.257 Roberts, next rifle

[TexasPatriot.308]

I dont really need another rifle but am looking for a new .257 Roberts, my dream .257 would be a Ruger No. 1, but they are scarcer than anti obama coverage on the general media. I know Ruger still chambers a couple rifles in this caliber but dont know of any other, do any of yall know of any, shy of a custom made rifle?

 

[bushmaster1313]

Gunbroker has one
search: ruger sporter roberts

 

[MachIVshooter]

Kimber

http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/model-84m/classic-select-grade

 

[bushmaster1313]

1949 Winchester
2012 Kimber

 

[wlewisiii]

There is a Ruger M77 Hawkeye in .257 Roberts on consignment at my FLGS. Very nice, bit spendy for my blood though I'd buy it if I had the coin. PM me if you want the phone number.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

the Ruger Hawkeys standard and light sporter can be found, the No. one was discontinued years ago and can hardly be found. I am lucky enough to own several rifles, several in my favorie .308(imagine that), but now at 58, I have no use and never had for those magnums and ultra mags, etc, just dont need them. the .257 Roberts has always intrigued me and I hunt mainly hogs and deer. for such a nice practical caliber, it is hard to believe that seems like only Ruger chambers them, and Kimber....well, they are real proud of their prices and knowing firearms the way i do, just cant see paying for one, especially if it says "Yonkers New York" on it.

 

[Savage99]

While I am all for different cartridges I am amused at the recent talk of the old .257 Roberts.

The cartridge had sort of died out and in order to sell some more guns a minor revival of it is underway.

The old Roberts died out because it's a little too big for varmints ricochet wise and a little too small for deer common sense wise.

Thus it's best for nothing.

 

[beatledog7]

The old Roberts died out because it's a little too big for varmints ricochet wise and a little too [sic] small for deer common sense wise. Thus it's best for nothing.

Please provide list of what cartridge is best for each thing. No doubt the moderators will want to stickie it.

 

[mljdeckard]

Would it be worth it to find the rifle you want chambered in the Mauser parent cartridge, and just have it re-barreled?

My dad had a Remington 760 chambered in it. He loved it, said it made him look like a really good shot. When he died, my sister took it, wanting to learn to shoot and hunt. The trouble is, the only ammo I see for it on the shelf is +P. That's fine for a bolt rifle, but a 760 can't handle a regular diet of +P. I am going to get her a nice Ruger American in .243, take back the Bob, and reload for it.

 

[MachIVshooter]

but a 760 can't handle a regular diet of +P. I am going to get her a nice Ruger American in .243, take back the Bob, and reload for it.

Roberts +P (58k PSI) is lower max pressure than other cartridges the 760 was chambered for, such as the 6mm Rem (65k PSI), .280 Rem (60k PSI) or .308 Win (62k PSI). It'll be fine.

 

[Abel]

While I am all for different cartridges I am amused at the recent talk of the old .257 Roberts.

The cartridge had sort of died out and in order to sell some more guns a minor revival of it is underway.

The old Roberts died out because it's a little too big for varmints ricochet wise and a little to small for deer common sense wise.

Thus it's best for nothing.

This is the first time that I have read anywhere that a 257 Roberts is too small for deer. Is your opinion based on past experiences with the Bob, or simply theoretical? Please elaborate further.

 

[Lloyd Smale]

While I am all for different cartridges I am amused at the recent talk of the old .257 Roberts.

The cartridge had sort of died out and in order to sell some more guns a minor revival of it is underway.

The old Roberts died out because it's a little too big for varmints ricochet wise and a little to small for deer common sense wise.

Thus it's best for nothing.

no doubt spoken from a man that has never killed deer with one. Ive shot a bunch with 257s and out to 300 yards it kills them deader then hell! Ive yet to put a bullet in a deer with one and not ate backstraps the next day.

 

[mdauben]

The old Roberts died out because it's a little too big for varmints ricochet wise and a little to small for deer common sense wise.

Lots of people would disagree. Personally, I think most people use more gun than necessary for deer. IMO the quarter-bores are an ideal choice for so called CXP2 game, lightly boned, thin skinned animals like deer. Generally flat shooting, light recoiling, and with adequate power.

YMMV, of course.

 

[mljdeckard]

No, I'm not going to. I have had a couple of smiths tell me that because it is an auto-style rotating bolt, it shouldn't run +P ammo. It's old, and it's an heirloom, not gonna do it.

 

[mnhntr]

While I am all for different cartridges I am amused at the recent talk of the old .257 Roberts.

The cartridge had sort of died out and in order to sell some more guns a minor revival of it is underway.

The old Roberts died out because it's a little too big for varmints ricochet wise and a little to small for deer common sense wise.

Thus it's best for nothing.

1000% agree. My wife has a one in a rem 700 and while it is a decent enough short range deer rifle (under 300yds). It is a perfect caliber for nothing. There are so many better choices out there. The .243 and .260 come to mind as much better all around calibers.

