.257 Roberts...

[Ron/Pa.]

I`m picking up a 7600 Pump, in .257 Roberts . Not familiar with this Cartridge except that it is a good Deer Round. Any suggestions on what grain to use . And also can the .257 + factory loadings be used/ Thanks.....

[targshooter]

I can help. Used to hunt on a farmer's place in upstate NY after opening day morning. Why after opening day morning? That was his time. He used a Remington 722 chambered for the .257 Roberts (essentially a necked down 7x57). He did not reload. Every year I made a gift of a new box of ammo, Remington Core Lokt SP 117 grain loadings. Effective? I should say. He shot the deer from a stand behind his barn. Sometimes in the heavy swale behind the barn and close, other times out to about 300 yards on the far edge of the field behind the barn. If he didn't get one there, he didn't get one. Of the 10 years I hunted there he missed out only a couple of years.
Let's see if Remington still loads this. Hmmmm, they do:
http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/centerfire/core-Lokt.asp
That would be my pick if I did not reload.

[WyoStillhunter]

Hornady makes two loads.  The Light Magnum has a little more mustard but less than 2" difference in trajectory at 300 yards when zeroed for 200.  Either Hornady load will work just fine for anything in the deer/black bear class.

https://www.hornady.com/shop/?ps_session=bd08b7af278e012f44bdab3a1d824143&page=shop%2Fbrowse&category_id=a7d3d7079cc335459625ae001429226d

[Sweetwater]

Talked with my Dad and he remembered using Winchester 100gr silvertips for his longest shots before he started handloading, back in the early '50's. He started handloading 117gr and 115gr Nolsers as soon as he could get his hands on them. When I lived in Wyoming, I used handloaded 100gr Hornadys and they were unmerciful on the antelope! I know you have elk rifles, but if you were to use the 257, the 125gr Barnes is maybe the only way to go. I had some, but never the opportunity. Only used my elk rifle for elk.
The +P loads simply put it into the same pressure world that the rest of the world are in (243, 308, etc). Use them and smile! It's one of the good ones!

Regards,
Sweetwater