Semi custom 257 Roberts build

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303 hunter

303 hunter

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FEC9F404-78D0-4399-ACED-8C37A3A40351.jpeg A friend built me this rifle in 257 Roberts. It started out as a Serbian commercial Mauser in 8mm. Barrel is a 22” ER Shaw 257 Roberts 1/10 twist. Bolt, lugs and feedramp have been polished. Other parts include a Timney adjustable trigger, Leupold mounts and rings, and a Bushnell 4500 Elite 2.5-10x50 scope. Factory stock was refinished in hand rubbed linseed oil.

Took it to the range a couple days ago with a mid range hand load: Winchester brass, PPU 100 grain soft point, 36 grains Varget, and CCI 250 primers, loaded to factory 2.77” OAL. After bore sighting it shot 3 rounds touching at 100 yards. I’ll experiment more after deer season, but it’s gtg for now.
 
LoonWulf said:
Very nice rifle!
Nothing flashy, just classic and functional. Fantastic cartridge choice that fits and inhances the simple elegance of the build.

I'm guessing the scope mounts are spun around so that the bell would clear the barrel?
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The front mounts are made to be reversible(they can be bought reversible or not), and yes, the scope wouldn’t clear until reversed. There’s only about 1/8” between the scope and barrel.
 
My experience with the PPU bullets is that they are 1.5MOA for 5-shot groups. Occasional 3shot clusters.

The classic load for the Roberts is a 100gr Sierra ProHunter over 45.0gr of IMR4350. Its a 45,000cup load. Gets 3,000fps from my 22” ERShaw barrel (1983).
Other excellent loads are 49.0gr of H4831, 46.0 H414, 44.0gr H380. All 45,000cup loads (not .257Roberts+p). These are all under MOA from my rifle (5-shots). I’ve killed over 120 deer with my M98 Roberts w/ ER Shaw barreled Roberts. Even shot prairie dogs to 450yds once. Still my favorite rifle.

Wife and both daughters killed first deer with it.
added; it weighs 7lbs with 5rds of ammo. Bishop stock, 22 line per inch checkering. Aluminum floor plate.
Lighting doesn’t do rosewood tips and stock figure justice. Gunsmith friend built it for me in ‘83.
Oh, forgot. Leupold VariX II 2-7 w/Leupold Dot reticle.
 

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GooseGestapo said:
My experience with the PPU bullets is that they are 1.5MOA for 5-shot groups. Occasional 3shot clusters.

The classic load for the Roberts is a 100gr Sierra ProHunter over 45.0gr of IMR4350. Its a 45,000cup load. Gets 3,000fps from my 22” ERShaw barrel (1983).
Other excellent loads are 49.0gr of H4831, 46.0 H414, 44.0gr H380. All 45,000cup loads (not .257Roberts+p). These are all under MOA from my rifle (5-shots). I’ve killed over 120 deer with my M98 Roberts w/ ER Shaw barreled Roberts. Even shot prairie dogs to 450yds once. Still my favorite rifle.

Wife and both daughters killed first deer with it.
added; it weighs 7lbs with 5rds of ammo. Bishop stock, 22 line per inch checkering. Aluminum floor plate.
Click to expand...
The PPU bullets were available/affordable to experiment with. I’ve had great results with them in my daughters 243, so I started with them for hunting loads.
 
One of the most most underrated calibers out there, and to me it is my favorite. My Grandfather gave me his Winchester model 70 in 257 Roberts, when I was a teenager. It was made in 1949. It is one of those rifles, one would like to take to the grave with them. About 10 years ago, I bought a Kimber 84m classic select, in 257 Rob. It gets the field time now, to preserve the Model 70. It is a light handy little rifle. It won’t wear you out toting it and will not beat you to death shooting it. For deer and such, the 257 is head and shoulders above the 243. It is just enough, it is not over kill by any means. I know the powers that be, said the 243 was the better caliber, and said the 257 was dead. I think they did the shooting public a disservice by doing that. They put a good caliber in the grave to prop up a caliber that is questionable, as a deer caliber. I have seen more deer shot with the 243, to run for a long distance or never be found, than any other caliber. The 257 is a much better caliber. I know this will strike a nerve with some, but I would be willing to bet, they would come to the same conclusion, if the ever spent time with the 257.
 
Not going to argue about the .243 vs .257. I will make a point that both deer ive shot with my 243 were with 75 gr HPBT and both dropped straight to the ground. Well one jumped then fell hard. Both were bucks about 4-5 years old.

I have a 257 Bob in I think a ruger m77 or win 70. Cant remember which. I need to stretch its legs soon
 
Sweet.... Like LoonWulf said: " Nothing flashy, just classic and functional", and I really dig the 257 "Bob", especially since a friend got one a few years ago. Based on price and personal experience, the PPU bullets are on my favorites list. I'm currently using .311" 150 gr. S.P., PPU bullets in 7.62x54R handloads and having good luck with accuracy. Would like to test them out during deer season this fall. Good luck with the "Bob" this deer season. Looks like that setup is good to go.
 
Nice rifle. Simple lines. 3rds touching at 100... if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Seems some people just aren't happy if they didn't find an opportunity to pick a caliber arguement right in the middle of an otherwise enjoyable train of thought.
 
Nice simple rifle that shoots well. Classy set up. Looks like a rifle you just want to pick up and take hunting.

