probably will have another someday. It's just to nice a cartridge not to try! Low recoil, very effective, flatter shooting than most people realize - and a classic in my book.

Thinking about converting an old Spanish Mauser to the Bob someday just because I can.

I say go for it!

Bob will do a lot of yeoman duty on big game in the hands of a proficient shooter. It is a friend of the handloader, or vice versa if you prefer. It is surreal as a low volume of fire varmint rifle if you aren't concerned with pelt damage. The cartridge is NOT finicky to load, but is underloaded by modern standards at the factories. Manuals list a number of loadings with bullets in the 75-87 grain range up into the 3400+ fps realm. Bullets in the 100-120 range may nibble up into the 3000 fps range, certainly in the lighter side of that spread.

Wow, showed up to post my own thread about the .257 and found this on the front page. I ran across a Browning A-bolt with the pre-93 fluted style bolt with a nice vari-x iii 2.5-8 on it. Sounds like I need to go pick it up tomorrow.

Any factory ammo favorites with premium bullets? I don't reload. Thx, Q

I found a Mountain Rifle (LA) and rebarreled it in 257R. I like it!

SuperCub -

Nice! I'd show pics of the clays we broke at 500 yards a couple weeks back, but, well, they're broke...

You guys are makin' me wish I still had mine. Sold it to buy 25-06. Sold 25-06 and built 6-06, ....awww, forget it---2MG

Federal's 120 grain Partitions work just fine...

I really enjoy my .257 Rbts. Small deer and varmints with 100 gr and 115 gr. Partitions for everything else. I have found very few weights and/or loads that didn't shoot well. Even factory stuff. Go for it.

If you can get the .257 Roberts, by all means do so. Its a wonderful round. I'm still kicking myself for selling mine <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif" alt="" /> Not one of my stellar moments for sure <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif" alt="" />

HBB

I have two Bobs. The older one has filled the deer tag over 30 times. The newer one is a lighter weight rifle. Both are Rugers. Neither one is a target rifle, both are accurate enough for deer or predators. Neither one kicks as hard as my 30-06.
The round is simply pleasant to shoot. Think of a 243 or 6mm Rem that can use heavier bullets.

Too bad the barrel is only 22" or you could re-chamber to 25-06 and have a meaningful 25 caliber. Not much to be gained with a 22' 25-06.

I ain't gonna say a word.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My 22" 25-284 ain't gonna say anything,nor will my 24" 25-06AI............................

Get it if you want. Thats the fun of guns. As for myself I can shoot cartridges that make bigger holes without any takebacks.

The 257 RR does not fit many actions well. Is not popular. Its sort of in between just right. Not that it won't work some of the time when the demands are easy.

Is it a long range cartridge as say compared to the 270? N0.
Is it a optimum varimint round as say compared to the 243? NO.
Is it a optimum woods round for deer and bear? NO.
Is it big enough to always make a deep large humane wound? NO.

That enough. Some like it and it's a fun round for them.

How many extry yards of fun,is the 270 good for?

How many extry yards of fun,is the 243Win good for on Vermin?

How close do Deer and Bear gotta be,before 25's "won't work" on 'em?

Whatsa humane wound? In passing what would you point a 270 or 243 ay,that you'd not do likewise with a Bob?

75V-Max haul ass for fun,the 75XFB stuffs [bleep] in their tracks and the 100XBT is heap much impressive...wayyyyyyyyyyyyy out there.................

With a 30-06 which I am quite comfortable with in every way a rifleman could not only take 200/300 lb game but use the same rifle for larger game. I skipped over the 270 as its almost as good but less flexible. I would not want to shoot big game at long range with a 257 RR. I am sure some would.

The 243 will richocet less as optimum varmint bullets are available. If B&A's sizing up principle had been discovered in the 1930's the 257 RR might be a optimum long range choice for pests. It just lost out due to the bad bullets of the day.

