just looking for some advice.I have a chance to pick up a bolt action in 257 roberts for my wife. how does the recoil compare with 270,30/06 ,308 etc.I know there are other cal but if this would work good we could save the extra funds.

Great caliber! real good for kids and women, She will love it and you may also! and have to get one of your self too!

Curly-Bud Said it all

Has she shot any high powered rifles yet? I found that a first-time shooter will do better with a reference point for recoil. If you take a 270 or 30-06 to the range with the Bob, let her shoot a round or two from that first, take a short rest to let it sink in and move to the Bob. The reduction in recoil will seem more pronounced that way.

If she's already a shotgun shooter or has shot other guns the exercise isn't necessary. But yes, the 257 Roberts is a great gun for anyone, much less a recoil-sensitive individual.

If that deal doesn't work out, the 6.5x55 is also a great round with very mild recoil. Lou

Good choice. Rifle weight and fit and of course the load also determine felt recoil. One .257 Browning knocked the snuff out of one of my slight built cousins while others didn't phase him much at all. roger

quote:

If you take a 270 or 30-06 to the range with the Bob, let her shoot a round or two from that first, take a short rest to let it sink in and move to the Bob. The reduction in recoil will seem more pronounced that way.

I beg to differ. A neophyte shooter (or one who is not accustomed to recoil) may be intimidated by the recoil of something as large as a .30-06 and may never "gentle" in to something more modest like a .257.

Here are some cardinal rules for introducing new shooters to guns of significant recoil and muzzle blast:

1. Provide very good ear protection. Some people are intimidated by the muzzle blast and perceive it and the recoil as one and the same. Even a .257 has enough muzzle blast for unprotected ears to make the shooter believe she has been "stomped" by the gun.

2. Have her shoot the first couple of shots from a standing, offhand position at a very close target. While this is the most difficult way to hit a target, it is also the way in which the shooter perceives the least recoil (shooting from a bench can be punishing). When she shoots, watch her, not the target. Look for signs of flinch or improper gun mounting.

3. Advance to shooting sticks for a slightly longer target.

4. Teach the use of an informal rest (like the window sill of a deer blind or a handy fence post) for making more precision shots as the shooter advances.

Factory .257 Roberts is loaded very mildly (100 grainer at about 2900 fps or so). When I owned a Roberts I used to pump this up considerably, but the factory load is fully adequate for deer and its 45,000 psi is easier on the ears and shoulder than a "full power" load. Good choice.

Hey Sam, If you have not already bought it, I'd encourage you to take her with you and let her handle the rifle - before - buying it. You may discover the stock needs to be shortened, or it might be too heavy for her trying to hold it up.

The 257Rob recoil is no big thing. Whatever she shoots though, make sure she starts out with both Ear Plugs and Muffs. The report can cause a flinch in new shooters and you do not need that.

If you currently have a rifle that fits her, you could also look in to the relatively new "Managed Recoil" factory ammo. I believe Remington and maybe someone else is making it for the Cartridges you listed. Or, you could always Load your own with Starting Loads shown in the Manuals and have the same thing.

I'll have to disagree with tigertate's recomendation to let her shoot a 30-06 or 270Win with normal factory ammo first. The reason I do so, is because that recommendation is Full-of-Beans.

Actually, you would do well to start her off with a good old 22LR of some type to get the Basics and Safety issues under control.

The 257Rob is an excellent Cartridge, but so are the others with proper Starting Loads.

Best of luck to you all.

quote:

Originally posted by sam184:
just looking for some advice.I have a chance to pick up a bolt action in 257 roberts for my wife. how does the recoil compare with 270,30/06 ,308 etc.I know there are other cal but if this would work good we could save the extra funds.

Sam,

Velocity (ft/sec) from Rems web site:

Cartridge Type Bullet Muzzle 100 200 300 400 500
Remington® Express® 117 SP CL 2650 2291 1961 1663 1404 1199
Remington® Express® 130 PSP CL 3060 2776 2510 2259 2022 1801
Remington® Express® 180 SP CL 2700 2348 2023 1727 1466 1251


Using a 7 1/2 pound rifle - Here's the recoil numbers:

• 257 Recoil energy = 10 ft-lbs, recoil velocity = 9 fps
  
• 270 Recoil energy = 19 ft-lbs, recoil velocity = 12 fps
  
• 30/06 Recoil energy = 24 ft-lbs, recoil velocity = 14 fps
  

+1 on taking her to pick up and handle the rifle.

I can't begin to understand what my wife likes when she puts a rifle up to her shoulder.....the Winchester 94, Rem model 7, and Ruger RSM are all OK and she hates anything else.

