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.257 Roberts
Texas Hunter
Member Posts: 484 ✭✭✭
I have a .257 roberts and have not shot it much at all. i am know interested in using it for antelope hunting and was talkin to someone which they said i should make it an ackley improved? info on this please? Thanks
it is a ruger if that helps?
it is a ruger if that helps?
Comments
In your opininions using FACTORY ammo only would this rifle in said chambering be better for deer hunting applications than the .243 or the 6mm and if so why or why not.
Having killed a number of deer and hogs with the 243 and 6mm and knowing these rounds strengths and weaknesses in regards to deer hunting I was curious about the potency of the .257 VS the other two.
Rugster
With handloading in a strong action it can be loaded to near 25.06 performance, but the factory loads have always been somewhat anemic in deference to the large number of old low pressure model 93 and 95 Mauser actions, etc. that were rebarreled and chambered in it. I believe there is some "257 +P" type ammo available these days from some of the factories for use in strong modern actions.
Keep in mind that it is a very old cartridge design and things were different back then. There weren't near the selection of powders availible back then, and few people handloaded much. The 6mm and 243 came along much later and were always loaded for the higher pressure actions, whereas the 257 wasn't really given a fair chance to reach it's potential.
I have a 257 built on a Remington 700 action that can be loaded up to it's potential safely and it's every bit as good as the 243 or 6mm and in some ways maybe better for hunting applications due to the selection of heavier bullets if you want them.
To answer whether it's better or not for deer hunting with FACTORY AMMO ONLY would largely depend on what type hunting you are going to be doing, and what size game you are hunting.
If it's closer range hunting in wooded areas, I doubt you'd ever notice the difference between the three ( and I'm sure the deer would never know ), trajectory wise or otherwise, even with the low pressure factory ammo, and a heavier bullet going a little slower at closer ranges isn't really a disadvantage for that type of hunting.
If you can shoot the higher pressure factory ammo ( don't know what kind of gun you have or are considering ) the advantage of the smaller rounds gets a little smaller.
If shooting at long range, the 243 & 6mm will shoot a little flatter, but neither really hits that hard past around 300-350yds or so. The 257 Roberts potency vs the other two would depend largely on the velocity of the load and the bullet weight used. A 120gr bullet going around the same velocity as a 95gr or 100gr out of the 243/6mm will hit a little harder, but there really isn't a large advantage/disadvantage either way. With 100gr in both it's pretty much a wash, with the .243 bullets having a better sectional density than the .257 bullets which in theory should penetrate a little better on game -- In the real world I never noticed the difference on game.
The real advantage the 243 has is in the large selection of different types of ammo available ( bullet types & weights ). You can find it anywhere and it can be had for everything from small varmits to large game stuff in premium ammo lines. If you don't handload, there is not alot to choose from in the 6mm Rem. and even less in the 257 Roberts, so if your gun doesn't like what you can find you may have to live with poor accuracy, etc. -- With the 243 the selections go on forever. That, coupled with the fact that they are easy to shoot makes them very popular.
They are all good cartridges, but if I had to stay with FACTORY AMMO ONLY as you stated and choose from these three, I'd go with the 243 Win.-- Just alot better selection out there. Your life will be easier for it.
PS = If I really wanted a 25 caliber, and had to choose from FACTORY AMMO, I'd just get a 25.06 for the same reasons. Another plus for the 243 & 25.06 is that if you ever want to sell them lots of people want them. Most people ( except handloading gun cranks ) don't want a 6mm Rem. or a 257 Roberts -- Just my .02 cents.
Good Luck whatever you decide.................[^]
I dont own a .257,but i do own both a .243 and 6mm.
Between the two i like the 6mm a tad better but ammo is as you said limited and i guess it's not much different for the .257.
Still i was intrigued by the way some wax on about this round.[:)]
Sometimes i get real aggravted when i try to find Winchester Power Points for my 6mm and all i keep coming across is Rem corelocks that dont shoot quite as good in my 600 Remington as the Winchesters do.
So some times for all the reasons of ammo availability i guess i want part with my 243 for the sake of the 257 which it seems i never see the ammo available in abundance.
Thanks for the detailed reply.
Ive had a lot of experience with the Roberts over the last 25 years.
To reach its potential takes a custom chambered (long throated)barrel and hand loading. With worked up loads and the throating done so that the heavier bullets can be seated on out to make room for the powder and relieve pressure . When this is done ,you can about duplicate the 25/06 and it takes you way past the 6mm family.
Unless you want to go into it on this basis ,stay with your 6mm "s as the factory ammo performance between the two is very minor.
We are talking about my first favorite cartridge here. So, if you want to know if it has a lot of advantages over the 6mm's I can name two. First it can go up to 120 gr. bullets with a normal 1-10" twist. Second, You can get just a smidge more velocity out of it the whole range of bullets than you can in the 6mm's. The advantage the .243 specifically has is it fits better into a shorter action and (some will argue this) is it's shorter fatter case(at the shoulder) with only 2 grs. less volume allows it to burn slower powder more efficiently thus getting more power, especially from a shorter barrel.
To specifically answer your question I will say yes it can be better WITH FACTORY AMMO because Hornady makes their "Light Magnum" using a 117 gr. bullet pushed to 2940. I chrono'd these rounds through my short barrelled(20") ultra lite Ruger and got 2840. This would be a consistent drop in velocity compared to a 24" barrel. I feel that you need to have a full length barrel for the .257 to have any advantages.
Something I have noted when shooting deer with both a .243 and a .257 is that while each time the first shot is a mortal shot I have noted the .257 knocks the animal over. I've never had to track an animal with the .243 or the .257. Just that I feel that may be the smallest difference in diameter transfers enough energy to knock a deer down. to my knowledge there is not scientific study done on that just an observation of my own.
Something I'd really like to see come back is .257's loaded with 87 gr. bullets again. What the hot-rod that it replaced (250-3000) could just top 3000 with the Roberts could push to 3300! That's about what a magnum gains over std. cases. With a whole lot more kick. That is an excellent varmint bullet and it's a good deer round. Everybody I know with one out west shoots that for something. We mostly used 41 gr. of 4895 for that load...before there was +P brass.
Paul
Mountain Magic Gunsmithing
Might pick one of these up some day.