257 Roberts

[Coyote Hunter]

Had my Ruger .257 Roberts at the range yesterday.  We were popping clay pigeons at 300 yards.  For game up to deer and antelope I think the Roberts is hard to beat.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  We shot a Rem. Classic in .257 Roberts for a couple years. I then sold it to a pal in Tex. and he used it some. To be truthful, the Roberts didn't impress me that much. We shot deer, antelope, coyotes and varmits with it. I think in its day it was a ringtailed wonder. But to me there are lots better calibers around.  One must also remember I am not a real fan of this caliber. Right now we have the .250 Sav. and a Rem. .25-06 with a custom Douglas air gauge barrel. I use the later for coyotes and varmits. Yesterday I shot a big mulie buck in the lungs at 75 yards. He didn't get away, but the blood trail wasn't anything if one would have needed to trail him.

[Coyote Hunter]

...Yesterday I shot a big mulie buck in the lungs at 75 yards. He didn't get away, but the blood trail wasn't anything if one would have needed to trail him.

Out of curiousity, what were the load specifics - bullet type, weight and velocity?  Thanks!

[Argonaut]

I recently got a Ruger # 1b in .257 Roberts and have shot groups well under 2 inches with it at 200 yards when i don't let the barrel get hot. My hunting load is 100 grain Hornady interlock flat base with 48.0 grains of H4831SC, cronographs at 3025 fps.  The rifle is frankly as heavy as an M-1, but after a shoulder injury, I like the light recoil since i practice with my deer rifle, and my AR alot. (at least twice a month) so it makes it more fun than painfull.

[Range Finder]

I inherited a custom Mauser 98 in .257 Roberts.  Has a scrolled bolt, hand made stock with hand checkering made out of bird's eye maple.  Has a Weaver K4 (made in 1949) which I had reconditioned.  Shoots very nicely and I'm loving this caliber.  Hope to take a deer or two this fall.

Range Finder

[tuck2]

g8r :Try free floating the barrel on your Ruger rifle  and  have the trigger pull adjusted down to 3 lbs. The Ruger rifles I have shot better groups after free floating the barrel.

[Maryland Hunter]

I've been wanting to build a rifle on a 98 action, just need to decide on the caliber. I've been strongly thinking of the .257 Roberts. Not to obscure, still can get brass and bullets for it, but different enough that not everyone has one. With all of the positive light shone on it from everyone here, I think the Roberts wil be it.

MH

[Coyote Hunter]

Maryland Hunter –

Its hard to go wrong with a .257 Roberts.  Had mine at the range this weekend and last.  The first session a friend and I decided to see if we couple hit clay pigeons at 500 yards using my 3600fps 75g V-MAX loads.  The answer is “Yes – easily”.  Yesterday my hunting buddy went 6 for 7 at the 200-yard line. 

I had planned to take my .30-30 as my backup rifle this year for the elk hunt.  It was acting up yesterday and I’ve decided to take my .257 Roberts instead.  With 120g A-Frames at 2947fps, anything I shoot will be going down.

[Edited to correct typo - we were shooting at the 200-yard line yesterday.  The 300-yard line was last week...]

[Maryland Hunter]

Coyote Hunter,

That is awesome shooting! Never hear anything bad about the .257, that's for sure.

MH

[T.R.]

257 Roberts seems to alwyas be compared to 250 savage or 25-06.  Yet others make comparisons to 243 and 6mm.  The numbers and trajectory are often discussed at length. All this is fine and good but the 257 can stand up on its own and be recognized for its own merit.

The original designers intended this cartridge for deer sized animals and varmints. If a hunter stays within these parameters he will likely be very pleased. 
TR