257 Roberts Factory Ammo
- Thread starter 257Roberts
- Start date
Roberts
This is a bit off thread but does explain why there are not that many rifles in this cartridge length around. This cartridge along with it's parent and all it's derivatives, fall into never never land in COAL, they are too long for the short actions, and if you are going to have to use a 30-06 length action you might as well take advantage of the length and have a 25-06 or 257 Wby.
This is the single greatest killer of all the 2.2" or 57mm cases and why rifle and ammo makers give these cartridges such limited attention. It would be nice if one of the semi custom makers came out with an action suited expressly to the 57 mm case length.
Sorry for the hijack but did a bunch of research on this years ago and this was the concensus that was arrived at re these catridges.
One more question while I'm tangenting, why has no one done the 25-08, better than Roberts, suited to short action and brass til hell freezes over, hhhmmmm............?
This is a bit off thread but does explain why there are not that many rifles in this cartridge length around. This cartridge along with it's parent and all it's derivatives, fall into never never land in COAL, they are too long for the short actions, and if you are going to have to use a 30-06 length action you might as well take advantage of the length and have a 25-06 or 257 Wby.
This is the single greatest killer of all the 2.2" or 57mm cases and why rifle and ammo makers give these cartridges such limited attention. It would be nice if one of the semi custom makers came out with an action suited expressly to the 57 mm case length.
Sorry for the hijack but did a bunch of research on this years ago and this was the concensus that was arrived at re these catridges.
One more question while I'm tangenting, why has no one done the 25-08, better than Roberts, suited to short action and brass til hell freezes over, hhhmmmm............?
- Location
- Yellowknife, NWT
And the .25-08 HAS been done for 50 years. It's known as the .25 Souper and probably failed to catch on well because it was only a bit faster than the .257 AI and had the .25-06 to contend with.
An great cartridge that does not fully exploit an action's potential.
The answer is why buy a 257 Roberts when you can buy a 260 Rem or a 25-06?
257 Roberts means a long action which explains why it will never reach the popularity of 308 Win (short action) or 30-06 (long action) derived cartridges.
Alex
The answer is why buy a 257 Roberts when you can buy a 260 Rem or a 25-06?
257 Roberts means a long action which explains why it will never reach the popularity of 308 Win (short action) or 30-06 (long action) derived cartridges.
Alex
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
c-fbmi nailed a very important point, the same reason why we see so few 6mm Rems, 7x57's, 8x57's (and even to an extent 6.5x55's, another great intermediate cartridge). Forty years ago they, including the Roberts, were a lot more popular when intermediate action length surplus Mausers were still state of the art action wise and cheap and plentiful. I think the little .257 'Bob has hung on quite well all considered, and the Kimbers if you're really after one aren't that hard to find, I believe Cooper offers the 'Bob as well do they not? There's the recent Ruger No.1A's as well. And in the end, if I really want a rifle, I just build it and it really doesn't matter what's off the shelf, as in the custom market everything's available including the intermediate length actions better than any production action.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
Many don't worry about the constraints of which action lengths come off the shelf. Customs offer true intermediate actions, far better than production offerings, that can take modern pressures and make the intermediates really shine. They are the perfect compromise in my eyes between short and standard length cartridges. In the end, all our choices here will do the same thing on game, some of us just like different things.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I've tried to like the 257 Roberts as it's a bit of a unique chambering, but it seems to be one of those calibers that's just OK but doesn't really excel at anything.
I don't foresee its popularity growing, there are just too many other calibers out there which match or exceed it's performance, hence the reason it will remain a handloader's cartridge.
I don't foresee its popularity growing, there are just too many other calibers out there which match or exceed it's performance, hence the reason it will remain a handloader's cartridge.
Sir, I am aware of the wildcat 25-08 which came out I believe in 1952 or 3 when brass became available to the public. I was referring to legitimiztion and SAAMI acceptance. Every other variation from 24 to 35 has been done except 27 and 32 and those for obvious reasons. Possibly because the 25-284 has that niche tied up for a short action 25.
