257 Roberts brass

[little joe]

Putting supplies together so I can begin reloading for my new for me, used Ruger tang safety rifle in 257 Roberts. I do not have the rifle in front of me yet, but I believe it has a 22" barrel.

Wanting to shoot 75/85 gr bullets around 3300fps +/- and 115/120 gr bullets around 2900fps +/-.

QUESTION: should I buy regular or +P brass for these velocities.

Thanks Lj

PS I searched the forum for this answer and though there was some discussion on the matter, it was mentioned off subject and it was never clear to me.

 

[dakotasin]

i have not found a difference between american manufacture +p and 'regular' roberts brass. i experimented a little w/ several different headstamps (fc, ww, hornady, and rem) w/ the same load (100 grain sierra at 3025 f/s) and did not have any strange case behavior.

 

[Murphys Law]

I agree with Dakotasin. The Roberts has been around since the 1930's and the +P designation was just to warn shooters not to use the more recent factory loadings in very old rifles. The modern rifles like your Ruger can easily use a factory +P loading. The velocities your listing are more in the realm of the 25-06 than for the 257 Roberts with a 22 inch barrel. You may be pushing the boundaries of safe reloading trying to reach those speeds. Not saying it can't be done, but there is no need to as The 117-120 grain is pretty lethal on deer at 2700 fps.

 

[little joe]

So, no difference in brass thickness between standard and +P 257 Roberts brass ? I'm just gonna buy 100 and be done with it. Just wondering if I need standard or +P.

And, I made a typo on the speeds for weight. I'll actually be looking for 2700-2800fps from 115/120 gr bullets vice 2900.

Thanks Lj

 

[Jim Watson]

Agree with Murphy, those are real big loads, even by the standards of the old Roberts experimenters and their 3 and 3.3 inch Roberts.

The .257 has always been underloaded but not because the guns are weak. The caliber was introduced in the Remington Model 30, which is based on the 1917 design and will hold anything you care to name. I think the Roberts was standardized at a low pressure because it was offered as a target and varmint round and in those days the best way to insure accuracy was to load light. How many old articles tell you that your best accuracy will be below the maximum? A platitude ignored by modern target shooters.

 

[Murphys Law]

Hey I learned something today. I didn't know about the Remington model 30 and the 1917 coneection. Yes, Littlejoe, as Dakotasin said, any of the brands he mentioned will be ok for +p.

 

[natman]

Agree with Murphy, those are real big loads, even by the standards of the old Roberts experimenters and their 3 and 3.3 inch Roberts.

The .257 has always been underloaded but not because the guns are weak. The caliber was introduced in the Remington Model 30, which is based on the 1917 design and will hold anything you care to name. I think the Roberts was standardized at a low pressure because it was offered as a target and varmint round and in those days the best way to insure accuracy was to load light. How many old articles tell you that your best accuracy will be below the maximum? A platitude ignored by modern target shooters.

The Remington model 30 was quite strong, but there were a lot of guns built for 257 Roberts on the actions of former 7x57 guns that were not quite as strong.

 

[little joe]

Thanks guys got all I need. Lj