The 257 Roberts - introduced by Remington in 1934.

We seldom here about these two cartridges (Roberts & its improved version) today any more and yet they were dandies in their day. Have the hunters perhaps migrated to the very fast 257 Weatherby Magnum, or changed completely to another bore size? Today it seems the 25-06 Rem has eclipsed the 257 Roberts, and then we still have another odd-ball called the 25 WSSM and its finicky feeding issues !!! The question I have is ..... do we still have fans out there?

The Roberts was a very popular “quarter bore” during the 1930’s and beyond for sure. Ken Waters picked it as his favorite “small bore” and in 1948 Colonel Whelen stated he had come to prefer the .257 Roberts and .270 Winchester over all other cartridges. Jack O’Connor also sang its praises. P.O.Ackley is credited with its "improved" version - the 257 Roberts Ackley Improved by changing its shoilder angle from 28 degrees to 40 degrees and raved about it as the IMPROVED cartridge of all his creations.

I’m sure some of you must have some great memories of the cartridge, or heard stories from Dad and Grandpa on how the 257 Roberts put meat on the table for them.

Let us hear them stories and see some beauties as a celebration before we totally forget.

Warrior

My first foray into the 257 Bob arena was a Ruger Hawkeye.



Next one that caught my eye was a heavy barreled Sako L579




Sako L579, 257 Roberts


Last time I succumbed (to a Roberts, that is) was this.




Remington 700 CDL SF Ltd., 257 Roberts

So far I have not taken the plunge again, but a couple of weeks ago, I ran into a Cooper model 22 in 257 AI, with wood that has me itchin' and a scratchin', just haven't come to terms yet.


As to stories, I can't "wow" with all kind of glitzy tales. They just to do what they should, quietly and efficiently. A 110 gr. Accubond, at +/- 2800 fps MV just seems to work when properly placed in the "vitals" of Texas whitetails and porkers.

Best


GWB

I have 2. An Ackley Roberts with a Douglas barrel on a Win 70 featherweight, and my daughter's Roberts built on a lefty stainless Savage.

Still a fan here.

I have 2 M700 Classics that I love. The blue one is mine, ss is my wife's. With modern bullets and loadings it is a real killer!

Perry

I have one built on a Mauser 96 and my gal has one too but in Ruger Ultra Light both absolute tack drivers.
My brother has 3. All of ours are standard .257 Roberts no AI's in the bunch.

My interest in 257 Roberts started in 1973 when I was going to borrow one from my great grandma for an upcoming deer season. I read everything I could get my hands on about the Roberts and memorized energy and trajectory tables as well as reliving stories of game taken with the rifle I was about to hunt with. When we went to get the rifle we found that an aunt had been helping herself to various rifles and shotguns at my great grandma's house and the rifle could not be located (sold). From that day I wanted one until I finally got my own Roberts about 5 years ago.
Mine is a 96 Mauser that has been converted to cock on open, Timney trigger, 3 position safety, 23" ultra light Pac Nor barrel, Warne rings and Leupold 3-9 compact scope, I reshaped the old stock and it weighs less than 7.5 pounds. It shoots 117 Sierra's at 2800 fps into tiny little groups and is an absolute killer on large Mule Deer and Antelope. This year I am carrying it for Elk and Deer.
Here's mine:

My son got a Rem. 722 chambered in 257 Roberts about 2 years ago. I didn't know much about that caliber but I have grown to really appriciate the ability of the round. It works on everything we have used it for, from prarie dogs to mule deer. Very fast, loaded with 75 gr. Sierras and very potent loaded with 117 gr. If I had to pick one rifle for the plains of Colorado, it would probably be the Bob. So, Yes, there are still fans and I'm a big one.

My Roberts is a Stevens 200 originally a 25/06
re-chambered to Roberts. I shot it Saturday in preparation for Whitetail season. With 100gr Partitions it is shooting sub-halfminute at 200yds. I think it's ready!
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

LOTS of people love this round. Low recoil, kill nicely, accurate, easy to re load, etc etc....

Great classy round.

As you can see it has a small but very faithful following! (including me)

quote:

Originally posted by the jigger:
My Roberts is a Stevens 200 originally a 25/06
re-chambered to Roberts.

