257 Roberts

50bowhunter

Member
Jan 6, 2016
103
2
Anyone's have a Roberts? I found a Remington 700 classic I'll be picking up next week. Looking for some load suggestions.


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6mm Remington

Very Active Member
Mar 27, 2011
964
26
Western Montana
Excellent find you got there. I do not have a .257 Roberts but have several of it's little brothers, the 6mm Remington.

I think a 100 gr. E-tip or Partition, or a 110 gr. Accubond would really work well in the Roberts. IMR4350 and H4350 would both be good powders to try out to start with. Best of Luck!!

DAvid
 

Tim McCoy

Veteran member
Dec 15, 2014
1,855
4
Oregon
Don't hand load at this time, but I have one that loves the Federal 120 gr. partition load, which gives it quite a good punch. If it shot 110's or 115's, I'd be just as happy.
 

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
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Dolores, Colorado
A friend of my Dads had a .257 Ackley Improved back in the 1960's. He built it on a short Japanese Arisaka rifle. Had a custom barrel and it really shot. Back then you could build a custom rifle almost as cheap as a really good factory rifle.
 

50bowhunter

Member
Jan 6, 2016
103
2
I think I'm going to start with the 110gr accubond. My dad has Roberts in a Remington 722. A couple weeks ago he ordered 2 boxes of double tap 120gr partitions and payed through the nose for them. I told him to hold off but he had to do it. Of course I'm the 33 year old buying a gun to be like dad.


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JimP

Administrator
Mar 28, 2016
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A friend of my Dads had a .257 Ackley Improved back in the 1960's. He built it on a short Japanese Arisaka rifle. Had a custom barrel and it really shot. Back then you could build a custom rifle almost as cheap as a really good factory rifle.
I have a close resemblance to that one except they didn't go with the AI but just the .257 Roberts on a Arisaka action.

Man do I hate the safety of those rifles.
 

Colorado Cowboy

Super Moderator
Jun 8, 2011
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Man do I hate the safety of those rifles.
Pretty clumsy as I remember.

Not to get too far off topic, but one thing that always strikes me as "I told you so", is how a lot of P. O. Ackley's creations are now coming into their own. When he was developing them, powder selection was really limited, especially the slow burning ones. I have a 220 AI Swift that is just awesome. One of my loads is around 4100 fps and 1/2" moa. I have shot over 5,000 rounds thru it and it still shoots sub moa with no barrel wear evident. Getting the right powder has really given some of his creations new life.
 

mgorm16640

Member
Jan 8, 2016
54
1
Worland WY
Anyone's have a Roberts? I found a Remington 700 classic I'll be picking up next week. Looking for some load suggestions.


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257 Bob was my first big game rifle and always has had a sweet spot in the gun safe. I recently had one built on a left hand action and has made a great antelope rifle and light mountain gun for mule deer. My go to load has been 100 grain balistic tip over IMR 4350. I have a few boxes of 120 partitions, but have been so happy with balistic tips that I have not felt the need to experiment any further. Early on, I was also loading 87 grain balistic tips once again over IMR 4350 for varmit shooting and results were explosive to say the least. There may be better powders out there for it, but 4350's seem to do really well in my rifles.
 
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Extrapale

Active Member
Mar 18, 2014
468
16
Oregon
I have an older Ruger 77 in 257. I am currently shooting 110 accubonds over RL19. Somewhere around 2900 fps. It has been pointed out to me I am leaving some velocity on the table by not using RL22. My rifle is a long action.

Is the 700 short or long action?
 
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50bowhunter

Member
Jan 6, 2016
103
2
Short action.

I'll probably start with RL19 or 4350. I'm not looking for a barn burner load, if I can hit 2900 with 110's, or 2800 with 120's I'll be happy as long as it's accurate.


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Extrapale

Active Member
Mar 18, 2014
468
16
Oregon
Short action.

I'll probably start with RL19 or 4350. I'm not looking for a barn burner load, if I can hit 2900 with 110's, or 2800 with 120's I'll be happy as long as it's accurate.


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I tried 4350, but RL19 shot tighter groups. Mine will shoot 115 Partitions better than the Accubonds but the Accubands are still about MOA. I should have a pronghorn tag this year, so maybe I will do a little more load developement.
 

Bruce Mc

New Member
Mar 10, 2011
15
2
Edna, Texas
I've had a 700 classic since it was new in 1982. I've used a number of different loads over the years and they have all been deadly. You should try a 117 sierra sbt start a load of H-4831 at around 46 grains and work up to 48. It should be pushing a little over 3000 fps. Another good load is the 110 accubond with Reloder 22. Start around 47 grains and work up to 49.5. This load will show over 3100 fps. You can get similar performance with the 115 ballistic tip too. My classic has never grouped as well with 100gr bullets as it does with 110-117gr. Winchester brass and Federal large rifle primers will round out the load. The OAL on my Accubond load is 2.95". By the way, I think the new IMR-4451 powder may be a barn burner in the "Bob".

I guess I should add that these loads are good in my Model 700 but may be a bit hot for a pump action or older bolt.
 
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Colorado Cowboy

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Jun 8, 2011
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I've had a 700 classic since it was new in 1982. I've used a number of different loads over the years and they have all been deadly. You should try a 117 sierra sbt start a load of H-4831 at around 46 grains and work up to 48. It should be pushing a little over 3000 fps. Another good load is the 110 accubond with Reloder 22. Start around 47 grains and work up to 49.5. This load will show over 3100 fps. You can get similar performance with the 115 ballistic tip too. My classic has never grouped as well with 100gr bullets as it does with 110-117gr. Winchester brass and Federal large rifle primers will round out the load. The OAL on my Accubond load is 2.95". By the way, I think the new IMR-4451 powder may be a barn burner in the "Bob".

I guess I should add that these loads are good in my Model 700 but may be a bit hot for a pump action or older bolt.
I use the same Sierra bullet in my 25-06 and it is really great, I also use 4831 SC powder. I love .25's, shot probably 100 deer/antelope with my .25 and it does a great job.
 
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mtncowboy

Member
May 10, 2014
76
0
WY
That is a sweet looking gun, congrats. I have a browning a-bolt in 257 roberts and I love it! In fact, I don't know why I ever changed. I shot everything from praire dogs to elk with it and it worked like a charm every time. I used to shoot 117 gr. Hornadys atop imr 4064. Last time I shot it I didn't have any so I bought some Nosler 110 gr. accubonds and they shot very well and put the cow elk down. I love that gun, it was passed down from my mother to me and I can't wait to pass it on to my son.
 
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480/277

Very Active Member
Feb 23, 2013
629
1
I have a Rem 722 bob shooting RL19 and Barnes 100 gr tsx bullets. It is a great shooting riffle and in the McMillan stock felt recoil is less than my wife's pre 64 mod 70 FW 243

You are going to love the little quarter bore.

I'll get load data tomorrow for you.