I'm trying to buy one of these and Ive never shot one. What do you guys think about the caliber?

Good little round just a little slower than 25-06. Only downside may be trying to get factory ammo locally unless you reload than it doesn't matter.

I believe it is the 7x57 Mauser case necked down to 257 caliber. 100gr bullet right at 3000fps,which is the exact same as a 243 and is a very proven combo for killing deer and hogs no problem. The 257R is possibly a little better than the 243 in that it can use heavier bullets up to 120gr, but I don't know that it will necessarily kill something that a 243 won't. Classic cartridge with a huge following. You'll like it except for having to order ammo. Definitely a reloader's cartridge.

Because of the ammunition issue and that the chambering isn't seen as often, now. I suggest looking into the 6.5 Creedmore. You're going from a .257" to a .264" bullet. They shoot great, the chambering is available in many rifles, and ammunition is available from Hornady. I'm not bashing the .257, just throwing out an option that may be close to it for your purposes.

Great round, but I prefer .25-06.

Great little round. You will find basically 2 different factory power level loads for it. The standard loading and +P loads. There were a lot of older mausers rebarreled to the 257 Bob and in respect to those old guns the pressures are kept lower than necessary in modern firearms. The case is the same as the 7X57 necked down for a bullet of .257 diameter. I think it is a little better on deer size game than the 243 with very simular recoil. Perhaps less with the standard loading. Part of its reputation for being deadly could be that most that shoot it do so well with the low recoil. I do know one man that has taken over 10 elk with his but then again he hunts them every year and has the time to pick his shots.

I had one for several years and used it for hogs, whitetail, Fallow and black buck. Using reloads with 100gr partition reloads it accounted for one shot kills on everything I ever shot at with that rifle but then again the longest shot I took with it was about 160 yards.

It was a round that I had been wanting to mess with for many years. I was lucky enough to acquire a model 700 long action version from one of the members here on THF and in the short time that I have owned it I can say that it has been an absolute joy to shoot. I have been able to find some +p ammo for it at a couple of shops and I have started cooking up a hand load that has been quite impressive. I do have 243's and a 6mm and I know the 257bob isn't much more of a round than those two. But it is a great shooter so far and if your looking for a nostalgic round that can produce some impressive results using modern loads I can highly recommend it.

I love mine. I want to have a Browning BLR in it one day.

I have one in an old Remington 722 that my son has now claimed. Taken several whitetail and a few hogs. Great round with lite recoil. Remington, Hornady and I believe Federal all make rounds for it. The Federal is a 120 grain PSP and the other 2 are 117 grain. Remington is a round nose sp and Hornady is an interlock BTSP. Hornady also offers the 117 in a ballistic tip SST. Mine likes the Hornady 117 interlock BTSP at just under 2800 fps and groups them up pretty good. I have seen an old Remington 760 (pump) chambered in .257 Roberts that would be a nice addition to my collection.

Well, I lost the auction on it so never mind but thanks.

I bought a Ruger 77 MkII in .257 for my son when he was first beginning to carry a rifle with me on deer hunts at about age 13. It was very low recoil and also very accurate with the Hornady "mini mags" (+P) ammo. Excellent results. I've suggested that we trade up to a heavier caliber now that my son is nearly 30 and he won't allow it. He's never missed and we've only had to track one deer taken with that gun. As with any gun/caliber combination, you have to make a good shot. Ammo isn't always available, but I stock up and keep it on hand when I find what I need, so it's not a problem. I purchased a box of really old Winchester Silver Tips (the old original) in 100 gr., expecting it to be very light recoil and a deadly rapid expanding bullet. I'm saving that setup for my new grandson! He'll be ready to try it out in about 10 years!!!!! I recommend the .257 Roberts.

Re 257 Rbt's

I hunted a 1979 USRAC Rbt's PF M70 Fwt for lots of years in the '80's & early '90's. The White Box WW 100gr ST's referred to by DRR took the pronhorn on the wall above my head out at 440 yards in Oct 1981 that was way past it's intended range with my 2x7 Leo FCH Plex scope with a a one shot kill, and was accurate enough to win me lots of Bux shooting thumbtacks for cash at the old Winchester Range off Lune Rd in Dallas. Way mo bettah boolitz today helps the Rbt's bigtime from what was available back then in the pre +P days. I used mine to over come my physical limitations from chronic spinal disc issues in my neck that even my 270 would aggravate.

As recently as '06 after another round of disc and other non related surgical reconstruction issues on my neck, I used the same "low recoil" approach again but with a Tikka T3 Hunter Grade 6.5x55 Swede to achieve the same results and left the NIB T3 Lite 270 I'd already bought in the box for over 3 years, until after the multiple surgeries in '06 & early '07 and 18 month PT rehab was resolved...after my therapist had told to accept becoming a life long cripple and unable to hold & use a toothbrush with my right hand...NOTTT ME!

The 42-45K CUP chamber pressures that provide the low recoils levels mentioned in the Roberts, along with 6.5x55 SE and 7x57 Mauser that were built on the "tweener" length Long Actions like the '94 & '96 Mausers don't get the respect they deserve IMO as dependable 3-400 yard game getter's.

The advent of the Winchester 243 in the mid '50's and it's Post Korean War publicity campaign from the Gun Writer Shills and Winchester as a 1 gun Solution for everything from PDogs to Mule Deer/Black Bear is what killed the sales of the Roberts...but with todays better powders, bullets and scopes I do not feel the least bit undergunned in the most recent update of the Venerable 1894 designed Swede of a 260Rem with high quality bullets and MV's that almost equal a 270 in bullet weights but again without the same recoil levels ...and I really do have a 1 gun solution now to include Elk & Moose.
Cheers Ya'll
Ron

Jack O'Connor loved it. I've always wanted one. It's kind of a slightly pumped up .243...but way cooler

I own a Browning A-bolt. I don't think anyone would want to pay what it would take to buy it. It' has to be the best shooting gun I have ever owned. Killed a turkey at 332 yards with it and several at 150-180 yards. My cousin asked me how I can shoot them that far and never mess up any meat----I told him "Bullet placement". LOL What I read was the .257 didn't become any more popular because the .243 came out and it was a little faster.