Remington 700 Classic in .257 Roberts

Chaparral · September 21, 2018, 08:17 PM

So excited to have acquired a new gun in the collection in a Remington 700 Classic .257 Roberts. Picked it up today in mint condition. Looks brand new. Never owned a .257 Roberts and I'm looking forward to doing some reloading for it. Should do dandy on these Texas Whitetail and hogs.

ReloadKy · September 21, 2018, 08:32 PM

Congrats!! Let us know how it shoots and what you load in it!

gw44 · September 21, 2018, 08:35 PM

I have a pre-64 ( 1952 ) model 70 257 Roberts, you will be over joyed when you shoot it, you have a great gun in a great caliber !!

Tallest · September 21, 2018, 08:45 PM

I am envious! I have yet to own a 257 Roberts (I missed an opportunity on a ‘76 Ruger M77 at my LGS, still kicking myself!) But it’s on my top 5 calibers to acquire list! Congratulations!

flashhole · September 22, 2018, 07:17 AM

Congrats. My 25 is a 25-06. Not too far removed from your Bob.

Where in TX do you hunt?

hammie · September 22, 2018, 08:59 AM

@Chaparral: Lucky you! I've always thought that the .257 Roberts was one of the best cartridges for north American hunting. I have two "bobs" and a couple of .243 win, but I'm fonder of the 25's. My dad made the subtle distinction this way: The 6mm's are varmint rifles that can be used for deer, and the .25's are deer rifles that can be used for varmints.

I'm glad you plan to handload, because the .257 needs that due to the under loaded factory rounds and the limited bullet selection. My Ruger 1-B with a 26 inch barrel and +P loads approaches .25-'06 velocities. If I remember correctly the Remington 700 classics had 24 inch barrels and that should help you a little with muzzle velocities.

Oh...and for a bit of meaningless trivia, your rifle is not chambered for the .257 Roberts, but instead it's chambered for the .257 Remington Roberts. Ned Roberts' original cartridge differed slightly from the commercialized version

Art Eatman · September 22, 2018, 09:20 AM

hammie, it's the same for Jerry Gebhart's 1930s Varminter and the Remington .22-250.

flashhole · September 22, 2018, 09:24 AM

Interesting bit of trivia. Are the dies interchangable?

hammie · September 22, 2018, 09:50 AM

@flash-hole: I don't think the dies would be interchangeable. If I recall correctly, the original Roberts version had a different shoulder angle. This difference would only apply to the rifles from Ned Roberts or those from Griffin & Howe in the 1930's. I've never even seen pictures of those rifles, and so I think the chance of running into one are pretty small.

Chaparral · September 22, 2018, 03:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by flashhole

Congrats. My 25 is a 25-06. Not too far removed from your Bob.

Where in TX do you hunt?

NW Texas & Edwards Plateau region. I usually hunt Whitetail and hogs. And I actually shot a free range Aoudad that was very close to the state record near the Palo Duro Canyon region. I have seen Aoudad numerous times. But I call in coyotes and bobcats too. And I have seen Pronghorn numerous times but have never hunted them. My go-to rifle has always been my Remington Sendero in 25-06. It is one of the first Senderos. That rifle loves to go hunting!

Chaparral · September 22, 2018, 03:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammie

@Chaparral: Lucky you! I've always thought that the .257 Roberts was one of the best cartridges for north American hunting. I have two "bobs" and a couple of .243 win, but I'm fonder of the 25's. My dad made the subtle distinction this way: The 6mm's are varmint rifles that can be used for deer, and the .25's are deer rifles that can be used for varmints.

I'm glad you plan to handload, because the .257 needs that due to the under loaded factory rounds and the limited bullet selection. My Ruger 1-B with a 26 inch barrel and +P loads approaches .25-'06 velocities. If I remember correctly the Remington 700 classics had 24 inch barrels and that should help you a little with muzzle velocities.