The .257 Roberts is an excellent round, and I enjoyed the one I owned many years ago. But I'm puzzled at why you would go to the trouble and expense of rechambering an inexpensive rifle from .25-06 to .257. This must have involved setting the barrel back quite a bit, and after all, you could have achieved essentially the same result by just down-loading your .25-06 to .257 velocities. There must be something more here than meets the eye. No?

I have the Rem 700 Classic. My pet rifle.

Ruger 77 with Leup 3x9.

I've only killed deer out to 310yrds with it, but it killed them just as dead as my 300win would have. Fun gun to shoot, and is a light enough kicker to actually see the bullet impact on game.

So far I've liked the 117grn hornady interlocks and 115grn ballistic tips. I've also gotten 1" or less goups with 100grn ttsx and 90grn sierra hpbt.

Not only has it become my go to deer rifle, but my wife and daughter have carried it for deer too, with no thought as to the rifle kicking too much, or being underpowered in the least.

With regard to action length for the 257 Roberts, it is viewed as an odd-ball cartridge, being built on an intermediate length action. The standard length action is too long catering for 63 mm long cartridge cases (30-06 Spr/270 Win type) and too short for 51 mm cases (308 Win type) and fits in with the cartridges having 57 mm long cases, such as ....

7x57 mm
8x57 mm
9x57 mm

all of which are metric based (European for that matter)and are all fading due to most factories not offering them any more - it is sad but true. And yes, the 257 Roberts is based on a 7x57 mm case and so suffer the same fate. The Americans saw the opportunity at a time when plenty 7 mm Mausers were coming into the US during the late 20's and early 30's.

I would take a 257 Roberts with a 115 grain any day over a 243 Win that max out with a 100 grain bullet as well as the faster but over-bore 25-06 Rem with more recoil. This is just my personal opinion; not saying it is superior over any of the faster .257 magnums that's eating barrels.

Here is a comparative list:

.250-3000 Savage - 100 gr bullet @ 2,864 fps ---------------------- 45,000 CUP
.257-Roberts - 100 gr bullet @ 2,898 fps ----------------------------- 58,000 psi
.25-06 Rem - 100 gr bullet @ 3,283 fps ------------------------------- 63,000 psi
.257 Roberts AI with a 26" barrel - 100 gr bullet @ 3,279 fps ---- Wildcat
.257 Weatherby Mag with a 26" barrel - 100 gr bullet @ 3,512 fps,--- 65,000 psi

Warrior

Warrior: Excellent observation about action lengths. Many of the .257's chambered in the U.S. were put on actions designed for the .308-length cartridges, and thus were lacking in magazine length. And when the .257 is placed on a .30-06-length action it has more space than needed. The old "short Mauser" with a magazine of around 3.1" or so is "just right" for the 57mm case, but those are virtually unavailable these days.

Ironically, the 57mm case shares the same magazine length needs as the Johnny-come-lately "WSM" series, but actions for those cartridges have a magazine that is too wide and bolt faces that are too large in diameter for the Roberts.

Many years ago I owned, of all things, a Herter's XK-3 which was built on a German-made commercial Mauser action. I don't recall ever measuring its magazine length, but while it was clearly a much shorter action than a full length Model 98, its magazine had plenty of room for a 117 grain Nosler Partition loaded where it should be with its base flush with the junction of the shoulder and the neck. As with most Herter's products, the gun was a bit crude, but after replacing the creepy old trigger with a Timney, it would shoot with the best of them. Incidentally, factory loads chronographed some bit faster than published velocities through its 23.5" barrel.

I have two, A Ruger #1B and the Winchester m70 Featherweight. When I bought th Rugerm it came with a 3x9 Leupold and 6 boxes of Norma .257 Robt. ammo using 100 gr. bullets. I took the ruger to the range and set up a target at 100 yards, settled down on the sand bags and shot 5 shots spaced about a minute apart.. When I checked the group, it was right where I aimed and the group measures .80". That ammo was too good to waste on paper and the Ruger too heavy to carry at higher altitudes . Then I fell into the M70 and it's so much fun the carry that unless I'm calling coyotes from a stand the Ruger stays home. Now if the lousy state would only issue a damn deer tag i the draw, maybe I'd be able to see if all they say about the "Bob" is true.
Paul B.

I found a used M-70 featherweight in the gunracks a few years ago.....I marched it to the cash register without even looking at the pricetag!

OK.....I did peek before I told the guy "I'll take it".....LOL

It's a damn fine rifle!

