The .257 Roberts

[cottontop]

Anyone a fan of the .257 Roberts? I really lucked out in my search for one and found a Ruger 77 on one of the auction sites. I didn't even know it until I received it as it wasn't included in the description, but the action had been glass bedded, the barrel free floated, and trigger work had been done so that the trigger is nice and crisp (a big improvement over the original factory Ruger triggers). I was assuming I would have to have all of this work done on it (or do some of it myself) and man was I surprised to find out it was already accurized. And, all of this for $500. It shoots my 87 grain handloads into sub-MOA groups all day long. I really like this old caliber; it should be more popular. I know, basically the 6mm's killed it, but it will do anything they will do and more. In fact, compare the 120 grain Roberts to the 130 grain .270 and they are pretty close. The 6mm's can't compare.
cottontop

 

[dreadpirate]

I have heard good things about them. The Hornady manual deems this cartridge as a versatile varmint and game cartridge. You can get 60 to 120 grain bullets for it; so I would say that's pretty versatile!! The 243 Win (6mm) I don't think has the same range of bullets available. There is also a 257 Roberts Improved. Never seen a rifle chambered for it; Winchester Model 70 was at one time available in that caliber.

 

[cottontop]

I believe that Ruger is the only company currently offering a rifle chambered in the Roberts. So, it is either that, finding a used Winchester or other make that used to be chambered in it, or a custom rebarrel.
ct

 

[timsclips]

I had a custom built .257 Roberts Improved on a Mark X action made for me back in the 90's. Still have it.

 

[noelekal]

Yessir! A special favorite rifle round of mine. I'm just now considering the handload I want to use when I dust it off and carry it to the deer woods this season. It's been a few years since it's been afield. A great cartridge for handloading and bench shooting fun. My rifle is a 1947 vintage Winchester Model 70 Standardweight. It really likes Sierra 100 grain spitzers and IMR 4064 along with the usual run of 117-120 grain loads and rewards careful handloading with top-notch groups.

Only have typical photos of it with deer taken or this crummy one taken at a bad angle for the late afternoon sun.

 

[petr]

nice winchester. that is sweet. cooper and kimber chamber them also. big fan.

 

[fast14riot]

I am really impressed with the cartridge. My dad built one a few years back and thn sold it. I was seriously considering buildin one but I decided on another .30-'06. The .257Bob AI is also known as P.O. Ackley's favorite cartridge. Also, it is the one improved with the biggest benefits for cost of most all the AI cartridges. Nice thing about P.O. Ackley's thinking, all "Improved" chambers will fire factory ammo for the purpose of fire forming. Accuracy isn't as great, but still not bad. Dies are still available as well.

Great critter caliber, enough energy at distance for longer shots on big game, buck the wind better than sub caliber cartridges, and has excellent barrel life! I still want to build one some day. I believe Savage has chambered barrels available for the 10/110 series, so you can have a new one without paying Cooper or Kimber prices.


-Xander

 

[Rodeoflyer]

It's a great round for hunting speed goats.

 

[jkingrph]

I slipped that one, deciding to play with the 6.5x55 Swede and 6.5 Grendel, then on up to the 7x57 Mauser. Looking at paper ballestics, it's a fine cartridge.

 

[parsifal54]

Everyone I know that has owned one has been happy..I used a friend's years ago and sent more than a few antelope to the dinner table.

 

[Mako72]

I too passed it up although my Dad has one as well as a 25-06. I have several 6.5x55 swedes, which are pretty much the equivalent.

 

[Wullie]

My dad had one when he was young and sold it to buy grub for the family. In 1970, I bought a small ring Mexican 98 Mauser action and sent it to Douglas and had a .257 Roberts barrel installed in that action. While that was going on I bought a Rhinehart-Fajen stock for it. Got it all in one place, drilled it and tapped it for Redfield bases, fitted up the action to the stock, blued it, put it all together and mounted a Leupold 2X7 scope on it. Shot it and the SOB was driving tacks.

Gave it to Dad for his Birthday in '71 before I shipped out to Nam. Dad killed a lot of deer with that thing. Dad's done hunting and he gave the rifle to my stepson for his first rifle.

It's a great load. My "go to" rifle is a 6.5X55 Swede. Also have a Ruger M77 in 7X57 that I DEARLY love.

Went through all the "magnum" BS phases and stepped back to older tried and true cartridges. One of my "zombie Killers" is a Model 1907 Brazillian 98 in 7x57. Got a couple K rounds of old milsurp ammo. It'll shoot a minute of man at 500 yds all day long. With good ammo that M77 will reach quite a bit farther.

FYI; that 6.5 Swede with the 139gr factory load has more energy and velocity (out of a 26" bbl)past 600 yds than does a 160gr 308/7.62x51 Nato. The Swedes and Nowegians OWNED the 1K meter target shooting until the US got the rules changed to allow the 7mm REM MAG as a military cartridge....

 

[parsifal54]

I have heard great praise for the 6.5 Swede...Makes me consider getting back to long guns.

 

[cottontop]

The 6.6x55 Swedish is a great round. I had a 'smith rebarrel a 1909 Argentine action for me in 6.5x55. It has a fairly heavy barrel. It is extremely accurate with lighter bullets (85 grains) and H380 powder. The heavier bullets shoot well too, but not quite as tight as the lighter bullets. For a long range varmint rifle, it would be hard to beat.
cottontop