The 257R would be a great choice, IMO. If you're willing to scrape together the money, Kimber is supposed to be making the M84 in 257 Roberts now as well, although I haven't seen one.

Cheers,

Dan

On most lt.wt. rifles a woman would be comfortable shooting, the 06 is too much round. Even the 270 w/ 130gr bullet will smack her some. The 257R recoils only slightly mor ethan a 243 which is almost none. A 260 or 6.5x55 would be another good choice.

quote:

A 260 or 6.5x55 would be another good choice.

Built my FIRST wife a 6.5 X 55 that weighed 5 1/2 pounds. Knocked the pee diddle out of her. She never seemed to appreciate that rifle or me after her first trip with it. Strange lady! roger

quote:

how does the recoil compare with 270,30/06 ,308 etc.I

The .257 Roberts is substantially less recoil than any of the mentioned cartridges. Anyone will tell the difference immediately.

If the Roberts is in a ultralite rifle however the recoil will still be fairly sharp but still manageable.

quote:

Originally posted by sam184:
just looking for some advice.I have a chance to pick up a bolt action in 257 roberts for my wife. how does the recoil compare with 270,30/06 ,308 etc.I know there are other cal but if this would work good we could save the extra funds.

Recoil is much less than the 270. Also less than he 30's you listed.

A fantastic caliber that can certainly handle a multitude of jobs for your wife. Light recoil, inherent accuracy and a sure killer if she does her part!! A fantastic choice.

quote:

If the Roberts is in a ultralite rifle however the recoil will still be fairly sharp but still manageable.

Handloading it can quickly solve that problem


different powders can seem to generate less recoil than some others, without sacrificing velocity...

I'm very partial to IMr3031, 4064 and IMR4895 for that reason...also Rl 15...

Ray provided some great real world intel! If it is the least expensive route I would go that way in a heartbeat--others input on stock fit and rifle weight are worth paying attention to for sure.

One note, if you DON'T handload, then factory Wby ammo is $$$$. You might consider buying managed recoil stuff for the 270 if you don't reload. If you do, components for the Wby are still high--specifically brass, but equalize things on cost mostly-- I'd still look at downloading the 270, cause you can step it up later if you want....plus I'm a 270 nut!

Good Luck!

Shooting from a rest with a bipod also decreases felt recoil

The Remington factory loads are cream puffs.

117 round nose at 2660fps, and were pretty durn accurate in my rifle. I'd start her out with those, and then move up closer to a full house load, if she really needs it. For 150yrd or less hunting shots, the Rems would be fine.

The Roberts was the first "deer cartridge" I ever used, where the recoil of the shot was so mild that I still had a good enough sight picture in the scope to actually see the bullet impact the deer. That can be a great advantage for calling your shot. That happened to be with Hornady factory loads 117btsp at around 2780fps.

My current handloads are the hornady 117btsp that if they aren't hitting 2900fps, they're whispering in his ear. You could also go with minimum 100grn loads for a practical 200+yd hunting rig with very little recoil. The 80grn tsx could be another option for light recoil with some reach.

Good ear protection and show her how to properly hold a rifle. Have her hold it as if it were a heavy hitter. with a firm grip on the forearm and wrist pulling the rifle into the shoulder. With a slight lean from the waist into the rifle.
Often folks that are a bit timid will tend to push the rifle away from them. This only amplifies any felt recoil.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by Hot Core:
Hey Sam, If you have not already bought it, I'd encourage you to take her with you and let her handle the rifle - before - buying it. You may discover the stock needs to be shortened, or it might be too heavy for her trying to hold it up.

The 257Rob recoil is no big thing. Whatever she shoots though, make sure she starts out with both Ear Plugs and Muffs. The report can cause a flinch in new shooters and you do not need that.

If you currently have a rifle that fits her, you could also look in to the relatively new "Managed Recoil" factory ammo. I believe Remington and maybe someone else is making it for the Cartridges you listed. Or, you could always Load your own with Starting Loads shown in the Manuals and have the same thing.

I'll have to disagree with tigertate's recomendation to let her shoot a 30-06 or 270Win with normal factory ammo first. The reason I do so, is because that recommendation is Full-of-Beans.

Actually, you would do well to start her off with a good old 22LR of some type to get the Basics and Safety issues under control.

The 257Rob is an excellent Cartridge, but so are the others with proper Starting Loads.

Best of luck to you all.[/QUOTE

Double hearing protection is the best advice, I used to be scared shitless of rifle report even from other shooters. Then I tried plugs and muffs one day and I learned how much easier it was to relax behind a center fire. Now I don't flinch when a rifle goes off beside me. If it were my wife I'd start her off with a 223 and work up from there. FS