So I walked into the LGS the other day.....

Status
Not open for further replies.
Dustbowl

Dustbowl

Member
Joined
Oct 4, 2018
Messages
267
So the other day I stopped in my favorite hole in the wall gun shop to drop off a pistol I was selling for transfer paperwork. We get that sorted and he smirks at me and says “Wanna spend that money? I know you like the old stuff and this just came in 10 minutes ago.” He proceeds to pull out a gun case and opens it to this absolute stunner:
8C784EB9-E133-4FBB-A717-E1428991CBAD.jpeg
7F7A14C2-0908-45A5-A000-A65460D44553.jpeg 52F1275C-19E4-4936-AC0A-3A7EBD819734.jpeg

As I gingerly picked it out of the case he says “In everyone’s favorite forgotten caliber .257 Bobert. I’ll let you walk out the door with it for 475.” By golly I could not lay that money out fast enough.

Some put some time into this gun. All hand engraved checkering and they bedded the stock. She shoots lights out. Has the old Redfield base and rings on it. Cheap bushnell has gotten replaced with a good bushnell I had in case of these type of spontaneous gun in need of scope emergencies.

But here’s where my problem begins, I’ve found another 722 in .222 with the 26 inch barrel with an original Weaver K6. I’ve got a .222 already but what’s the hurt in one more? Talk me out of (in to) this second 722.
 
I'm not a fan of carving on modern rifles but that one is nice. Just enough to look good but not over power the gun. I would have jumped on it in a heartbeat. Enjoy.
 
Wow. Hard to imagine anyone letting that one go. Maybe the original owner passed.

Does it have Fajen on the butt plate?
 
This rifle speaks to me of American middle class aspirations in the post-WWI era. Probably owned by a GI bill grad with a family and an budget, who knew he was every bit as good as any Prussian Junker even if his pockets weren't as deep. A man who knew something about contemporary rifles and contemporary tastes.

Like a big suburban Ranch house or hot rodded Model-T, this rifle is a true artifact of the Greatest Generation. I'd inspect the bore and boltface, swallow my prejudices against Remington riveted extractors and buy it in a couple heartbeats.

(I might also stick a blank into that empty barrel band dovetail)
 
Last edited:
So have I got some news on this rifle. Got the new scope on it and took it to the range only for the first shot to break one of the rear windage nuts off!! I didn’t even touch them just dropped the new scope on. Good thing I’ve got extras. Then on top of that the brass came out of the gun a different shape than when it went in!
166DEF6A-6B25-4671-9F18-DAE1C0F47546.jpeg

I do believe I have 257 Roberts Ackley Improved on my hands here. I’ll have to break out the barrel casting stuff and cast the chamber to make sure it’s standard spec. I completely disassembled the rifle before hand and nowhere on it is it marked improved or ackley. Definitely going to improve my inspection process when buying used guns in the future. At least this was a safe wake up call.
 
Dustbowl said:
So have I got some news on this rifle. Got the new scope on it and took it to the range only for the first shot to break one of the rear windage nuts off!! I didn’t even touch them just dropped the new scope on. Good thing I’ve got extras. Then on top of that the brass came out of the gun a different shape than when it went in!
View attachment 912895

I do believe I have 257 Roberts Ackley Improved on my hands here. I’ll have to break out the barrel casting stuff and cast the chamber to make sure it’s standard spec. I completely disassembled the rifle before hand and nowhere on it is it marked improved or ackley. Definitely going to improve my inspection process when buying used guns in the future. At least this was a safe wake up call.
Click to expand...
Looks bobbied (bobaied) to me! Even better in my opinion! Congrats on the happy surprise and surviving a wake up!
 
Looks like an AI, nice score! :thumbup:

If I recall correctly, P.O. liked that AI version more than most of the other calibers he tinkered with because of the amount of improvement the AI cartridge provides over factory fodder. Of course, the Roberts was "retarded" with unusually low max pressures by SAAMI and/or the ammo companies due to safety concerns over old re-chambered rifles, hence the +P Roberts loads I have on the shelf. Ackley loaded it to pressures consistent with other standard .473" cartridge head diameter rounds and the .257 AI shines.

I've read that a proper annealing with improve case life, so give that a whirl and your cases should last longer than non-annealed brass does.

As for the .222, if you came here to be talked out of the gun forget it. Hell, if we do tell you to abstain it's because half of us want to get you to give up the location of the rifle so we can snatch it up ourselves ;). Go buy it! They don't make them anymore and it needs a loving home.

Stay safe.
 
Last edited:
Yup, looks like an Ackley to me. Just curious: did you feel a crush fit on the original cartridge when you closed the bolt?

Beautiful gun. As far as I'm concerned, getting an Ackley is a bonus.
 
Dustbowl said:
So have I got some news on this rifle. Got the new scope on it and took it to the range only for the first shot to break one of the rear windage nuts off!! I didn’t even touch them just dropped the new scope on. Good thing I’ve got extras. Then on top of that the brass came out of the gun a different shape than when it went in!
View attachment 912895

I do believe I have 257 Roberts Ackley Improved on my hands here. I’ll have to break out the barrel casting stuff and cast the chamber to make sure it’s standard spec. I completely disassembled the rifle before hand and nowhere on it is it marked improved or ackley. Definitely going to improve my inspection process when buying used guns in the future. At least this was a safe wake up call.
Click to expand...

IIRC, it's safe and common to make your own AI brass by fire-forming regular brass. The comment was made about annealing... it bears looking into. I've noticed comments about Roberts brass being in short supply. It'd be better to make it last.
 
To answer questions, yes the brass crush fit when chambered. After measuring cases I’ve found it’s chambered in the standard 40° shoulder Ackley. I’ve already annealed the fired cases and have them prepped, waiting on a neck die to arrive now. It actually shoots moa with standard Roberts factory so I’m excited to work up some loads.

As for the .222 alas, I have good and bad news. Bad news is I had to pass on it because someone else decided to pay much more than I could for it. Good news is those funds were immediately redirected into a Remington Nylon 66 which I have high hopes for.
 
Last edited:
Good thing about a properly cut Ackley chamber is that standard brass/loads (non-Ackley) normally shoot very well. Even a non-reloader can enjoy an Ackley - they won't get the Ackley benefits, but it will shoot "normal" ammo very well - brass just comes out of the chamber a different shape. I've fireformed well over 2000 rounds of "normal" loads in Ackley chambers on prairie dog trips and enjoyed excellent accuracy.
Natchez has a set of Lee dies in stock, if you are interested. https://outdoors.natchezss.com/bestsellers/.257-Roberts-Reloading-Dies
Midsouth has an RCBS set.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

C
  • Locked
Did I get a good deal, or did I get a good deal?
2 3 4
Replies
91
Views
4K
Art Eatman
A
D
  • Locked
So much for restraint
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
dispatch55126
D
U
  • Locked
So A Guy Walks Into His LGS...
Replies
21
Views
1K
StrutStopper
S
S
  • Locked
Stopped by my LGS the other day!
Replies
2
Views
606
savage1r
S
Waterboy3313
  • Locked
I had trade purposed to me the other day
2
Replies
39
Views
1K
Waterboy3313
Waterboy3313
Back
Top