I was just wondering everyone's opinion on ruger's new rifle. I would like to see some groups if anyone has shot one of these rifles and was wondering if anyone has personal experience with the .257 and how it works on west texas deer and lightweight west texas pigs. All shots will be within 300 yards most will be within 175. I was thinking 115 grain bullets of some sort. Maybe barnes x or partitions. Any advice will be greatly appreciated; and yes I know a 25-06 would probably be better but the roberts is unique as am I and I like it that way.
Ruger M77 Hawkeye .257 roberts?
- Thread starter snakeman
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Plain Old Bill
Member
Snakeman- have a bit of experience with the ,257 Roberts in an M77 here in the Pennsylvania woods....out to 200 yards it was fine....ended up switching to a 6.5 x 55 when Remington came out with it in a Classic 700.
I like the round, just wasn't happy enough with the power. Don't know much about the Hawkeye, but what I've heard was ok.
Hope that helps!
I like the round, just wasn't happy enough with the power. Don't know much about the Hawkeye, but what I've heard was ok.
Hope that helps!
Plain Old Bill
Member
Snakeman- have a bit of experience with the ,257 Roberts in an M77 here in the Pennsylvania woods....out to 200 yards it was fine....ended up switching to a 6.5 x 55 when Remington came out with it in a Classic 700.
I like the round, just wasn't happy enough with the power. Don't know much about the Hawkeye, but what I've heard was ok.
Hope that helps!
I like the round, just wasn't happy enough with the power. Don't know much about the Hawkeye, but what I've heard was ok.
Hope that helps!
rangerruck
Member
I don't know how this can be considered weak; I do all the same hunting as you do, at the same distances, with a 243. and piggie size does not concern me;
unless I am tracking down Hogzilla or something like that.
unless I am tracking down Hogzilla or something like that.
I've shot a .257 before, it was smooth as butter. I think it's a great round, its actually becoming more and more popular too. I dont have any experience with ruger's rifle, but I know I like the round. I assume it would work great on deer and hog.
gunnerh
Member
I like the .257 Roberts it will take deer and pigs out to 200yds for sure. I have never used one at a longer range. Good luck it is a fun round.
GooseGestapo
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I've got a Ruger M77mkII in .257Roberts.
If you handload, the performance isn't much different than the .25/06 which is essentially indistinguishable from the .270.
I've killed over 100 whitetail deer, 1 mule deer, and a lot of crows, ground hogs, and prararie dogs with the Roberts.
The Remington and Winchester 117gr Round nose are good to ~200yds for deer, but are not impressive. The Remington 100gr Corlokt is decent, but is still underloaded. The best factory loads are the Federal, and Nosler 117gr BallistTip, and Partiton loads. Also, the Hornady 117gr Lite-Magnum SST and Interlokt are excellent. The Hornady Lite-Magnum duplicates my handloads and essentially duplicates the .25/06 117-120gr factory loads.
If you really want a good .257Roberts get either the Kimber or NewUltralight Arms. My experience with Rugers is they're mediocre for accuracy. Mine is really a 1.5-2.0 MOA rifle, but it will with a few loads do 1" or occasionally better for 3-shots.
The best 115gr load I've found is the Berger VLD-hunting bullet. At 3,000fps it's devastating on deer inside 300yds.....
If you handload, the performance isn't much different than the .25/06 which is essentially indistinguishable from the .270.
I've killed over 100 whitetail deer, 1 mule deer, and a lot of crows, ground hogs, and prararie dogs with the Roberts.
The Remington and Winchester 117gr Round nose are good to ~200yds for deer, but are not impressive. The Remington 100gr Corlokt is decent, but is still underloaded. The best factory loads are the Federal, and Nosler 117gr BallistTip, and Partiton loads. Also, the Hornady 117gr Lite-Magnum SST and Interlokt are excellent. The Hornady Lite-Magnum duplicates my handloads and essentially duplicates the .25/06 117-120gr factory loads.
If you really want a good .257Roberts get either the Kimber or NewUltralight Arms. My experience with Rugers is they're mediocre for accuracy. Mine is really a 1.5-2.0 MOA rifle, but it will with a few loads do 1" or occasionally better for 3-shots.
The best 115gr load I've found is the Berger VLD-hunting bullet. At 3,000fps it's devastating on deer inside 300yds.....
I have a new Hawkeye, haven't fallen in love yet. Mine's in .264 Win Mag. The stock is beautiful for a factory rifle, and I love the 3 position safety and controlled round feed.
Negatives: The trigger's probably not too bad for a factory rifle, but it's not up to par with my 1960's Remington. I need to do some more tweaking of loads to try to improve accuracy. I'm still grouping slightly under 2 inches. That's probably good enough for hunting, but again it's not even close to my old Remington. I suspect I'll end up bedding the action.
I know I'll eventually sort everything out and I'll end up loving the rifle. I had just forgotten how much work it is getting a new rifle sorted out.
Negatives: The trigger's probably not too bad for a factory rifle, but it's not up to par with my 1960's Remington. I need to do some more tweaking of loads to try to improve accuracy. I'm still grouping slightly under 2 inches. That's probably good enough for hunting, but again it's not even close to my old Remington. I suspect I'll end up bedding the action.
I know I'll eventually sort everything out and I'll end up loving the rifle. I had just forgotten how much work it is getting a new rifle sorted out.
41 magnum fan
Member
I have a Ruger 77 in 257 Roberts.I have killed deer from 20 yards out to 350 yards with mine.My deer load is a handload with the 117 grain Hornady SP.I have also used mine on coyotes with handloaded 75 grain V Max bullets.Great rifle and caliber.Have not used it on wild hogs,but I am confident that it would work fine.
Big Daddy Grim
Member
The hawkeye is an excellent rifle I bought the .257 just a week or so ago and it has really impressed me I found ammo cheap and some of the +ps I found where at 2800fps and shot great I took milk jugs at 400yds no problem I have a few targets laying around but never posted pics here but it is a great little rifle. No complaints what so ever and the gun was actually bought for my girl and she loves it very much.
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