What do y'all think think of the .257 Roberts (AKA .257 BOB)? Good caliber? Apropos for all around applications? Or are there mu

[mspl8sdcntryboy]

What do y'all think think of the .257 Roberts (AKA .257 BOB)? Good caliber? Apropos for all around applications? Or are there much better "mid-caliber" rounds out there? I read an article in a magazine (initials G&A that was singing the praises of this round, but I have not heard much about it other than that article. Thoughts?

[Edward J. Palumbo]

The .257 Roberts is a well-balanced cartridge offering the case capacity, selection of bullets from various manufacturers, and subsequent versatility to handle everything from varmints to whitetail or mule deer reliably. I owned two, a Ruger Model 77 and a rebarreled Remington Model 700, and both were a pleasure to shoot and to handload.

[Treestand]

The 257BOB is on Par of the 243W,300Savage and Ammo is not in any Wal*Mart(hard to find) or Sport Shop. Its general a hand-me down Rifle in that Cal.its a White Tail/Black Bear Round as for a Mid-Caliber...JMO~7mm-08 has soft recoil like a 243W and works like a 270W!

[Edward J. Palumbo]

The .257 Roberts is a well-balanced cartridge offering the case capacity, selection of bullets from various manufacturers, and subsequent versatility to handle everything from varmints to whitetail or mule deer reliably. I owned two, a Ruger Model 77 and a rebarreled Remington Model 700 (long action), and both were a pleasure to shoot and to handload.

[Edward J. Palumbo]

My apologies; I edited my comment for the sake of accuracy or clarification to include the description "long action" for the Remington Model 700 I rebarreled. It didn't appear, due to delay, that the initial post was captured.

[Treestand]

ED its not you it the F&S Site.

[jhjimbo]

The .257 is a necked down 7X57mm, and is one of the most 'efficient' cartridges from a handloaders perspective. Velocity vs Powder burned
With the heavier, 120gr bullets it has been used up to elk and caribou with good success.
There is also a +P loading for modern rifles and the time honored .257 Ackley Improved that brings the performance of the .257 close to that of the 25-06.
In the Adirondacks, I have seen several black bear in the 500+ range taken with one shot from the .257.

[Sarge01]

I had a .257 Rob in a Ruger Lightweight some years ago. I didn't kill any deer with it but am sure it was capable of doing so. I traded the firearm before deer season came along,(I won the firearm on a raffle from a gun club). The gun didn't shoot that well but I blamed that on being a Ruger from the experience I have had with them and it being a Lightweight. I am more partial to larger rounds like the .280 and .308 for deer hunting and even my 300WSM.

[Panfry101]

The .257 Roberts is a good cartridge but unfortunately I don't think it's popular enough anymore for me to want to own one. I'd go with a 25-06 if you wanted a similar diameter bullet that's also a good mid range cartridge.

[Safado]

Nothing against the .257 Roberts but the 25 caliber that I lust after is the .257 Weatherby.

[Montana]

Mom has a Browning A-bolt chambered in 257 Roberts. I would consider it a little light for elk, but know of several people who have taken multiple elk with it over the years. She really likes shooting it and has taken many whitetails, antelope and mule deer with it. I occasionally borrow it from her if I'm hiking in a long ways to hunt, lightweight, low kicking, plenty of knockdown power for deer.

[99explorer]

I have never owned a .257 Roberts, but I did shoot one that belonged to a friend of mine, and I was pleasantly surprised at the mildness of the recoil.
It was a real sweetheart to shoot.

[Del in KS]

No doubt The Bob is a nice cartridge but the 25-06 will do it all better and ammo is easier to find. I have a Kimber 8400 classic in 25-06 that is a beauty. It will reach a buck on the far side of an 80 acre pasture with no trouble.

[WA Mtnhunter]

I practice shooting with my Ruger .257 Roberts. Cheaper to shoot and easy on the bones. A very capable deer caliber as well. Anything shooting a 100 gr Barnes TTSX at 3,000 fps is a deer getter.

[007]

I have one in a Ruger Ultralight, my daughter one in a Savage, and properly handloaded they are deer thumpers. Mine doesn't like 100 grain fodder so I am currently handloading 120 grain Remington Corelokts for both rifles. I think it's a better round than the .243 or 6mm due to the availability of heavier bullets.