6.5x55 or 257 Roberts?

[cgturner7]

I'm considering my next rifle purchase.  I currently own a H&R Ultra in .308 and my gradfathers old 30-06.  It will be used for Texas whitetails and javalina/coyotes...  I do not handload so keep factory loads in mind.  Which one would you choose and why? 

[nasem]

theyr both great for what you listed.  However, I favor the 6.5 because Im currently buying a Tikka stainless lite in that caliber 

I just see the 6.5 being more of a "all around" cartridge than the 257.  Think about it, you can load it up from 90 grain bullets ALL THE WAY to 160, thats HUGE spectrum of weights.  I also think factory ammo for the 6.5 is cheaper.  Currently, Igman ammo sells 139 grain softies for about $8 a box and it has good reloadable brass.  Wolf gold sells a box of 140 grain softies for $10 (very good for the low cost shooter)

[nabob]

The standard Remington/Federal/Winchester factory ammo only lists one offering for either round. If you don't want to handload, that is pretty much of a wash.

[TNrifleman]

I solved this problem by buying both the 6.5x55 and a 257 Roberts. I have had the Swede much longer and I really love this cartridge. The Roberts is growing on me though. Frankly, either one is a first rate choice for hunting most anywhere in the U.S.

[Coyote Hunter]

Given that you already own a .308 Win and a .30-06, is not even close in my book. 

The advantage the 6.5 has is that it will handle heavier bullets – up to 160g is available from Hornady, but 140g is more typical.  But you already have two rifles that handle 150g bullets very well.

In the middle weight, they both push a 120g bullet about 2900fps.

On the lighter end of things, the .257 handles 75g bullets very well and can push them to 3600fps.  The lightest bullets for the 6.5x55 are 95-100g and get pushed to about 3100-3200fps.

I’d go with the .257 Roberts.  Conley Precision Cartridge loads the Hornady V-MAX to 3600fps, which duplicates my load for the same bullet.  I’ve used my 75g V-MAX load to take a coyote at 480 yards and many at shorter distances.  The Roberts and the V-MAX have become my favorite varmint combo.  My 120g A-Frame load steps out at 2947fps (a +P load) and the Federal 120g Partition load does 2807fps from the same rifle. 

If you can’t get it done with the Conley or Federal loads you should be considering something other than a .25 or a 6.5.  Like your .308 or .30-06...

[Don Fischer]

You said you don't handload so I would not get either, I'd go with either a 243 or a 25-06. Texas whitetails aren't all thet big and you don't really need the 6.5x55's bigger bullets. The bottom line is that you don't reload. How easy is it to find 257 Roberts ammo where you live? An 6.5x55 ammo is loaded downby the factories, or so I'm told. In the 243 and the 25-06, getting factory ammo won't be any problem. Get to handloading and then I think I'd go with the 257 Roberts.

[Coyote Hunter]

You said you don't handload so I would not get either, I'd go with either a 243 or a 25-06. Texas whitetails aren't all thet big and you don't really need the 6.5x55's bigger bullets. The bottom line is that you don't reload. How easy is it to find 257 Roberts ammo where you live? An 6.5x55 ammo is loaded downby the factories, or so I'm told. In the 243 and the 25-06, getting factory ammo won't be any problem. Get to handloading and then I think I'd go with the 257 Roberts.

Conley will ship to your address, but I agree if the ammo source is the local Wal-Mart the pickings for the .257 Robert are slim.  Was actually leaving a gun show to go to Sportsman's to et a Ruger .25-06 when I bumped into a guy with a like-new Ruger .257 Roberts for sale.  No regrets and really like the 22" barrel, but the -06 is generally a better deal for the non-handloader.  Didn't mention it becasue the Q was specifically about the .257 Roberts.

[Mac11700]

I'm considering my next rifle purchase.  I currently own a H&R Ultra in .308 and my gradfathers old 30-06.  It will be used for Texas whitetails and javalina/coyotes...  I do not handload so keep factory loads in mind.  Which one would you choose and why? 

Sounds to me you kinda don't want to really hunt with your Granpa's 30-06...and you do have an excellent single shot I might add..one more than capable of taking most anything around..but..not too many varmint rounds as compared to the others.....Have you ever thought about sending it in to NEF and having another barrel fitted for it...You could do as Don has suggested...and get a 243 or 25-06...both excellent calibers in their own rights...or my favorite.. a 270 Winchester...As coyote Hunter has pointed out...factory ammo isn't a big deal if you know where to look...If your wanting a bolt gun...A 260 Remington would make a dandy rifle to own...as would the 257 Roberts...Lots of choices...and a wide range of prices to deciede on...

Good Luck

Mac

[Brithunter]

Hi All,

   6.5x55 all the way. Oh and Norma makes ammo and reloading bullets of 77 grains in softpoint and RN FMJ in 6.5mm 

[james]

I have a couple of rifles in 6.5 x 55, reload for them and think they are the greatest, but I must agree with coyote hunter.   To cover the light end for varmints the .257 would be better.  I use .223s for varmints and a  .308 or 30.06 for heavier stuff but if I had to use one rifle for eveything I would pick the 6.5.  (beware the man who has only one rifle... he probably knows how to use it)  I only wish I could be content with one rifle.  sigh   To get optimum performance from either caliber you will need to reload for them as several have stated above.   
james

[cgturner7]

Mac- You're right on the H&R.  What I'm considering is one of the rebore jobs like a couple have done on the NEF forum.  I love my H&R and would like to have something a little different, thus my choice between the 257 and 6.5.  I shot my first TX whitetail with a borrowed 257 Roberts and really liked shooting it.  But I have also read all the positive comments for the 6.5x55.  It's a good thing to be deciding.  Once I found a good shooting factory load I had planned on buying several boxes so I wouldn't be short on ammo.  I'd like to mount the scope forward and have a comfortable shooting scout rifle.