The .257 Roberts thread

[Reg26]

Cabela’s anniversary Winchester Lightweight Super Grade version.

 

[meigsbucks]

I haven’t taken many head of game with the .257 Roberts, but when I have, it has performed well. I’ve used the 110gr Nosler AB and the 115gr Barnes TSX.

 

[JimP]

I might have to pull my Roberts out, it hasn't seen too much love since I got my 25-06

 

[hoytcanon]

I currently have two Ruger .257 Robert's rifles... an M77 Mark II Ultralight and a No.1-RSI... both are accurate with Nosler 115 NBT's and 120 Partitions.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Once thought to be a neatly dead cartridge, the .257 Roberts seems to be making a comeback. Both loaded ammo and brass have become available recently, and at a much better price than 2 years ago.

257 Roberts Ammo for Sale - Buy 257 Ammunition Today! | MidwayUSA

Shop 257 Roberts at MidwayUSA! We carry a wide selection of 257 Roberts at the best prices!

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Hornandy SuperPerformance at $49.85 and Nosler Custom Grade at $54.41 per box.

Both Hornandy and Nosler factory ammo is available again at reasonable prices. No, it's still not the PPU 30-06 at $17.99 a box some of us remember, but 2 years ago the Nosler was going for $120.00 a box, IF you could find it.

Nosler is very proud of their .257 Roberts brass, and up until last week was in stock at Natchez Shooters Supply for $57 a box of 50.

Natchez

www.natchezss.com

I'm totally unashamed to say that this out of stock situation is because much of this brass is now on the shelves of my reloading bench.

The wonderful thing about the Bob is that 6mm Remington can be necked up, or 7mm Mauser can be necked down to form brass. Not the best quality, but PPU 7mm Mauser brass is fairly common and cheap if you look for it. Brass life is also quite good if you don't hotrod it to max pressures.

The biggest reason for my love of this cartridge is it's power on medium game along with soft recoil. For a youngster, lady hunter or any recoil shy person, it would be hard to find a better cartridge than this. For coyotes through Mule Deer, and their equivalent in Africa it's better than the 6mm's, but doesn't overdo things like some overbore 7mm's. It's not to hot, it's not to cold, this porridge is just right.

Anybody else have a soft spot for the .257 Roberts? Feel free to post pictures of game you have hunted with the Bob, or your favorite rifle in the .257.

@skydiver386
I have a soft spot for anything 25 but the Roberts like other old cartridges really benefits from hand loading.
For Australia and dare I say 90% of hunting could be done quite happily and easily with the 257 Roberts.
I think the below suns up the Roberts the best.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I might have to pull my Roberts out, it hasn't seen too much love since I got my 25-06

@JimP
Loaded properly the Roberts ain't that far behind the 25-06.
I'm glad no one has mentioned the 257AI as it's not that much of an improvement.
@Wyatt Smith has an Australian 25-303 on a No4 Mk1 SMLE. In that rifle or a P14 it could be called a rimmed Roberts.
Bob

 

[Puddle]

My Aunt, on the adjoining ranch hunted everything with the .257 Roberts. No one knew it was underpowered using Winchester Silvertips and Remington Core-lokts. From managing coyotes during the Spring calving / lambing, Pronghorn, Mule deer and Elk it simply got it done without much drama.

That's where I learned to appreciate the quarter-bore.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

My Aunt, on the adjoining ranch hunted everything with the .257 Roberts. No one knew it was underpowered using Winchester Silvertips and Remington Core-lokts. From managing coyotes during the Spring calving / lambing, Pronghorn, Mule deer and Elk it simply got it done without much drama.

That's where I learned to appreciate the quarter-bore.

@Puddle

John Barsness paternal grandmother shot a slew of game including elk every year with her REM 722 ( I think it was) . John inherited it after her death and he continues to use it. His longest shot with it was 430 odd yards on a white tail deer. You can read the story and get great load data for it in his book GUN GACK. great read for rifle looneys.

Why is it the older generation especially the womenfolk could kill game with what we now call humble under powered cartridges but now the menfolk need big magnums to do the same job.

Either they were better hunters and shooters than we are now or game has gotten bigger and now wear bullet proof vests

Dang even @One Day... Kilt a slew of game in Hafrica using the humble 25 ( even tho it was a Weatherby) all with one shot from memory.
I rest my case your honour for the humble quarter bores
Bob
The 25s are like the 35s.
Under appreciated but get the job done without fuss and mild manners. Unlike me I ain't got no manners

 

[Wyatt Smith]

@JimP
Loaded properly the Roberts ain't that far behind the 25-06.
I'm glad no one has mentioned the 257AI as it's not that much of an improvement.
@Wyatt Smith has an Australian 25-303 on a No4 Mk1 SMLE. In that rifle or a P14 it could be called a rimmed Roberts.
Bob

It works pretty well too. I’d like a pre 64 in 257 someday.

 

[rookhawk]

@Wahoo anything you feel compelled to add to this conversation?

 

[skydiver386]

@skydiver386
I have a soft spot for anything 25 but the Roberts like other old cartridges really benefits from hand loading.
For Australia and dare I say 90% of hunting could be done quite happily and easily with the 257 Roberts.
I think the below suns up the Roberts the best.
Bob
View attachment 667953

The Roberts was always been loaded well below it's potential, but the new bullet designs, new powders and +p loadings really take it to another level. Hand loaders have known this since the early commercial loads became available.

IMHO, for anyone looking for a light rifle for anything from coyotes and Pronghorn to Mule deer, plus the smaller antelope of Africa, you cant do better than the 257 Roberts.

 

[Happy Myles]

I extensively used a 257 Ackley Improved on African plains game, Mule Deer and one Big Horn ram. Quite possibly one of the finest calibers I have ever used

 

[Wahoo]

@Wahoo anything you feel compelled to add to this conversation?

In the words of William Wallace-
Hold…..

 

[rookhawk]

In the words of William Wallace-
Hold…..

In the words of Judge Smalls @Wahoo

 

[rdog]

I currently have two Ruger .257 Robert's rifles... an M77 Mark II Ultralight and a No.1-RSI... both are accurate with Nosler 115 NBT's and 120 Partitions.

View attachment 667518View attachment 667519

Wonderful Ruger collection i have 6 77mk2s 1 Ruger American 7.62x39 & a NO1 in 303 British.