nhenry
Handloader
- Feb 7, 2022
- 636
- 1,150
115gr partitions if you’re looking for the heavy end, but in the Bob you might try the 100gr Speer SPBT or Hot-Cor. You can easily stay in the short package and keep speed up.
.257 Roberts hunters only
- Thread starter MT Pockets
- Start date
xphunter
Handloader
- Sep 15, 2005
- 1,797
- 3,766
110 AB
My Remington model 722 "Bob" is now rechambered to .257 Roberts Ackley Improved with a 40 degree shoulder. Since it was rechambered it has the original 1:10 twist. I've been shooting Speer 120 gr, but have decided to give the 115 gr NPT a try. Since the 722 is a short action I need to watch bullet choices and seating depth to avoid feed problems. Seating to the lands with any bullet makes it a single shot.
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I’ve had a 257 Roberts in the fold for over 40 years. First a Remington and later a Ruger. Both long action rifles. While I have used other cartridges over the years the Roberts is my favorite deer rifle. I’ve never had a deer go more than 20-30 yds after the shot and most were drt. My two favorite bullets are the Hornady 117 btsp, and the now unavailable in component form 120 gr core-loct. While I have tried several powders I have settled on loads of ww760 to get both bullets to 2800 fps +or-.
I'm still waiting for Nosler to bring back the 120 gr solid base. But until then I'm giving the 115 gr partitions a try. My .257 Ackley Improved is a rechambered Remington 722 .257 Roberts with the original 1:10 twist. Because the 722 is a short action bullet selection is critical to avoid feed problems. When the rifle was still a Roberts I used 100 grain NBTs for deer but I tend to favor heavier bullets. This is a personal choice.
- Nov 4, 2004
- 27,306
- 14,048
The Solid Base bullets are very popular again and for good reasons. I would suspect Nosler will continue to bring back and add to their product offerings in both White Tail loadings and components. The .257 120 gr SB is a good bullet and should be added to their offerings.
JD338
JD338
Bruce Mc
Handloader
- Oct 26, 2005
- 1,489
- 1,175
A 257 Roberts in a +p and a 120 solid base would be a solid deer slayer.
Aberhan
Beginner
- Jun 25, 2026
- 13
- 28
I am a lifelong fan of 25 calibers and 257 Roberts in particular. My original is a Ruger M77 tang safety which I have added extra freebore. This rifle is very accurate and effective with 117 grain bullets. Over a period of more than 40 years I have taken everything from coyotes to moose and elk. Like all cartridges terminal performance depends on shot placement and bullet construction.
Aberhan
Beginner
- Jun 25, 2026
- 13
- 28
I sincerely hope so.
- Thread starter
- #30
MT Pockets
Beginner
- Mar 19, 2026
- 18
- 33
I want to thank everyone for your replies. I am going to pick up my rifle tomorrow from the gunsmith. I have loaded Speer 120 gr. SP for my fireform loads in my Noler brass. BTW the Nosler brass give Lapua a run. It looks great and ready to load. It is a bit pricey but it was available when others weren't. I can't wait to shoot it but I must wait till this heatwave cools. I will keep you posted!
Blkram
Handloader
- Nov 25, 2013
- 3,601
- 4,663
When Nosler brass was first made available, it all came prepped so one did not have to go through thatt process before heading to the primer tool.
Today, you must watch as some of their brass is not prepped before packaging, but it usually tells you up front. Take the time to check!
IIRC my new 25 Creedmoor brass is not prepped. (But I have the RCBS prepping station and it reduces time and effort vs the old hand tools!)
I know there has been a lot of complaints about Nosler brass over the past few years, but since most of mine was acquired before that, I have not had any issues. I'll get to see how the newer brass is after I get the 25 CM barrel installed on my donor rifle...
cloverleaf
Handloader
- Sep 10, 2006
- 4,588
- 1,415
Have threatened to rechamber my long action Mauser in 250 Savage to 257 Roberts. Better fit for that action and a very underrated round IMHO. BTW jealous of your rifle, that super nice goat and great Trophy picture! CL
I have two rifles chambered to the .257 Roberts. one is a Ruger #1B with 26" barrel and the other a Winchester M70 Featherweight with 22" barrel.
I bought both at gun shows and the Ruger came with six boxes of Norma 100 gr. ammo which is apparently no longer made as it's not in their catalog. I used one box of ammo to check sighting and accuracy. The accuracy was superb for a #1 with most three shot groups running under an inch, I have no idea if someone had tinkered with the rflfe or just one of the better ones to leave the factory.
The Featherweight on the other hand is a first class dog at this point in time. Unlike my M70 7x57 Featherweight which seems to run most everything I've tried into groups under an inch, the .257 scatters bullet all over from hell to breakfast. I've tried bullets from 100 to 120 gr. and so far none have shown any progress. I'm not all that sure what to try next.
A while back my son in law bought an M70 Featherweight and I did the entire load work up for the rifle He insisted on IMR4831 and the 100 gr. Barnes TSX which was recommended to him by a coworker. I started about two gr. below the suggested load and worked up watching velocity and the brass for signs of high pressure. The load worked out to be ok and I was shooting five shot groups in the .50" to .75" stage. I don't remember the velocity but it was good. Guess I should have kept all the notes and data but not needing it at the time as the only .257 I had at the time was the Ruger and had planned to work with it. Fate kind of struck as at a gun show about six months after doing the SIL's rifle I came across the .257 M70 Featherweight, so why not?
What to do next? My thoughts are take the rifle to the range and do two three shot groups with the six loose remaining Norma loads. Hopefuly the idiot rangemaster who won't allow people to set up chronographs will not be there or I could break down and buy a Garmin or Athlon depending which has the lower price. If those six give good groups and I have the average velocity, then maybe, just maybe I can find what works in that rifle.
PJ
I bought both at gun shows and the Ruger came with six boxes of Norma 100 gr. ammo which is apparently no longer made as it's not in their catalog. I used one box of ammo to check sighting and accuracy. The accuracy was superb for a #1 with most three shot groups running under an inch, I have no idea if someone had tinkered with the rflfe or just one of the better ones to leave the factory.
The Featherweight on the other hand is a first class dog at this point in time. Unlike my M70 7x57 Featherweight which seems to run most everything I've tried into groups under an inch, the .257 scatters bullet all over from hell to breakfast. I've tried bullets from 100 to 120 gr. and so far none have shown any progress. I'm not all that sure what to try next.
A while back my son in law bought an M70 Featherweight and I did the entire load work up for the rifle He insisted on IMR4831 and the 100 gr. Barnes TSX which was recommended to him by a coworker. I started about two gr. below the suggested load and worked up watching velocity and the brass for signs of high pressure. The load worked out to be ok and I was shooting five shot groups in the .50" to .75" stage. I don't remember the velocity but it was good. Guess I should have kept all the notes and data but not needing it at the time as the only .257 I had at the time was the Ruger and had planned to work with it. Fate kind of struck as at a gun show about six months after doing the SIL's rifle I came across the .257 M70 Featherweight, so why not?
What to do next? My thoughts are take the rifle to the range and do two three shot groups with the six loose remaining Norma loads. Hopefuly the idiot rangemaster who won't allow people to set up chronographs will not be there or I could break down and buy a Garmin or Athlon depending which has the lower price. If those six give good groups and I have the average velocity, then maybe, just maybe I can find what works in that rifle.
PJ
