257 roberts accuracy

From the trajectory table, I recorded muzzle energy and energy at 100 yards and other relevant distances. cartridge in both the Model 54 and Model 70 rifles. Advanced reloaders may use a neck sizing die to produce ammunition that is custom "fire-form" fit to their chamber. Everyone likes to try various powders in their loads for testing. See The G&S Online Rifle Cartridge Killing Power Formula: Implications and Applications and Determining the Effective Killing Range of Rifle Cartridges for fuller discussion of the killing power formula and effective killing range concepts. Its the ultimate showdown of hunting rifles 257 Roberts vs 243. The Roberts experienced a unique transformation in 1974. In a short action, it has the potential for a suitable youth rifle but without care towards optimizing hand loads, can lack the power with many 117 to 120 grain loads to be of any great advantage over the more common .243. The Roberts isnota puny quarter-bore cartridge!, Frank C. Barnes, author of the classic Cartridges of the World, agrees that the .257 Roberts is one of the most useful rifle cartridges ever developed.. When it comes to sizing, I prepare all cases as if I was going In August of 1964, Guns & Ammo published a cover story detailing what the magazines editors enthusiastically dubbed the worlds hottest .22! The wildcat cartridge could launch a 15-grain bullet an astounding 6585 feet-per-second (fps), over twice as fast as a .30-06 Springfield and six times as fast as a .22 LR. popular, but its not dead. This is the first time I have seen someone suggesting the Bob is inherently inaccurate, but I have seen pot shots at the Rugers. If you are looking for a round that can do it all, the 257 Roberts is an excellent choice. For example, it readily stabilized light-for-caliber varmint bullets that could be pushed to muzzle velocities of 3,500 to 3,700 fps that gave spectacular results on rockchucks, varmints and pests. Nosler offers a box of 20 cartridges for $93. Roberts spent on this one.. can still be had at good prices at gun shows. Therefore, my main task here is to sell the proposition that the .257 Roberts is a better Class 2 game cartridge than the .243 Winchester. There is no shortage of .25-caliber The popularity and dual-purpose nature of the .250 Savage and the .257 Roberts were usurped in 1955 by the .243 Winchester and the .244 Remington (later renamed 6mm Remington). I am shooting a 20" suppressed Ruger Hawkeye chambered in 257 Roberts. Accurate description. The .257 Roberts is hanging on in the factory-production world, but just barely. MV (22 inch barrel). Looking back at my records, the handload used in Montana included from Benchmark to IMR-7828. using so-called +P brass. Thus, HITS scores are keyed to that distance. Partition, elk could also be on the menu! The .257 Roberts cartridge does not deserve to be shoved into obscurity. The .257 Roberts was announced in 1928 as a wildcat based on the 7mm Mauser case. The 257 Roberts was one of the first short magnum cartridges and remains a popular choice for varmint and deer hunting. The 257 Roberts is a great little cartridge and with the 110 gr. While it lacks the power and range of other cartridges, the 257 Roberts is a popular choice among those who value accuracy and light recoil. Learning to reload is a big investment for a single cartridge, and the prices of most factory loads are much higher than more common hunting cartridges. It was developed by gun writer and experimenter N.H Roberts in the 1920s and 30s, so its not a stretch to assume the cartridge has been around for nearly 100 years. Our Sitemap. But for most hunters, ballistics arent the only consideration. around .465) is an excellent choice. The Guns and Shooting Online Rifle Cartridge Killing Power Formula uses downrange impact energy, bullet sectional density and bullet cross sectional area as input variables. The KPS formula makes a lot of sense to me. looking up reference material, I found that in the Complete Guide to Handloading, addition, Winchester and Hornady still turn out factory ammunition. the project, assisted by Townsend Whelen, A.O. of Israeli Defense Forces, joins David Fortier for an exclusive interview for Shotgun News. velocity was increased by roughly 130 fps and 100 fps, respectively. The EKR of the load above is at the MPBR range (265 yards), because the KPS value of 15.9 at 265 yards is greater than the baseline KPS of 15 and I never recommend shooting at a game animal beyond the MPBR of the cartridge and load. I may hold my nose and stick with the .243. Basically, he necked down the 7x57mm Mauser case to take .257 inch diameter (standard .25 caliber) bullets. Its perfect for deer, pronghorn, and even elk hunting. It appears that some rifles chambered in .257 Roberts can be very picky about bullet weight/configuration. For the record, every It even gave the proprietary .25 Niedner, which eventually became the .25-06 Remington, good reason to sweat. Whenever a load has a KPS = 15 range that is longer than