"How close do Deer and Bear gotta be,before 25's "won't work" on 'em?" Whats the sense of testing cheap or small parachutes to see if they will get by?

"Whatsa humane wound? In passing what would you point a 270 or 243 ay,that you'd not do likewise with a Bob?"

I can shoot the 30-06 well. The small bullet of X type some aim for the bone I read. Don't want to be limited unless it's an advantage.

Old Burt Kellerstadt used to say "Don't force it, use the big hammer."

I'd have zero qualm using the Bob on everything up to and including Moose. Prefer the 25-284 however.

The Bob will smoke Vermin to NeverNever Land.

As to the too close for a 25 to "not work" on Deers or Bears,I'm not forced to speculate. They kill in routinely amazing fashion and I think highly of both the theory and it's Application. You could say it's my bread and butter.

You did much writhing,when you simply could have said" I'm OldSchool,have zero firsthand accounting of the particulars in question and carry a 30-'06 because it's all that I know".

Not too much shame in that...........................

Your making an unfounded accusation. I have seen the 257 RR fail. And its you who aim for the bone. Don't see any advantage in that unless its just a stunt.

Go on testing parachutes. Not much future in that. Not going to get famous advocating minimum gear.

I've seen dismal '06 results,dismal 375H&H results,dismal 7STW results,yada,yada,yada. there runs a common theme,in that projectile selection was sub par.

BT's are bombs in the '06,235Speer's will/do nuke outta the Six-Bits and the STW will scatter Hornie SP's and BT's with equal enthusiasm.

Of course I gun for bone and know X's to be without peer for flatout killing ASAP. In that scenario,chambering largely means dick,because placement and bullet construction are far more important in dictating final outcome,in repeatable/reliable fashion.

I'm the first to advocate one making his own luck and if a man can shoot and savvy boolit types,the rest is mundane in the way results follow suit.

I'm THE advocate of maximizing performance,skills and tackle....................

I rather imagine you saw the shooter fail. Blame the shooter. Or are we referrin' to the same cartridge? What is this RR thing, never heard that. "Reduced Roberts"?

By the by, if you think the .243 has a leg up on Bob for long varmints you may have missed a few chapters along the way. I'd never suggest it for the prairie dog towns but it do some amazing things out long with VMAX and the 85 BT. 'Course I'd not suggest the .243 for a dog town either, but that's just me.

I like the Remington Roberts name. I have an original 25 Roberts here in my cartridge collection made on a 7-57. It has a very gradual shoulder angle.

I compared the 257 RR to the 243 in terms of varmint bullet availability. There is a theory of relativity to bullets. Bigger bullets go further and do more. Of course a 257 RR would be a long range varmint round.

There was great hope for the 257 RR but just from those who hoped something different might happen by fooling with the case. The bullets were just not available

Bieler and Astles were the first to make dies that made good bullets.

I feel the same way about the 257 aand the 7/57.
I had a 257 it was a Mod 70 Fwt and super accurate with 100gr bullets but would not stabalize 120,s even at 2,880 fps.
I shot it a lot and the throat became worn so I rechambered it to 25/06. At first I was sad I lost my Bob but it was the best move I could have made. I could load down to 257 velocities or load up to 270 velocitices. At 3,160 120,s shot just fine.
Mule Deer says a 257 will fit in a short action but most are built on standard length actons and so is the 7/57.
Both are nice little cartridges but why not go with the standard length round and be done with it.
-Doc-

Minimum gear would be more like a .223 with Trophy Bondeds, I would think. For quadrupeds up to 3 or 4 hundred pounds at reasonable ranges, the Bob would be more in the middle of the range.

Here's a .257 Roberts story.

In 1992 my dad and I were headed into one of our favorite deer hunting areas. It was a pretty good hump (3-4 miles) up a steep ridge and we were going slow in hopes of not spooking the critters.