Dad had a 257 Roberts in a Ruger MKII and it shoots very well. He used it for about ten years before he quit hunting five or six years ago. He passed in April. Going to carry his rifle opening day this year. He was 91 ,so, the 257 was very popular with the gun writers of his youth.
 
mustanger98 said:
Nice rifle. Simple lines. 3rds touching at 100... if it ain't broke don't fix it.

Seems some people just aren't happy if they didn't find an opportunity to pick a caliber arguement right in the middle of an otherwise enjoyable train of thought.
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I also have a 243, and enjoy it too. Always wanted a 257 though, so I scratched the itch.
 
BigBlue 94 said:
Not going to argue about the .243 vs .257. I will make a point that both deer ive shot with my 243 were with 75 gr HPBT and both dropped straight to the ground. Well one jumped then fell hard. Both were bucks about 4-5 years old.

I have a 257 Bob in I think a ruger m77 or win 70. Cant remember which. I need to stretch its legs soon
Click to expand...
I meant no disrespect to anyone that uses a 243. That is just my opinion and we all know what opinions are like. I am sure there are rounds you like, that I don’t care for. I also would bet money you are a good shooter and know where to place a bullet. In the hands of someone that knows what they are doing, it is a capable round. The 243 seems to be the starter round for young hunters, and there is no room for error on deer size game with it. My main point is, from what I have read, the gun writers, at the time the 243 came out, sung it’s praises over the 257 Roberts, to sell guns and ammunition and caused a very fine round to become opposite. If you read and study about firearms, it is interesting how some of the writers, back then, had so much influence. That was my point. I meant nothing about what anyone likes or uses.
 
Likewise I wasn't trying to tout the 243 over the 257. Nor detract from the thread. I would feel comfortable taking an elk with old Bob, but not the 243.

Bob is a nostalgia round, like many others, who have been forgotten for newer cartridges. Those new cartridges are touted by the gun rags and now all over the internet. Some of the new ones come and go quickly and are likewise forgotten. Our culture seems obsessed with having the newest thing, and firearms don't escape that.

I mean in reality, 12ga, 22lr, 45acp, 270, and 375H&H would fill pretty much every need one could have for a firearm, yet there are 1000s of calibers. Its fun to experiment and play with the multitude of them.
 
303 hunter said:
View attachment 950047 A friend built me this rifle in 257 Roberts. It started out as a Serbian commercial Mauser in 8mm. Barrel is a 22” ER Shaw 257 Roberts 1/10 twist. Bolt, lugs and feedramp have been polished. Other parts include a Timney adjustable trigger, Leupold mounts and rings, and a Bushnell 4500 Elite 2.5-10x50 scope. Factory stock was refinished in hand rubbed linseed oil.

Took it to the range a couple days ago with a mid range hand load: Winchester brass, PPU 100 grain soft point, 36 grains Varget, and CCI 250 primers, loaded to factory 2.77” OAL. After bore sighting it shot 3 rounds touching at 100 yards. I’ll experiment more after deer season, but it’s gtg for now.
Click to expand...
303 hunter said:
View attachment 950047 A friend built me this rifle in 257 Roberts. It started out as a Serbian commercial Mauser in 8mm. Barrel is a 22” ER Shaw 257 Roberts 1/10 twist. Bolt, lugs and feedramp have been polished. Other parts include a Timney adjustable trigger, Leupold mounts and rings, and a Bushnell 4500 Elite 2.5-10x50 scope. Factory stock was refinished in hand rubbed linseed oil.

Took it to the range a couple days ago with a mid range hand load: Winchester brass, PPU 100 grain soft point, 36 grains Varget, and CCI 250 primers, loaded to factory 2.77” OAL. After bore sighting it shot 3 rounds touching at 100 yards. I’ll experiment more after deer season, but it’s gtg for now.
Click to expand...
I was given a rebarreled 1916 Erfurt M98KAR in .257 Roberts many years ago.I don't know who did the work but I've shot it a lot. One of the problems with it as a modern popular caliber is a common one with its companion cartridge, 6mm Remington, is it is a medium length case and doesn't really fit in a modern action. I also have a 25-06 which has become popular because it does fit a modern long action and is higher performance. Same cost in weight, scope, stocks etc. and if you're going to shoot your .257 you'd better be a handloader. All modern loadings for the .257 are really low pressure, thus giving away a lot of performance. Even +P commercial cartridges are less than 50 Kpsi. I am not a large animal hunter but varmints are my game. I use other calibers for that and have used the .257 for a lot of cast lead work on paper, cans and soda bottles. It is a fun caliber but It is one that has seen it's day as a mainstream item.
 
foxtrotter said:
I was given a rebarreled 1916 Erfurt M98KAR in .257 Roberts many years ago.I don't know who did the work but I've shot it a lot. One of the problems with it as a modern popular caliber is a common one with its companion cartridge, 6mm Remington, is it is a medium length case and doesn't really fit in a modern action. I also have a 25-06 which has become popular because it does fit a modern long action and is higher performance. Same cost in weight, scope, stocks etc. and if you're going to shoot your .257 you'd better be a handloader. All modern loadings for the .257 are really low pressure, thus giving away a lot of performance. Even +P commercial cartridges are less than 50 Kpsi. I am not a large animal hunter but varmints are my game. I use other calibers for that and have used the .257 for a lot of cast lead work on paper, cans and soda bottles. It is a fun caliber but It is one that has seen it's day as a mainstream item.
Click to expand...
This rifle will only use hand loads. Factory ammo for the 257 is too expensive for me.
 
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