.257 Roberts AI

HandgunHTR52

Gentlemen,

I am trying to plan a winter/summer project. My question is this:

I know that the .257 Roberts is safe in a small ring Mauser, but is the small ring Mauser strong enough to handle the .257 Roberts AI?

Thanks in advance.

TRAP55

The .257 Roberts is commercially loaded as standard (for your small ring Mauser) and +P for later commercial rifles. The AI exceeds the +P pressures.
Short answer............I wouldn't.

sandwarrior

handgunHTR52,

It depends on which small ring Mauser you wanted to put it on. Some are better than others. Any of the 1930's made Mexican 1910's would be good. Don't bubba one though...they seem to go for a lot of $'s in original condition. '93? Turk no! Any of the Spanish? no, any pre '98 small ring, no. If you can find a Kurz action(pre WWII commercial,{short}) yes. Also, Yugo, M24(made by FN?) I'm going off thr top of my head here so if I'm wrong on one of these, and I know I missed some, bear with me.

MIKE WISKEY

Like trap said there are two loadings for the std. .257 roberts, you could load your s.r. mauser lighter and be ok, but what about the next person that owns the rifle.

HandgunHTR52

Thanks for the answers guys.

SW - I don't plan on "bubba-ing" one. I plan on buying one that has already been bubba-ed for my project. I saw one the other day that was a small ring for less than $200, that is why I asked.

I will stick to looking for a large ring Mauser.

Mobuck

I assume you're planning on handloading your 257 AI ammo. You can load it to whatever pressure you feel safe with. I have a .257 AI on a 1916 small ring that came about as a result of gunsmith brain lag. He managed to gouge the shoulder of the original chamber and I agreed to go to the AI to clean up the mistake. Could have demanded him to set it back and redo the chamber but I'm just such a nice guy (well anyway). He ended up cutting the AI chamber too deep to fire factory loads so it's strictly a handload situation. Currently, I'm using moderate loads of IMR 4895 and getting good service out of a butched up rifle. I would not intentionally chamber one of the weaker actions for a wildcat as someone later on might think it was good enough for hotrodding.

Guns & Glass

Unless you want to experiment w/reloading for the max accurate AI load, you may want to check out the Hornady Light Mag. It's on par w/the AI.

He Dog

The Hornady is the only factory load with a spire point bullet as well.

HandgunHTR52

Mobuck - Yes I plan on loading my own. I totally agree with your last statement as well.

G&G - I just want to experiment, period. I would like to have a gun chambered for the .25 caliber and factory loads bore me. I really don't care if it is super-accurate or comes out of the barrel at hyper-velocity. I just want to have some thing different to play around with.

Guns & Glass

Way to go!!!!!!! That's when you really can have fun, and learn alot.

You may want to consider a cartridge baseline which provides a great starting point, and comparison. A easy DIY chamber cast.

257 Roberts, and 257 Weatherby Mag are favorites of mine. Please let us know of your efforts, and results so we can vicarously share your fun.

22hipower

handgunHTR52,

Don't know about the small ring mauser option but can confirm the 257AI is lots of fun. I have one on a 1903 Springfield and it is one of the most accurate 25s I have; pretty much stays at an MOA with most any load I've tried. Really likes the Sierra 100 grain gameking with 49 grains of H4831SC. Shoots the standard 257 Roberts well too. Don't know what the availability of sporterized '03s is these days where you are but the combination worked out well for me.