Optimum barrel length for .257 Roberts

[SJB358]

That looks pretty good Tom. Can't find too much to argue about with groups like that. You could expend a whole lotta bullets and powder to get better, but I am not sure it would hunt any better. Great shooting. Hopefully my boys 7x57 shoots that well.

 

[DrMike]

A good consistent load gives great confidence. Thanks for posting, Tom.

 

[rquack]

Looks like I may have to add some RL22 to the powder inventory. Thanks for the recommendation.

 

[tddeangelo]

Looks like I may have to add some RL22 to the powder inventory. Thanks for the recommendation.

No problem!

I actually came across it by accident. I bought it to try in my 300WSM, which didn't go well at all, BUT...I forget who (wish I could give them credit...JD maybe?) recommended I try it in the Bob.

I shot 43gr, 44gr, and 45gr. 43gr shot about 2". 44gr shot about 3". I thought, "this is a waste of time, bullets, and powder." But I was at the range and only had 3 more to try, so I had at it.

The first two were the snake eyes, and I thought, "Holy Bleep!" Then I think I tried a little too hard on the third not to mess it up and I probably pushed that one off a little, lol. I've shot 5 or 6 groups with that load, and they all went WELL under 1". Those are seated out as long as I can seat them with my magazine length. I may try dialing them in deeper a little at a time and see if I can't drop that flier into the group with the rest. Not that it's that far out, but if so, we'd be talking groups smaller than caliber, center-to-center. Yikes!

I shot a real big doe with that load this past season. Shot her at about 70 yards, quartering away, and the bullet did a phenomenal job. Great wound channel, dime-sized exit, deer dropped where I shot it.

 

[300WSM]

My grandfather was tired of carrying and also of course getting pounded in the shoulder so much from his 300 Weatherby. He wanted a light, quick and painless carry rifle for white tail here in PA. Mind you this was around 1990 (or early 90's. ) he was very studious and intelligent. He would research something until he knew more about it than its creator so it seemed. HAHA

What he chose and did was.....
he got a Browning Medallion. Had a smith whack the barrel to 20". Heck it might even be 18". he also had him cut the stock a bit for a reduced LOP.

This was of course pre WSSM's and other newer cartrigdes that might have got his attention.

With that work done what he got was an amazing true carry rifle. Especially for this state where the bush can get thick and branches hitting the barrel are a pain and sadly the norm.

That Browning after the work is such a nice piece. It is so fast to the shoulder, a dream to carry in hand or slung as it wont get tangled up in any branch....combined with that short 30 degree bolt throw....really nice!
You would think with that shortened pipe and cartridge combo that accuracy would be marginal. It really surprised all of us in the family.
He shot Federal (at the time it was Red Box 257 robets+P) and could one inch that rifle more times than not. So you know with a matched up hand load even better accuracy would have been realized.

257 roberts is not a round I would choose if the typical shot was going to fall near the 300 yard mark and beyond. For any animal small or large. The type of distance where you would want a longer barrel I wouldn't want the 257 roberts. But for shorter range shooting 300 yds and closer the Bob is a nice selection and with that shorter type of range 300 and closer the barrel can get nice and short as well.

 

[tddeangelo]

My grandfather was tired of carrying and also of course getting pounded in the shoulder so much from his 300 Weatherby. He wanted a light, quick and painless carry rifle for white tail here in PA. Mind you this was around 1990 (or early 90's. ) he was very studious and intelligent. He would research something until he knew more about it than its creator so it seemed. HAHA

What he chose and did was.....
he got a Browning Medallion. Had a smith whack the barrel to 20". Heck it might even be 18". he also had him cut the stock a bit for a reduced LOP.

This was of course pre WSSM's and other newer cartrigdes that might have got his attention.

With that work done what he got was an amazing true carry rifle. Especially for this state where the bush can get thick and branches hitting the barrel are a pain and sadly the norm.

That Browning after the work is such a nice piece. It is so fast to the shoulder, a dream to carry in hand or slung as it wont get tangled up in any branch....combined with that short 30 degree bolt throw....really nice!
You would think with that shortened pipe and cartridge combo that accuracy would be marginal. It really surprised all of us in the family.
He shot Federal (at the time it was Red Box 257 robets+P) and could one inch that rifle more times than not. So you know with a matched up hand load even better accuracy would have been realized.

257 roberts is not a round I would choose if the typical shot was going to fall near the 300 yard mark and beyond. For any animal small or large. The type of distance where you would want a longer barrel I wouldn't want the 257 roberts. But for shorter range shooting 300 yds and closer the Bob is a nice selection and with that shorter type of range 300 and closer the barrel can get nice and short as well.

Nice post!

Whereabouts in PA do you hunt? I'm down near Cabela's......

 

[300WSM]

I'm in Blair county. Right in the hip pocket of Altoona.


Nice shooting BTW

 

[PJGunner]

22-24 is fine. If you are going to custom build it make it 23" to please all. :mrgreen:

My custom 7x57 and .308 have 23" barels. I like them.
Paul B.