- Location
- Yellowknife, NWT
Ah...I see what you mean. Perhaps because Winchester went ahead with the .243 and didn't want to compete with themselves, and Remington had been pushing the .257 Roberts for 20 years? I think a .25-08 factory cartridge would have been a great idea. Heck, it took 45 years to legitimize the .260 Rem, and 35 for the 7mm-08.....
257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
I understand that the action length would possibly be a concern, but the Mauser action was originally built for the 8x57 was it not? I have two different action lengths and so far it does not seem to make any difference.
The 25-308 aka 25 Souper would have been a great round and the 270-308 would also have made a great cartridge, I have information in the Rifleman's Rifle by Rodger Rule that Winchester did work on both bullet dia's before settling on the 243.
The 257 Roberts being a unique round is very true, as is the 6mm 6.5X55 and others as well with the odd cartridge length, But during their hay day it was not an odd length at
all. When the 308 cartridge was developed it was longer than the Savage rounds and shorter than the 06 cases, other than the 308 making its name in the military, would it have made it as a hunting cartridge with the 8x57 offspring rounds.
All that being said I like my 257's and I do own a 308 and both it's original offspring.
I am glad that I reload and that's the way I can get the most of the 257, if I did not, I would probably not even have a Roberts at all and that would be sad.
Thanks all for your contributions
David
The 25-308 aka 25 Souper would have been a great round and the 270-308 would also have made a great cartridge, I have information in the Rifleman's Rifle by Rodger Rule that Winchester did work on both bullet dia's before settling on the 243.
The 257 Roberts being a unique round is very true, as is the 6mm 6.5X55 and others as well with the odd cartridge length, But during their hay day it was not an odd length at
all. When the 308 cartridge was developed it was longer than the Savage rounds and shorter than the 06 cases, other than the 308 making its name in the military, would it have made it as a hunting cartridge with the 8x57 offspring rounds.
All that being said I like my 257's and I do own a 308 and both it's original offspring.
I am glad that I reload and that's the way I can get the most of the 257, if I did not, I would probably not even have a Roberts at all and that would be sad.
Thanks all for your contributions
David
It does excel at exactly what it was designed to do, kill deer and varmints. There are other similar, very good chamberings out there, but they don't offer anything over the Roberts.
More velocity or heavier bullets would take it into bigger game use, so there's no need to match or exceed it's performance. It's perfect as is for it's intended use.
.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
Not to me it doesn't, but it's fine if you're a fan. I looked long and hard at buying a Kimber Montana in 257 Roberts, but decided against it. I've had 25-06's and 257 Wby's and to me they're a better caliber. Some may prefer the 250 Savage to the Roberts, which is fine as well.
I don't buy much into the long action/short action debate of rifles, it's just a few ounces. I try to pick a cartridge I believe excels in the caliber it's chambered in, and that doesn't necessarily mean the highest available velocity. The others can be loaded to the Roberts' level and uses, but can also greatly exceed it.
My next newcomer is a Cooper in 6.5/284. Certainly not the fastest 6.5, but after much research, it seems to be a very well balanced caliber.
Ardent
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
We're really splitting hairs here, if a guy likes the .25-06 he'll like the 'Bob. A quarter bore's a quarter bore until you step to the Weatherby- then it's a burning bore.
Better in what respect? Higher velocity and with heavier bullets? There are always cartridges that will deliver more, that that doesn't make them better.
The Roberts and other similar cartridges do a very fine job at what they were designed to do.
.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
We're really splitting hairs here, if a guy likes the .25-06 he'll like the 'Bob. A quarter bore's a quarter bore until you step to the Weatherby- then it's a burning bore.
I realize you guys are die-hard Roberts fans, and that's fine. Let's just agree to disagree.
I am a Roberts fan, but my comments could be applied to many other cartridges out there. There's always something bigger and faster, but that doesn't negate those cartridges merits.I realize you guys are die-hard Roberts fans, and that's fine. Let's just agree to disagree.
The Roberts is an excellent cartridge as is, where is, & for what it's supposed to be used for.
