Where are the .257 Roberts?

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So you're saying that if I'm using a 257 Bob, the bullets, if they happen to go straight which most of the obviously won't, that they'll bounce off everything from ground-squirrels to mule deer. If it shoots just as accurately, kills things just as dead, and is just as enjoyable to shoot plus being slightly more effective on larger game, what's the handicap?
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I didn't see where I said any of that. All I am saying is with more than double the choices in bullets selection, higher BC bullets and more readily available components you cannot argue it is a handicap by going 257bob.

There isn't enough of a difference between the two in actual function and effectiveness to really matter. The 257 has a slight edge on larger game, but that's it.
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Loaded with identical bullets the bob gets the edge in energy and fps BARELY. Loaded with the best of the choices available the 243 will leave the 257 in the dust ESPECIALLY when talking about longer than 400yds.
If the 25s were so great then you would see more of them. The reason you do not is they do nothing better and cannot compete with the 6mms and 6.5mms on the range or in the field. I seriously looked at getting a 25-06 until I compared it to a .260rem and it was obvious the 260 was clearly better in every aspect. Same with the bob vs the 243. While I respect CraigC and the wisdom he normally provides in this forum we will definitely not agree on this topic. But hey That's why there are so many calibers. Too each his own I guess. I hope the OP finds his rifle and is happy with it.
 
I hope the OP finds his rifle and is happy with it.
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Which is what this thread is about and not the .243 win OR the 25.06. I have a Savage/Stevens in .308 win(now) It was in .243(both sporter and heavy barrels) and began life as a .223 rem. IF I could find a reasonably priced barrel in .257 Roberts, that is how it would live out it's days.
 
Of my 2 one is a M700 short action, the other is a M70 long action. Realistically; either action works fine, the Roberts is a hair shorter than the .308. And, even in a short action they can be loaded longer than SAAMI. I shoot a 115gr Berger VLD at 2.845 in the short action.

In looking at some of my load development targets, I've used IMR4831, IMR4350, RL19, and H414 for the most part. The Bob is pretty easy to load for, and is an accurate round.

Top is the Bob, middle is a Classic Compact .308, bottom is an XTR 30-06

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Here's an option. I bought a Savage in 250 Savage and had it rechambered for $100.00 to 257 Roberts. The dimensions of the two cartridges make the rechambering very straightforward.

By the way, the SAAMI specs for 257 Roberts qualify it as fitting in a short action (243 < 257 < 308) rifle. If you feel the need to load outside of spec you may want a long action.

I saw in an earlier post someone thought the 243 had more/better bullet selection. I don't load for the 243 but I do know I can get 25 caliber bullets in 60, 75, 85, 87, 100, 110, 115, 117, and 120 grains. Many of these weights have several manufacturers and in differing constructions. That seems like a good selection to me! There are probably some that I've overlooked but I'm happy with accurate loads in my rifle at 75, 87, 100, and 117 grains. That should do everything a 25 caliber bullet ought to.

Good Luck.

Dan
 
If I was going to try to hunt deer at over 400 yards (which I'm not) I don't think I would choose a .243 or a .257 Roberts. I really like the .257 Roberts. For me, its a light recoiling deer rifle that's just a little bit better than a .243. I own two rifles chambered in .243 but I prefer the .257 Roberts for deer. In the .257 Roberts, I own a Kimber 84M Classic Select, a Ruger 77 Ultralight and a Winchester M70 XTR. the M70 is NIB, never been shot and currently unscoped. The other two rifles are all set up and ready to go. The Kimber 84M is my favorite and what I would recommend to the OP. There is one on gunbroker currently. I shoot the Hornady 117gr BTSP and it shoots well in both the Kimber and the Ruger. Good luck with your search for your perfect Bob!
 
mnhntr said:
I was not bashing the OP, it just amazes me someone would handicap themselves just to be different. As for the glorified varmint round comment, the 243 has everything the 257 does AND MORE. It is capable of everything the 257 is AND MORE.
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Sometimes you just don't want to follow the pack, I understand the OP's obsession. My obsession is a .25-06, had it for 37 years.

Sooner or later you may come across a cartridge that you feel the same way about. It won't matter to you that it only has 5 bullets produced for it as long as one of the 5 does what you want.

What does the .257 have to offer that the .243 doesn't. For larger game there are people that would take the .257 with 120 gr bullet and consider the .243 totally inadequate for the task.

Remember, this is a hunting rifle. And there are some decent bullets out there for this caliber, just not a lot of them.
 
It is capable of everything the 257 is AND MORE.
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On what planet does this hold true? The .257 slings a slightly heavier, slightly larger diameter bullet at similar velocity.


...it just amazes me someone would handicap themselves just to be different.
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Then it would baffle you to no end to know that some people even use archaic devices such as muzzleloaders, loaded with loose powder and a patched round ball for their hunting. Or bows and arrows. Some even use iron sights! Seriously, not everybody wants to use every available technological advantage. Some deliberately avoid them. Not everybody takes the easy road. Some folks actually like the added challenge. Some folks hate using what everybody else is using and this is why I abhor the .357Mag and .30-06. In this case, I don't see it as a disadvantage or limitation whatsoever. We just can't buy ammo at Walmart but we don't do that anyway.
 
For me personally, I hunt with odd ball calibers 257 Bob and 6.5 swede for deer and 8mm for elk. All 3 were calibers I lusted after for their effectiveness and uniqueness. I've laid big deer down in their tracks with one shot from the 257 Rbts and the 6.5 swede, and the 8mm throws a 200 grain bullet faster than most lighter 30-06 loads when loaded right.
Everyone I know owns either a 30-06 or a 270 WCF , and though both great calibers (like the 243) they are all 3 terribly boring cartridges. Everybody owns one, all new rifles are chambered in them.
 
