Took a couple of my favorite deer rifles to the range today. I had just about decided to take my 7X57 mauser on my mule deer hunt, beacuse of a load I have used in it. A 162 grain hornady BT interlock that gives excelent accuracy and a velocity of 2650 FPS from my full stock CZ 550.
But today I took my Ruger 77 MK 2 RL .257 Roberts and my 1953 model 70 fetherweight .308, out to a beautifull range in clark county washington. The loads I have setteld on for those 2 rifles are .257 R 100 grain barnes TSX
over a stiff charge of H-414. Gives a velocity of 3140 Fps. and my 308 load is a 168 grain Tripple shock over IMR-4064, for a velocity of
2840. I love the little roberts as it carries about like a 30/30 and with a VX3 2.5X8 I put 2 rounds in .35 inches at 100 and the third opend it up to just under 1.5 inches. I played round with the scope till I was dead on at 200. I was about 1 inch from the bull and that is about as good I am likly to do at that range.
then The .308 with a burris FF2 3X9 put 2 into the same .35 and 3 into .65. I did about the same at 200 as with the roberts. I like these loads a little better than the 7X57 although all are great deer loads from point blank to 300. Witch would you use ?
...tj3006

What a wonderful dilemma to have...

You can't go wrong with any of the three. I say put all three in the front row of the safe, close your eyes, reach in, and whichever rifle you grab, that will be the one to accompany you on you hunt.

I am a sucker for the Roberts, and with the barns bullet, you can't go wrong.

I would take the 7x57or the .308 but the more frontal area for me the better

I agree with PC, the 7x57 or the 308. I just like the 7mm and would go for the 7x57.
Could this be the first time an Ocker and a Kiwi have agreed on something?

Thomas: You gotta go with the 7x57mm. My brother's fullstock CZ 550 in 7x57mm loves the 160 grain Nosler Partitions and will get just about the same velocity as yours with the 162 grain Hornady and H414 powder. You got to love it! Tom Purdom