.257 Roberts questions

[TexasPatriot.308]

Hi folks, haven't been here for a while. I am getting ready to retire in about a month and wanted to treat myself to a new rifle, not that I need anymore cause I am lucky enough to have a safe full. I have been wanting a .257 Roberts for several years and lucked into an old friend that said he had two Ruger M77s in .257 and wanted to sell one, still NIB. I jumped at the chance. Question (s) what magnification scope is best for this caliber and also thinking about conventional round nosed ammo like Core Lokts, tried and proven or the new more pointed ammo like Hornady, I know very few manufacters produce this round, but just one caliber I have been wanting for years, I have several scopes in my safe still in boxes, one a Leupold 2x7x33, another Leupold VX3 in 6.5 x 20 x 40 with an A0 and a Weaver Grand Slam in 3.5 x 10 x 50. thanks for any input, I cant wait to scope this rifle and do some damage to hogs and coyotes on my cattle pastures.

 

[HOOfan_1]

With a modern rifle like a Ruger 77, I would be using +P ammo with spitzer bullets.

The 120 grain Federal +P will have about as much energy at 400 yards as the 117 grain Core-Lokt will have at 200 yards.

 

[tahoe2]

Congrats on your procurement !! You didn't state if it was a MK II or not. The only 257 Roberts I ever shot was a Red Pad/Tang safety Ruger 77,
and it would cloverleaf 3 different loads (I don't remember the bullet weights) @ 100 yds. My buddy would never parts with it.
Smart fellow; he always managed to put Venison in the freezer!
As for your scope question? a Leupold 2-7 x 33 or a Weaver 2-10 x 38 would be perfect IMO, lightweight with plenty of power out to 400 yds.

 

[sage5907]

I owned a 257 Roberts for several years. I would recommend 100 grain spitzer bullets like the Sierra Gameking because they can be loaded to higher velocity. Of the scopes that you listed I would install the Leupold 2X7X33 and set it on 6 power for shooting those coyotes. I take a friend hog hunting and he often uses a 257 Roberts loaded with Hornady ammo.

 

[morcey2]

I've got a 257 Bob and I don't see any reason to go with round-nose bullets over spitzers. As HOOfan_1 said, +P ammo with spitzers are the way to go. You'll have more range and won't be sacrificing anything at short-range. I shoot 115 gr Nosler BT and 120 gr partitions for deer-sized game and 87 gr Speer TNTs for coyotes et. al. (I don't think anyone even makes factory ammunition with round-nosed bullets for it anymore.) I've got a box of 110 gr Accubonds that I've been wanting to try, but haven't had the time. Most of the non-varmint bullets between 87 and 120 grains should be good for deer if the gun likes it.

As for the scope, I'd personally go with the 2-7x33 Leupold for it. The 6.5-20 is just overkill and the 50mm objective lense on the other would put the scope higher than I would want. That's just me. Mine wears a 3-9x40 Sightron S1 Hunter.

I'm not willing to spend $40 on a box of factory ammo, so I reload for mine. This one has never seen a factory round. If I did, I'd probably go with the Nosler 110 gr Accubond loads or the Hornady Superformance 117 gr SST.

Matt

 

[SwampWolf]

I bought one of the original Ruger Model 77s chambered in .257 Roberts in 1975. I put a Weaver 2x7, "Micro Track V7" scope on it and have been satisfied killing whitetails with it using 117 grain Core-Lokts. The rifle is not one of my most accurate ones but is capable of 3-shot, sub-2" groups @ 100 yards using factory ammunition.

 

[CB900F]

Texas;

What's your intended purpose for the gun? If it's game animals such as deer, I don't like a scope over 10X. Above that magnification you get into the adjustable focus feature & that's just another thing to be "off" when you need "on" for a quick shot. Blurry images don't make for stellar accuracy.

However, if it's going to be a long range varminter or range gun, then you'll want more magnification.

900F

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

I ride cattle pastures every day, all 3 are infested with hogs, I usually carry one of several .308s (imagine that) from bolt actions to AR10s. I am 62 and don't care for recoil anymore, last few years, 7mm-08, and .22-250 are my other go to guns. I plan on using the .257 for deer and hogs and I don't shoot much further than 200 yards anymore. As far as ammo, Corelokts still come in the round nose configuration and I see lots of that ammo around. thanks for all the input.

 

[eastbank]

my roberts is a rem 722 with a 2x7 leupold and its a deer killer with 115 gr bullet with a heavy dose of imr 4350 to at least 300 yrds (my longest kill). eastbank.

 

[DRYHUMOR]

Looking at some records; looks like I've favored the 115 gr Berger. 38-38.5 gr of IMR 4831.
Mild loads, 2350-2400 fps.
Also looks like nosler ballistic tip 100 gr, with 44 or so Reloader 19. +P Winchester cases on all.
Factory ammo is somewhat hit and miss-literally. Corelokts do seem to shoot fair in almost any caliber though.
If you think you'll have shadowed shots, the 20 power might help with resolution. The 7 power would make a nice kit.

 

[JimKirk]

I'd look hard at a Leupold 2.5 x 8 -36mm ....