Oh...and for a bit of meaningless trivia, your rifle is not chambered for the .257 Roberts, but instead it's chambered for the .257 Remington Roberts. Ned Roberts' original cartridge differed slightly from the commercialized version

Thank you Hammie. Neat information.

Chaparral · September 22, 2018, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tallest

I am envious! I have yet to own a 257 Roberts (I missed an opportunity on a ‘76 Ruger M77 at my LGS, still kicking myself!) But it’s on my top 5 calibers to acquire list! Congratulations!

thanks man

Chaparral · September 22, 2018, 03:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gw44

I have a pre-64 ( 1952 ) model 70 257 Roberts, you will be over joyed when you shoot it, you have a great gun in a great caliber !!

Thanks, can't wait to shoot it. I went to a gun store and purchased a box of Hornady Superperfomance 117 gr SST & an old box of Western I think it's called in I want to say 87 gr maybe. We are being pounded by thunderstorms three day straight. Can't wait to get to the range. I ordered my dies and some brass.

Chaparral · September 22, 2018, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ReloadKy

Congrats!! Let us know how it shoots and what you load in it!

Will do!

std7mag · September 22, 2018, 03:29 PM

Congrats on the new addition!
I'm shooting a Ruger M77 MKII in Uncle Bob.
I got 7X57 Mauser brass and necked it down. Cheap and easy to find.
I'm shooting 90 gr BlitzKings, 100,115 gr Ballistic Tips, and 115gr Berger VLD Hunting out of mine.
Wish the rifle was a little lighter, but sweet shooter out to 500 yards so far.

Yes, do yourself the favor and load to +P pressures. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V works great with 100-115gr pills.

gw44 · September 22, 2018, 07:46 PM

my 257 Roberts really likes the Hornady 117gr SST 4350 powder !!

Mobuck · September 22, 2018, 08:44 PM

My .257 R isn't "pretty" but it's pretty handy. A "do-over" 98 Mauser that I acquired with a mis-cut 270 chamber and had re-barreled with an A&B 20" light weight carbine tube. It shoots 100 grain Sierra BTSP quite well and has put a bunch of deer in the freezer. It was my "meat deer" rifle for about a decade when I was feeding an extended family with venison.
My suggestion is don't try to make the little 257 R a 25/06. It will do a good job w/o hot rodding and will be more fun to shoot.

J.G. Terry · September 23, 2018, 06:29 AM

At the time a rep from Hercules spoke to Ned about slope of the shoulder having to do with improved powder performance. When Remington standardized the caliber the shoulder angle deal was dropped. The shoulder angle is the same as 7mm Mauser. Remington was responsible for loading the cartridge down. The weak action theory is not correct. My Number One B does extremely well with 4350 and bullets one hundred grains and up. After shooting and loading for a Roberts some of these newer cartridges don't look so good. Hold onto that 700-as is. More than one pre-64 Model 70 was rechambered to 25-06. Not a wise thing to do in retrospect.

Opinion: Load Roberts as a Roberts. Don't chase 25-06.

Chaparral · September 23, 2018, 02:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gw44

my 257 Roberts really likes the Hornady 117gr SST 4350 powder !!

I have seen this recipe a lot! I will try it.

taylorce1 · September 23, 2018, 08:15 PM

I like the Remington Classics, my daughter hunts with one in .300 Savage on a regular basis. I'd love to find one in .250 Savage, but a Bob would be nice as well. Enjoy the rifle, from my limited experience it'll serve you well.

eastbank · September 25, 2018, 05:44 AM

my bobs are Remington 722,s, one a very early one and the other a very late one. both like 100gr and 117 gr bullets.

30Cal · September 26, 2018, 05:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hammie

@flash-hole: I don't think the dies would be interchangeable. If I recall correctly, the original Roberts version had a different shoulder angle. This difference would only apply to the rifles from Ned Roberts or those from Griffin & Howe in the 1930's. I've never even seen pictures of those rifles, and so I think the chance of running into one are pretty small.

