257 Roberts

[Dossa456]

Anyone here running a 257 Roberts?

[Gamerancher]

Yes. What would you like to know?

[Dossa456]

What brass are you running? Also we’re do you buy brass your brass from. What’s your preferred projectile weight?
I Have been toying with getting this caliber for a long time and finally bit the bullet

[Rod_outbak]

Dossa,

I have a set of as-new Lee 'Pacesetter' reloading dies for a .257 Roberts here; never used.
The set has the FL die, the Seating die, the factory crimp die, the shellholder, and the powder scoop.
They retail for ~$75 at Rebel; I'd sell this set to you for $30 plus postage.

Rebel sell a few brands of .257 brass:
https://www.rebelgunworks.com.au/collec ... 57-roberts

The Winchester stuff might be worth trying out.

Let me know if you want the Lee dies.

Cheers,

Rod.

[Dossa456]

Hi Rod- yep sold
Pm me your details and I’ll transfer you today or if you want cash in an envelope let me know up to you.

[Gamerancher]

Okay, what rifle is it in, what is the legth of barrel and what do you want to shoot with it?
My favourite was one I built on a L61R Sako action with a custom heavy profile, 26", 1 in 10 twist Tobler barrel.
Mostly used Winchester +P cases but do have some Remingtons.
75gr hollow points @ 3400f/s would vapourize rabbits out to 300m.
87gr spitzers could be run @ 3250 and were a good roo and goat load but I preferred 100 grainers @ 3100 for a fairly flat shooting, (to 300m anyway), all round hunting load. Didn't matter if it was a rabbit, fox, cat, roo, goat, pig or deer, if it was within 300m, it was well within point and shoot range.
I also used it when I first shot metallic silhouette, never had a 500m ram that was hit, fail to fall using 120 grain bullets. Something that can't be said by those that try it with a .243W.
Disclaimer: These were not maximum loads in my rifle but may be difficult to replicate in some factory rifles with "loose" chambers and shorter barrels.

[Dossa456]

Beautiful exactly the kind of info I was looking for- will be used as an all round hunting rifle. Haven’t got the rifle in my hands yet it is somewhere between NSW and SA ,If ya jump on used guns it’s still on there think it’s the only 257 Roberts on there ATM. It’s a Ruger M77 Mk 2 ultralite.

[Gamerancher]

Pretty sure they only had a 20 or 22" barrel. You may have trouble getting the velocities I quoted.
Still, those Rugers are still a pretty good rifle, good solid action, controlled round feed and a long enough action to give you the ability to take advantage of some of the better B.C pills available nowadays. I have had good results with Sierra Gamekings, Speer and Nosler bullets in mine.
The best results will be had with handloading, factory ammo has always been on the (very) mild side of the cartridges potential. ( But not price here in Aus.)
The Roberts has always been a good choice in a lighter rifle due to its mild recoil.
I have found Rebel gun works in Qld good to deal with for mail order brass and projectiles if you have trouble sourcing locally.

[Stix]

Beautiful exactly the kind of info I was looking for- will be used as an all round hunting rifle. Haven’t got the rifle in my hands yet it is somewhere between NSW and SA ,If ya jump on used guns it’s still on there think it’s the only 257 Roberts on there ATM. It’s a Ruger M77 Mk 2 ultralite.

Dossa...what did your mate do with the Wini FWeight...?
Im interested if its going reasonable...?

[Dossa456]

I’ll ask him if he still wants to get rid of it. I’m catching up with him Saturday.

[gunnnie]

I have a Browning BBR in 257Roberts Ackley Improved. It's a damm sexy looking cartridge & with 87gn pills is dynamite on game. I don't own a chrono so have no idea what velocity I'm getting with my loads. I'm a quarter-bore fan with 250-3000Savage, 303-25, 257Rob AI, 25-05 & 257Weatherby Mag in the safe.
I've stuck with pills in the 87gn range in the BobAI as it seems to just work. Pretty much a bang-flop rifle with shots out to 300M. It's taken everything from fox to red deer without any hassles.

I use Remington brass, mainly as it was all I could get back when I bought the rifle. Then I was lucky to score a fair amount of brass from fellows AHNers a little while back.

Powder of choice is AR2209 but I'm going to try some Reloader 15 as well.

You'll love the rifle/cartridge. When you shoot the tube out, make sure you put a 24" bbl on as this'll give you better performance than the shorter tube does.

[Dossa456]

Beauty, very helpful info. Thanks Gunnie;

[Dossa456]

Finally, now to develop a load.

[GQshayne]

Looks to be in nice condition.

[Dossa456]

Real happy with it- the photos doesn’t really do it justice. Hasn’t had much work