I shoot the Nosler Accubond 110 gr out of a .25/06 .... and it is a fine bullet for deer sized game ....

With the right powder & load ... you will have a fine hunting gun...

Just want to add a little ... I don't know how you feel about the Barnes TTSX bullets ... but in a modern gun like the Ruger 77 .... the 80 gr Barnes TTSX with the right powder will move that bullet at near 3400 fps(depending on your barrel) .... and that bullet is deadly .... deadly ... deadly ... on whitetail size game ....

 

[cdb1]

Is Black's BBQ still in business in Lockhart?

 

[morcey2]

I ride cattle pastures every day, all 3 are infested with hogs, I usually carry one of several .308s (imagine that) from bolt actions to AR10s. I am 62 and don't care for recoil anymore, last few years, 7mm-08, and .22-250 are my other go to guns. I plan on using the .257 for deer and hogs and I don't shoot much further than 200 yards anymore. As far as ammo, Corelokts still come in the round nose configuration and I see lots of that ammo around. thanks for all the input.

If you're never going over 200 yards, RN core-lokt should be plenty. Let is know how it shoots.

Matt

Sent from my SM-G386T using Tapatalk

 

[natman]

Question (s) what magnification scope is best for this caliber and also thinking about conventional round nosed ammo like Core Lokts, tried and proven or the new more pointed ammo like Hornady, I know very few manufacters produce this round, but just one caliber I have been wanting for years, I have several scopes in my safe still in boxes, one a Leupold 2x7x33, another Leupold VX3 in 6.5 x 20 x 40 with an A0 and a Weaver Grand Slam in 3.5 x 10 x 50. thanks for any input, I cant wait to scope this rifle and do some damage to hogs and coyotes on my cattle pastures.

You should use +p ammo with spitzers and for general hunting that 2-7 Leupold is just about perfect. Light and compact, 2x is great for close and fast work and if a hog or a coyote is too far away to hit with 7x, it's too far to hit, period.

 

[Dr T]

Since you have the Leo 2x7x33, I think it would like going outside to play. However, I very much like the Leo 2.5x8. I have one on my 308 Ruger Frontier and it is excellent in fading light in West Texas...

 

[Slamfire]

My 257 Roberts liked the 4350 powders and shot very well with a 100 grain Sierra. This pre 64 had a short magazine conversion and the previous owner converted it to a long action. This allowed seating the bullet out two tenth’s longer than what I see in reloading manuals. I think this was critical for the good accuracy I got because I was able to seat the bullet 0.030” off the lands instead of having the bullet jump about a quarter inch. The Ruger M77 has a long action and you need to experiment with seating depth to get optimum accuracy.

Given that my loads pushed a 100 grain bullet just at 2800-2850 fps and maximum loads in my Nosler reloading manual show 3000 fps is possible, I really wonder why the 243 was created. The Roberts can do it all!


Pre 64 M70 Featherweight 257 Roberts

100 grain Sierra SP 44.0 grs IMR 4350 wtd, Lot RB 15 (60's) Fed 210S W-W brass
OAL 2.930", 2.950" touched lands.

19-Aug-13 T = 85 °F

Ave Vel = 2849
Std Dev = 27
ES = 90
Low = 2795
High = 2885
N = 10

Normal looking primers, good group except for one flyer


100 grain Sierra SP 45.0 grs H4350 wtd, Lot 22685 Fed 210S W-W brass
OAL 2.930", 2.950" touched lands.

19-Aug-13 T = 85 °F

Ave Vel = 2822
Std Dev = 14
ES = 36
Low = 2802
High = 2838
N = 5

Excellent group, under 1 MOA

100 grain Sierra SP 38.0 grs Varget wtd, Lot 4292 Fed 210S W-W brass
OAL 2.930", 2.950" touched lands.

19-Aug-13 T = 85 °F

Ave Vel = 2809
Std Dev = 12
ES = 28
Low = 2789
High = 2817
N = 5

About 3 MOA

 

[Jim Watson]

Slow blunt bullets were the Roberts' downfall.
But that was what it took for good ten shot groups in 1934.

And a new, new, new caliber just looked more interesting in 1955 than an upgrade of an old one.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I've owned two Bobs. First and best is a M98 custom build feather weight with E.R.Shaw 22" bbl. Since building it in '83, it's taken over 100 deer to include mule deer, and about 4 dozen prairie dogs shot one afternoon near Big Sandy, MT. It's still 5-shot sub moa even though it's got a tad of throat erosion, and a bit of mid barrel pitting. It adores 45.0 gr of IMR4350 or 48.0gr H4831 and now discontinued 100gr Hornady Interlok PtSpt. It's also fond of the Hornady 117gr BtSpt as well as the Sierra 117gr GameKing and 120gr G.K. BTHPT.

My second was a Ruger M77 MkII. It was a "decent" rifle, buts that's damning it with faint praise. It was mediocre in every regard. Not bad, but "Luke warm, spew it out of your mouth" mediocre. 1.5-2 moa accurate despite my best efforts ( barrel, what more can I say). Killed about a dozen and a half deer with it and tried every thing I could think of. Only load it ever showed any affection to was a non-+P load of 38.0gr IMR3031. My M98, as accurate as it is "gags" on that load, a rarity for it...

