Strange problem with a .257 Roberts Improved

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TedNugent

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SO... I have this mauser I'm trying to sell in 257 Roberts Improved. So, I saw a set of 26 Brass, dies and a trimmer in that calibre on the forum at a reasonable price, and figured wth - if I can't sell it in the end, perhaps
I'll buy it for myself(from the widow of my Dad's deceased friend). Figure the dies and brass would come in handy for reloading it should, my attempts fail.
So I mounted the FL sizing die in and resized a brass, and went to pop in in the tube. No go... Got stuck maybe just over half way in. Hmmm, the tag I have the my Dad'd friend wrote(Ten years or so ago) that it was
that specific calibre. I tried sizing another brass, and this one fit in with less than 1/4" to go, but no way I can close the bolt on it.
Were there different Roberts Improved actions? Different angle on the shoulder??
Something I'm overlooking? Full length sized them as I would any other rifle case, die touching the shell holder, turn in 1/8 to 1/4 turn and lock the die.
Anyone?

Thanks in advance,

Aaron(Stumped)
 
kamlooky said:
There are actually a couple .257 Imroved.
A bunch of degrees different on the shoulder angle.
Click to expand...

Looky is correct on this one, for sure.
The 257 Roberts Ackley Improved has a 40º Shoulder angle.
The 257 Roberts RCBS Improved has a 28º Shoulder angle.
They are similar, but not interchangeable.

Regards, Dave.
 
if the shoulder angle of the dies matches that of the rifle I am going to suggest that you look for either a small base sizing die and or a shoulder/body bump die, it is likely the body is not being squeezed down far enough to fit the chamber, a issue most often found with brass fired in one rifle and then tried in a different rifle
 
yodave said:
if the shoulder angle of the dies matches that of the rifle I am going to suggest that you look for either a small base sizing die and or a shoulder/body bump die, it is likely the body is not being squeezed down far enough to fit the chamber, a issue most often found with brass fired in one rifle and then tried in a different rifle
Click to expand...

Will do that, first I'm going to try to use his old Lyman 310 dies in my press, it came with an adapter in 7/8 thread for a press.
It's a real head scratcher, found this label in the box with the dies marked 257 Roberts Improved,
20160419_001919.jpg

Perhaps it will size it a touch smaller then the dies I bought which are RCBS made.
Thanks for the help all, much appreciated.
Edit, hmm coffee has no caffeine in it this morning, the note says '5 thou LARGER than RCBS", that would resize less methinks, guess only 1 way to find out.
Aaron
 
Eagleye said:
Looky is correct on this one, for sure.
The 257 Roberts Ackley Improved has a 40º Shoulder angle.
The 257 Roberts RCBS Improved has a 28º Shoulder angle.
They are similar, but not interchangeable.

Regards, Dave.
Click to expand...

Everything I've found so far lists it at Roberts Improved, the original label in his writing says so, he wasn't one to make mistakes of that nature, and the dies I bought are also matching that.
Figure it out eventually. Is there an easy way to measure the angle of the chamber?

This is the tag that was attached to the gin when I got it, everything matches with the stamping of G33/40 on the receiver.
20160414_012926.jpg
 
Probably best to get it checked by a gunsmith, but you could fire form a regular 257 Roberts cartridge and see what you get. I have a custom VZ24 in 257 Ackley 40 degree, and I have a RCBS full length and neck sizer, and they work fine.
 
Eagleye said:
Looky is correct on this one, for sure.
The 257 Roberts Ackley Improved has a 40º Shoulder angle.
The 257 Roberts RCBS Improved has a 28º Shoulder angle.
They are similar, but not interchangeable.

Regards, Dave.
Click to expand...

Ok, another question for you. If I have the rcbs dies for 257 Roberts improved, and say the shoulder is 28 deg. Can I get a set of dies with the 40 deg. Shoulder and work the brass to fit it? Or is it too hard on the brass? Thinking it'd be cheaper to buy new dies than take it to a gunsmith.
 
Aaron, you can pour a mold in your chamber with bees wax, or even the white variety.
Push a clothe tight into the barrel, just slightly past the chamber.
The chamber should be first wiped with a very lightly oiled patch.
Stand the rifle up and pour in the hot wax.
When it is as hard as it will get, push it out with something on the end of your cleaning rod, or preferably a wooden dowel that closely fits the barrel.
With the rifle outside to cool in winter weather you will get a really good mold.
Bruce
 
Last edited:
Thanks for your comments.
After the wax has hardened if you could put the rifle, or the barreled action, in a freezer for a while your mold will be much better to work with. Or after you take it out of the chamber, put it in the freezer for a while.
Bruce


TedNugent said:
Excellent Bruce, thanks very much. My Dad is a beekeeper, good source for wax. I will do just that.
Much obliged,

Aaron
Click to expand...
 
I thought about that. Going to give it a go tomorrow night if the day goes well. Thanks everyone for the help,
Not my niche to begin with, and I secretly hope it doesn't sell, and after my better half has forgiven*(Not at all the right word, she doesn't forget anything when she really wants to) me for paying me Wolverine and another individual seller for what I bought, perhaps she'll be less surprised lol.
 
There are actually 5 or 6 versions of Improved Roberts... you should do a chamber cast and send the specs to Dave Kiff at PTG... he can match the specs to a die and/or send a blueprint to a custom die shop... the custom dies will set you back close to $300 though.
 
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