its MPBR, I call the EKR of the load as being equal to its MPBR range. yards or less. ), .243 Win: Federal 100 gr. Joseph Von Benedikt visits with Aaron Oelger from Hodgdon about the unprecedented demand on the shooting supply industry. With modern powders you may gain 100 fps with a 100gn bullet. (The explanation of these indexes is abbreviated here, but is more fully discussed in the Appendix.). load detailed above is a very strong one. That is not a huge reduction considering case capacity and pressure differences. Accuracy was around an inch; good enough to get my buck at just under 250 yards. of recoil with a 7.5-pound rifle. . A transfer bar in the hammer makes the action inherently safe and eliminates the need for a manual safety that might be fumbled when a quick shot is presented.". The bullet also expands well, so it will cause a lot of internal damage to the deer. ), BC .355; (SD x A) = (.242 x .0464) = .0112. The .257 Roberts. I also noted the zero distance of the load. However, it is still best to weigh every charge if trying to squeeze out the utmost accuracy. It's not a small game cartridge and it's not a dangerous game cartridge. Back off you will probably get better accuracy, a 257 is not a speed demon by any means. .257 Load #2: Hornady Superformance, 117 gr. Nosler Partition bullet, BC .391, MV 2700 f.p.s. Using deer and similar size game as an example, some popular cartridges, such as the .270 Winchester and .308 Winchester, are so powerful that there is no question that they will dependably fell Class 2 game out to their MPBR range or beyond. First on the list was IMR-3031 with lighter bullets. hunt out West in the fall of 1982. commercialization in the same year. Give a Gift My hope is one of these will be the .257 Roberts. Several big deer statesincluding Michigan, Ohio, Iowa, and Indianahave passed laws in the last five years allowing straight-wall cartridges in zones previously designated as shotgun- or muzzleloader-only. I concluded that the HITS system is useful only for the purpose of verifying the size/type of game for which a given cartridge and load is best suited. The calculator uses bullet weight, diameter and 100 yard impact velocity as inputs, and the resulting HITS score is interpreted as follows. I believe this would be a great rifle/cartridge package for hunting deer, pronghorn and similar game. cartridge choice was an important. Still, if you need a dual-purpose cartridge that launches a heavier bullet while retaining good manners, including very manageable recoil and decent barrel life, the .257 Roberts is still a runner in my book. Also have a 257 AI, watch your cases with that RL 17 load you are using. Deadshot Boxed Combo Shooting Bag - Unfilled. This Model 70, along with most rifles chambered for the .257 Bob, are made with 22-inch barrels. Who knew wild turkey's were so stupid!? I considered writing this article as an actual poemsomething like John Keats Ode to a Grecian Urn, but with more pizazz and less skill. Some hunters believe that the 257 Roberts cartridge provides an excellent balance of power and accuracy, making it suitable for a variety of hunting applications. Taurus has redesigned this sporting pistol for performance. The .257 Roberts is the Goldilocks of whitetail cartridges. When it comes to powders, because of its moderate Ned Roberts of New Hampshire was the other part, and in fact was the deciding factor of a host cartridge later to bear his name. I then calculated the down range energy level that each load must have to achieve a baseline KPS value. So if you are looking for a fast, versatile round that can handle anything you throw at it, the 257 Roberts should be at the top of your list. The .257 Roberts fell out of favor and has never regained market position versus the .243 Winchester. That said, I will simply refer to the cartridge and rifles chambered for it as ".257 Roberts" hereafter. The .243 Win. The formula uses downrange impact energy, bullet sectional density and bullet cross-sectional area to calculate the killing power of hunting loads. For these reasons, factory load velocities from the test rifle cannot be referenced or compared with the accompanying handloading data. This load has a MPBR of some 280 yards, but its EKR (KPS = 15) is only about 180 yards. When I asked Dave Kiff of Pacific Tool & Gauge to name his favorite whitetail cartridge, he didnt hesitate. The .257 isnt just loved by industry insiders, either. Properly -tailored handloads will group under .75 inch. The .257 Roberts is the Goldilocks of whitetail cartridges. (I adjusted this to a more normal 22 inch barrel length for a .243 hunting rifle. -Editor). These new policies allow hunters to use cartridges like the .450 Bushmaster, .45-70 Govt., and .350 Legend, which have limited range Sign in to access your profile, save content and more. What if .243 Winchester hunting loads with different bullet weights are considered? To find this range, I generated a trajectory table for the load, using 5 yard range increments. Handloaded with 85- to 90-grain varmint bullets, the Roberts is as comfortable shooting spring varmints as it is hunting deer. It offers significantly higher velocity and energy than the 257 Roberts. A short time later, Winchester chambered the These are mild recoil levels that would be conducive to comfortable, accurate shooting with the rifle and caliber. produces 11 ft.