Huh? The 722s were 257 Roberts. Why would a 700 (the newer version of that rifle) be chambered for the superseded chambering?

I think 257 Remington Roberts and 257 Roberts are the same thing.

The thing Roberts originally did was different but was a custom rifle wildcat thing prior to Remington picking it up.

We’ve had great results with that Hornady 117 SST factory load.

agtr05 · September 26, 2018, 08:31 PM

I had the 700 Classic for years. My son has it now along with several nice shotguns and dozens of hand tools. I mounted a Leupold fixed 6 power heavy reticle FX6 scope. My load of 100 grain Sierra Pro Hunter bullet and a near max charge of IMR4350 has accounted for many deer and hogs It has also bagged a turkey with a 100 grain Nosler Partition. That was a little overkill.

Safaripolice · September 28, 2018, 10:02 PM

I love my quarter bores!!! Underestimated ammo!

Safaripolice · September 28, 2018, 10:03 PM

And under appreciated

September 21, 2018, 08:17 PM	#1
Chaparral Senior Member Join Date: January 14, 2018 Posts: 264	Remington 700 Classic in .257 Roberts So excited to have acquired a new gun in the collection in a Remington 700 Classic .257 Roberts. Picked it up today in mint condition. Looks brand new. Never owned a .257 Roberts and I'm looking forward to doing some reloading for it. Should do dandy on these Texas Whitetail and hogs.

September 22, 2018, 07:17 AM	#5
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	Congrats. My 25 is a 25-06. Not too far removed from your Bob. Where in TX do you hunt? __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

September 22, 2018, 09:24 AM	#8
flashhole Senior Member Join Date: February 9, 2005 Location: Owego, NY Posts: 2,000	Interesting bit of trivia. Are the dies interchangable? __________________ ,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals. Are you ready for civil war?

September 22, 2018, 03:29 PM	#15
std7mag Senior Member Join Date: June 23, 2013 Location: Central Taxylvania.. Posts: 3,609	Congrats on the new addition! I'm shooting a Ruger M77 MKII in Uncle Bob. I got 7X57 Mauser brass and necked it down. Cheap and easy to find. I'm shooting 90 gr BlitzKings, 100,115 gr Ballistic Tips, and 115gr Berger VLD Hunting out of mine. Wish the rifle was a little lighter, but sweet shooter out to 500 yards so far. Yes, do yourself the favor and load to +P pressures. Hodgdon Hybrid 100V works great with 100-115gr pills. __________________ When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!! "Januarary 6th insurrection". Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...

September 23, 2018, 06:29 AM	#18
J.G. Terry Senior Member Join Date: January 24, 2014 Posts: 577	257 Roberts-a classic At the time a rep from Hercules spoke to Ned about slope of the shoulder having to do with improved powder performance. When Remington standardized the caliber the shoulder angle deal was dropped. The shoulder angle is the same as 7mm Mauser. Remington was responsible for loading the cartridge down. The weak action theory is not correct. My Number One B does extremely well with 4350 and bullets one hundred grains and up. After shooting and loading for a Roberts some of these newer cartridges don't look so good. Hold onto that 700-as is. More than one pre-64 Model 70 was rechambered to 25-06. Not a wise thing to do in retrospect. Opinion: Load Roberts as a Roberts. Don't chase 25-06. __________________ Intentionally Antagonizing Another MemberInsults and Ad Hominems Last edited by J.G. Terry; September 23, 2018 at 06:37 AM. Reason: SOS

September 21, 2018, 08:32 PM	#2
ReloadKy Senior Member Join Date: February 23, 2018 Posts: 191	Congrats!! Let us know how it shoots and what you load in it!

September 21, 2018, 08:35 PM	#3
gw44 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 311	I have a pre-64 ( 1952 ) model 70 257 Roberts, you will be over joyed when you shoot it, you have a great gun in a great caliber !!

