Author Topic: 257 Roberts (Read 5066 times)

banen · « **on:** November 28, 2006, 04:24:32 PM »

Wanted to get your opinions on this cartridge? Seems like a decent whitetail cartridge, not ideal but acceptable. One question I have is why do most of the factory loads for it come in the round nose variety? Seems like most people interested in a 25 caliber would want a spire or boattail. Just seemed odd to me. I consider the 243 marginal for deer, is the 257 better than that at least? Whats teh deal with the +P too?? I veaguely remember this version allows a slightly higher max pressure?

ratgunner · « **Reply #1 on:** November 29, 2006, 01:02:18 PM »

It's great if you reload.

TNrifleman · « **Reply #2 on:** November 29, 2006, 01:35:05 PM »

The 257 Roberts is a fine deer cartridge. The factory loaded ammo does include several spire point bullets as well as the traditional round nosed 117 grain bullet. All will work quite well in competent hands. The handloader does have an edge with the Roberts, but that is also true with many other cartridges. I have a Ruger Model 77 chambered in this grand old round and I handload for it. I prefer 100 grain Nosler Partitions for hunting, but many other bullets will do nicely. Don't ley anyone mislead you, the "Bob" is plenty for most any deer hunting chore. Li have come to really like this easy to shoot, accurate cartridge.

Thebear_78 · « **Reply #3 on:** November 29, 2006, 02:07:58 PM »

One of the best all around whitetail rounds available. I know a guy who has used his for 20 years and accounted over 50 whitetail to its credit. Its right on the heels of the 25/06. Deer aren't really that big and the bob is good enough for any deer walking. It would work fine for a close range elk in a pinch too.

Slamfire · « **Reply #4 on:** November 29, 2006, 06:55:28 PM »

Since it is commonly chambered in short actions, seating heavy spitzers properly, leaves a round too long for the action. When Remington first loaded it, they standardized on 3031 powder, and basically ignored slower burning developments. In those ancient days it was mighty tough on the bullet companies to make a well balanced bullet, except that kinda round nose offering. Then handloaders taught even old green a lesson, hence the +P loadings.

257 roberts · « **Reply #5 on:** December 02, 2006, 05:03:43 PM »

Its a SMOKING whitetail round!!! every bit as good as a 2506.

akpls · « **Reply #6 on:** December 03, 2006, 03:31:00 PM »

I will soon be handing one of my Bob's off to my 12 year old son who wants to use it for the smaller game (steenbok, etc.) on our next Africa trip. That still leaves me 2 to play with and even though I do reload for it, the factory Hornady loads work just fine.

major257 · « **Reply #7 on:** December 04, 2006, 02:35:02 AM »

I have 2 roberts myself. One ruger M77 and one 13" VVG encore custom. They will never be sold. I handload and bought as many 117gr rem corlkt noses that I could find. I don't think they offer them bulk anymore? But with a little work I found a load that works quite well out of the rifle and extremely well out of the pistol. Both guns have put whitetails on the ground. Great caliber.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #8 on:** December 04, 2006, 06:14:02 PM »

Its my belief the .257 Roberts +P is the best dual-purpose cartridge available (varmint to deer).

My 22" Ruger pushes 120g A-Frames to 2947fps and 115g TSX to 3013fps. The 75g VMAX exits at over 3600fps and I've used ti to dump a coyote at 487 yards. We've also used them to break clay pigeons at 500 yards at the range.

lucky guy · « **Reply #9 on:** January 15, 2007, 06:38:07 PM »

This was originally a wildcat round I think, and was designed to be the ultimate varmint round. The factory loads were all very conservative on the pressures, and if loaded to 25-06 pressures it'll match it. There is also the 257 ackley improved that is highly regarded too, slightly hotter than the regular 257. There's lots of information on the web about it.

Don Dick · « **Reply #10 on:** January 19, 2007, 03:56:24 AM »

Coyote Hunter, I am not sure the 25-06 is not the best dual purpose cartridge.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #11 on:** January 19, 2007, 04:05:49 PM »

Quote from: Don Dick on January 19, 2007, 03:56:24 AM

Coyote Hunter, I am not sure the 25-06 is not the best dual purpose cartridge.

I'll grant the .25-06 comes in a close second.

