...
The hundreds of deer that these two rifles have accounted for in the last 50-plus years didn't know it needed a long action to be effective. Dead is dead, and Gramp was a dead shot.
Regards,
Sweetwater
Settwater –
You are quite correct in your statement that the .257 Roberts does not need a long action to be effective.
On the other hand, if one wants to drive the Roberts to its full potential, a long action is indeed necessary.
I know what CH means, buuut
To get max. performance, yes you can use a longer than normally acceptable action to get increased performance, the 257 Roberts is not unique at all in that regard. The standard or "long" action is designed for 30-06 length actions, the Ruger 77 "long" action come to mind. But the Rem. 700 long action is actually a magnum length My 270 & 300WM have throats long enough that I can take adv of this. These guns take advantage of the potential & in fact due to the fact the 300WM is a longer case, i will not bother with a Ruger in that round. But all of the fact ammo is not too long for Ruger & you can't say that The Ruger is unacceptable for '06 length rounds or even the 300, otherwise Ruger would not chamber it. But my 270 & 300WM rounds are tooo long for the Ruger & are great loads.
It is exactly the same thing!! So decide what your goals are.
For CH & others who are set up for the Roberts with dies, brass, etc. & they just want it & they want to use a long action, fine. But if someone wants a 25 & is not set-up for either round & will use a long action, I would agree emphatically with Billy & get a 25-06, the round is a good deal hotter & brass is much more available & better in every way really for MY uses.