About 2/3's of the way in the ol'man hisses "freeze, I see a buck." Sure enough about 275 yards up the facing ridge in the edge of a pasture was a huge bodied buck meandering along with his nose on the ground trailing a doe. Pop asked me if I wanted to try him, but from where I was standing I couldn't get a clear shot between some trees so I whispered for him to "take the shot."

Dad wraps up tight in the sling of his .257 Roberts Model 70 Featherweight and lets go. At the crack of the rifle the buck humps up and turns back down the ridge. After 8 or 10 steps he slides on his belly.

The 100 grain Winchester Silvertip (old style with the aluminum nose cap) factory load went in behind the onside shoulder, made a soupy mess of the deer plumbing, broke the offside shoulder and lodged just under the skin.

This old buck was absolutely ancient. His teeth were just about gone and his muzzle was just about solid white. He was also one of the largest NC deer I've ever seen. As best as I remember, he dressed at 170 lbs. His rack was nothing huge, a non-typical 9 point with one crazy droptine and about a 16-17 inch spread.

Hard to believe its been 14 years since this hunt, Lord but I am getting old.

HBB

The 22� barrel on my Ruger is one of its main attractions. Why on earth would I want a 24� or longer just to get a .25-06?

As it sits, using modern +P data as the basis for my handloads I get the following:

3682fps, 75g VMAX
3132fps, 110g AccuBond
3013fps 115g TSX
2947fps 120g A-Frame

Here are some .257 Roberts loads from Barnes:
3648fps, 75g Solid
3149fps, 100g X
2975fps, 115g X


Compare that to Federal factory .25-06 loads:

3210fps, 100g TSX
3210fps, 100g Ballistic Tip
3100fps, 110g AccuBond
2990fps, 115g Partition
2990fps, 117g Game King

Please explain how the .25-06 is a �meaningful 25 caliber� and a Roberts is not?

The truth is that unless you go to a 26� tube, the .25-06 doesn�t offer much more than the .257 Roberts - but in doing so you give up the very thing that makes the .257 Roberts so sweet.

In a short action I prefer the 25-284,in a long action the 25-06/25-06AI.

But I can like all 25's in general....................

Coyote Hunter,

Those are some very stiff loads you show for the Roberts.
3600+ with a 75gr. bullet, 3150 with a 110gr. How long do the primer pockets last? I had a 6.5X257AI with a 23in. barrel and hit just under 3200 fps. with a 120gr. bullet. Your loads no dought are on the wire's edge. If you like the lugs on that Ruger bolt back off abit. Pedro

I've load for two of the 22" Ruger .257's. Both can be a bit picky on which bullet you feed them. For some reason, both needed up pressure at the forend. Never have been able to get them to shoot well free floated. Both do very well with the various 75 gr. bullets, but are picky on game size offerings. Mule Deer has stated that the 10" twist is borderline at Bob velocities for the 117-120 bullets so this may have something to do with it. One rifle likes the 115 Partition, the 2nd does better with the 100 Hornady. Got to try the 100 Partition in the near future. The 2nd rifle will group the 115 if I push it past comfortable limits on pressure. Still and all, they are becoming my favorite deer rifles. I've got a terrific M70 .243 and a M77 MKI in .250-3000 that may just have to wait on grandkids to grow up.

Here is a 257 story that I like to tell. An old buddys only CF rifle was a 722 257 and all he had was 87 gr Sierras. This guy was a gifted athlete, hunter and a very good shot.

He was hunting in the mountains of Vermont in the 60's when game was plentiful and leaning against a tree at dawn which is what we called posting back then.

Another hunter comes slowly up the hill and instead of going by he stops to talk. If your posting you don't want to talk.

The hunter asks what caliber he is shooting and when he finds out its only a 257 he tells him that it's really too small and the 30-06 is the gun to have.

Finally the hunter leaves and soon thereafter a nice buck comes walking by my old buddy. He shoots it with the 257 and it drops dead. As he prepares to gut it out the 'expert' comes back down the hill to watch.

As the guts come out the 'expert' throws up his breakfast!

