.257 Roberts almost here.


.270 WIN
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PostPosted: Fri Dec 07, 2012 1:18 pm
After a separation of nearly 35 years, I will soon reunite with an old flame, the .257 Roberts. I had one in the late 1970's in a Ruger M77. I even carried it while fulfilling law enforcement duties during the coal strikes of 1977-1978. Then new and more shiny rifles beckoned, and I was led astray. When Winchester announced the reintroduction of the Roberts at the SHOT show, I immediately asked my regular gun dealer to order one for me. Over the last year I bugged him, he bugged his distributors and now we will soon have closure. It's at the shop now and I'm excited. As years passed and we moved about I misplaced my load data. I held on to several partial boxes of Sierra .25 caliber bullets but not the load data. I have most of the current reloading manuals so I don't need technical data but wondered which powders the Roberts loaders on the board favored and have had success with. This is going to be fun.
PostPosted: Sat Dec 08, 2012 3:31 pm
Congrats p.d. !!

Post a pic when you find the time...

.270 WIN
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PostPosted: Sat Feb 16, 2013 8:31 am
Well, I have now mounted a Leupold 2.5X8 scope on the rifle, and the first rounds down range. Not bad with Remington 117 grain Core-Lokts. The Redding dies just arrived the other day so now serious load development starts. I was pleasantly surprised that the local WalMart had a decent supply of Sierra and Nosler bullets in stock. This is going to be fun.

.22LR
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PostPosted: Sun Feb 24, 2013 9:27 pm
I like the Roberts other old time sissy kickers, but why oh why did Winchester chamber it as a long action? 2.780" max length is noticeably shorter then a 308 or WSM (2.860") What I am really hoping for is the return of the King, the pre 64 Model 70 the Featherweight in 6.5x55, everyone I have ever known that owns one swears it is their favorite rifle, never found anyone that would part with theirs even for stupid money.They have already done a run of 257 Roberts and 7x57 the Sweed is an obvious choice for their classic gun.

.270 WIN
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 12:14 am
You're a bit late to the party. I bought my 6.5 X 55 Swedish Mauser Featherweight at least 10 years back. As much as I like it, it is a handload proposition only as the throat is nearly as long as from here to Tennessee. Remington 140 grain factory ammo would keyhole at 100 yards. Redding dies fixed the problem but it was an adventure at first. The only factory load that it will shoot is the 156 grain Norma round nose stuff. But, as you said, I will not be parting with it.

.22LR
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 6:34 am
Works for me, I do handload, in fact I already handload 6.5x55, and yes mine likes them loaded long too that is just in the nature of the Sweed. 120gr BTs loaded with 48.5gr of RL19 is my deer hammer, hardest hitting thing you have ever seen, 129gr SSTs over 45.5gr of RL19 is my target load, punches pretty little one hole groups, and 46.5gr of RL22 pushing a 140gr SST is my long ranged thumper, .520BC and nearly 2800fps, hits almost as hard as the BT too, I have been a fan of the Sweed since I was a small child and it was the first cartridge I ever handloaded for, you know what the only thing better than having a superbly accurate 6.5x55 is? Having two of them :D One Stainless synthetic Tikka for all weather/all terrain, and one walnut framed CRF Winchester masterpiece just because it is that damn good. Would not mind getting a 257 either, never owned a quarterbore of my own.

.270 WIN
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PostPosted: Tue Feb 26, 2013 8:21 am
Excuse me if this sounds presumptuous, but there is a Model 70 Featherweight Classic 6.5X55 on GunBroker just now with a current bid of $660.00.

.22LR
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 9:38 pm
Bidding is up to $800 now with 6 days left, while I WISH I could afford that at the moment. but I would love to see what FN could do with a 98 Mauser style action in a 6.5x55. My new FN M70 FTW 308 is fantastic, was shooting 1/2" groups today with 150gr Accutips and 180gr SGKs over Varget and W748. I love that gun! :)

.270 WIN
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PostPosted: Sat Mar 16, 2013 5:06 pm
Image

I am really liking this rifle. Any load I've put together shoots well and I do not yet have my measuring tools. When they get here and I can start experimenting with OAL, I think we're in business.
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.22LR
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PostPosted: Wed Apr 10, 2013 4:31 am
Kachok wrote:I like the Roberts other old time sissy kickers, but why oh why did Winchester chamber it as a long action? 2.780" max length is noticeably shorter then a 308 or WSM (2.860") What I am really hoping for is the return of the King, the pre 64 Model 70 the Featherweight in 6.5x55, everyone I have ever known that owns one swears it is their favorite rifle, never found anyone that would part with theirs even for stupid money.They have already done a run of 257 Roberts and 7x57 the Sweed is an obvious choice for their classic gun.


The long action was used by Ruger too. It's not a bad thing, as the long magazine is great for modern boat tail plastic tipped bullets. You can seat your bullets well beyond the 2.8xx" oal length of average S/A cartridges and still have reliable feed.

This allows more powder and easy seating near the lands. I have an A-Bolt short action .257 that I love, but the short magazine ain't friendly to working with many of today's designer bullets.
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.270 WIN
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 7:12 pm
I realize I'm 3-1/2 years late to this post but since I have a .257 R'bts and hand load I will make a suggestion for powder for,at least,heavy bullets. I use Hodgdon Hybrid 100 V I have found it outstanding, high velocity and excellent accuracy.
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PostPosted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 7:31 pm
Welcome back Bob!
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.270 WIN
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PostPosted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 11:32 am
I have the Cabela's 50th Anniv. .257 Roberts Supergrade and it is a lovely rifle in one of the best calibers ever produced. I knew Jack O'Connor and he considered the .257 Roberts to be one of the best practical calibers in the world. He also though the round was heading for extinction. I think Winchester Model 70s did a great thing by bringing this valuable round back to life. I own a number of .243s but my one .257 Roberts is a better all around cartridge. If I were to pick one round personally I would take the .257 Roberts over even the .270 Winchester.

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