My son is shooting a 257 Roberts now. I load for him using 85 gr. Nos. BT. This load is running 3150 fps. He is now thinking about trading the Bob for a 243. I can't see any advantage to doing this but all the big coyote hunter videos are using 243 and I think he is a victum of marketing. Am I missing somthing here? Give me your ideas.

Unless he wants to drop to lighter bullets, there's no reason to go to the .243. A .243 will push an 85 grain bullet to almost identical velocities. The SD of the .243 diameter 85 grainer is a little higher so you gain a tiny bit there, but IMO it's negligible.

The only reason I could see for swapping the .257 Roberts for a .243 is that you can shoot lighter bullets at really high velocity.

I'm not sure what he thinks he'll gain. If he wants faster, the 75gr. Hornady works great in mine, but the combo he's using now works great I'm sure and handles the wind a little better.

My boys are both using .243's because the .257 Roberts wasn't available in a youth model. They have used down to 55gr BT's but I don't think there is any noticeable difference in effectiveness unless your shooting over a distance in windy conditions and calling when it's windy doesn't seem to work out so well anyway.
One big advantage I think, is using the Roberts for vermin will improve familiarity with it and it's a great dual purpose rifle for bigger game. Nate

My feelings exactly. I really like the 257, have a nice load for it and do all his loading. That round has worked for coyotes, antelope and mule deer. The rifle is an old 722 rem. has an adjustable trigger not very pretty but does a good job. I've never used a 243 so I can't comment on them.

I love my .243, but I wouldn't trade a .257 Roberts for one, especially given that mule deer are in the equation. Not that a .243 won't do the job on a mulie, I'd just rather have the option of 120 grain bullets.

Dad, use it as a teaching moment. Tell him to save his $ and when he has enough to pay for half of the setup he wants, you will pay the other half. You keep the Roberts. You can't fault the boy for wanting a new rifle.

quote:

Originally posted by aliveincc:
Dad, use it as a teaching moment. Tell him to save his $ and when he has enough to pay for half of the setup he wants, you will pay the other half. You keep the Roberts. You can't fault the boy for wanting a new rifle.

Now that is just good thinking! roger

quote:

Originally posted by mikem0553:
My son is shooting a 257 Roberts now. I load for him using 85 gr. Nos. BT. This load is running 3150 fps. He is now thinking about trading the Bob for a 243. I can't see any advantage to doing this but all the big coyote hunter videos are using 243 and I think he is a victum of marketing. Am I missing somthing here? Give me your ideas.

Alot depends on what bullet their using in those video's?

I've never shot or owned a 257 Roberts but I do shoot a 243/243AI both are used as varmit/antelope rifles.

I'm sure the 257 Roberts is a good caliber.

It may be the boy just wants a shiny new toy and dropping the Roberts for a .243 is an excuse. We all can relate to that.

Well the new Ruger Hawkeye can be had in .257R!

I HAVE A 243 WIN. AND A 243 ACKLEY. I SHOOT SMALL GAME AND LARGE GAME WITH IT LIKE ELAND. THE ACKLEY IS BETTER BUT LIKE I WAS TEACH IT IS NOT THE RIFLE BUT THE MEN BEHIND IT. YOU CAN HAVE WHAT KIND OF CALIBER BUT IF YOU CAN NOT SHOOT YOU CAN NOT. KEEP YOUR ROBERTS AND IF YOU WANT A 243 GO FOR IT. IF YOU WANT MORE VELOCITY GO FOR THE 243 ACKLEY.

The big coyoted hunter videos aren't saving pelts (anymore than the jerks on the turkey videos are eating the turkeys they blast with a chest full of shot).

If you are using the rifle just for coyotes then he'd do much better learning how to skin and stretch a pelt AFTER shooting it with a more appropriate sized caliber. Properly handled pelts add up to a new rifle quickly if he's a good caller and shooter.

If it's an all-around gun then it's one of those "six of one, half dozen of the other" situations.

quote:

Originally posted by aliveincc:
Dad, use it as a teaching moment. Tell him to save his $ and when he has enough to pay for half of the setup he wants, you will pay the other half. You keep the Roberts. You can't fault the boy for wanting a new rifle.

Bravo!

I don't fault him for wanting a new rifle. I just don't think he should get rid of the Roberts to get a caliber that does pretty much the same thing. I think he should keep the Roberts and spend his money on a 223 or 204 or whatever caliber he chooses to maybe be a little easier on the pelts.
The 243 is just too close to the Roberts to switch in my opinon. Its his money and his decision and I hope he's happy with whatever choice he makes.

I think trading the bob for a .243 would be akin to trading a beige pickup for a tan one. Most that have mentioned dual purpose have talked about also hunting larger game. I think if he is going to trade he needs to go the other direction. The other direction being a gun suited for smaller stuff where lots of shots fired--prarie dogs, jackrabbitts, sage rats etc. This type shooting the blast/recoil of a bob or a .243 gets old. As erict mentioned the bob nor the .243 are especially pelt friendly. So drop down to a .223, .222 .204 Ruger for some examples and he'll probably like any of those better on coyotes too.

The only real reason I can see for going with the 243 instead of the Roberts is if a person is not handloading. It can get really difficult to find shells for the Roberts, even at a Cabela's.

I suspect all the Cabelas in Olney,Texas are well stocked with Roberts ammo.

It's getting hard to find new guns chambered for the Bob these days though there does seem to be renewed interest in it.I wouldn't trade or sell it but adding a .243 wouldn't hurt either.

What is the reasoning for the .243 besides seeing it in a hunting video?
I watched a coyote video where they were using everything from .223's to 300Win Mags...and shotguns, not to mention sticks (bows)...lol

You have all heard to the old joke about what the best coyote gun is?


The one you have in your hand at the time....

I shot the .243 when it first came out and a few time since, and I am not impressed with it..BTW more 243s have blown up than any other caliber according to the American Rifleman and Win. records. Apparantly it has something to do with the throat wear and using light bullets..

At any rate I live the 257 robts. and the 250 Savage much better for my hunting.

Mike,

I agree with the advice already given. There's no way I would trade my Roberts for a 243, I currently own both but the 243 was an inheritance. There isn't enough performance separating the two to justify the swap, and in IMO, the Roberts has more class. Owning one separates you as a rifleman from the herd of shooters.

If he want's another rifle, I would recommend adding a 22 centerfire and keeping the 257. Having both will round out his small/medium game arsenal very well.