September 21, 2018, 08:45 PM	#4
Tallest Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2016 Location: West of the Atlantic Posts: 418	I am envious! I have yet to own a 257 Roberts (I missed an opportunity on a ‘76 Ruger M77 at my LGS, still kicking myself!) But it’s on my top 5 calibers to acquire list! Congratulations!

September 22, 2018, 08:59 AM	#6
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 959	@Chaparral: Lucky you! I've always thought that the .257 Roberts was one of the best cartridges for north American hunting. I have two "bobs" and a couple of .243 win, but I'm fonder of the 25's. My dad made the subtle distinction this way: The 6mm's are varmint rifles that can be used for deer, and the .25's are deer rifles that can be used for varmints. I'm glad you plan to handload, because the .257 needs that due to the under loaded factory rounds and the limited bullet selection. My Ruger 1-B with a 26 inch barrel and +P loads approaches .25-'06 velocities. If I remember correctly the Remington 700 classics had 24 inch barrels and that should help you a little with muzzle velocities. Oh...and for a bit of meaningless trivia, your rifle is not chambered for the .257 Roberts, but instead it's chambered for the .257 Remington Roberts. Ned Roberts' original cartridge differed slightly from the commercialized version

September 22, 2018, 09:20 AM	#7
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	hammie, it's the same for Jerry Gebhart's 1930s Varminter and the Remington .22-250.

September 22, 2018, 09:50 AM	#9
hammie Senior Member Join Date: March 18, 2009 Location: Temple, TX Posts: 959	@flash-hole: I don't think the dies would be interchangeable. If I recall correctly, the original Roberts version had a different shoulder angle. This difference would only apply to the rifles from Ned Roberts or those from Griffin & Howe in the 1930's. I've never even seen pictures of those rifles, and so I think the chance of running into one are pretty small.

September 22, 2018, 07:46 PM	#16
gw44 Senior Member Join Date: March 15, 2015 Location: Michigan Posts: 311	my 257 Roberts really likes the Hornady 117gr SST 4350 powder !!

September 22, 2018, 08:44 PM	#17
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	My .257 R isn't "pretty" but it's pretty handy. A "do-over" 98 Mauser that I acquired with a mis-cut 270 chamber and had re-barreled with an A&B 20" light weight carbine tube. It shoots 100 grain Sierra BTSP quite well and has put a bunch of deer in the freezer. It was my "meat deer" rifle for about a decade when I was feeding an extended family with venison. My suggestion is don't try to make the little 257 R a 25/06. It will do a good job w/o hot rodding and will be more fun to shoot.

September 23, 2018, 08:15 PM	#20
taylorce1 Senior Member Join Date: November 18, 2005 Location: On the Santa Fe Trail Posts: 8,249	I like the Remington Classics, my daughter hunts with one in .300 Savage on a regular basis. I'd love to find one in .250 Savage, but a Bob would be nice as well. Enjoy the rifle, from my limited experience it'll serve you well. __________________ NRA Life Member

September 25, 2018, 05:44 AM	#21
eastbank Senior Member Join Date: February 7, 2008 Location: pa. Posts: 2,450	my bobs are Remington 722,s, one a very early one and the other a very late one. both like 100gr and 117 gr bullets.

September 26, 2018, 08:31 PM	#23
agtr05 Junior Member Join Date: October 22, 2006 Location: Austin TX Posts: 3	I had the 700 Classic for years. My son has it now along with several nice shotguns and dozens of hand tools. I mounted a Leupold fixed 6 power heavy reticle FX6 scope. My load of 100 grain Sierra Pro Hunter bullet and a near max charge of IMR4350 has accounted for many deer and hogs It has also bagged a turkey with a 100 grain Nosler Partition. That was a little overkill.

September 28, 2018, 10:02 PM	#24
Safaripolice Member Join Date: December 25, 2017 Posts: 39	I love my quarter bores!!! Underestimated ammo!

September 28, 2018, 10:03 PM	#25
Safaripolice Member Join Date: December 25, 2017 Posts: 39	And under appreciated