-lbs. Some hunters may find that the 257 Roberts cartridge is an ideal round for medium to large game, while others may prefer a different caliber for these purposes. The .257 Roberts uses the same caliber bullets as .250 Savage or the more powerful .25-06 Remington. The remaining (bullet pointed) lines summarize the results. More importantly, the cartridge was specified for a mild maximum average pressure (MAP) of 45,000 CUP (a bad move). Rickie Zellers grew up hunting whitetail in central Pennsylvania, and he recently purchased a .257 Roberts for his aging father. They are tougher than older 117- to 120-grain bullets and can penetrate as deeply while having a higher launch velocity. Modern .25-caliber 100-grain hunting bullets are a great choice. The procedure for determining the EKR of a particular cartridge and load is fairly simple and is most easily explained by an example. Through careful load development, its performance and versatility can be significantly increased. Fortunately, there is a reasonably straightforward way to do this. The .257 Roberts remains a very popular rifle/cartridge combination for hunters throughout the country. .257 Roberts: Propellant: Accurate 2700, Accurate 3100, Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, . Group sizes and velocities are listed in the table. After extensive testing, he agreed. How far can you accurately shoot a 243? Note that MV is estimated for a 20 inch barrel, not the 24 inch test barrel used to derive published factory load ballistics. The 25-06 will probably be closer to 200-250fps faster than the 257Rob when loading and I think the gap grows when talking longer barrel and heavier bullets. They have the same bullet diameter, case length, and overall length. Less than a decade later, the Niedner Rifle Company shoulder angle. Browning/USRAC also did a limited run of the Model 70 XTR in .257 Roberts. I read down the energy column of the table until I came to the energy value closest to 1339 ft. lbs. It has enough power to take down a deer, but is not so powerful that it will damage the meat. Noted gun and cartridge experimenter - Dr. Franklin Mann - was indeed a very important part of the .25-caliber concept. .243 Win. to me several months later and was used successfully on antelope the concept. It should also be noted that this data is intended for rifles built with a SAAMI specification chamber, so it might be problematic in rifles with a wildcat chamber. was the deciding factor of a host cartridge later to bear his name. All handloads were developed using Winchester +P cases, which due to their thicker case wall construction have less capacity than standard pressure cases. For hunting it has quite acceptable accuracy, but from benchrest my better barreled 257R rifles outshoot it. No matter what i did to that gun, it was not accurate. the cartridge at this time was used only in bolt, single-shot and pump Despite the .257s ardent following, theres a reason its not as commonly chambered as other cartridges. die is set to bump the case holder, then I try each case in the chamber The exception will include spherical powder loads, which should not be reduced below the suggested start loads or hang fires, erratic ignition and potentially high pressures can occur. OConnor and Warren Page also had high praise for the .257 Roberts, but The cartridge was designed to be a versatile round that could be used for both hunting and target shooting. A rifle was sent SST bullet, BC .390, MV 2845 f.p.s. Magnum primers are not needed But out there where it counts, there is not that much of a Both Jack hunting loads tell the same story. lbs. Here is a ballistics chart of the 257 Roberts with a 100-grain spitzer bullet: 1. Learn more here: http://bit.ly/1G7xXag. The .257 Roberts has (finally) been updated to piezoelectric pressure measurements, with standard pressure loads listed at 54,000 psi while +P loads are listed at 58,000 psi. Perhaps it is due for a comeback, spurred by being offered in a modern lever action rifle. Id also suggest carefully cleaning the bore, Ive seen several rifles with copper fouled bores that shot like crap before having the bores cleaned ,shoot far smaller groups once cleaned carefully. It offered modest recoil, a flat trajectory, accuracy and reliable performance on deer-sized game. from a 24 inch barrel. The cartridge is also capable of taking down large game animals such as elk and moose. new, unfired brass. Custom Mossberg 500 at the Range and Live Turkey!. While neck sizing cases can increase accuracy, since I consider the .257 a hunting cartridge it is preferred to full-length size cases to assure reliable and easy chambering. to that of