My little Browning BLR 81 was bought new and they argue over it when I'm gone and not before then.

Warrior,
I have 3, 257 Roberts that I actively use to whack feral pig and sheep on management hunts. One is a AI in a Sako, one in a Ruger 77 ultra light, and the last is a 1950 M S with iron sights.

No doubt, I'm a big fan of the 257 Roberts as it is an extremely versatile cartridge with handloading.

Geoff

Mine is a .257AI built on an intermediate length German commercial action. 26 inch light varmint weight barrel, heavy claro walnut stock and Bold trigger.

My wife shoots a Ruger Model 77 Ultra-Lite in 257 Robert's and is deadly with it. It is a great round, especially for hand loaders.

My favorite rifle is a .257 Roberts built on a 1909 action with a Douglas featherweight barrel, built in the mid-late '70's before Winchester came out with the Model 70 featherweight. With a very nice piece of Claro made into a classic stock with Neidner buttplate and ebony tip, it looks good and shoots well under 1" with 100 gr. Ballistic tips or Partitions. It is throated for 3" OAL.

Clarence

Add me to the list.
My Ruger M77MkII is one of my favorite rifles. I've taken several whitetails out to 200 yards(my main hunting area doesn't allow much longer ranges than that) and an antelope at a lazered 375 yards with the 100 Hornady over 46gr. H4350.

Stonecreek,
I just wanted a Roberts. I am a Savage/Stevens fan. I like the way all of them shoot. I have six.
Stevens 200 257 Roberts
Stevens 200 250AI
Savage model 10 250/3000
Savage 110fp 25/06
Savage 12fv 220 Swift
Savage 12fv 22-250
The 25/06 to Roberts conversion was the most economical way to get a Roberts that I was confident would shoot well.
I like the quarterbore. I have two others that are not Savage/Stevens:
Ruger #3 250AI
Vanguard 25/06
I bought the Vanguard out of curiosity. You know
"the $399 Weatherby". I have not been disappointed.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

Yep, it's still the gem in my collection of rifles. In my case, a Rem M7MS. Groups 3/4" at 100 with 117 SGK's and sub MOA with about four different bullets including a 100 TSX.



Lovely cartridge and really makes me wonder why I want a 7mm Mauser...don't answer that!

Still popular, building one on a pre 64 M70, #2 Douglas barrel this week. Wanted a rifle for his son that was effective, but easy on the shooter.

quote:

Are there still 257 Roberts fans?

Oh yeah! My first, my favorite and oh my, I hope not my last!

















It hunts too



Alan

Dear Warrior:

I will become a 257 Roberts Ackley Improved disciple fairly soon by using a 1908 Brazilian Mauser as a base with a #2 Lilja barrel.

Presently, my wife and I are looking for a bigger place where I can install a lathe, and then the dreams will come true.

Everyone, whom I talked to that uses a 257 Roberts through 25-06 loves them.

Hey, why argue.

Sincerely,

Chris Bemis

GSSP: The workmanship looks great, but it's too bad you couldn't find a nicer piece of wood to put on your Roberts. That one is all messed up with squiggles and swirls instead of having nice, straight, even-colored grain.

257 Roberts fans....?? Oh, HELL YES!!

I bought one for each of my 2 boys, that was twenty+ years ago...lots of deer, antelope, javelina,PD's and one elk have regretted my purchases.

For deer, sheep, antelope...all you need

I have (sortof) 2. The 1st. is Mannlicher Schoenauer stutzen in 257 Rob.; the second was made using a left-hand-converted Rem 721 (or 722??...I forget) action with a 257 Rob. barrel that I had re-chambered to 25-06.
And....(confession time) I have yet to shoot either one!!

Warrior, I'm a fan of the .257 Roberts. I have 3 three of them, a Ruger No. 1-A, Ruger Ultra-Lite, a custom job I bought used.
I would much rather have a .257 Roberts than a .243 Win.

[QUOTE]Originally posted by GSSP:















Absolutely stunning!

I'm with you Vapo. That rifle is magnificant. Oh, I have 2 .257 Bob's. A custom MGM Encore barrel and a Tikka T3 that began life as a .243 but was rebarreled by Jim Kobe.

quote:

Originally posted by rnovi:
Yep, it's still the gem in my collection of rifles. In my case, a Rem M7MS. Groups 3/4" at 100 with 117 SGK's and sub MOA with about four different bullets including a 100 TSX.