Hard to beat a Ruger 22" Roberts for handy.

nomosendero · « **Reply #12 on:** January 20, 2007, 11:01:26 AM »

Quote from: Coyote Hunter on January 19, 2007, 04:05:49 PM

Quote from: Don Dick on January 19, 2007, 03:56:24 AM
Coyote Hunter, I am not sure the 25-06 is not the best dual purpose cartridge.

I'll grant the .25-06 comes in a close second.

Hard to beat a Ruger 22" Roberts for handy.

I agree if you want short & handy, it is great & since a 25-06 needs at least a 24" tube this is a valid point. I have a short & handy or 2 in my safe, but for my main Varmit/Big Game rifle, short & handy was the last thing on my mind. And in that case the 25-06 wins & a 26" is even better. I use a Sendero 26" in 25-06AI and the weight for me is desirable & what I prefer. So in this case the type of rifle & the way you use it determine which is better & yes I carry it alot.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #13 on:** January 20, 2007, 02:24:56 PM »

nomosendero -

I was actually leaving a gun show to go buy a Ruger .25-06 when I literally bumped into a guy selling the Roberts. $400 for like-new condition (no scratches under the slide safety, something I fixed the first couple trips to the range) with Leupold M8 4x scope in the rings. Since I had just paid $100 for an identical scope, I figure the rifle cost me $300.

It now wears a Leupold VX-III 4.5-14x I picked up used at another show.

I still think about getting a .25-06 on occasion but can't figure the benefit over +P Roberts loads. And don't want a Weatherby. Now if Ruger necks down the .375 Ruger case I'll have a reason to lay down the cash.

So nothing against the .25-06, I think its a great round. Ended up with the Roberts by fortuitous accident. The .25-06 is a much better choice for someone that doesn't handload.

Duckbill · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2007, 02:15:44 AM »

Quote from: nomosendero on January 20, 2007, 11:01:26 AM

I agree if you want short & handy, it is great & since a 25-06 needs at least a 24" tube this is a valid point. I have a short & handy or 2 in my safe, but for my main Varmit/Big Game rifle, short & handy was the last thing on my mind. And in that case the 25-06 wins & a 26" is even better. I use a Sendero 26" in 25-06AI and the weight for me is desirable & what I prefer. So in this case the type of rifle & the way you use it determine which is better & yes I carry it alot.

I love my 25-06, but I wanted something in a lightweight configuration. I have always wanted a 257Rob. So, I'm building a 257Rob on a VZ-24 with a 21" barrel. I love the quarter bores!

Tackleberry · « **Reply #15 on:** January 31, 2007, 07:43:12 AM »

sounds like .257 roberts would be a great match for intermediate action like the Mauser Model 24/48 Yugo....

Argonaut · « **Reply #16 on:** February 04, 2007, 01:39:27 PM »

I have a .257 Roberts in a Ruger #1 B with a 26 inch barrel. I can get into the lower range of the .25-06 with less powder using 100 gr bullets. I have shot groups under 2.0 inches with it at 200 yards if I started with a cold barrel everytime. I would use it on any animal in the whitetail/muledeer range, and in a pinch with a nosler bullet, I would use it for elk, though I have a 30-06 for that.

Gregory · « **Reply #17 on:** February 04, 2007, 02:31:06 PM »

My 25/06 is a 22" barreled Browning Stainless Stalker and it's ballistics are on par with the 257 Bob, due to the short tube. Both are great whitetail rounds. My 25/06 has only been used on 'yotes and groundhogs since I live in the midwest.

It's my favorite centerfire.

greyling · « **Reply #18 on:** March 27, 2007, 06:11:25 PM »

I've got a savage 110L custom job in .257 ackley imp I found a some random gun shop, it's terrific. I love the caliber and regularly put bullets through the same hole at 100yds with my mediocre handloads. my uncle has a browning in regular 257 that he likes a lot too. they sure are loud though.

Slamfire · « **Reply #19 on:** March 29, 2007, 06:36:35 PM »

Quote from: lucky guy on January 15, 2007, 06:38:07 PM

This was originally a wildcat round I think, and was designed to be the ultimate varmint round. The factory loads were all very conservative on the pressures, and if loaded to 25-06 pressures it'll match it. There is also the 257 ackley improved that is highly regarded too, slightly hotter than the regular 257. There's lots of information on the web about it.