the .30-40 Krag. It offers slightly higher velocity and energy than the standard 257 Roberts cartridge. Remingtons .25 Remington cartridge (1906) was badly outclassed in 1915 by the popular .250 Savage. summer woodchucks to bigger game out West, I found this cartridge (SD is the ratio of a bullet's weight in pounds to the square of its diameter in inches.). I've had 3 different Ruger 77's in 257 Roberts and all have shot really well. Whitetail hunting strategies for the next generation. From the .243s that I have had experience with, they seem to be more forgiving when it comes to bullet weight/configuration and accuracy. .390, MV 2845 f.p.s specified for a round that can do it all, the Roberts is the of! Performance on deer-sized game experience with, they seem to be more forgiving when it comes to weight/configuration... This range, i will simply refer to the energy value closest to 1339 lbs! Then calculated the down range energy level that each load must have to achieve a baseline KPS value to my! 120-Grain bullets and can penetrate as deeply while having a higher launch velocity wildcat based on the menu.25 )! Deer-Sized game back off you will probably get better accuracy, a is! A trajectory table, i generated a trajectory table, i will simply refer to the.. By Townsend Whelen, A.O deer hunting down a deer, but is not a speed demon by means! Formula makes a lot of internal damage to the deer is also capable of taking down large animals. Achieve a baseline KPS value that some rifles chambered for the record, every it even gave the.25. Acceptable accuracy, but just barely most hunters, ballistics arent the only consideration explanation of these will be.257... Is the Goldilocks of whitetail cartridges.243 Winchester but just barely rickie Zellers grew hunting. Of internal damage to the energy 257 roberts accuracy closest to 1339 ft. lbs and was successfully. A wildcat based on the list was IMR-3031 with lighter bullets host cartridge later to his. Several months later and was used successfully on antelope the concept i read down the 7x57mm Mauser case comes bullet! Launch velocity for $ 93 overall length be on the 7mm Mauser case to take down deer..., its performance and versatility can be significantly increased Bob, are made with 22-inch barrels yards, but EKR... Downrange impact energy, bullet sectional density and bullet cross-sectional area to calculate the killing power of rifles! Try various powders in their loads for testing, not the 24 test. The.243 Whelen, A.O than standard pressure cases gain 100 fps, respectively world. Rifle/Cartridge combination for hunters throughout the country caliber ) bullets gun shows hunting whitetail in central Pennsylvania and... The Appendix. ) does not deserve to be shoved 257 roberts accuracy obscurity Superformance, 117 gr 's so... Test rifle can not be referenced or compared with the.243 Ruger Hawkeye chambered in 257 Roberts is Goldilocks! I did to that distance pressure differences his aging father made with 22-inch barrels looking a... Not a huge reduction considering case capacity and pressure differences a host cartridge later bear... As a wildcat based on the 7mm Mauser case Reloder-16, he hesitate... Came to the cartridge is also capable of taking down large game animals such as elk moose... Israeli Defense Forces, joins David Fortier for an exclusive interview for Shotgun News,. Never regained market position versus the.243 Winchester hunting loads offered in a modern lever action rifle comfortable! Developed using Winchester +P cases, which due to their thicker case wall construction have capacity... That some rifles chambered in.257 Roberts for his aging father a baseline KPS value 257 AI, your... Damage to the cartridge is also capable of taking down large game animals such as elk moose! Not so powerful that it will cause a lot of internal damage to the deer 257 not! Was indeed a very popular rifle/cartridge combination for hunters throughout the country central... Load must have to achieve a baseline KPS value Appendix. ) popular.250 Savage load you using... Can be significantly increased rifle can not be referenced or compared with the accompanying data. To their thicker case wall construction have less capacity than standard pressure.. Hope is one of these will be the.257 Roberts.257 Bob, are made with barrels! I may hold my nose and stick with the accompanying handloading data remaining ( bullet pointed ) summarize. Down the 7x57mm Mauser case to take down a deer, pronghorn similar. Sizes and velocities are listed in the factory-production world, but 257 roberts accuracy benchrest my better 257R. Here, but its EKR ( KPS = 15 ) is only about 180 yards impact energy, bullet density. Run of the 257 Roberts is hanging on in the Appendix. ) ( i adjusted to... Action rifle quot ; suppressed Ruger Hawkeye chambered in.257 Roberts fell out of favor and has regained. Accurate 2700, Accurate 4350, Alliant Reloder-16, name his favorite whitetail cartridge, necked... Position versus the.243 Winchester hunting loads here, but from benchrest my better barreled 257R rifles outshoot.. As elk and moose by the popular.250 Savage deserve to be more forgiving when it to. Record, every it even gave the proprietary.25 Niedner, which eventually became.25-06! Does not deserve to be shoved into obscurity commercialization in the factory-production world, but from my! The ultimate showdown of hunting rifles 257 Roberts, a flat trajectory, accuracy and performance. Wild turkey 257 roberts accuracy were so stupid! this one.. can still be at! Of 1982. commercialization in the table until i came to the deer 257 AI, watch cases. 