.257 Roberts

[SJB358]

Gotta love the 257Roberts and the 7x57. Two cartridges that were left in the dust 30-40 years ago with all the -06 and .308Win offshoots. Then came the WSM's. Today, it seems like everyone that tries one of these forgotten cartridges wants one.

Good luck prying that Fwt away. I would just plan range trips for when he's in school.

I have some Devcon and a pillar kit in my shopping cart for my next Midway order. I think I'll just do both at the same time.

I think you would be happier with it pillared. Really seems to make them consistent with everything and not so fussy.

 

[joelkdouglas]

What weight Partitions would you use for deer and like-sized game out of the Roberts?

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I'm in the decision making process with this subject myself. I didn't get the 100gr NP to shoot as I'd like. I can't imagine they wouldn't work at ~3050fps on a deer/antelope. Many a deer/antelope has perished to a 90-100gr cup and core bullet over the years. I have some 115NPs loaded up now, hopefully I'll get to shoot them on Thursday. If they work I'd have no fear upping the ante and taking on a Black Bear with it.

 

[JD338]

I'm in the decision making process with this subject myself. I didn't get the 100gr NP to shoot as I'd like. I can't imagine they wouldn't work at ~3050fps on a deer/antelope. Many a deer/antelope has perished to a 90-100gr cup and core bullet over the years. I have some 115NPs loaded up now, hopefully I'll get to shoot them on Thursday. If they work I'd have no fear upping the ante and taking on a Black Bear with it.

What powders and charge weights have you tried?

JD338

 

[Oldtrader3]

I always used 45.0 gr of IMR 4350 in my Model 70 .257 Bob before and it ran at about 3030 fps with great accuracy and probably about 51,000 CUP. Now, you can run some newer powders with the 110 AB that will push it at 3000+ fps. This for me at least, would be the top load for this cartridge case. I am going to persue this load this spring.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

What powders and charge weights have you tried? - JD338

With the 100gr Partition I've used the following powders/charges

Varget:
37.5gr - 2857 fps
38.0gr - 2865 fps
38.5gr - 2888 fps
39.0gr - 2904 fps

IMR-4350:
45.5gr - 2981 fps
46.0gr - 3067 fps
46.5gr - 3076 fps
47.0gr - 3165 fps :shock: !!

IMR-4064:
38.5gr - 2879 fps
39.0gr - 2946 fps
39.5gr - 2970 fps
40.0gr - 3020 fps

Best groups were with the IMR-4064 but I did find my scope had migrated somewhere amongst these loads so I think I'm going to re-shoot them all if I can't get the 100gr NBTs, 115gr NBTs or 115gr NPs to work.

 

[JD338]

CC,

I have had exceptional accuracy with IMR 4350. My rifle is a M700 Classic long action so I seat the bullets out to a COL of 2.900". Have you tried changing the COL with your loads?

JD338

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Not yet. I'll usually start messing with OAL when I find something I want to work with. Here are the Varget and IMR-4350 loads with the 100gr Partitions.

As you can see, I have nothing to work with yet...

I just installed Warne mounts and rings and hopefully this will alleviate some of my doubts concerning my scope. I bought this rifle with B-Square cheapos and I'm not impressed. I also hogged out the barrel channel. Hopefully this new batch of loads will show some dramatic improvements.

 

[JD338]

I think you should be able to close up those groups by adjusting your COL.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

Agree - try different lengths. I don't know if can get closer to the lands or not, but it's worth a try. Doug Arnold, who ran a custom gun-making operation up here in Washington for a number of years is a firm believer in establishing the proper distance to the rifling first, then messing with the powder charge - opposite of what many loaders do. I haven't tried his method often enough to validate it for myself, but the guy knows what he's doing.

Two very conventional, very good 100 gr bullets I'd recommend you try are the 100 gr Sierra and the 100 gr Hornady. I've had a .25-06 produce accuracy from the 100 gr Sierras.

Also - consider trying a heavier/longer bullet - maybe after you've messed with the 100's a bit more.

Guy

 

[CatskillCrawler]

I'm certain to revisit the 100gr NP. I tend to never leave well enough alone. I still work new loads in rifles which I have excellent hunting and range fun loads already developed.

I loaded the 100gr NP at max magazine allowance length. With these 120 bullets I have loaded up, 40ea with 100gr NBT, 115gr NBT and 115gr NP heads I've shortened them somewhat and they're sitting at .040" off the lands for each style bullet. I'll shoot these and see if I see anything that makes me happy and start adjusting OAL from there. I usually go with +/- .005" increments for .015" in each direction with my tightest successive powder charges.

I've never tried to improve groups this poor with OAL adjustments because I've always had at least one or two charge weights that looked semi-promising.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Some of the first edition USRAC Featherweights had stocks that seemed to always be bearing on one side (right if I remember) of the barrel channel. I owned both a .243 Win and .308 Win that I had to bed an Accraglass land about 3/16 wide and perdendicular to the barrel channel just at the tip to straighten these stocks out and get some decent groups from them. CC, I do not know when your Roberts was made but this maybe this is part of the problem?