My bob uses a 10" twist 3-groove 24" barrel. Shoots 75 gr., 100 gr., 110 gr., & 120 gr. handloads like house-a-fire. Never tried the 115 or 117 gr. bullets.

L/A Bob or S/A Bob?

Particulars?

I'm such a 25 Slut................

prepare to drooool.... <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

M77 MK1 LA all spiffed up. Mated to a Lilja stainless tube. Snug chambered, minimum headspaced. Trigger tweaked to 3lbs. All the metal including rings Tef-Cote'd in OD Green by Spradlin's. Everything dropped into a McMillan R stock that's been both pillar and glassbedded. Wears a Vari-X III 2.5-8x glass. Glass goes off to Leupold next week for a B&C reticle upgrade.

too much fun

Very nice.

Have related often,that my best 7mmRemmag was aboard a MK I Ruger RoundTop and wore a Shilen tube,with Timney trigger.

Rattlecanned it and she defined SLEEPER.....................

Oh, so true. M77's are quite the deal out there used if you can locate a 'smith that don't affect the vapors when suggesting they square and straighten' them out for ya.

Then if you use Ruger low rings and a 36mm Objective, the R stock makes for a moderate priced, high quality prone stock.

too much fun

Pete_in_Idaho �
As I stated, the loads are based on +P data, which runs 50,000 CUP. Ruger chambers the same action for the .25-06 which runs 53,000 CUP and the .300 Win Mag which runs 54,000 CUP. Further, my Ruger .257 has a lot of leade (freebore). The primers are fine and the pockets are still tight after numerous firings, no sticky bolt lift or extractions, etc. While I would NOT recommend trying to achieve my velocities in an older rifle, these loads seem quite safe in my particular Ruger.

For example, take the 115g TSX load. Barnes claims 2901fps with the XFB and 45.0g H4350. Barnes also claims you can go up 1-2 grains with the TSX bullets. I�m getting 3013fps with 44.5g H4350, a half grain less than maximum for the XFB and even further under maximum for the TSX bullets. If you look at Hodgdon�s data for 115g bullets and H4350, 43.0g with the Partition runs only 44,400CUP.

Coyote:

My 24" barreled 1909 Mauser 25-06 chronos 3150 with 120 grain Partitions and 3220 with 115 grain Accubonds and X's.

To me, that's a bit more meaningful than 2975, but that's just MO.

Whatever makes ya feel good.

MM

Why do some people buy a .257 Roberts and then try to jack it up to a .257 Weatherby? The same goes for every standard cartridge.

I agree the .25-06 will do more than a .257 Roberts. Your original statement, to which I was responding, said


Even you seem to agree that a .25-06 with a 22� tube doesn�t provide much advantage over a 22� .257 Roberts, and I�m willing to bet that your .25-06 does NOT have a 22� tube.

My point was that even with different barrel lengths the .257 Roberts with modern loads performs well enough to do almost everything you can do with a .25-06. Given that the vast majority of game is taken well within the .257�s range, the .25-06 provides diminishing returns. Not zero returns, just diminishing.

For example, my 120g A-Frame load, when zeroed for Maximum Point Blank Range for a 6� diameter target (the bullet is never more than 3� above of below line of sight), provides a MPBR of 288 yards and delivers 1379fpe at the 300 yard line. If we assume you can get the same 3150fps velocity with the A-Frames as you do with the Partitions, your .25-06 provides a MPBR of 305 yards and delivers 1598fpe at the 300 yard line. Other factors being equal, both will kill very well at either range.

If we stretch the range out to the point where bullet drop is 10�, the .257 reaches 355 yards and delivers 1246fpe while the .25-06 reaches 375 yards and delivers 1397fpe. At 375 yards the .25-06 has a nominal 3� advantage in trajectory and 200fpe advantage in retained energy. In 25 years of hunting Colorado big game, my longest shot, as was later measured with a GPS, was 350 yards, well within the .257�s capability.

