257 roberts, new load-- as good as 25-06 -- maybe better

[Waldo Pepper]

My FN (Browning) made in Belgium in 1952, with a chrome vanadium steel barrel (not a liner) has pushed loads well past 3000 fps (3300 to 3600 range IIRC) and longest kill shot on a feral dog was about 450 yards in 1973 with a 90 gr BTHP running about 2900 FPS and it was a one shot kill that almost blew him into two pieces and scattered guts. It has a Herder's glass bedded Cherry Wood MC stock and still has that Leupold 7.5x50 AO on the rifle that I bought from Wally World that summer for $79.xx with the 10% employee discount a friend gave me.

Back in about '72 I popped a young ground hog at about 350 yards with a 75 gr BTJHP that my shooting buddy that day bet me supper and pitcher at the local Pizza Inn I would miss and miss by a couple of feet. I hit the hog dead center in the chest while he was standing up.

To be 27 again and not shake while shooting from a bench rest, let alone a by pod. Both the above shots were made from the sitting position with arms on the knees while sitting on RR rail. That was back when it was still legal to hunt on and from the railroad beds. Mater of fact when I stared hunting chucks with dad in the early 50's the RR paid a bounty on the animals, not sure but 50 cents is what I seem to remember.

Guys I still have my dads loading scale, powder scoop he used for years. I use a Dillon 550 press now days and check the powder every 20 to 25 rounds and it has never varied more then a couple .2 of a grain.

This has got me thinking I will dig out the 257 from the back of the safe, and fire a few rounds this fall. It has not been fired in about 15 years, the last shot dropped a 8 point buck at about 75 yards. The same gun got my first one (6 pt) in 1958 while running at full speed right to left at about 100 yards out. Took out his left leg bone, couple left side ribs and scrambled his heart and lungs and broke one right side rib, and grooved the right upper leg bone, lodging just under the skin.

[Coyote Hunter]

Waldo –

My .257 Roberts is a 22” Ruger made in 1989.  As do several of my Rugers, it has a long throat which, like the long-throated Weatherby chambers, allows greater velocity.  I run Winchester +P brass for the following loads:

3609fps = 75g V-MAX, H4895
3252fps = 100g TTSX, H4350
3162fps = 110g AccuBond, H4350
3013fps = 115g TSX, H4350
2947fps = 120g A-Frame, H4831SC
2904fps = 120g Partition, H4831SC
2899fps = 120g Grand Slam, H4831SC

Accuracy with the Partition and Grand Slam are OK for hunting out to 300 yards or better, accuracy with everything else is excellent.

Recoil is mild with all of these loads.  When deer and elk hunting in combined season I use the 120g A-Frame load.

The Roberts has become my favorite shooter and clay pigeons on the 400 yard berm don’t stick around long.  The 75g V-MAX have accounted for two coyotes in the 480-490 yard range, both first-round hits.