It's kind of funny because last year at this time I decided I wanted a Winchester Featherweight. Caliber? I was open to just about anything. But, to be honest I get more use out of smaller cartridges than larger ones. The local store had a featherweight stainless in 7mm-08 and a blue version in .257 Roberts.

I passed on the Roberts only because I have a .25-06 and just didn't want to duplicate anything. I made them call their other store to see what they had in stock, turned out to be a stainless in .243 Win.

Never owning a .243 I opted for that one. I think the .243 is a fantastic cartridge. To be honest I'd have one of everything if I were rich enough.

Now, I'm wishing I'd picked up that .257 too. You guys could put me in the poor house.
 
Heavier and bigger does not mean better or everyone would shoot a 50BMG. The .243 with a dose of H4350 under a 115 VLD or a 117 Dtac VLD with BCs in the mid 500s carry enough energy and fps to achieve shots on speed goats at 800-1000 yds and there aint a 257bob load around that can do that.
 
mnhntr said:
Heavier and bigger does not mean better or everyone would shoot a 50BMG. The .243 with a dose of H4350 under a 115 VLD or a 117 Dtac VLD with BCs in the mid 500s carry enough energy and fps to achieve shots on speed goats at 800-1000 yds and there aint a 257bob load around that can do that.
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You keep talking up the off-the-shelf -- available-everywhere capabilities of the 243 and how it's so much better than the 257.....

And to prove it, you bring up a specialty bullet that won't stabilize in any off-the-shelf -- available-everywhere rifle because the rate of twist in the barrel won't stabilize it. On top of that, you're recommending it for 800-1000 yard shots where it's down to about 700 ft-lbs of energy? And that's assuming a muzzle velocity of 2800 fps, which is a little generous.

I don't think so.

Matt
 
I am all for him, but he is going to have to do some serious shopping, this is not something found in every sporting goods store in the land.

As for the .243, its only advantage is a few more smarts in chamber design and a vigorous advertising campaign. The Roberts is still hamstrung by 1930s design conventions.
 
I have been looking for a Ruger M77 Compact in a .257. I have the gun in a .223 but it is a little light for deer. One dealer said that he was getting more requests for the .257 and feels that the caliber is gaining in popularity. Hopefully we will start seeing more of it.
 
It's significantly more likely that a custom hunting rifle will be chambered in 257 Bob than 243 Win. That may be the easiest way to get one. :) There's something about 257 Bob, 7x57 Mauser, and 6.5x55 Swede that makes people with style want a custom rifle built around them. ;)

One way to get one may be to buy a Savage 110/10 or Stevens 200 as a donor, then replace the barrel with one from E.R.Shaw, McGowen, Shilen, or any of a bunch of those that has already been chambered in 257 Roberts. That's what I plan on doing to get a 6.5-06.

Also, for mnhntr, one of my favorite rifles I ever got to shoot was a BLR chambered in 243. It was light and fit me very well. I borrowed it from my uncle for a couple of deer hunts, but all I got was a bunch of jackrabbits. I've been trying to talk my uncle out of it ever since, but to no avail.

Keep looking around, because they're out there.

Matt
 
Are you saying the .243 has more "style" than the .257?
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Really. Style is a very subjective matter and personally I'd give way more "style points" to someone hunting deer with a .257 Bob than someone with a dime-a-dozen .243 Winny. ;)
 
Are you saying the .243 has more "style" than the .257?
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No, the other way around. The .257 is the IT cartridge. With apologies to Clara Bow, the original IT Girl.

The .243 is just ugly, with the long shallow shoulder carried over from the parent .308.
 
If you stick with factory ammo, though, the Weatherby is significantly more expensive and has a lot more kick than the Roberts for slightly better ballistics.
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While I have to agree that factory .257 Weatherby ammunition is "significantly more expensive" than the Roberts equivalent, I wouldn't say it has "a lot more kick". Certainly enough more to be noticable but not a lot. Of course, my opinion is predicated on the two rifles I own that use the cartridges in question and the .257 Weatherby is chambered in the heavier Vanguard (Howa) action, which may account for its relatively modest recoil as compared to the slightly lighter .257 Roberts rifle. Different stock fit too could be a contributing reason.
I would also argue that the factory loaded .257 Weatherby has significantly "better" ballistics when compared to .257 Roberts factory loads; an advantage, though, not especially relevant for hunting most deer-sized game at "normal" distances. If I had to choose between the two cartridges for the kind of hunting I do or ever expect to do, I'd opt for the Roberts.
Regarding choosing cartridge loadings based on their style/uniqueness, I confess to owning more than a couple of what many would dub "oddballs", including rifles chambered in .358 Winchester, 7x64 Brenneke, .22 Hornet, as well as the Roberts. I have plenty of other "mainstream" rifles to choose from if I'm ever worried about getting ammunition from Wal Mart to feed the oddballs. And, because I reload, I don't fret much.
 
Heavier and bigger does not mean better or everyone would shoot a 50BMG.
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Please, you're talking about the absolute minimum for deer. Anything bigger and heavier is better. The .257 can utilize a bullet 20% heavier AND stabilize it.

Energy is a meaningless number.
 
You might look at a 243. Savage makes some very accurate gun's. The MD 12 is a good target gun and the hunter is a good carry gun. Good Luck on what ever you do.
 
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