If you�re reaching way out there for antelope, the .257 will provide 1000fpe at 470 yards with a drop of 30.8�. The .25-06 has a similar drop of 31.3� drop at 500 yards, at which range it provides 1106fpe. At that range (500 yards) the .3257 has dropped an additional 7� to -38� and retained energy falls to 943fpe. So yes � given a longer barrel length, the .25-06 provides an advantage at longer ranges, but I suspect that most people who are prepared to deal with the 31.3� drop of a .25-06 could deal equally well with the 38� drop of the .257 Roberts.

Your contention that a .25-06 is a �meaningful 25 caliber� while suggesting that a .257 Roberts is not is an argument that doesn�t hold water, even given different barrel lengths. To achieve its advantages, which don�t materialize until well past the range at which most game is taken, the .25-06 burns about 22% more powder and sacrifices the handiness of a 22� barrel.

I�m not knocking the .25-06 in any way and in fact think it is a superb cartridge. But to contend it is not a �meaningful caliber� is like suggesting the .30-06 is not a meaningful cartridge because the .300 Win Mag provides an advantage in a small percentage of actual hunting situations.

Think we had this discussion before. I quite agree with the other fellow. Why try to make the Roberts into something it isn't? The beauty of the bob is that it's a mild cartridge that gives good volcity. One can push the 25/06 also, but whatever the cartridge - the costs are short case and barrel throat life, also more stress on the action. It's possiable to hit 3500fps. with 100grs. and 3250 with the 117gr. in the 25/06 and still has the primer pockets last more then 2 or 3 shots. but the cost is the same as with anyother cartridge. I have 2 25/06s, 1-24in. barrel & the other with a 23in. barrel they give almost identical volcitys. Had a 25/06 on a Springfield with a 22in. barrel back in the early 90s and speeds were just about the same as the 2 I've got now. Maybe 50-60 ft. less.

SuperCub,

I like that one!

BTW, My severely handy-capped, short action / 22 inch barrel Mnt Rifle Bob will only do 3100 fps with 100 grn TSX's into .5 moa, but I guess I'll get by. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Guess we�re just going to disagree on this one.

Increasing the velocity for a 120g bullet from 2807fps (the velocity of a Federal 120g Partition load from my rifle) to 2947fps (my handload velocity for a 120g A-Frame) increases recoil from mild and comfortable 11.1 foot-pounds to an excruciatingly painful 12.1 foot pounds. (For comparison, 12.1 foot-pounds recoil is about the same as 170g loads in my Marlin .30-30.)

So far I haven�t experienced short case life and the stress on the action is no greater than other cartridges for which the action is chambered � like the.25-06 or .300 Win Mag or any of the various 52,000 CUP cartridges, yet I don�t hear you calling for people who shoot those cartridges to download them.

IMHO its not a matter of trying to make the .257 Roberts something it isn�t, it�s a matter of loading it to its capability.

Handloader #221 has an excellent article penned by John Barsness entitled "Bob" Revisited. In it he does an excellent job explaining the whys and whats of loading (NOT overloading) the 257 Roberts to it's potential. A "must read" in my book. I used it as a guideline when loading for my Roberts and had very good luck doing so.

kecatt,

I agree! That article came out within a month of aquiring my Bob. It's in my "reference pile" on my bench. <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

Reviewing my load data shows 3020fps for a 100 grain Interlock at a touch under 1", 3 shot groups in my M77, with COL set at 2.9". IIRC I was able to work up to over 3100fps as per JBs data in the article. 3020fps gave the best accuracy and shoots flat enough for me.....

Coyote:

Sorry you took my original comment, which was more or less tongue in cheek and meant to bit a bit humorous, so seriously.

The Bob is a fine cartridge and a very nostalgic one at that and I like nostalgia as in 300 H&H, 30-06, etc.

You have the numbers pretty much correct and they jibe with my calculations from Remington's Shoot program but I guess I do view the numbers in a bit of a different light or perspective.

