OP
OP
.243 Winchester or .257 Roberts?
- Thread starter J-Bar
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rabid wombat
Member
Several points:
Whatever - do not give up, please keep going to the field - if possible, please take someone young!
- Shot placement!
- Shoot what works for you
- After a lot of research - I bought my wife a 257 AI (it also uses factory 257 Roberts). It killed the deer dead (though I am prouder of the shot she did not take)
- Everyone is right about the ammo availability
- Nosler is making a variety of 257, and Hornady has their Superperformance. My wife used Winchester, though I have (but not tried) Nosler and Hornady
- Do not forget custom ammunition manufacturers (expensive, but I want to try them - that will kill the reload and experiment idea). https://dallasreloads.com/about/
- Consider https://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm
- You can easily copy this into Excel, and do some filter games....look at a 30.30 vs a 257, etc.
- Rifle fit and round selection is going to be a lot more important than caliber.
Whatever - do not give up, please keep going to the field - if possible, please take someone young!
rabid wombat
Member
If only money were not a consideration! (Sigh)
Cool...Thanks!
It took me a minute to figure you out as the original poster! I learned a lot on the Chuck Hawks site (I even paid to get beyond the firewall) to better understand the 257. I stand it is less about caliber than placement. The recoil chart amazed me - a lot is available in low recoil. I have a greater appreciation of the 6.5x55 (Swede) today than growing up. I would consider this for most anything (other than availability). Dad sold me on the 30.06 (of which I have several), as it will do everything. You do have to load for it, if you are going low recoil. Again, please make sure you get someone young involved.
Thanks again.
rabid wombat
Member
“The rifle is a Ruger #1 Light Sporter. I like it because it is short and easy to handle in a tree stand, I like the discipline imposed by a single shot rifle, and it’s different from the rifles used by hunting buddies!”
You could probably trade even the 270 for a 243 (maybe even a 257) in the Ruger Number 1 (I agree that one shot is all that it should take!). As for “...and it’s different from the rifles used by hunting buddies!” I have a buddy who has made a life out of this. Consider caliber in the same light as the rifle.
Still enjoy!
You could probably trade even the 270 for a 243 (maybe even a 257) in the Ruger Number 1 (I agree that one shot is all that it should take!). As for “...and it’s different from the rifles used by hunting buddies!” I have a buddy who has made a life out of this. Consider caliber in the same light as the rifle.
Still enjoy!
mustanger98
Member
If only money were not a consideration! (Sigh)
Okay, recalling you said you like single-shots, have you looked at H&R HandiRifles? IIRC, they offered it in .243, but does it fit you? I heard they're being discontinued and I don't know what they bring in your area.
Edited to second rabid wombat's comment about maybe trading even.
Hokkmike
Member
They are both good. .243 ammo is MUCH more readily available. There are "other" medium calibers to consider. How about the 6.5x55?
ThomasT
Member
Too bad the 25 Souper (25-08) never caught on. Then you could have the best of both worlds. The short action length of the 243 and the heavier bullet of the 257 Roberts all in the common 308 brass.
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.25-08+.25+Souper.html
https://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase/.25-08+.25+Souper.html
mustanger98
Member
This reminds me that I read somewhere... and I think Jack O'Connor mentioned it, too... back when Winchester was working on what became the .243, they thought about going .257 and didn't bring it to market. I don't know why they didn't.
ThomasT
Member
I don't know why either. According to the link I posted it will match the 257 Roberts in performance. Sounds like a good idea to me. If I were younger and looking for a new rifle to shoot I might consider having one built. But with handloading I can make my 7-08 do about what I want. I loaded some 120gr Sierra bullets in the 7-08 for a 15 year old girl to use on a youth hunt at school. She killed four deer with that load. And they were loaded down for less recoil and to match the bullets that were designed to be used in Specialty Pistols like the TC Contender and its lower start velocities.
If I were the OP thats exactly what I would do with the .270 he has. Forget buying a new gun.
If I were the OP thats exactly what I would do with the .270 he has. Forget buying a new gun.
OP
OP
J-Bar
Member
I will try reloading for the .270. It is a trustworthy old friend and it’s the right thing to do as we both slip / slide into old age!
I have ordered the necessary tools and supplies that I can’t find locally, and I’m researching loads for bullets in the 100 to 110 grain ballpark (I was using 150 grain factory loads).
Here’s hoping I can post some “Gee Whiz” target photos before long!
