For a while now I've wanted to get a 257 Roberts but cannot find a reason why. I hunt Black bear and for them use a 30-06, 338 WinMag, 416 Taylor or 44Mag. It seems to be one of those Want with no need things. I thought I'd get one when my son is old enough to hunt so that recoil is not a problem but cannot find my own use for it. So why do I want one so much?

You are obviosly a lot younger than me but for me it's the "classic" idea from my youth. I remember reading about the 257 Bob AI when I was much younger. Never had one but some of my friends did. I just had a long visit with a high school buddy who got a model 99 Savage in 300 Savage in 1954. He still has it and shot a small buck with it last December. I'm having a 257A1 built now on a 1936 model 98 small ring Mexican Mauser and can't wait to get it. The gunsmith is a guy who was recommended by a fellow on this forum who is at least 68 years old. Classic caliber by a classic gunsmith. Go for it.

I can't help you buddy. Great cartridge and very flexible. One note...if you want it to shoot th3 heavier bullets well look for a 1:9 to 1:10 twist. Either the regular Bob or his caffenated cousin AI...great cartridges. If you'll use a .44 on bear no tellin' what you would do with Bob.

Got any coyotes around there?

Get the Roberts, you will age into it and it's just plain fun to shoot.

All too soon, you will feel a touch of arthritis and a little loss of hearing. The Bob is much kinder to those things than what you are shooting now. The miles will get longer and the hills will get steeper. A mild, light Roberts will be a comfort to you in your old age.

Get the Roberts, it's a very flexible cartridge. It does varmit to deer very well. Mine has a 1 in 10 twist, and does 75gr to 120 very well.

The 257 Roberts is a very flexible calibre. When your kids want to shoot this won't be a problem. You might want to take up coyote hunting then the 257 will fit right in. Mine is a 257AI and I love it.

Buy two, one for your son to start hunting, one for you to continue hunting.

Years ago I used to follow the articles of a gun writer who carried a woods rifle in .257 Roberts. It was an M70 Winchester with a 2.5X Lyman Alaskan scope. He used to push 100 gr. Sierra bullets at 2900 fps. Said he killed everything from crows to Black Bear in the woods of NE america. Maine I think he said. His name was Col (Ret.) Townsend Whelan.
Another old time gun writer that was really fond of the "Bob" wrote how he and his family probably killed 30 head of deer, and Pronghorn with his custom G&H rifle. They also killed scores of varmits like coyotes and jack rabbits near his home in Arizonia. He, too, pushed a 100 gr. bullet about 2900 fps. with about 39.5 grs. of IMR 4064. He said the cases lasted at least 40 reloads. His name was Jack O'Connor. E

Yeah, E, but, what could those old timers possibly know about modern hunting. Why, you need a minimum of .500BC/.300SD/3,200 FPS just for little ol' deer, don't you know that? Should probably be CRF, too.

BTW - mine's an AI, and it is SWEET. Had my hands on a Mtn Rifle in the standard 257 chambering one time, and have been kicking myself ever since for putting it back on the rack.

R-WEST

I was hoping you'd all talk me out of it guys.

So what length barrel should I have. I think a light weight 22-24".

NB,
Don't buy that Roberts!!
You may like it so well, you wind up owning 3 of them.

[ 02-13-2003, 04:37: Message edited by: Kboom ]

Well, I wish you would just forget it!

OK I can't tal;k you out of it - I have a serious case of the I wants in a Roberts too. Just be quiet you're fanning the flames.

It will be the next rifle I buy.

BD

Well, length is your choice but my own is 26" at the moment . My next will be 28", Maybe on a Dakota 10 action. Probably be Bob's hyperactive cousin in the chamber. Haven't decided yet if I want the 1:10 or 1:9 twist. The WOOD will be lovely and there will be a small touch of gold here and there. I may have a tapered octagon barrel that is browned with a Niedner butt plate finished likewise. Any suggestions on glass?

I had always heard good things about this caliber and when I found a Remington 760 so chambered I thought I'd try it.

I've hit three deer with it so far and all three went straight down. I've only used the Winchester 117 +P's on game. If you put these bullets on bone out of the .257 Roberts, get out your skinning knife.

The pumpgun shoots great, go for it.