On a gun such as the 257 or the 25-06, I limit the top end of the game spectrum to deer and the range to wherever the velocity is at 2000 FPS and energy to >1000 FP.

I do not talk in terms of MPBR........I talk about where I'm zeroed and know the drop from there. I use mostly Mil-Dot scopes and have the luxury of a 500 yard range to verify the data..........rarely does real life = the computer calculations; usually not quite as good. One explanation is in the BC's given by bullet manufacturers - most are too optimistic.

However, I digress.

Your Bob, by your numbers and mine show the 120 gr. A-Frame, BC=.382, with 31" of drop, 927 FP of energy and a remaining velocity of 1865 FPS at 500 Yds. This is from a MV of 2975 which I think is VERY optimistic from a 22" barreled 257, but, OK, anyway.

My 25-06 with the same bullet (which I would not use because of the low BS and I'm not going to shoot elk) starts out at MV = 3150. At 500 yds. the drop is 27.5", the energy is 1065, and the velocity is 2000 FPS.

These numbers differences are not great and PROBABLY have little real world effect on performance MOST of the time, but what difference there is, is in the direction of the 25-06 and the only performance I am interested in is TERMINAL performance.

The differences translate to 15% more energy and 7% more velocity at the 500 Yd. range.

The difference in velocity & energy COULD / SHOULD mean more reliable bullet performance and this is MEANINGFUL.

At these reduced velocity numbers, I think that any amount of higher velocity, ESPECIALLY with a tough bullet like the A-Frame warrants having.

As I said, for long range shooting in this caliber, I prefer and bit more frangible boooolit, like the Partition or the Accubond. With the Accubond the statistics go up another notch on the performance ladder..........due to the higher BC and only slightly less mass. As the stats go up the difference between the calibers tend to grow a little more too.

But when all's said and done, you pays your money and you takes your chances.

Other wiidcats offer a little more velocity than the standard 25-06 and that's directionally a good thing. "Big Stick" on here, who seems pretty knowledgable, touts the 25-284 and the 25-06AI, both of which I have no experience with.

One thing I have noticed is that all .25's tend to kill somewhat faster than one would think.........that is, they are effective out of proportion to what they should be capable of. However, I will still draw the line for the upperlimit on game to mule deer.

Having said that, I still like bigger calibers better, mainly because of more insurance in velocity & energy at the same range...........at least it makes ME feel better.

Enjoy your Bob; like I said, I do like nostalgia and was not serious in my original comment in putting it down(grin). Everyone has their preferences and whatever makes you happy.............

MM

I guess we'll just agree to disagree. One could make the same case for the 250 Sav. vrs. the Roberts or the 25/06 vrs. the 257 Wby. All I'am really saying is that there is nothing majic about the 257 Rob. If you're trying to run with the larger 06 case then you'll be operating at higher pressure, say what you want but facts are facts.

One thing I find interesting is that JB says a bob in a short action produces the same as a bob in the longer action -- because short throat = less powder - same velovity. You say your Ruger has a long throat allowing you to use more powder for more velocity with less pressure. You can't have it both ways, which is it?

Pete_in_Idaho �

You are correct, there is nothing magic about the .257 Roberts. In fact in my Ruger the case is too short to take full advantage of the magazine length, something the .25-06 is much at. Nevertheless the short barrel makes it one sweet carry gun and it has become my favorite bolt gun.

I�m not trying to �run with the larger 06 case� with my .257 loads, but yes, I do load them to the high end. Frankly, in my Ruger there is no reason not to load the .257 Roberts to the same pressures as my 7mm Rem Mag or .300 Win Mag, although I don�t believe my .257 loads reach that level.

Actually what I am suggesting is that the long leade in the Ruger allows me to use more powder for more velocity with essentially the same pressure, not less pressure. A gentleman named Weatherby chambered his rifles with a lot of leade (freebore) for that very reason, although he bumped the pressures up a bit, too. In addition I seat the 120g A-Frames at 2.888�, or 0.108� over SAAMI COL maximum, which increases powder space. Even at that length the bullets are quite a ways from the lands.

