257 Roberts Help

Mot45acp

Mot45acp

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Joined
Oct 28, 2005
Messages
1,751
Location
TX
Yesterday I impulse bought a 257 Roberts Browning bolt rifle. I've always wanted one due to my last name. The wife said she was wanting to start hunting and it was low recoil rifle that fit the bill.

Low and behold it is an extinct caliber. My search for ammo has led me to sources outside my usual channels. One sight I found near the top of Google search is a scam site. (Glad I researched before purchasing).

It did come with 40 pieces of brass and RCBS dies. Problem is I don't currently have the space to reload. I do have a buddy with RCBS setup and I plan on using it. Looking for a source of projectiles and brass that is in stock.

I'm looking to buy 200ish rounds to start. Is there a reliable source I can obtain this?

Also this rifle is in a beautiful high gloss blue, and seems all scopes today are a matte black. Looking for mount, rings, and scope to match.

Any help? I'm kinda in uncharted territory for me.
 
.257 Roberts is a GREAT round.

Starline would be first choice for brass.
IF .257R can't be found, resize 7x57 brass, size and trim .25-06 or .270; unless you shoot any of those calibers. Do not create confusion.

115 and 120 gr .257 are readily available

Leupold has has deep blue rings and scopes.

Enjoy your new rifle.
 
I have 20 rounds of .25-06 and 79 rounds of .270 to sell, or trade; along 29 7.62x39, 40 6.5x55 and 53 .222Rem, also 262 .40 S&W . IF anyone is interested. All or part.
 
You can probably order some ammo online, but itll take some searching. I THINK I have enough brass to spare 100 or so, and I have at least one or two boxes of 115 ballistics tips I can share to get you started on reloading.
If you really want a gloss scope your probably going to have to find a NOS or used scope on ebay or gunbroker. Ive seen a few come up for sale locally, but they arnt real common here anymore.
 
I bought a 257 for my wife, for many of the same reasons you bought yours. I bought mine own 257 not long after. Components and ammo can be a challenge. I buy when I can find it. Best to keep your eye out for it. Grafs is great! Starline is great (though I do not see 257 or 7x57)! The 7x57 is the parent case (like 308 is the parent case for the 7-08 (leaving out the 300 Savage :rofl:). Try Ammoseek (below). Try also Nosler (out currently and really stupid expensive). Hornady and Winchester, also.

https://ammoseek.com/ammo/257-roberts
https://ammoseek.com/reloading/brass/257-roberts
https://www.nosler.com/products/ammunition.html?nl_cartridge=408

@LoonWulf you really are a Champ!
@TarDevil you really are a Champ!
 
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Don’t buy the $$$ Nosler brass.

Buy the PPU 6mm Remington brass.
Simply run it thru a .257Roberts sizer die and VOILA’ , you have a .257Roberts case!
I’ve been shooting/loading/hunting a .257 for 40yrs!
Nothing better!
My wife and both daughters killed there deer with it.

https://www.grafs.com/catalog/product/productId/168
https://www.grafs.com/catalog/product/productId/75153

Here are your bullets, too!
I use a 10cent pencil sharpener to uniform the bullet meplats.
But they shoot fine anyhow.

For a gloss scope, a used Leupold may be your best bet.
They have a lifetime warranty!

https://www.ebay.com/itm/394453893793

This is what mine wears
https://www.ebay.com/itm/144940937951
 
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Congratulations on your 257 purchase! Brass can be a challenge but loaded ammo can be found occasionally. 25 caliber bullets are mostly available. Gloss blue scopes, rings and bases should be available. Graf and Sons is a reputable company. I don't believe Starline makes 257 Roberts brass although I understand that they have had several request. Hopefully they will. I would guess that the first run would be bought up quickly.
 
Search for ammo on ammoseek.com I use it quite a bit for reloading components. It will list websites with in stock ammo and also has reviews on listed sites. Knock on wood but I have not had a negative experience so far.
 
my roberts is a kimber montana scoped it comes in at 6.2 lbs, i shoot a 115 gr bullet at 2900 fps with hybrid-100. 3-4 shots on a nickle at 100 yards. i shot a medium size doe this year at 150 yards thru the lungs with that load and she went down kicking.
 
The .257 Roberts was, and probably still is, a very popular round in Texas. My Remington 722 probably killed a semi-truckload of Kerr and Bandera county white tails over the decades, and other ranchers in that area also used the .257 and .250-3000 to great effect for their hunting. Light recoil and plenty of juice for the native game and much of the smaller exotics like fallow/axis deer, mouflon, aoudad, blackbuck, etc. :thumbup:

One observation; many standard-twist .257 Roberts rifles do not like long 120 grain bullets or the really long, boat tail all-copper offerings, as they don’t stabilize well without a faster twist rate. The happy zone is 100 grains or so for the twist rate of most .257 Roberts rifles, so if you find accuracy so-so with heavier bullets, like I did with my 722, try some 100 grain loads before quitting on the gun. :)

Good luck, you have bought a great caliber and rifle for your wife… and you, too. :thumbup:

Stay safe.
 
A professional commercial reloader might be a good starting point for you. There is one here in the Dallas area that loads a minimum of 50 rounds using brand new brass & fresh powder & primers. He's been in business long enough to know what works for a customer's particular rifle. I suggest that you pre-determine your barrel's twist before making decisions on ideal bullets.
 
a longer action will allow you to get the most out of those case lenths(powder capisity) with a long chamber and magizine, thats the problem i had with a remington 722 in 257, the long bullets had to be seated deep into the case and decreased the powder charge.
 
Bwana John said:
Wouldn’t a “intermediate” length action in a M70/M700 be nice for 7mm Mauser, 6.5x57, 257 Bob, or 244/6mm?

The long vs short receiver available lengths has been kind of hard on these chambering.
Click to expand...
There are some custom intermediate length actions, but generally it's easier to either go up or down. So i guess it's not a huge surprise that there are more mass produced intermediates.
 
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