I have someone wanting to trade me a custom mauser 257 Bob and I don't know much about them. I already have a 257 Roy, so it might make sense to have 2 rifles that can use the same bullet. What is the good/bad about them?

It's a touch slower than a 25-06 , it is a 7x57 necked down to .257".

The 257R is just about the perfect deer rifle for Texas, IMO, if you are a handloader. If you don't handload, ammunition is pretty limited.

A mouser .257 Bob would be pretty sweet to have , but if you have .257 Roy you probably wouldn't need the Bob....unless your a gun junkie..lol

I ran a USRAC push feed 1st edition Winchester M70 Fwt 257 Rbts I bought from my distributor in 1978 or '79 out of our 1st delivery of 5 cases - 25 guns total in 5 calibers was our annual allocation - in Fwt's for about 10 years off and on out of the 20 years I owned it, along with several other rifles. At the time I did not shoot it much and did not load for it like I did for my other guns. It was super picky with ammo and liked only 1 factory load that was soon discontinued in a 100gr WW White Box Silvertip SP...ie an aluminum covered lead SP, and +P's were not out yet. It shot THAT load sub moa all day any day every time I pulled the gritty long bumpy trigger.

In answer to your question as it relates to the Mauser custom 'Bob, the caliber is a low volume seller and factory ammo will be tough to find except for the one time a year production run. IE you will want to reload for it to get the maximum performance available BIG TIME. Bullet wise it uses the same bullets as a 25'06/257Wby and may have issues at the lower MV's at even the +P 'Bob loads are today at past 300 yards. Reloaded correctly the Rbt's is Elk capable with very well placed shots.

I like the caliber, had good success with it under 300 yards on WTails, but it almost got me killed in a briar patch by a wounded hog with the soft bullets not penetrating, and I needed the caliber during a neck disc rehab 3 year cycle in the early '90's when I could not tolerate shooting even a 270.

Dunno what the Chamber pressures are on +P ammo but the original design calls for around 42-45,000CUP ( 52-54,000 lbs PSI???) as I remember...FYI 270's operate at about 10,000CUP higher ranges or in PSI terms about 61,000lbs PSI. Higher chamber pressures extrapolate directly to recoil, subject to all the other usual mitigating factors of bullet weight, gun weight yadda yadda.

With the advent of todays better bullets I'd probably shoot 110gr Nosler AccuBonds or a Federal Fusion's in factory ammo.

FWIW I did kill a Pronghorn at 444 yards in Wyoming in 1981 with the old slow non +P ammo with a one shot kill, who's horns are above me as I write this. Not quite offhand but close leaning against the fender of a Bronco...and no lazers rangefinders in 1981 except the standard pair of Mark I's God gave me.

Bottom line...IMO the Rbt's is a better choice than a 243 in bullet selection with the same recoil, just not as fast as 25'06 & about 85-90% of the game killing efficiency of a 120gr-130gr 260, 25'06, 270, 7-08, 280, 308 & 30'06. Have a gunsmith double check the chamber on any Custom barreled shooter by doing a "chamber casting" and that the gun is safe to shoot. JMHO & YMMV
Ron

Great starter gun for kids or the wife, have had one for 15 years and it is a pleasure to shoot deer with.

I have the Ruger M77 Ultralite in 257 Rob. It shoots great, I've shot Remington, Federal and Hornady factory ammo out of it. It'll shoot the Remington stuff under an inch at 100 yards and that is the ammo I have the easiest time finding. I haven't tried reloading for it yet since I have a couple hundred rounds of factory ammo. The recoil is very light and it'll drop anything around here and you have a good choice of bullet types and weight for reloading which is where the 257 really shines from what I've researched.

Very manageable round and will be more than adequate for Texas whitetail. Factory ammo is easy to find, but mostly in the 117 grain load. Midway occasionally will run Hornady Custom loads in 100 grains. Picture below is my 257 Roberts. Will not shoot 117 grain bullets but loves 100 grain ones. It's the one on the left.

Them's purdy!

Yes they both are. I really like the stock on your Roberts, TX_LT230FH.

I have a 257ai which is a bob with steeper shoulders. I sold by 257wby after shooting the 257 ai.

I have a .257 wby, .257 Roberts, .250 savage and love em all.

Thanks. Both of the stocks are English walnut, completely worked from blanks by a friend of mine. The one on the right is a 358 Winchester.

Exceptionally nice looking rifles, and always a pleasure to see obvious craftsmanship. I'd bet that they shoot as well as they look!

Is the Roberts a Commercial Mauser or a milsurp with the thumb cutout? The 358 looks like an '03 Springfield?
Ron

I was wondering the same. The Roberts looks like it has a Model 70-style safety, which I think is a very nice upgrade to the 98 actions. But I really can't tell from the photo. I'd like to see more photos of both of these rifles!

nice

Roberts is a 98 milsurp with a m70 safety and Timney trigger. The 358 is an 03. I'll take some more pics. The same guy that built these two finished up a nice 243 98 Mauser with the first maple stock I've ever had built. I'll snap some of it, too...