As I have said, I don�t recommend my loads to others and certainly not in older rifles, but they appear completely safe in the Ruger and while they are probably at the 50,000 CUP level I doubt they reach the level of other cartridges chambered in the same action.

I load my son's Ruger M77 with 120 Nosler Partitions to an OAL of 2.97" and they're still .25" (yes, 1/4") off the lands.....by the way, the same OAL on my Remington 700 Classic and the bullet jump is only .02.

Both very accurate, but the Remington shoots less than 3/4".....I'm still tweeking that one. 48 grains H4831 SC

Regarding my Ruger .257 Roberts (and the .300WM for that matter), I like to joke that my loads couldn�t touch the lands with a stick. Perhaps when I get home tonight I�ll check and see what the distance to the lands is � don�t have that data with me.

As to accuracy, my Ruger also does very well. Last night I updated my chrono spreadsheet with target data from last weekend � 3 shots in 0.625� at 100. I noticed that my previous target data had been shot exactly one year earlier � with a group size of 0.65�. Gotta love it!

FWIW, your H4831SC charge is a half-grain higher than my 47.5g charge for the A-Frame. My 120 Partition load runs 2.896� COL and uses 46.0g H4831SC for 2904fps, but accuracy is not as good as with the A-Frames. All my .257 loads use WW +P brass and CCI 250 primers.

Remington brass and CCI large rifle primers here.....haven't changed in years.

The 48 grains of H4831SC show zero signs of pressure........could probably kick it some more but I can't think of a reason to do so.....if I wanted more firepower I'd buy another 30-06 and not the 270 since it's lacking on Texas whitetails as you've probably already heard. hehe

I can't see not loading a cartridge to it's potential,assuming the action is capable.

You boys slug it out and I'll drive the 23" 25-284 at 3750 with 75's and 3400 with 100's........................

I'm way above what all reloading mauals call safe in the Roberts.....if there is any gain that can be had it won't matter to the animals we hunt in East Texas. That includes pigs in excess of 300#'s......can't see the effort in getting anal over a few more feet per second......these are awesome rounds.

The 25/06 Springfield I had with a 22in. barrel started life as a 257 Rob. with a long throat. The barrel was a Shilen if I remember correctly. Again I must disagree with you. If a barrel has a longer throat it takes more powder to bring the pressure up and also velocity. You may or maynot be able to go beyond the velocity that is reached with a standard throat, just use more powder to get there. That's why the Springfield ended up a 25/06. I could never get over 2900fps. with a 117gr. bullet/H4831 or Win. 785 and keep the primer pockets tight for more then 2-3rds. Saw a friend set back the lugs on a nice G33/40 mauser in 257 Roberts trying to load it to more then what it was designed to do.

Disagree all you want but you have two different people telling you the velocities they are getting in their long leade Ruger rifles with no signs of excess pressure.

That's why the Springfield ended up a 25/06. I could never get over 2900fps. with a 117gr. bullet/H4831 or Win. 785 and keep the primer pockets tight for more then 2-3rds. Saw a friend set back the lugs on a nice G33/40 mauser in 257 Roberts trying to load it to more then what it was designed to do. [/quote]

This is why I don�t recommend my Roberts loads to anyone � every rifle is different. But I see no compelling argument why the .257 Roberts should not be loaded to SAAMI +P pressures in a modern rifle.

The faith you have in your .270's negates the need for the .257 Roberts, other than the 'need' for something different.


If anything, go BIGGER!
.338 Win.Mag. is a great choice.
.375 H&H is even better.

On a side note, we have yet to recover a Partition from the Roberts. How much more does one think is needed than an accurate load that is not pushing the pressure envelope?


If you want more than take a chance with a 270. HA!

Since this was a response to my post I will assume it was directed toward me.