Lovely cartridge and really makes me wonder why I want a 7mm Mauser...don't answer that!

Robert, please stop posting pics of that rifle.

I've never been a fan of Mannlicher stocked rifles but that little bugger is an absolute turn on for me.

Re the original question, yes I've got a Ruger Hawkeye in the Roberts, however I don't think it's going to see much use from me.
My 19old son took a chital stag with it last year and now has laid claim to the rifle.

In 1952 I was off to gunsmith school in Colorado. I carried with me a 98Mauser byf action barreled by a local gunsmith in 257 Roberts. Barrel was a Pfieffer. Bolt handle had a checkered knob. Work was done by a gunsmith in Kosciusko,Ms. It was going to be my first custom rile. After getting to TSJC I was traded out of the barreled action for a 257 Ackley improved finished rifle by a fellow student. In all the ensuing years I never had another 257 Roberts so a couple of years ago I comissioned a good friend to build ,what was to become, my second ever personally ordered rifle. It is a Mdl 70 classic action with a rather heavy 22" Lilja 3 groove barrel in 257 Roberts. Action has been totally blueprinted and the bolt handle has been replaced with a straight one. Scope is a Zeiss Diavari Z 3-12 x 56 MC. Wood was chosen fo dark color rather than figure. Figure is just not very important to me. First group after breaking in (20 rounds cleaning between each round) was less than 3/8" with 110gr AccuBonds. To say I am pleased with the rifle would be a gross understatement. About the only thing I DON'T like about it is to hear it refferred to as the 'Bob'. It's like fimgernails on a chalkboard to me.

quote:

quote:
Originally posted by the jigger:
My Roberts is a Stevens 200 originally a 25/06
re-chambered to Roberts.


The .257 Roberts is an excellent round, and I enjoyed the one I owned many years ago. But I'm puzzled at why you would go to the trouble and expense of rechambering an inexpensive rifle from .25-06 to .257. This must have involved setting the barrel back quite a bit, and after all, you could have achieved essentially the same result by just down-loading your .25-06 to .257 velocities. There must be something more here than meets the eye. No?

My .257 AI also started out as a .25-06 back around 1978 in a (then) new Mauser Mark X barreled action. I put it in a Fancy piece of walnut from Fajen and topped it with a 6x Leupold.

It's been my favorite rifle for deer/antelope/sheep size critters ever since.

Those are super nice. I've only owned one despite years of gun swapping, but I still have it, an engraved FN Deluxe with a custom Claro walnut stock.

Those are beautiful rifles guys. Thx for posting the photos.

I have a 250-3000 which I have considered getting re-chambered to .257R but why change perfection ?

The .250-3000 Savage is another forgotten darling out there. Also known as the.250 Savage. It is ballistically very similar to the 257 Roberts and it is an excellent cartridge with moderate recoil for hunting small game on up to deer-sized game.

"Newton recommended loading 100 grain (6.5 g) bullets at 2800 ft/s (850 m/s); but Savage Arms reduced bullet weight to obtain velocity of 3000 ft/s. The .250 Savage was the first American cartridge capable of achieving 3000 ft/s (910 m/s) velocity. Achieving that velocity may have been the reason for the choice of the light-for-caliber 87 grain (5.6 g) bullet.[3] Newton questioned if publicity advantages of velocity compensated for reduced penetration of the lighter bullet in larger game animals.[4]"

For hunting a 117 grain bullet at 2,652 fps is listed (what the 30-06 is doing with a 180 grainer).
It is based on a shortened .30-06 Springfield case with the same rim diameter of .473".

But there is a much more interesting question .... why did the US Army not opt for it as a military cartridge over the 5.56 mm or .223 Rem? This would have saved the Army from falling around during the last decade to try various other options that may still not be better than the .250-3000 that stared them in the face way back then. It provided a flexibility from 75 grain bullets to 117 grain bullets with stepped options of 87/90 grains and 100 grains in between.

Let us get some thoughts on this.

Warrior

Assault weapon design fell apart when the EM-1 and 2 and .280 British got scraped.

Look what exists now. The 6.8SPC a ballistic clone of that earlier excellent design.

The .276 Pederson was also a better mouse trap and before it's time. (Thought I'd mention that for our North American members).