Ruger 77 .257 Roberts

[hivel37]

I killed my last buck with rifle like the OP's. Now my go-to is 7 x 57 K98 Venezuelan. Still have a Model 70 Carbine in .250 Savage, little bro to .257 Rob.

 

[Texas Star]

Personal opinion on why the 257 performs better the the 25 06 on deer. No I have not used premium bullets only factory 120 gr on the 4 25 06 rifles I've owned. I lost at least one deer with the 25 06. I saw the bullet strike just behind the shoulder and this id's dead deer for all other calibers I have used.

I feel the 257 at slightly less velocity pent rates before going to pieces where the 25 05 goes to pieces on ribs.

I've taken well over 100 deer. I've used many calibers, none failed like the 25 06, the fares went from 25 to 300 yards.

For v some I guess it works great, I won lime to try a 257 Roberts and a 257 Weatherby with rifling that will stabilize 120 gr premium bullets.

When I had a Wby collection one was a German MKV in 257. It had the old twist and would only shoot the 117 gr round nose. I did not know until I loaded 120 gr Spitzer that they would tumble at w5 and we're lucky to hit paper at q00 yards.

Needless to say I was heart broken and it was the 1st one I sold when I sold my collection.

Some day I'll find a cheap Rem, Win, fn chambered for a magnum round and will have it rebarreled.

Back to your 257, it is a beautiful gun.

Many years ago, there was a magazine called, Safari. The principal writer was a guy named Wally Taber, who liked Weatherbys.

He told me the .257 Weatherby was his favorite caliber, but don't know the rifling twist on his. Said it killed all out of proportion to the bullet size. I was very young and didn't think to ask about bullets. He probably had Noslers.

He shot some African game with it that I'd want to use a .375 H&H on.

The .257 aside, why did you sell your Weatherbys?

 

[keith44spl]

I like the newer Ruger CF rifles as well....Shooting a .204 Ruger quite a bit.

My small caliber rifle line up kinda goes like this...

The .204 Ruger with the 39 gr. BlitzKing.

Then the 257 Roberts with loads ranging from a 70 grain varmint handload & up to 115 gr CT Silver Tip.

When I need a lit'l more than the 257 Rob. I reach for another good one.

The .264 Winchester. Only .007 larger in diameter, with the AccuBond Long Range bullets sporting
those high BC and higher velocities for way over yonder shootin'

.

 

[crsides]

I had a ruger 77 ultra light, in 257 roberts years ago. Beautiful rifle. Hunted with it a few times, but never connected. My pre 64 win rebarreled to 25-06 won out on most trips.
|
Charlie

 

[model70hunter]

Many years ago, there was a magazine called, Safari. The principal writer was a guy named Wally Taber, who liked Weatherbys.

He told me the .257 Weatherby was his favorite caliber, but don't know the rifling twist on his. Said it killed all out of proportion to the bullet size. I was very young and didn't think to ask about bullets. He probably had Noslers.

He shot some African game with it that I'd want to use a .375 H&H on.

The .257 aside, why did you sell your Weatherbys?

I had several collections, m 70 pre 64 win, some model 12s and lots of pistols I had bought for right prices knowing I would sell them when I retired.

They became a farm tractor and imements, stock trailer and more. I kept some of each.

Ps. I used to subscribe to Safari.

 

[jtcarm]

The first rifle I ever bought for myself was a tang safety, red rubber butt-pad M77 in 25-06. I still have it. I always wanted an Ultra Light in .250 Savage.

Your .257 Roberts splits the difference. It is a beaut. Congrats.

Same here, but mines a .270 (yawn)

The full-length stock .250 is a beauty. Too bad they're long-gone.

I vastly prefer the tang safety to the 3-position.

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

I have a Remington chambered in 257 Roberts that my Father purchased back in the 50's for my Mother, but she never took up shooting/hunting. What I used to kill my first deer with.

 

[ggibson511960]

Lost Deer?

Personal opinion on why the 257 performs better the the 25 06 on deer. No I have not used premium bullets only factory 120 gr on the 4 25 06 rifles I've owned. I lost at least one deer with the 25 06. I saw the bullet strike just behind the shoulder and this id's dead deer for all other calibers I have used.

I feel the 257 at slightly less velocity pent rates before going to pieces where the 25 05 goes to pieces on ribs.

I've taken well over 100 deer. I've used many calibers, none failed like the 25 06, the fares went from 25 to 300 yards.

For v some I guess it works great, I won lime to try a 257 Roberts and a 257 Weatherby with rifling that will stabilize 120 gr premium bullets.

When I had a Wby collection one was a German MKV in 257. It had the old twist and would only shoot the 117 gr round nose. I did not know until I loaded 120 gr Spitzer that they would tumble at w5 and we're lucky to hit paper at q00 yards.

Needless to say I was heart broken and it was the 1st one I sold when I sold my collection.

Some day I'll find a cheap Rem, Win, fn chambered for a magnum round and will have it rebarreled.

Back to your 257, it is a beautiful gun.

Any deer sized animal hit with a post 1920 vintage .25 caliber bullet is going to die, whether it's a .257 Roberts, .25-06 or .257 Weatherby. If they're running when hit (adrenaline) or not hit close enough to the spine, they will run off, but leave a gosh awful blood trail, especially if a fast stepping .25 did the deed. I have shot a few with a .25-06 and haven't found a deer big enough to stop a 117 gr. non-premium bullet shot sideways. Lots of stuff flies out the other side with the bullet. I suppose a very light bullet could crater a wound on an entry side rib, but the shattered bits would bleed the animal out. If all this were not true then bowhunters would never kill a thing, and .243's/6 MM's with lighter, faster bullets would have a hard time.

You could lose a deer shot with anything if unlucky or a bullet is badly placed, but accurate, soft recoiling, medium and high velocity 6 mm's and .25's are more than enough for whitetails.