Thanks again to all for the informative posts.
cdb1
Member
The most practical choice by far IMO is a .243. I’d still get a .257 Roberts though.
mustanger98
Member
Whatever you do with your handloads, I hope it does really well for you and the deer don't know the difference.
I might have mentioned I fired 130's and 150's in a .270 and found that just using a handload at a seemingly sensible velocity reduced the perceived recoil a bunch. I used a 140gr BTSP... a 100-110gr bullet oughta be down there between what we're talking about with .243 and .25-06.
Good luck.
ThomasT
Member
I looked on the Midway site and saw Sierra makes a 110gr Pro Hunter bullet. That would be my very first choice. Then some IMR or Hodgden 4895 powder for reduced loads of around 2600-2800fps. The 4895 powder can be reduced to 60% of the full power load and be safe to shoot.
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ThomasT
Member
I checked my Hodgdon youth reload chart and it shows using 36.2grs of their 4895 powder for 2600fps. Sounds about perfect to me.
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ThomasT
Member
My bud uses a 270 with 150gr Nosler Partitian bullets. And like everything else he only shoots top loads. His 270 kicks me as much as my 30-06 with 150gr loads. I ended up with several boxes of Remington 130gr Green Box Express loads and shot those in his rifle. What a difference in recoil. If I had of known how pleasant a 270 was to shoot I would never have bought a 243. My 243 is listed on GB right now.
I gave my bud the 130gr loads and now those are all he shoots at whitetail deer.
303 hunter
Member
I bought my daughter a CVA Hunter in 243 a couple years ago to introduce her to deer hunting. It’s taken it’s share of deer and coyotes since it’s purchase. My plan was to upgrade the rifle if she continued to hunt, but she’s not interested in giving that rifle up. I’ve hunted with it several times myself and can’t complain about anything. 243 is extremely flat shooting and plenty powerful for medium game.
OP
OP
J-Bar
Member
I've started another thread to get powder recommendations.
Thanks for the help.
Thanks for the help.
cdb1
Member
I can’t tell a difference in recoil between my .270 and 30-06.
djmobilehome
Member
Here's one more vote for the .243. I've dropped numerous deer (ranging between 150-225 lbs) with 1 shot with mine. Great round, with minimal recoil.
mustanger98
Member
Hey Everybody, J-Bar already decided he's going to try handloading his .270... got some components ordered... like he said, he's got another thread going in the reloading forum.
Much as I like .243's, I think his project has a lot of potential.
Much as I like .243's, I think his project has a lot of potential.
rbernie
Contributing Member
I downloaded 270 for a while to get lighter recoil (extended range work, kid friendly). It worked, but ballistics inevitably suffered beyond some distance.
For paper punching or hunting at shorter ranges, downloading is an excellent option. If downrange performance remains a priority, moving to lighter and more aerodynamic bullets becomes a prerequisite, which then likely means moving to a smaller diameter chambering.
For paper punching or hunting at shorter ranges, downloading is an excellent option. If downrange performance remains a priority, moving to lighter and more aerodynamic bullets becomes a prerequisite, which then likely means moving to a smaller diameter chambering.
I'm very pro prohunter, but would add that a 110ish accubond might be worth trying if we're starting slower at the gate, the more aerodynamic bullet will be more efficient at the OP listed max range of 300, just a thought....... if we were planning on a couple hundred fps more the ph would be my plan A
I use a PAST Recoil Shield when sighting-in heavy recoiling rifles (used to do it often as part of my "hobby business"). It works quite well when shooting from the bench, but adds almost 1/2" to the shoulder, so wouldn't use it for hunting. A bank bag filled with sand, placed between shoulder and buttplate also works well. When shooting heavy-recoiling magnums, I've used both at the same time.
I have a real soft spot for the .257 Roberts, I grew up with it and it was one of my dads favorite cartridges.
It's right in the middle and does a lot of things well. Soft recoiling too.
However unless I was an avid reloader I'd probably skip on it and get a .243 or the 6.5 Creedmoor. The later would just be included not because I make it a habit of shooting long distance, but because of ammo availability and load selection. Every store I visit has both .243 and 6.5 Creedmoor. The .257 Bob, not so much.
It's right in the middle and does a lot of things well. Soft recoiling too.
However unless I was an avid reloader I'd probably skip on it and get a .243 or the 6.5 Creedmoor. The later would just be included not because I make it a habit of shooting long distance, but because of ammo availability and load selection. Every store I visit has both .243 and 6.5 Creedmoor. The .257 Bob, not so much.
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