Yes it was a wildcat, and went through several variations before big green standardized it. Ned Roberts did design it to be a dual purpose round though shooting a 100 grain bullet at 3000 fps. Back in those days that was considered quite a feat. The Ackley version will do anything the .25-06 will do and in some rifles even more.

Inrut24/7 · « **Reply #20 on:** April 08, 2007, 02:50:23 AM »

I have a tang safty m77 roberts. I took a few deer with the 120 grain nosler partitions and a few with the 117 hornady +p loads. It sure got the job done,but that was back in my high school days when It seemed cool to have a big rifle, A 7mm mag soon became my deer rifle. The roberts now wears a 6x24 and loves 75 gr V-max's over 41.5 grains of RL 15. It was my first centerfire rifle and is still my most prized gun in the safe.

SingleShotShorty · « **Reply #21 on:** May 09, 2007, 10:38:02 AM »

The 257 roberts is one of the best kept secrets and really comes into it's own when handloaded. Great caliber for kids just begining to hunt.

slim · « **Reply #22 on:** September 30, 2007, 05:06:52 AM »

I just picked up the new Ruger Hawkeye in 257 ROBERTS, man what sweet package!

Fred M · « **Reply #23 on:** October 04, 2007, 08:46:13 AM »

Below his is a group at 100 yards using 110gr Accubond bullets using 49.0gr H4831.
QL prediction is 3084 ft/sec MV @ 57103kpsi.
The rifle a Ruger #1 with a 26" barrel seams to shoot well with most of the bullets I have tried.Don't know how well the Accubond bullets will perform on game,

I have another 257 Roberts a custom H&R Handi with a 24" barrel it shoots just as good as the Ruger.

The 25 calibers are my favorite deer rifles. An other one I have is an HBR caliber 25 HUNTER, this rifle has accounted for 29 deer with 33 shots.
100gr Bullet @3145ft about the same as the Roberts.

Cases are made from 22-250 brass and shortened to 1.812". This one is the most accurate of the four 25's I have.

Don't anyone believe the 257 Roberts or a 250 Savage won't kill deer. Last year I shot a moose with the 257 Handi. Of course the 25-06 is in a class all
by it self. A deadly 400yrd+ deer rifle mine is a Ruger #1.

257 roberts · « **Reply #24 on:** October 06, 2007, 03:20:02 AM »

NICE SHOOTING!!!

Huffmanite · « **Reply #25 on:** October 08, 2007, 11:17:16 AM »

Banen, don't think anyone explained the +P 257 ammo to you. The 257 Roberts had its beginnings as a wildcat cartridge (7 X 57 mauser necked down to 25 cal.) which eventually was produced by Remington and etc. The wildcat versions were pretty hot cartridges in their day and when Remington and the others began producing it, they reduced the powder load that no where approached the velocities achieved by the 257 wildcatters. Many years later, the + P was factory produced which had higher velocity and, of course, pressures. I have a 1891 Argentine mauser action that I had rebarreled in 257R. Great shooting rifle, but I should only shoot the regular load 257R ammo in it, which pretty much limits me to Remington ammo. Shooting the 257R +P ammo, which is what Federal, Winchester and others make, in my old small ring Argentine action would not be wise to do. Furthermore, with the development of the .243 and the 25-06, the popularity of the 257 Roberts began a serious decline, which is a shame for it is still an excellent cartridge.

Fred M · « **Reply #26 on:** October 08, 2007, 12:37:30 PM »

In a modern action like my Ruger #1 or the Ruger bolt action, the 257R can
be loaded to the same pressure as the 25-06. With loads as such the 257R
is right at the heels of the 25-06.

If you go with a 257AI you right at the 25-06 velocity level. This is one
fine wildcat easy to make.

With factory ammo this is not possible since it is under-loaded and
operates with less pressure.

Foggy · « **Reply #27 on:** January 08, 2008, 11:11:59 AM »

I have 2 rifles that are my goto guns. My 35Whelen for the big stuff and my 257Roberts I love them both now if I could only find a shotgun I truely liked

Bigbuck · « **Reply #28 on:** January 11, 2008, 09:01:03 AM »

I bought loading dies and a couple of different bullet combos to try. I've yet to make it to the bench but have been VERY PLEASED with the factory loadings offered. I really like the Federal Premium Vital-Shok +P's with the 120 Grain Nosler Partition for deer.