Ok how about a Bobby A.I. I once owned and cherished a sweet FN with double set triggers, a French Walnut stock..chrome vandium, sporter weight 24" barrel. Killed my first buck with it..ole Rem 117 grain RN. My pappy purchased it in Belgium while stationed in Bad Tolz...man that was a nice shooting rifle...gave it to my little brother and ever since Ive been dying to have another .257 Roberts in some shape or form.

I have a "Bob" in a Remington Classic with the 24 inch barrel and like it very well. I think it would do well with a 22 inch tube as well, especially if minimum weight were your major considerations. I have only taken a handfull of deer with my rifle, but I have been nothing but pleased with the performance.

Your disease is terminal unless ya get one. At least that'll get you back on your feet. If'n ya really wanna fly, get it "supercharged". Geez, I'm just tryin' ta help ya with yer "condition". Bear in Fairbanks

My local shop has a Rem and a Ruger Ultralight in 257. The Rem has a stiff bolt, and a short action, but it's got a 22" barrel and iron sights while the Ruger has a long action but only a 20" barrel. The Ruger bolt is very smooth and the wood is slightly above average with very good fit and reasonable finish.

The Ruger is very attractive to look at and carry, but the Rem is a lot more steady for offhand shots, it's just really ugly with the synthetic stock.

I'm torn, but can't possibly afford both. I'm leaning towards the Ruger, but the Rem with apeture sights would be just as light.

If you're looking for a reason get the Roberts for a shooting rifle and save the kickers for hunting. I recently got a .243 to practise with after a few 100 round days with the -06 left my arm numb.

The worst thing I have found about the 257 Roberts is what happened to me several years ago.
I was sauntering down the aisles of the local (Nashville) gun show and there sat Mr. John Smith with a coupla interesting looking rifles based on 98 actions (his passing has saved me money, though he was a great guy and a fountain of interesting stories) and each had a case test fired in the chamber.
The lightweight gun with serial number that worked with the chambering was a Roberts with barrel stamped by Jaeger, and drat the luck the package deal for it and the AI with heavy barrel and stock was less than I could stand to pass up.

I had to drag them home and I have shot both a little, but just to fireform brass for the AI and to get a hunting load for the Bob.

It has been on several hunts, but none with me carrying it and so far has not accounted for anything other than groups in the M.O.D. range which is all that I wanted anyway.
Get it, one should have at least one example of everything based off the original 6.5X57.
LouisB

[ 02-16-2003, 06:38: Message edited by: TCLouis ]

What about a 6.5 x 55 Swede?

This cartridge would seem everything the Roberts is an then some...

And you don't have to scrounge for brass.

(You said talk you out of it!)

Dan

I know where there is a very nice 722 Rem. chambered for the 257 Roberts that is for sale. Asking price of 450 if memory serves me right. If anyone is interested email me and I will give the phone number.

Shoot Safe, Shoot Straight.......RiverRat

NBHunter,

I'm the exception, I have a fleet of 25-06's and love them all. I don't think there is a better deer cartridge made and most youth can shoot them well. My first was an A3-03 custom w/ Douglas 26" xxxx 1/10 twist and Burris glass, it will still shoot a 1/2" group at 100 and was built for me 24 years ago. The seccond was a Ruger no.1 w/24" barrel and Burris Glass.It shoots a .500 group also The 3rd and my new favorite big game hunting gun is a rem 700 sendero vs ssf w/26" barrel 1/10 twist and this gun and I shot a .297 3 shot group at 100 yards.

I think you will like this 25 caliber stuff.

smote the yote
slydog

I just picked up my latest .257, it is a Mexican 1936 with a 19" barrel. It is going into a Bishop Mannlicher stock.

Yeah, yeah, get a Roberts! Lovely little cartridge. Hardly any recoil - just such a pleasure to shoot! Works really well on anything up to deer size. As I grow older, I enjoy the mild cartridges more and more. That, plus I *adore* classic cartridges, and the .257 is one of them.

Mine is a M1909 Argentine Mauser with a 22" Douglas barrel in a stock my pal made for me. Love the thing. Would not consider a longer barrel - I HATE long rifles, and who cares about the extra 50-100 fps anyway??

Get a Roberts, get a Roberts

- mike

[ 02-18-2003, 23:42: Message edited by: mho ]

ME ME ME ME ME ME ME ME !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I don't hate short rifles, why you pinkin' on me? I think single shots look odd with a short barrel and they balance better with a long one. VELOCITY IS E-N-E-R-G-Y IS R-A-N-G-E IS G-O-O-D.