257 Roberts varmint rifle

[Critch]

I'm getting a wild hair to build a 257 Roberts varmint rifle,,I have a Savage 10fp in 308, I was thinking a stainless, fluted barrel, 24 inches long, but what twist for the lighter 25 caliber bullets, such as the 70-80 grainers?

The reason I'm choosing the savage is that I can change the barrel myself, I have the tools and guages...

This is probably a dumb idea...but oh well.

I could use my Sauer and Sohn Mauser action, that wouldn't cost too much either.

[Catfish]

The 1/4 bore is is a better all around cal. than people give it credit for being. I would recomand that you consider makeing it an AI. According to the manuals it will give you a hair more velosity with alittle less powder than a .25-06 with lite bullets. Basically it`s the same but uses alittle less powder. The 87 gn. Serrias was my bullet of choice with my .257 AI. I liked the extra BC over the 75 HP`s. Out past 200 yrds. the 87`s did not blow them appart like the 75 but they stilled killed them just as dead.
I agree with you about useing the Savage action also. I just built a .22-6mm on a Savage action you the reasons you stated.

[Lone Star]

Just to set the record straight, Sierra, Nosler and Hornady all show the .257AI behind the .25-06 with most all bullet weights, equal to a couple. That does not detract from the AI appeal, it is a fine cartridge. However, in the 10P I believe that the bullets will need to be seated pretty deep to feed through the action (more of a concern with game bullets). A better choice might be the .250 Savage AI. This gives performance near the .257AI using even less powder, and it works better in a short action.

At the end of the day there is nothing wrong with the standard .257 Roberts in the short Savage for varmints. It is a classic cartridge that loaded to modern pressures is a very fine varmint cartridge. Few shooters will ever notice the minor velocity loss versus the AI version...except those who shoot more on the keyboard than in the field.

.

[Catfish]

Lone Star,
I usually use the Sierra manual when I load because I load more Sierra bullets than any other brand, and you are correct, I should have said the same velosities with liter bullets. With the 87 gn. bullets I normaly shoot the Serria manual list 7 different powders that will push it to 3,500 fps. In the .25-06 it only list 2 powders that will push it to 3,500 fps. With 100 gn. bullets all of the 8 powders listed will push them to 3,200 fps., and .25-06 of the 14 powders listed only 6 of them will get to 3,200 fps., but with 4 of those you can get 3,300 fps. To tell the truth 1 in. of barrel will make almost as much difference in velosity as cal. choice. In any case we are talking abt. a max. difference of 5 yrds. in max. point blank range with a varmint rifle. As you said that`s darned hard to find in the field.

[Nulle]

I got a 257 Roberts many years ago and still use it on deer and yotes. Most accurate gun I have and it was converted from some kind of military Jap rifle. The only thing I have against it is the weight as it is heavy.

[Rapier]

Critch,
Here is a site that lists the bullet weights and twist rates. I have a couple of the Shilen barrels, they are fine barrels.

http://www.shilen.com/calibersAndTwists.html
Ed

[Evan03]

I wouldnt think a 1/9 twist would hurt. you cannot over stabalize a bullet. most 25s come with 1/10 twist. now that i say this im not sure.

im been varmiting and deer hunting with a 2506 for around 8 years now. the rifle shoots very well .


i did check some other sites and the standerd twist is 1/10 i think this twist is ideal in bullets up to 120s with a few exsceptions tripple shocks and most all plastic tipped bullets over 100grs. these long high bc bullets seem to be under constant evolution and are gettn longer as the years go buy


so givn this and what iv exsperince i think id run a 1/9 twist in the 257 roberts improved or not this should flinh light varmit pills into little groups aswell as long wind defiying bigame bullets.

[Catfish]

Evan,
My .257 AI is a 14 twist and it still groups the 117 gn. bullets pretty well. I loaned it to a friend to hunt antalope with so I worked up a load with the 117 gn. Sierra bullets. After all the work I went to he only fired it once, took a nice one at 450 yrds.