257 Roberts Factory Ammo

257Roberts

257Roberts

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Would you buy a 257 if there where more selections of factory ammo?
I know it's a more popular cartridge that you might think.
When I read the "what would you buy or what is better A vs. B or recoil sensitive threads" the 257 always seems to be mentioned by many nutters and almost always tagged with "if you reload".
How is it possible that some factory rounds deserve two and three choices of bullet weight and you never see a thread on that caliber or any mention of it in the questions above.
Just wondering what the supporters of the Roberts think and those that would like have "one of the most useful cartridges ever developed" think.

David
 
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I have a BLR and a Micro Medallion in 257, just standing around waiting for me to finally get to shooting them. Not sure what is taking me so long to get at them, other than I've been playing with three 7mm-08's and two 44Mag's, as of late. And now I have a long sot after Stainless Stalker in 260 on it's way! What would you suggest for quality factory ammo for me in 257 to start with for dabbling and Deer hunting? I can get my son's to roll something up later, but just for starters I'd like to shoot some factory ammo. Thx for any advise.
 
Not that I've actively looked for it but I don't ever recall seeing any on the shelf over the years.
 
I have seen it at most "real" sporting goods / hunting shops, including a big box store yesterday on a drive south (and brass, bought a bunch while it was in front of me). I haven't ever found it at the hardware store, and there's none in my town. So I haven't said the "If you handload" disclaimer about the .257 when discussing it, but I do believe it true. I'm investing a small fortune into a custom .257 Roberts at present, so the ammo concerns, at least with this chambering as I'll likely never use it outside a reasonable radius of home, aren't a setback to me. Breaking from my usual ethos.
 
I have not seen any ammo at the regular stores that have your basic 243, 30-06 ammo.
I know that Hornady, Federal, Winchester, and Remington all load 117 or 120 grain bullets at +P pressures. But it would be nice to have an 87gr and a 100gr +P load, or how about a 100gr premium bullet load.
I don't usually look at the specialty stores as I have found that they don't have it or they say that they can it by Tuesday.
I do role my own for both 257's and when I find ammo at a gun show I usually by it,(regular at premium prices). At present I have 2 boxes of 100gr Slivertips, 1 box of 87gr PP,s and a smattering of 117gr RN's.
If the manufacturer's are reading this, Lets let them know we want a better variety of 257 Roberts ammo!
David
 
I think it's just one of those quirky cartrdiges that don't make it into the main stream and are left for aficionado's who will undoubtedly reload.

I've wanted one for years just didn't know in what configuration.... got one last fall and so far love it!!
 
I think the problem is rifles chambered for it, not a lot of selection.
I found the rifle I was looking for and have Hornady superformance 117 SST and Nosler 110 accubonds on hand, both P+ factory ammo. Hope 1 of them at least shoots, now to decide what to scope it with.......and start shootin' :cool:
 
I think it's much like the 7x57 Mauser, it's parent cartridge. For the most part underloaded by American ammunition companies but like the 7x57 it can be perked up considerably for use in modern rifles. Therefore many Roberts fans don't even buy factory fodder (unless they are hunting for brass) thus making a small market even smaller. My 2 cents.
 
Mike Webb said:
I think it's much like the 7x57 Mauser, it's parent cartridge. For the most part underloaded by American ammunition companies but like the 7x57 it can be perked up considerably for use in modern rifles. Therefore many Roberts fans don't even buy factory fodder (unless they are hunting for brass) thus making a small market even smaller. My 2 cents.
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The only reason I ever purchased factory ammo is I can't find brass to start with. Bought 2 boxes last fall at Can Tire, and since then have been able to find lots of brass on EE so I think I'm good now.
 
It's like the chicken or the egg story.
Do we need the manufacturers to chamber more rifles to sell more ammo or do they need to produce more ammo to sell the rifles they are producing now.
For those that have a 257, what do you mostly use it for, varmint's, deer, or a combination of both.
If you were to purchase one, what would you use it for.

David
 
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I built one with an AI chamber for coyotes but I'll probably work up a deer load for it.
 
KDX said:
I built one with an AI chamber for coyotes but I'll probably work up a deer load for it.
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Bevan King did mine with a std chamber. I was planning on the "AI" treatment down the road but never did get that far with it. It's perfect as is for deer.

It would take a lot of marketing and cash to get the 257R back on track and in line with the more populars like the 270/308/30-06. I don't think there is enough financial incentive there for the gun and ammo producers to invest that kind of cash, esp when those sales will just be subtracted from the already established/popular chamberings.

.
 
Last year had some shipped to me from WSS 5 boxes, Winny 117 gr, they still show it in this year catalog, i needed brass so i am ok now... JP.
 
You need to consider what has already happened. Thirty-odd years ago, the ammo companies discontinued their .257 Roberts 87-grain and 100-grain loads because sales were very low. They kept what people were buying....117 and 120-grain loads. This says to me thay despite many years of the Roberts being called a great deer/varmint combo cartridge, almost all owners, or at least factory-ammo buyers, were using them as deer rifles.
I'm on my second Roberts and I'm quite happy with the cartridge. And considering that it is seen as a bit of a niche cartridge, I don't think ammo selection is truly awful. I can get factory ammo from Federal, Winchester, Remington, and Hornady.
 
What is standing in my way is the lack of available factory rifles. Kimber makes the 84 Classic Select Grade and the Montana but they aren't common. Ruger makes the Hawkeye in that caliber but a .257 Roberts that tips the scale at 8lbs. before you put the scope on seems to defeat the purpose. Ruger's decision makers should have their asses kicked for discontinuing the Ultra Light which did come in .257 Roberts. :mad:
 
I see that Winchester lists the featherweight in 257 as a shot show special. Hope they continue to produce it.
SuperCub, the ammo companies like Hornady spend a lot of time & money on cartridges like the 6.5 Creedmoore and what it would cost them to load other bullets would would be a small amount compared to the development of a new cartridge.
Loading another bullet weight would be easy as they already produce all the components and a production run of the heavy loads already takes place. But then Canada is only a small drop in the bucket when it come to ammo consumption.

I have seen used 257's at gun shows and they don't last long on the tables, someone is buying them.

Claybuster, my Ruger is 8lbs., with a 3x9 scope, a bit heavy for a full day of walking. I did manage to get one of the last Ultra Light's in 308, was looking for the 243 or 257 but all that was available was the 308, and yes they have made a mistake, but we as only 2 of many.

Thanks for contributing nutters, would like to hear from more of those that don't have a 257 but would like to own one.

David
 
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