My two Featherweights would never shoot (5) shot groups until I bedded that land. Just something to consider. A close friend of mine had a .257 Roberts Featherweight and it shot well right out of the box but I never had that luck with the USRAC rifles. I hope that you get it worked out. They can be really accurate rifles.

 

[SJB358]

What weight Partitions would you use for deer and like-sized game out of the Roberts?

I would use any of the PT's from 100 grains up with no worries.. That's just me though.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Went to the range yesterday and between the company and my Fwt, it wasn't so enjoyable. There was a couple at the range. The husband was very engaging, interested and interesting. He had a Mannlicher Classic in 30-06 with a Victory scope and a sporterized Moisin with a Bushnell Sportview. Quite the dichotomy! He also had an AK and a P-38 pistol. He was new into reloading and was very interested in my chrony and Encore. Nice guy. His wife was a nightmare she kept shooting in to my targets and knocked out one of my target stand poles and put a hole in another. She would also start blasting away with the P-38 during "All clear" periods which would start a screaming match in Russian.

I digress...

Here's my first load with H-4831SC and 100gr NBT's. I also shot a group with my Encore and 22-250 barrel at this target. You can see the mud splatter from the woman shooting the AK everywhere...

It got too dark for me to shoot and feel confident that lighting wasn't an issue. I tried my best to limit myself to two shots at a time and shot a mess of 22LR, 45ACP and 22-250 in between sessions. I definitely think that I can get somewhere with this rifle but the light barrel contour is an issue at the range.

Here's the first two loads of IMR-4350 and 100gr NBTs. Another disappointing start with IMR-4350. I hate to even finish this load work-up till I pillar this rifle in the hopes that it'll start getting more consistency.

Since I haven't been shooting any coyotes I figured I'd get some practice shooting from field positions with the Encore. Here's a 200 yd example from the prone position:

I shot two touching and then pulled the third. I tried to make it right with a 4th shot and did so. This Encore barrel has never let me down.

 

[DrMike]

You are correct about the Encore barrel being sweet with that load. Too bad about the company you were compelled to keep.

 

[efw]

CCC- you tried 100 gr Interlocks at all?

My AI doesn't care for longer bullets... even 100 gr NBTs won't shoot as well as shorter pills... IMR4350 & 100 gr Interlocks or H380 & 75 gr Vmax... simply amazing results...

Might be worth a try!?

 

[CatskillCrawler]

EFW - I've tried 100 gr Partitions with IMR-4350m IMR-4064 and H-4831SC. Had one decent group with the 4064. Nothing to write home about but usable. Similar bullet length and shape as the Interlocks. I'm not ruling anything out. I just want to pillar this stock and try to rule out any inconsistencies other than the thin barrel contour before I burn anymore powder.

I have one powder/bullet combo that showed good potential, Varget & 85gr NBTs, but not a suitable big game bullet. I'd like faster velocity than Varget will get me for varmints/preds with this bullet but it will work if the accuracy repeats or gets better as I play with seating depth.

This is the typical result from the rest of my loads. This is IMR-4350 and 100gr Partitions.

 

[SJB358]

Same here buddy. Thinking I'm going to glass my sons rifle as well. The light barrels seem to need a little extra love when developing loads!

 

[338 Ultra]

I have been reading this thread with interest as I also have been thinking about adding a 25 to the safe this last little while. I have been leaning towards the Bob for a bit now as my wife would be able to shoot deer with it without too much fuss. My wife is a bit recoil sensitive but can handle a .243 with 100's which is a bit on the light side for the big deer we get up here. The Roberts would be a better choice in my opinion a bit bigger hole a bullet with more weight and light recoil. There does not seem to be an overly abundant choice of mfg's right now but Ruger does list the Hawkeye in wood stocked blued steel.Have never owned a Ruger in a short action so my only worry would be oal with a bullet in the 120 class bullets with the nosler Partition being preferred over somthing in the 100 grain class. Don't worry boys Mr's ultra can shoot pretty good. Snapped a yote off the deck at her folk's farm with her dads 700 VLS 22-250 range 342 yards. Scared the crap out of me and her pop whilst we were having a nice drink of single malt enjoying a setting sun and talking about hunting. Has shot a few red foxes a couple of badgers and many truck loads of gophers with my .22's and .17 Hmr's while down at the farm. Yup got lucky boys fine looking country girl that can cook, cut meat and shoot amongst other things and still weighs the same as the day we met even after rug rats. And when I am an ass I hear all about it don't worry about that! would not trade her for the world.

 

[nvbroncrider]

Ruger and Winchester currently chamber the Bob and both are in a long action. There will be no issues there. As for recoil in my opinion is less than that of the .243 and a better bullet selection.