 

[RPRNY]

Here's an interesting project rifle in Bob:

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=310710362

Mauser 98 that's been slightly butchered - I assume post-war engraving dafacement - looks like a Bishop stock, open sporter sights and scope rings. Given the Mauser parent case of the Bob, I think this would be a very cool little rifle to restore and likely a very fine shooter.

As to the suitability of .257 Roberts, the simple fact is that humans "need" no more calibers than .22lr, (possibly the .270), 30-30, 30-06 and .375 H&H. No other calibers are needed. Should, therefore, all other calibers be banned ? Should the apostate supplicants of the .308 be burned for heresy? Should the lunatic fringe that worships the 6mm family be concentrated in camps where they can be re-educated? Should the dark armies that cling stubbornly to the outdated, outmoded and out of touch 45-70 be put to the sword? I think not.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

yeah, there are other calibers out there, but I want a .257 Roberts. you dont see them just anywhere, and from hunting with "older guys" in the 60s and 70s, I know what the .257 can do.

 

[dustin280zx]

Remington had a special run of 700 cdl in .257 roberts a few years back. They are normally around 800-900 depending on place new. Has a fluted barrel and looks good. I have one in .264 win mag.

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

those Remingtons are still out there, but hard to get your hands on, and like you said, not low priced. if I can find one, I will snatch it up, but a Ruger No. 1 would still be first in line for me.

 

[DanTheFarmer]

Hi All,

This idea might expand your choices a bit. Find a rifle in 250 Savage that you like, pay a gunsmith $100.00 and have it rechambered to 257 Roberts. The 257 Roberts is either the same or larger in all dimensions as the 250 Savage so it is very straightforward to "scrape out" a bit of metal. The barrel diameter is the same and the twist is most likely the same but double check.

This is what I did to get my 257 Roberts. I bought a nice, new Savage bolt gun in 250 Savage and had it rechambered. Even with the extra gunsmithing work I paid a normal "mid-market" price.

I'd been having a bit of trouble developing a load but two days ago I was at the range and came back with a group of less than two inches at 100 yards. Three shots were slightly above the bullseye. Two were slightly below the bullseye. One was exac-a-tactly through the bullseye. That won't win me any shooting competition but I figure if none of my bullets struck more than 1 inch from where I was aiming I'm in pretty good shape hunting-wise. I'll build more of that load. (This load is a 117 grain bullet at 2650 fps. I believe that is plenty for deer. If that isn't enough the commercial Hornady Superperformance tested out at 2900 - 2925 fps in my rifle and was similarly accurate at 100 yards).

Good Luck!

Dan

 

[wgp]

My Roberts is a Ruger 77RL, also called the Ultralight. The barrel is pencil-thin but the rifle is a pleasure to carry. Mine is pretty old, have no idea whether still made. I killed my first buck with it but then moved on to bigger cartridges. I actually sold the rile to a friend who wanted a light-recoiling rifle for his son, but I jumped at the chance to buy it back some time later. Where I hunt I'm not shooting at 300 or 400 yards so I don't worry about that capability. I usually shot a 120 grain Partition with this rifle and never considered it lacking for power as a deer cartridge.

 

[DanTheFarmer]

Sorry, one more thing.

You will often read that the 257 Roberts is too long for a short action and doesn't make full use of a long action.

Check the SAMMI specs on COAL. Per Lyman #49: 308 Win = 2.80", 257 Roberts = 2.775", 243 Win = 2.71". Sounds like a short action round to me.

Apparently it may run into problems if you are handloading and want to seat really long but if you want to stick to the specs you are certainly o.k. with a short action.

I don't want to be a "fanboy" but I'd hate to see decisions made based on bad information.

Your dollars, your choice, good luck.

Dan

 

[dustin280zx]

I don't know what price you want to pay but i just checked guns america quick and between 700-949 you can get a model 70 featherweight, browning a-bolt featherweight, or rem 700 cdl with fluted barrel. new. If I was to choose it would be the new winchester model 70 featherweight.

 

[Blackrock]

The 'Bob' will do everything a 25-06 will as well as the 6.5x55's everybody is gaga for these days. I have taken Mulies, Whitetail and Pronghorns with mine. Little bit of difference in FPS bit with the 117g BTSP Hornady I have been loading I would like to try it on a under 200 yard Elk sometime (If I can ever get drawn)

I have tried it out on SD Prairie Dogs with 70g HP's with good results.

Start looking for a Ruger 77 in .257 R

 

[CD8226]

Well for the first time in about 40 years, I find myself without a 257. Gave my model 70 featherweight to my nephew as a graduation present this spring. He had wanted it for a few years and it just seemed right at the time. I to have killed everything from whitetail to mule deer to pronghorns with this cartridge. For anyone interested in a lightweight flat shooting rifle, they are hard to beat. I personally have had better luck reloading for this cartridge and wish I still had one to hunt whitetail with, as I concider it to be just about ideal for this.