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I picked up a 25 calibre Douglas barrel blank yesterday and wondered what to make it into. I have the Interarms in .243 as a donor action as nobody fancies it, for some reason (nice gun).
Does anybody have or has had a .257 Roberts as I would like some info about them.
It seems to be a perfect stalking round to me! Much more desirable than a 25-06.

dodgyrog wrote: It seems to be a perfect stalking round to me! Much more desirable than a 25-06.

Actually the exact opposite. Whilst it is practically the same balistically as the 25-06, it can be hell to find a 'sweet' load that will group consistently. It's just one of those 'quirks' of the calibre.

I'm not detracting from it, just warning that you'll spend alot of time in load development and absolutely hate your supplier when he changes brands or can no longer offer your chosen bullet/primer/powder.

Very few manufacturers offer rifles in the calibre so anything 2nd hand will be either a re-barrelled rifle or something really old - decades old. Mine's was a re-barreled Sako.

Lastly, the calibre lacks the velocity of some of its rivals so is best considered a woodland or limited range rifle - (250-300yds max).

Stick to quality brass and buy in bulk when you can get it at a fair price. I've since moved on to a 25-06.

If it was mine I'd go for 303/25.

A short article on the 257 Roberts

http://www.chuckhawks.com/257Rob.htm

Sandgroper wrote:If it was mine I'd go for 303/25.

A short article on the 257 Roberts

http://www.chuckhawks.com/257Rob.htm

I can get a set of chamber reamers for the Roberts for around £70 - I wonder where one would even get a .303/25 set?

I can see the attraction with the 'Roberts at that price.

http://www.pacifictoolandgauge.com/ has 303/25 reamers. I know I can get case forming dies and reloading dies from Australia - I could probably get reamers there as well - All are on my shopping for my next trip back. Hopefully next year.

As to the UK your guess is as good as mine, which is one of the reasons I have never pursued it. Now that I have a slot for a 303 it's rearing it's head again and I think I may just have to go for it. :lol:

It's not a bad calibre, it's just that there are similar sized calibres that are more capable.
The yanks seem to prefer it to the 243win (according to Rifle Shooter Magazine)
http://www.rifleshootermag.com/2011/08/ ... you-owned/

Do let us see the result if you choose to go for it. it would be a boring world if we all made the same choices.