The Bob

TarDevil · Dec 22, 2015

After changing careers and starting my own business I'm now seeing some "light" on the horizon.
I had an older Ruger in .257 Roberts that was lost when my friend, who was modifying the gun, died. I still like that caliber and thinking I would like to find a used rifle so chambered.
Questions:

I don't reload, so will the Bob stick around for an appreciable time,
What do you suggest for a decent used rifle?

I'm a casual hunter, I like the low recoil, and I won't be taking shots over 200 yards (at the VERY most).

Olympus · Dec 22, 2015

I think factory ammo will be around for a while, it just may be hard to find locally and you might have to pay more by buying online. I would certainly look into reloading for that caliber though. I don't think there is any company producing rifles in that caliber any longer.

eastbank · Dec 22, 2015

my roberts is in a older remington 722 and i shoot 43grs imr 4350 with a 115gr bullet and it shoots that load into under a inch with a 2x7 leupold. this doe was shot at 140-150yrds moving and at the shot she spun around and came running right at me, as i bolted the rifle to shoot again she went down. more than enough gun if you put the bullet where it needs to go.eastbank.

Steve H · Dec 22, 2015

If you have a hard tie finding the 257 BOB maybe consider the 25-06.

DRYHUMOR · Dec 22, 2015

There used to be more listed...

http://www.gunbroker.com/Bolt-Action-Rifles/BI.aspx?Keywords=*roberts

Kimber may still make them, Cooper does.

TarDevil · Dec 22, 2015

Olympus said:
I would certainly look into reloading for that caliber though. I don't think there is any company producing rifles in that caliber any longer.

I'd love to start reloading, but for now I have to choose either rifle or bench.

eastbank, I'm confident in the caliber. I think it's just about perfect for all the hunting I'll do.

Steve H said:
If you have a hard tie finding the 257 BOB maybe consider the 25-06.

25-06 is a great choice if I stay in quarter bores, particularly for those 200+ yard shots...but if I can't find something in .257 I might move on up to a 6.5 of some flavor.

DRYHUMOR, thanks for the links!

Blackrock · Dec 22, 2015

Pulled my Ruger 77 MKII from the locker and started playing with it. Added a Boyds stock, Rifle Basix trigger and a Burriss 4.5x14 scope. Just having some fun and seeing if it will work into a new Pdog gun for me.

MachIVshooter · Dec 23, 2015

The bob is a great round, but with it's requiring a long action anyway, I see little point in choosing it over the more capable and infinitely more popular .25-06.

I use a .25-06 for everything from predators to elk at all practical ranges. Only time I lug my 8mm mag around is if I have a bull tag (or moose)

Blackrock · Dec 23, 2015

The recoil of a .257R is about like a .243 while a 25-06 is like a 30-06. I like to use mine as a varmint gun for a little more reach and ability to handle windy conditions better than my .223.
Hard to find any .257 Bob brass right now but I find I can neck up and fire form some 6mm Rem that I have. Also 7x57 Mauser will work also.

Olympus · Dec 23, 2015

I find the 25-06 to recoil a little less than the 30-06.

dranrab · Dec 23, 2015

I love the Roberts. I have two, one of which is my favorite deer rifle. If you expand your options to include the 6.5 Creedmoor, you'll find quite a few good offerings. The Creedmoor is as pleasant to shoot as the Roberts and the factory ammo is ridiculously accurate.

MCMXI · Dec 23, 2015

The bob is a great round, but with it's requiring a long action anyway,

The. 257 Roberts is a short action round.

*I don't think there is any company producing rifles in that caliber any longer.

Kimber offers the Montana in. 257 Roberts and another is on the way.

GooseGestapo · Dec 23, 2015

Amen! Short action round indeed!

Though mine is a M98 Mauser w/3" chamber, factory and most manual recommended loads are at 2.8"oal!

If a "Bob" isn't a short action round, neither is the 7mm08 !!!!!

Is it's littler sibling, the 6mmRemington a "long action round" ?????
No!!!!

ExAgoradzo · Dec 24, 2015

I seriously considered the Bob a few years ago; I ended Swede, but the Bob seemed very much as stated above: 'varmit' round with extra kick up to largish deer (elk? Well not for me...).

Someone on this forum told me once, get the round you want and enjoy. If you want input, that's a different matter: we all got opinions! But I think the Bob would be a fine caliber with some history and you'll enjoy it. (After you master that, get the Swede

!)

Greg

MachIVshooter · Dec 24, 2015

The recoil of a .257R is about like a .243 while a 25-06 is like a 30-06.

The two are closer to each other than they are the .243 and .30-06. Based on the 7x57 Mauser, the bob splits the difference in case capacity between a .308-based (51mm) cartridge and .30-06 based (63mm) cartridge.

The. 257 Roberts is a short action round.

As long as you seat bullets deep enough, since the case itself is .23" longer than .308. Works out fine with stubby 87 or 100 gr. pills, but bullets like the 1.25" long 115 gr. Ballistic tip end up having to be seated .700" into the case if they're to fit a 2.8" SA magazine.

MCMXI · Dec 24, 2015

As long as you seat bullets deep enough, since the case itself is .23" longer than .308. Works out fine with stubby 87 or 100 gr. pills, but bullets like the 1.25" long 115 gr. Ballistic tip end up having to be seated .700" into the case if they're to fit a 2.8" SA magazine.

Max SAAMI length for the .257 Roberts is 2.780" compared to 2.180" for the .308 Win, so yes, it's still a short action round regardless of reloading issues. Talking of reloading, Barnes offers a 100gr TTSX bullet that is 1.195" long so what more would a serious hunter need.

DRYHUMOR · Dec 24, 2015

Berger 115gr VLD Hunting bullets are pretty good also.

If you happen upon a Model 70 XTR in 257, it will likely be a long action with a block in the magazine. A part swap and you can shoot what you want, if the twist rate works out for you.

dubbleA · Dec 24, 2015

DRYHUMOR said:
If you happen upon a Model 70 XTR in 257, it will likely be a long action with a block in the magazine. A part swap and you can shoot what you want, if the twist rate works out for you.

Copy that, my wife would probably sell a kidney before letting her 257 Rob go. I bought it back in 1984.

DRYHUMOR · Dec 24, 2015

Copy that, my wife would probably sell a kidney before letting her 257 Rob go. I bought it back in 1984

I've got one of those as well, it's in the very back of the safe....

Winchester brought back the .257s a couple of years ago. I'm thinking they were or may have been a Cabelas limited rifle, or Shot. Seems I was sorely tempted to buy one a couple of times, but haven't.

Hookeye · Dec 24, 2015

A Ruger #1 would be cool.

justin22885 · Dec 25, 2015

absolute worst case scenario, even if all ammo ceases to be produced it simply means youd just have to learn to handload for it... so, i wouldnt worry about it

The Bob

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