I don�t own a .270 anything, never have, but have long considered a .270 with a 150 Partition or better as the minimum I would recommend to an out of state hunter coming for a rare and maybe once in a lifetime elk hunt. My 7mm Mag with 160�s has served very well with a good percentage of bang-flops, but nothing a .270/150 couldn�t have done equally well.

A .300 was on my wish list for a long time, an itch I scratched a couple years ago. I�ve also wanted something in a .338 or .375 but wanted something without a belt. (As an engineer the superfluous belt offends.) Considered the Dakota and RUM cartridges but held off for various reasons. Looks like the new Ruger 375 that will be available next spring is just what I�ve been wanting.

My Marlins in .375 Win and .45-70 have both taken game. The .375 Win dropped a buck antelope at 167 lasered yards � 220g, in and out, bang-flop. The .45-70 was pushing a 350g North Fork to 2183fps and dropped a forkhorn mulie at 197 yards and a 6x6 bull elk at 213 yards. The buck went a few yards, pumping buckets of blood onto the fresh snow as it did. The bull never moved, it just tipped over. Have to say these experiences convinced me of the efficacy of big bullets, even at rather low velocities.

The .257 Roberts, however, has earned a permanent place in the safe. IMHO the .257 Roberts and the .25-06 are the ultimate dual-purpose cartridges. I use a 75g V-MAX for varmints and load 110g Accubond, 115g TSX, and 120g A-Frame bullets for the bigger stuff. The shorter-barreled Roberts get the nod as a truck and carry gun even though the .25-06 provides more top-end velocity. My Roberts has taken quite a few coyotes and prairie dogs but is a big game virgin � something I hope will change this coming weekend. The 120g A-Frames will be in the chamber.

At normal Roberts velocitys it hard to keep almost any 117-120gr. bullet inside the chest cavity of a deer or antelope. When I was shooting the Roberts my favorite bullet was the Hornady 120gr. H.P. The only bullet I ever recovered was when I shot a black bear that I had called in and spooked someway. I shot it in the rump running away and found the bullet way up in the chest . I consider that bullet too soft at 3000fps. plus in a bigger 25cal.

Recovered a 117 BTSP Hornady from #1 son's Roberts with IMR 4350....42.5 grains, a mild load but max according to the manual I used in 1988 (still use this manual)......he shot a spike buck in Mississippi with this very accurate load through the front right shoulder at 80 yards and I recovered the bullet after it smashed the left shoulder. Deer DRT. Since that kill, and especially since we now are more likely to see large hogs we have switched to the Partition. Also have increased considerably the powder charge for the rifle. But, those mild loads are always available for our grandchildren and ladies. That's what makes the Roberts such a great round.

So after reading all the flames back and forth, does this mean I should go buy the new Ruger .257? Its at $400.

Yep.

I have a Ruger MkII 257"bob" which I really like(after my 'smith fixed the trigger, that is) <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/ooo.gif" alt="" />
It seems to like 100 grain bullets, I can get close to 3100fps out of a 100 grain pill. I am trying out some 75 grain Vmax for the coming spring varmint "season".
I think it is a cool rifle and caliber, not much muzzle blast or recoil. You should certainly buy one! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />

My cousin in Canada killed an elk with a 250-3000 Savage with one well placed shot. My father killed an elk in Colorado with his 257 Roberts. I have 2-250 Sav and 2-243 Win my next rifle will be a 257 Roberts since my brother inherited my fathers. Anyone who claims it is incapable of taking down large game is to lazy to put in the time to become the kind of hunter that doesn't have to rely on a 300+ yard shot to take an animal.

Snooze you lose. What VAnimrod said - "Yep".

Much as I like the .257 Roberts, it is hardly the ideal cartridge for elk-sized game. And a wise elk hunter prepares for a 300+ yard shot, then works for less. Sometimes closer isn't a possibility.

This little buddy did a bang/flop to a 257R yesterday. 100gr Hornady and about 50yds.

Nice Buck <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" />

HBB