Thread: 257R Experiences

Im wondering if many people use the 257Roberts?

I got a new Kimber Hunter a couple of years ago but haven't done a lot with it, but recently have used it quite a bit and am impressed.

Initially I had trouble with it loading at full mag length. But Jaco did a nice job of modifying the magazine and sorted that. Then it took a while for me to click that it was very temperamental to barrel heat and that 3 shot groups were the max with compulsory cooling in between.

Then it started misfiring. Jaco to the rescue again - I was setting the shoulder too far back on the cases.

I wanted 110 ELDX to work but couldn't get them to group. But have struck a good load for the 115grn NBT at 2,930fps using R26. So it's finally sorted. Groups around .75moa. 117 SST work with the same load too. Im using Hornady 257R cases and resized various 6mm Rem and 7x57 cases. All are ok.

It's mild to shoot (although seems to be loud - with the DPT on). It's tipped over everything Ive shot from 50 yds out to 340 yards and every one has been a pass through. The 115 NBT are vicious.

So all in all Im quite happy. Using the 115grn I think of it as a .243 on steroids or a .260 shooting 120 grn.

50 yards


230 yards. I aimed a few " low for the very steep shot but actually hit where I aimed


115 yds


80 yd Impact

Nice work. I am sure you could go out with pretty much any cartridge and kill deer as you do with your 223rems.
I have just developed a load for my 243win shooting a 108gn ELD-M at 2877fps (22.4" barrel) so your comparison sounds about right.

Originally Posted by Shearer

Nice work. I am sure you could go out with pretty much any cartridge and kill deer as you do with your 223rems.
I have just developed a load for my 243win shooting a 108gn ELD-M at 2877fps (22.4" barrel) so your comparison sounds about right.

Looking forward to some reports on that load through your .243. That will up its game I should imagine.

I ran one for a number of years, it was a very nice "classic" setup built by Allan Carr on a VZ33 action with a gorgeous Slee walnut stock in his "Rigby" pattern, pre suppressor days but I didn't notice it as being noisy. It shot very well and my goto load was 47 gns of H4831 behind a 110 Interbond which gave 2800 fps. I shot Tahr, Reds and Fallow with it without losing a single animal. Sold it to Carlsen Highway and never heard about it again.

Originally Posted by Tentman

I ran one for a number of years, it was a very nice "classic" setup built by Allan Carr on a VZ33 action with a gorgeous Slee walnut stock in his "Rigby" pattern, pre suppressor days but I didn't notice it as being noisy. It shot very well and my goto load was 47 gns of H4831 behind a 110 Interbond which gave 2800 fps. I shot Tahr, Reds and Fallow with it without losing a single animal. Sold it to Carlsen Highway and never heard about it again.

He used it on reds for while and then spent a long time trying to shoot a good chamois with it. Then he sold it to the vice President of the NZDA who wanted it badly, in whose hands it still abides. One of the few nice rifles he has had and managed to not drop on some gravel or drag behind a Land rover.

I have one built on a Mauser 98 and with the ai chamber. 100’s at 3200, 120’s at mid 2900’s. 24 inch tube. It runs in .25/06 country.

With 100’s I see it as a .243 with an extra 70 meters.

With 120s it’s a .270 with a little less knockdown and less projectile choice.


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Yep, back about 1995 I built one on a medium action BSA Hunter, though it was an Ackley Improved version. Would send 100gr Hornady or Nosler BT out at just over 3300fps with 2213. I tried 115gr BTs for around 3K from memory but usually shot 100's. Shot this stag at 280 paces on the flat & flattened it.

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Originally Posted by Mathias

Yep, back about 1995 I built one on a medium action BSA Hunter, though it was an Ackley Improved version. Would send 100gr Hornady or Nosler BT out at just over 3300fps with 2213. I tried 115gr BTs for around 3K from memory but usually shot 100's. Shot this stag at 280 paces on the flat & flattened it.

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He's a good old battler.

Greetings @Tahr,
A bit off topic but I have always lusted after a .257 Roberts. An accident of history has deposited some dies on my shelves and have seen some rifles but never fired one. The rifles have been a factory round for 90 years and have seen other cartridges come and go but are still here ghost like in the background. It is nice to know there is at least one still out there and taking game.
Regards Grandpamac.

From reading the murican magazines a while back the 257 Bob was a very effective and accurate chambering that had lots of love for it.
It would usually be a rifle that someone would go to after an old 30-40 Krag or such and it shot flatter, nicer rifle etc.

@grandpamac Mitchell's in dvk have or at least did have a
Winchester 257r complete with a pile of cases, projectiles, factory ammo and dies. It looked hardly to have been used if your still itching.

Originally Posted by Marty Henry

@grandpamac Mitchell's in dvk have or at least did have a
Winchester 257r complete with a pile of cases, projectiles, factory ammo and dies. It looked hardly to have been used if your still itching.

Greetings @Marty Henry,
Thanks for your heads up. Regrettably there a number of rifles here already that don't get out much so although I really like the cartridge I can't see how I would use another rifle so, for the moment at least I will need to pass.
Regards and thanks again Grandpamac.

Whacked a few Pohangina reds with one in bsa hunter mode back in 69, sold it to an ex culler down in hoki.

Was a favorite of mine a few years ago, had a couple of improved also. The late Tony Hawkins rebarreled a Browning BAR for me in standard 257R, sold it prior to the "buy back" so didn't have to hand it in. Great cartridge, the Aussie who passed a couple of weeks ago got me started with it originally.

Another "like" from a .257 user here, also on a VZ33, and has been my go-to for 35 years, and as such has been responsible for maybe 80% of the deer I've shot. Ranges from 15m to 310m . I also used the 115gr NBT for a time and agree that they were excellent. I've found the Berger 115gr Hunting to be interchangeable in performance with the Noslers on both deer and targets, despite the oft-quoted objection that the VLDs are target bullets only. For reasons I can't recall I've moved to using the Bergers exclusively since 2014. Currently 2940ft/sec in an Ackley chamber from a 19" barrel using Lapua brass. It seems the right balance of cartridge and load for where I hunt in the South-Eastern Ruahines as the deer seem to all be on the small side.