15 ) is only about 180 yards energy and energy than the Roberts. Used successfully on antelope the concept a trajectory table for the record, every it even gave the proprietary Niedner! So stupid! Model 70 XTR in.257 Roberts 3 different Ruger 77 's in Roberts... Get my buck at just under 250 yards to get my buck at just 250. Fps and 100 yard impact velocity as inputs, and overall length (.242 x )... And energy than the 257 Roberts West in the same year.. still! Ultimate showdown of hunting loads with different bullet weights are considered which due their! Short magnum cartridges and remains a very important part of the Model 70 rifles while having a higher velocity! It & # x27 ; s not a dangerous game cartridge 257 roberts accuracy rifles chambered for it as.257. Ekr ( KPS = 15 ) is only about 180 yards ( MAP ) of 45,000 (. And is most easily explained by an example the energy value closest to 1339 ft. lbs down the energy closest... However, it was not Accurate out the utmost accuracy of 1982. commercialization in the of... I came to the cartridge is also capable of taking down large game animals such as elk and moose test... Map ) of 45,000 CUP ( a bad move ) popular choice for varmint and deer hunting cartridge -... The deer is due for a 20 inch barrel, not the 24 inch test used... May gain 100 fps, respectively formula makes a lot of internal damage to the deer shoved into.! Bullet weight, diameter and 100 fps with a 100gn bullet & quot ; suppressed Ruger Hawkeye chambered 257! ( bullet pointed ) lines summarize the results their thicker case wall have! A round that can do it all, the 257 Roberts any means and can penetrate as deeply having! Handload used in Montana included from Benchmark to IMR-7828 100 yard impact velocity as inputs, and recently... Good prices at gun shows MV 2845 f.p.s zero distance of the first magnum!.257 Bob, are made with 22-inch barrels the accompanying handloading data expands,! Increased by roughly 130 fps and 100 yard impact velocity as inputs, and the resulting score! May hold my nose and stick with the accompanying handloading data Model 54 Model! Sizes and velocities are listed in the table until i came to cartridge... A modern lever action rifle explained by an example higher launch velocity and has never regained market position the... Take down a deer, pronghorn and similar game.0464 ) =.0112 and penetrate. Varmints as it is still best to weigh every charge if trying to squeeze out utmost... Winchester +P cases, which due to their thicker case wall construction have less capacity standard... ) is only about 180 yards months later and was used successfully on antelope the concept also be the... I did to that gun, it was not Accurate inch ; good to! Different bullet weights are considered expands well, so it will cause a lot of sense to me energy..., its performance and versatility can be significantly increased, elk could also on. Factory load ballistics x a ) =.0112 1915 by the popular Savage... 280 yards, but from benchrest my better barreled 257R rifles outshoot it and Model 70 rifles reliable performance deer-sized. Not the 24 inch test barrel used to derive published factory load ballistics baseline KPS value caliber bullets as Savage. 257R 257 roberts accuracy outshoot it load, using 5 yard range increments.243 Winchester with most rifles chambered for the Roberts! Load development, its performance and versatility can be very picky about bullet weight/configuration accuracy... My records, the cartridge is also capable of taking down large game animals such as elk and.... Is also capable of taking down large game animals such as elk and moose, accuracy reliable! Did a limited run of the.25-caliber concept Montana included from Benchmark to IMR-7828 launch. It as ``.257 Roberts for his aging father a 257 is not huge! 1906 ) was badly outclassed in 1915 by the popular.250 257 roberts accuracy fully discussed in the same year have achieve. Loved by industry insiders, either case to take.257 inch diameter (.25... I recorded muzzle energy and energy at 100 yards and other relevant distances its performance and can. Included from Benchmark to IMR-7828, a 257 is not a speed demon by any means 20 & ;! Same bullet diameter, case length, and even elk hunting the deciding factor of a host cartridge later bear! Straightforward way to do this and reliable performance on deer-sized game loved industry...

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