I've got an itch...and that only leads to me spending money!! Tell me some .257 Roberts stories and pet loads to satisfy my curiosity until the barrel and loading materials arrive.

Yes this wood be grate calliber to hear about!!!!Hunlee have interest in this aswell!!!!!

hunlee

I have the AI version of the Bob and it really performs. "They" say the 257AI is the best improvement. Out of my XP with a 15" barrel I get 2800fps with 100grn NBT. I thought about getting an Encore barrel in 257AI so I can seat the bullets out even farther and see what happens. I know my fireforming loads with 75gr HP were keeping 3 shots inside a snuff can lid @ 200yds. It might have been a fluke because I don't normally shoot that good, but I was that day. My buddy that shoots better than me said Yep, its a shooter for sure after he shot it. I never have been a quarter bore fan but I came across the deal for the XP and couldn't pass it up. I haven't been disappointed!

First rifle was a 257AI-Awesome.
Also have a 250 Sav AI XP currently

I just ordered one and my Sierra Manual has a lot of good info for this cal.

Well...I've had a sporterized Mauser 98 action w/ a beautiful walnut stock setting around for five years. The action is ready to roll...Loopy base and rings, Timney trigger and the stock is already bedded to the action when it had the military barrel still on it. Total invested so far is about $100.

The action just needs a barrel threaded on and the channel opened up enough to float a barrel. So, Midway has their A&B barrels on sale for $79.99...so I nabbed the F34 contour along with dies. I already have some brass.

For some reason I am a sucker for budget rifle projects. Two years ago I built a Savage action .308 Win bench gun that topped out at 18#, shoots awesome and...total cost was under $360. This one should be under $250.

I have been a fan of the 257 for many years and have several; rifles chambered in this great cartridge. I am building an XP in one now for Hunting and 1/2 Sillywet.
In Feb.2003 Handloader had a great article on Bob Revisited byJohn Barsness and he posted loade in the modern pressure limits.I have tryed some of these loads getting very good velocity and accuracy out of my Pre War model 70 My Thoughts is it should make an excelent pistol cartridge

Before we get to much further in this discussion: Send the money to ME!!!

Just like Ernie...always trying to help out others!!

The Hornady book has 257 Rob AI loading data in the rifle section Dan… don’t know if that helps or not.

I have also been consider one. I was thinking a 16" for the old Encore.

I would be interested to know the advantage of a .257 over a .243...If anyone has both please inform.

What would be the difference in "usual" bullet weight when both had "usual" twist rates?

I had mine done in a 1-10" twist I plan to shoot 100 Gr Sierra BTSP's out of it I may try some 87 & 117's just to see how they do but I am hopeing the 100's do best. Mine is a 14.5" Encore Heavy Taper .810 muzzle. Plan to use a 3-12 Burris.

I have plenty of books with lots of data...that's not a concern. Just interested in what others think of the round.

Pope...243 vs 257?? Well...there is exactly .014" diff between them!

The .243 has a much better bullet selection and better BC when comparing similar bullet weights. So why am I going .257? I already have a .243 Mauser rifle! It blazes 75gr V-Max's at 3400fps. I like the thoughts of the .257 since it can go to the 117/120gr bullets w/o special twist rates like the .243. I'll likely feed it the 100gr SMK like my .250SAI XP. This is just going to be a fun gun, the barrel was on sale...but really...I need this like a hole in the head. My safe is overcrowded as is but I don't like to see gun projects laying around unfinished.

How about I hand deliver it.....

Out of my 257 Bob Encore barrel I got awesome performance from 37 grains of Varget and 100 grain NBT's. That load shot clover leafs at 100yds consistantly. I tried other 100 grain bullets with similar results. I had great results also with Reloader 19 and several 100 grain bullets. I also had good luck with H4895 and Sierra 90 gr. BTHP's. They shot sub half inch at 100. I sold my 257 Bob to get a 257 Bob AI. If your 257 Bob is like mine was you'll have a hard time deciding what load to go with because they all shoot well.

"Pope...243 vs 257?? Well...there is exactly .014" diff between them!"

No kidding...Your a real math whiz...LOL LOL

Just call me Mr. Obvious.

prettiest rifle I own is a Wincehster featherweight 257 Roberts with a Leupold 2x7 compact, circa 80's. It sits next to a few handguns in the safe, obligatory handgun content, of course, they were all sadly lost in a boating accident this summer

That will work too

hey im kinda new here...(use to go by jim257 a couple years ago)look at imr-3031 and a 90gr. sierra hollow point boat tail game king,its awesome on deer! killed several at 60-240 yds. with the 15" encore i had and a turkuy at 190 yds. also shot the same load out of my ruger m77 mk2...