257 Roberts for varmit

[little joe]

Greetings again,

Looking to fill a gap between my 222R and 270W.

I want either a 250 Savage or 257 Roberts in a bolt gun.

Rifles: Ruger M77 MK I or MK II or Remington 700/722

Use: Chucks / coyotes to 300yds and/or deer to 200yds max.

New Rugers MK II's and older RSI's can be found in both calibers and older, modern Remingtons 700/722's in 257 Roberts.

Any of you guys own these sorts of guns and calibers.

Thanks again in advance. Lj

 

[Clipper]

I'm a quarter BOB guy (custom mauser sporter), and though my chamber is AI'd, and I can probably load to 25/06 levels, I stick to .257+P loads. It's the most pleasant and quietest rifle I own, and one of the most accurate I've ever had. Of your two, I'd go with the Ruger, but if you've got the dough, you might look at the Kimber.

 

[dakotasin]

i have a tang safety ruger in 257 roberts. ruger used a heavy contour barrel for their quarter bores back in the day, making the tang safety roberts about perfect for a walking varminter/groundhog rifle. it would be a bit heavy for an all day hunt in tough terrain, but manageable, if not pleasant, for most folks' big game aspirations.

good luck!

 

[bpl]

I bought a Kimber .257 Roberts about a year and a half ago, but haven't used it on any varmints, just one deer. Worked great for the deer. I've only shot the Hornady factory BTSP 117gr out of it. I think its great. Shoots around 1" 3-shot groups as long as you give the barrel time to cool. .257 Roberts is a great choice for a lightweight hunting rifle as it doesn't kick too much, but packs a little more punch for deer than the .243. The Kimber wouldn't be the best choice for high volume vaminting, however.

 

[Murphys Law]

Are you planning to reload? It's not easy finding factory varmint loads for the Roberts. I have an older tang safety Ruger 77 and its a great deer rifle, but I think accurate varmint rounds will need to be handloaded.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

It's not easy finding factory varmint loads for the Roberts.

It ain't easy finding ANY factory loads for the Roberts!

 

[little joe]

Yes I will be hand loading.

 

[little joe]

How about the 250 Savage or 257 Roberts comparison ?

 

[little joe]

257 Roberts it is

Thanks for the input.

Your thoughts and my research lead me to believe there are more good bolt action rifles chambered in 257 Roberts than 250 Savage and the ballistics are a tad better all the way around.

Actually, lots of factory loadings and the bullet selection is basically the same when I start reloading.

I've found a Ruger M77 Tang Safety 22" in 257 Roberts that should do nicely. Ruger has 1:10 twist.

Thanks again. Best regards Lj

 

[pikid89]

meh...just load the 270 with 100gr bullets, that thing would be screaming fast

 

[SwampWolf]

You made a good choice, little joe. My Ruger Roberts has accounted for whitetails and woodchucks with equal aplomb. I prefer 120 grain bullets for deer and 90 grainers for varmints. In my rifle, a change in bullet weights (90 to 120 and vice versa) requires a change in the scope setting in terms of elevation.

 

[41 magnum fan]

I shoot 75 grain V-Max bullets over 42.5 grains of Reloader15 in my 257 Roberts.Works greaton coyotes.My rifle is a Ruger m77 mkII.