Hey all,
I have no caliber need at the moment but have a vz33 that I want to stock with a piece of turkish walnut I have been saving. I want a fairly light weight deer gun. I'm leaning towards 257 Roberts. I want a classic caliber. any thoughts?

I had a customised VZ33 that I had for 35 years.
First as a 6mm Rem., then as a .22/250, and finally as a 6.5x55.
I sold it to a guy in Adelaide in a moment of weakness...how I wish I had it back, either as the 6.5x55 still or better yet as a .275 Rigby, alias 7x57 Mauser!

Hope that gave you some inspiration...

The 57mm 6mmRem (6x57) case is perfect for bullets up to 100gr...while I like the .257Roberts, if 100gr ain't enough, it's unlikely that 120gr will be either!

So the 6.5x55, serving Sweden for 110 years, first as a military cartridge and since almost the same time as a hunting round, with it's useful bullet range from 90gr up to 160gr might float your boat.

or, that 'classic of classics' mentioned above 'the old 7mil Mauser'!
There's not much to choose between them, since the 7mm range is from 100gr to 175!

Cheers mate,

Ed

My .257 Roberts don't get used anymore after I built my 6.5 X 55

Yep 7x57.

Have a VZ33 in 257 Roberts but it stays in the cabinet for target work--for deer hunting the G33 in 7x57 get taken.

For comparison to the Roberts, as you are barreling it, throat it for 140s and it will shoot handloaded 120 Barnes TSX wickedly fast, trumping the Roberts, but having the same level of recoil.

You heve to shoot 100g in the Roberts to match that combo's speed and then have to be comfortable with the 100g as the bullet for bigger deer, should one come by. Many are, I'm not, having run into some big bodied whitetails, say into the 200# class dressed, the largest went 265#. I like a little insurance.

The G has a bit of freebore so I can load 140g Nosler Solid Base and 150g Partitions out to 3.150 over a full case of H4350.

An 8x57 would soak up that little extra in the magazine area. But the bullet selection is dismal...at least here. Were I to worry about that little extra space, I would employ a 30x57 and throat it for 150s making sure I had a twist to match. But that ain't exactly classic is it? On the not exactly classic subject was thinking this AM of a 284 case loaded out for a Mauser mag--Mel Forbes had that figured out a long time ago, eh? The 284 with 120 handloads is absolutely wicked.

The VZ action is a light 98 but you won't have a real lightweight when you are done, unless you really work at it. My VZ has a 23" barrel going .580 at the muzzle. It has a 32 oz synthetic stock and goes 7.5# sans scope and mounts. It needs a real stock with some figure as VZ33s aren't exactly hanging on every tree. The G with a 24" barrel has a 25oz stock and goes 7# sans scope and mounts. FWIW, my less than educated guess is that using a 22" barrel contoured like the M-70 featherweight, drilling holes in the mag box, and watching the wood and recoil pad weight, you would be at 7#.

I have both 257 and 7x57. Its a toss up who goes to the ranch with me. Either are GREAT cartridges but the 7x57 does give you a little more insurance. Having said that I have never lost a deer/hog or recovered a bullet from Bob with the 100gr TSXs!

Perry

Trez

See if your Dad has a copy of the 5th Edition Gun Digest Treasury edited by John Amber. If so, turn to page 134 and read the article entitled "Forty Years with the Little 7MM" by Jack O'Connor. I have a feeling that after you read that artile you will know what to do with that little VZ.

I'll look up that addition if it's available to me. Dad gave a large# of books to a friend a year or two back it may have been in them.

Thanks for the weigh in. Since I have the wood picked out as a for sure, I guess light weight will have some limitations as it isn't the lightest I have. It just seems to fit, you know. I'll add pics of the wood when I get a chance to figure this picture biz out. I've been given all the info, just need to sit down and do it.

Working towards being "in the biz", it will be hard to resist $$ when someone wants what I've got so this is the rub as far as me keeping what I wind up doing for "myself". Dad built me one that I will never let go of. After all the dust settled, he has not kept any of his guns for himself........... I don't really want this to happen but I understand it. This one wouldn't come cheap or even reasonable, as I am quite attached so I most likely will get to keep it.

Neither dad or I have hunted or shot a lot recently so if some of my questions seem novice, please understand. Art/wood-sculpture/working has been a focus. I'm learning. Used to hunt a lot and plan to return to it.

Anyway, I plan on this one for me. Pics to follow. This one will be a while in the making. I'll keep you updated. Thanks again for the toughts. Keep them coming.