Since any thing Remington is unobtanium, I recommend the Nosler Partitions, Hornady Interloks, Sierra ProHunters, Speer HotCors and Berger 115gr VLD's for any thing (except for some of the exotics on game ranches) you're likely to encounter in Texas.

Sorry, I have /own / have owned numerous Rugers. The only satisfyingly accurate one is a Hawkeye African in .375. With a little trigger tweaking, stock tweaking, and a trip back to Ruger for a new barrel (at my expense, $385, I might add), it's about moa 3-shots. Great hunting rifle, but over-the-top for my corner of the world.
I hope you get a good one ( seen a couple in 40+yrs), but I won't hold my breath. But you'll likely get a "usable" rifle. The second best Ruger I ever saw was a #1B in .257. It was my test bed for Robts loads. It was essentially 2/3moa. BUT, it belonged to a gunsmith that had "massaged" it every way known circa 1980's to wring accuracy out of the #1 action.
Most accurate was a 1975 M77 "round top" in .270. Even with just iron sights, it was near 1/2moa with my and best/friends-owner 19yr old eyes. He still has it, need I say.

Added, my M98 wears a Leupold Vari-X 2-7x with Leupold dot ~1.5moa center dot. Favorite rifle and scope. Only a Remington M7 in 7mm08 w/.2.5-8 Leupold comes close (except for a few Marlin l/a's in .35Rem and .338ME). They all wear Leupolds...

 

[TexasPatriot.308]

cdb 1, yes Blacks is still open but City Market in Luling puts it to shame.

 

[IWAC]

Your Leupold 2 X 7 will do a great job on the Roberts, as will any other scope mentioned! I have developed several loads for my Ruger MK II that will shoot 120-115-100 gr. bullets under 1.25 in. at 100 yards. Several will shoot under 1", but I ask myself "WHY?"
The Roberts, even with moderne Whiz-Bang loads, is more like a max. 300 yard cartridge, and should be used as such.
Ballistic Proctology is fine, and I did indulge when I was younger, but anymore, I tend to choose something that just works well, and leave the experimentation to those younger folks, full of Piss and Vinegar, who are going to Show The World Something!

Of late, I refer back to Edward A. Matunas or John Barnsness' writings for the Roberts, which work very well indeed!

 

[RevJim]

My goodness...Luling, Texas! I was born and raised in Liberty, co. I left in '87 for the Ministry. Oklahoma to here in Utah now.Back in the late 70's, right in Luling, I blew an engine in the International I was driving for Stanley Well Service, Liberty! had to wait all day until another truck came and got us. I love that country there on up through Llano and such. I shot a lot of exotic game outside of Uvalde and leakey. I had one of the first Mod 700 classics in .257 Roberts in '82. I shot it awhile with handloads, 100gr BT, then I had it reamed out to the 257 Roberts Ackley Improved. Oh what joy! ha It was a 25-06 and didn't know it! ha. Nothing wrong with just a plain Roberts, but I just had to see what an Improved would do. I think you will enjoy your Bob, even with round nose 117 it will do plenty and be a ton of fun to boot! Enjoy yyourself Pard! Oh yea, I too think the 2x7 is perfect for it, zero it +1" high at 100yds.

 

[Slamfire]

My second was a Ruger M77 MkII. It was a "decent" rifle, buts that's damning it with faint praise. It was mediocre in every regard. Not bad, but "Luke warm, spew it out of your mouth" mediocre. 1.5-2 moa accurate despite my best efforts ( barrel, what more can I say). Killed about a dozen and a half deer with it and tried every thing I could think of. Only load it ever showed any affection to was a non-+P load of 38.0gr IMR3031. My M98, as accurate as it is "gags" on that load, a rarity for it...

I purchased a push feed Ruger M77 in 257 Roberts from the Gun Club President. He said it would only do 2 MOA, and he was right. It is sitting in a corner, what it needs is a new barrel because the action has been bedded and it has been through several scope changes. I talked to a Wilson barrel representative and they sold tens of thousands of the cheapest quality barrels to Ruger, the sell price might have been $7.00.

I have a recent Ruger M77, controlled round feed, in 308 Win. It has the hammer forged barrel that Ruger is making inhouse, and it is a very accurate rifle, after I bedded the thing. The inletting on Ruger stocks is horrible and the action slides around.

I described what I did with pictures in these two posts. I have to break my response into two posts because of the picture limit.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5967038&postcount=5

http://www.thehighroad.org/showpost.php?p=5967720&postcount=7

 

[Jim Watson]

A friend had the same experience with a Ruger 7x57. It went back at least twice, finally coming back with a new barrel and a somewhat acceptable test target... until he noticed it was shot at 50 yards instead of 100.
It now has a Douglas barrel in .280. I don't know just why he changed chambers, seems he could have saved the cost of new dies and brass. Any road, he reports that while it is no "7 mag" that it does not bounce off the hide of an elk.