I won't argue the 7x57 isn't a great round and classic. However there are no flies on the .257 Roberts either. A 100 partition at 3100 or a 100 TSX at 3100 or a 110 accubond at 3050 have no problems with 250 lb deer. Heck I've never recovered even the 100 Hornady interlock SP from deer in the mid 100's. For a coyote or varmint walking rifle as a secondary use the .257 beats the 7 all to heck with the excellent Hornady 75 vmax and 85 ballistic tips. I've found my .257 makes me leave other rifles at home when deer and yotes are on the menu.

Another vote for the Bob! I like your idea and think the Bob as not only a classic round but one with some interesting history. I used mine more than any other gun in the cabinet for a long while. It now wears a shortened stock so my boy can shoot it, but I'd have no qualms about taking it out after big deer myself. Nate

The style will be similar to what I've done with this rifle.
https://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/2711043/m/677105175

Here is a photo of the wood I am going to use. It actully lays out better the original way just haven't taken new pictures after changing it. Picked this up from Clay over at Luxus walnut.

Yeah, I could put up with carrying a little more weight around...

Well, I have both the 7x57 and .257 Bob, but I haven't shot anything with the Bob yet. I think either round would suit you just fine, especially with judicious handloading. I think that if one or the other would have to go, I believe the 7x57 would be the one to stay home. That is, it would be the keeper. Both rifles are standard off the shelf Winchester M70 Featherweights. The 7x57 has had a trigger job and serious glass bedding work and is amazingly accurate with almost everything I've run through it. The Bob is still strictly stock so far.
I also have 7x57 rifles on an FN commercial Mauser action and a Ruger #1. The Mauser is also very accurate and the #1 shoots decent, if not spectacular groups. (1.25")
The 7x57 may not be as good for varmints at the .257 Bob, but it will do the job and would be good up to elk sized game with proper handloading.
I guess the decision would have to be based on exactly what you want the rifle for?
Paul B.

Ok,
I Have a 280 rem. dad built me for the medium/larger North American stuff but it's such a nice gun that it will most likely not see the worst weather conditions. I only have one gun from my dad (Darwin) and I don't want to screw it up much, he won't be making any more. I could fix just about anything I could do to it but that's not the point as you might be able to understand.

I want a cross over gun for varmits and deer if this is more specific. I do hand load for the 280 but so far nothing else. I have about 25 different loads made up (20 rounds each) to test for the 280 but haven't had time to go to the range. I handloaded a lot in High School for a 243, but that was about 25 years ago. Since I'm just getting back into handloading, it will take me a while to understand some of the more technical information I have been given about handloading. From this perspective, does this change anything. Also keep in mind that as I start to hunt more, that I live in Oregon and that is where I would do most of my hunting.
Trez

I have & use 3 257 roberts, they work great on deer & up to medium size hogs but the only a fool would shoot a 300# hog. If you are going to use 85gr or less bullets do not chamber as a 3" Roberts, the jump will be too much & 120gr partations work well with the shorter chamber.

257 Roberts, 6.5X55 or 7X57 you won't go wrong.

I would lean towards the 7X57 myself.

Trez,

neo-classic? Best of both worlds? Why, that would be the 257 Roberts Ackley Improved. An honest 150-200fps increase over the original, easy on the shoulder...deadly at the other end. I do not believe you can go wrong with the Imp.

Rich

Thanks for weighing in,
This project is going slowly. I want it to be first class which is expensive. I can do the stock work to this level but most of the metalwork and engraving will have to be farmed out. As it progresses I will update this post.

I've got notification turned on, so I will continue to monitor this thread and will read it in full again before the barrel/caliber gets done.

Thanks again all for your thoughts on the matter.

I have both the .280 A/I & the .257 A/I. I find these are the two most used centerfire rifles in my collection.
Good luck with your project,
Dave

quote:

Originally posted by Idaho Sharpshooter:
Trez,

neo-classic? Best of both worlds? Why, that would be the 257 Roberts Ackley Improved. An honest 150-200fps increase over the original, easy on the shoulder...deadly at the other end. I do not believe you can go wrong with the Imp.

Rich

Of 100 center fire rifles, my 257RAI is the most accurate, but I think that the Ackley version only pics up 30 fps over the plain Roberts, at the same pressure. The real pressure test in a 98 Mauser is brass life. The threshold of primer pocket looseness and then back off a safety margin is the real max load.

With what load books say, I will give you the 200 fps.

I shoot both the Roberts and the 7X57.
both are good, but if I had a .280, I would go .257 Roberts, I may or may not improve it.
...tj3006