250 sav or 257 robt

[nekshot]

We have a nice 95 mauser action here and we are kicking around what to do with it. If you would choose between these 2 cartriges which one and why. The cheaper way would be a midway barrel in 257r, but something about the 250 sav I like and I don't know why. Never had either of them.

[seaboltm]

I have both. I would do the 257 Roberts. the intermediate action is the perfect length for the 257 and in truth the 257 does about 15% more velocity than the 250, according to my chrony. In a short action, go 250 Savage. Like I said, it is a shame to waste an intermediate length action on a short cartridge.

[Dan Cash]

Either cartridge will be a good one for your project unless you are seeking a short .25-06. To me the important thing would be to choose a proper twist for the barrel. I have a 99 in .250 that is really deadly with bullets up[ to 100 grains. Put a 120 grain bullet in the cartridge and it goes off to Never Never land. The twist is 1:14 I think. A 117 grain Hornady shoots well and is serious medicine on deer out to 175 yards or so but after that it kind of wanders off the beaten path. 100 grain bullets do OK to 300 which is a bit beyond the energy capacity of the .250-3000 and there is where the .257 or even the .257 Improved would stand you in good stead.
If I could have a 99 Savage in .257, I woul.

[Larry Gibson]

The 257 Roberts makes better use of the action; magazine length and it has the correct case body taper (parent cartridge is the 7x57) that the M95 action is made for and it has a long case neck so it is better suited for many cast bullets. Thus feeding will be reliable with no alterations needed. On the other hand the 250 Savage has the same case taper so.........take your choice.......

If I was not going to use any jacketed bullet heavier than a 100 gr I would look closely at a 14" twist barrel for either; much better suited to cast bullets.

Larry Gibson

[Artful]

I'd vote 257 - if it was a shorter action then the 250 which was developed for the short action length of the 1895/99 Savage rifle.

[nekshot]

in hindsight the 257r makes sence for the action. I have a 25-06 that takes care of the need for speed, but we have few guns for the likes of grandchildren and such. I want this one to be as simple and care free as possible. Ok roberts it is!

[GabbyM]

Everything Larry said.
Plus brass will always be easier to come by in 257 Roberts. Since it's a necked down 7mm Mauser. I'd set it up with a 14 twist so cast boolits will work great. If you want heavier bullets go with the 7mm Mauser. That's the way I'd look at it.

FN Winchester and Ruger. Plus likely more are still selling 257 Bob's. I shot a buddy's 1950's vintage Rem 700 in 257 Bob. Great gun. He'd shot a deer in Missouri every year for 22 years with it.

[DeanWinchester]

If you're gonna cast for it, I'd go with the .250 Savage. It has a longer neck and in a pinch can be made from 22/250 brass. Making .257 brass ain't near as easy.

[C. Latch]

When I was a kid we bought an old custom '98 in .257. It shot great with varmint bullets but with typical factory loads (117, iirc) it wouldn't hit a dump truck with any reliability at 100 yards. 1-14" twist.

We rebarreled it to 25-06, a few deer were killed with it, but it's never been notable accurate, and more than once my dad and I have spoke of turning it back into a .257.

[Clay M]

Either cartridge will be a good one . To me the important thing would be to choose a proper twist for the barrel. .

This is true. I like the Roberts.If you want to shoot the heavier bullets then 1:10 is best.

[felix]

Length of action question? Well, the Shilen round-bottom 1970's BR action was built with a long magnum type bolt faced for the competitive 222 family. The idea was to allow plenty of room for cartridge insertion without taking an eye off of the target to permit "rapid firing" through that certain condition when it appeared. The action looks out of place, in general, but the idea is actually very good for any bolt single shot rig. Nothing more relaxing than driving a V8 living room couch down the road once the idea takes hold. In other words, don't let action length interfere with decisions unless magazine support is actually going to be important. ... felix

[GabbyM]

If you're gonna cast for it, I'd go with the .250 Savage. It has a longer neck and in a pinch can be made from 22/250 brass. Making .257 brass ain't near as easy.

Don't know where you get the idea a 250 has the longer neck.
Neck length of 250 Savage is .275". Length of 257 Bob is .321".

As for shooting deer sized game with a 1-14" twist. Speer makes the Hot Core hunting bullet in 87 and 100 grain flat base. 120 grain for the 25-06. Sierra and Nosler both make hunting bullets 100 grains and under. For a dedicated deer hunter the 1-10" twist and 120 grain bullet would be better. Even a slow twist 25 is a better gun for deer than any 243/6mm. Deer end up dead either way.

[DeanWinchester]

Don't know where you get the idea a 250 has the longer neck.
Neck length of 250 Savage is .275". Length of 257 Bob is .321".

As for shooting deer sized game with a 1-14" twist. Speer makes the Hot Core hunting bullet in 87 and 100 grain flat base. 120 grain for the 25-06. Sierra and Nosler both make hunting bullets 100 grains and under. For a dedicated deer hunter the 1-10" twist and 120 grain bullet would be better. Even a slow twist 25 is a better gun for deer than any 243/6mm. Deer end up dead either way.

Ehh well, teach me to trust google for things like this. Ain't the first time I was wrong. Lol


I'd still take the savage over the Roberts just for the ease of making brass.

[Artful]

Ehh well, teach me to trust google for things like this. Ain't the first time I was wrong. Lol


I'd still take the savage over the Roberts just for the ease of making brass.

Just Neck up 244/6mm Remington brass if you can't find 257 Roberts on the shelf.

[Duckiller]

Or neck down 7x57 brass. Have a 250-3000 and a 257Roberts AI both are fine calibers. #1 son pointed out to me that I have some guns that are not in the most common calibers. He and his brother have discussed that when I pass on they will have some fairly unique to feed. I at least have dies for all centerfire guns that I have.

[Artful]

Given a choice, I find it easier to neck up as you don't have to worry about too thick necks needing to be fixed.

[atr]

257 roberts !...and set the barrel twist so it will shoot the 117 gr bullets
my remington 722 in 257 roberts has a 1:10 factory barrel and it keeps 117 gr slugs MOA...plus the 117 gr RN is super effective for deer etc.

[ratitude]

I have a hankering for a 250 Savage Improved on a Savage 10 action with a barrel setup for the heavier bullets. A 257 Bob might make more sense and be cheaper... but that doesn't scratch my itch for something just a tad bit different. I've got the brass and bullets, just need to get the rifle built...

[GabbyM]

I have a hankering for a 250 Savage Improved on a Savage 10 action with a barrel setup for the heavier bullets. A 257 Bob might make more sense and be cheaper... but that doesn't scratch my itch for something just a tad bit different. I've got the brass and bullets, just need to get the rifle built...

Savage makes there Model 14 and 16 in 250 Savage. Would be more tempting if they’d chamber it in the LWH Light Weight Hunter. Plus any of the youth and ladies models. Used to be for forty or fifty bucks Savage would build you a rifle with a non listed caliber.

Last year FN Winchester offered the Featherweight in 257 Roberts.
Year before IIRC it was the 7mm Mauser. This year , so far , I don’t see any old round offered.

[ratitude]

A light weight hunting rifle is exactly what I'm wanting mine for but I'd like it to be blued and have a somewhat fancy walnut stock.

[Newtire]

I have a .257 AI with a 26" barrel and the velocities I am getting aren't just close to advertised .25-06 speeds, between 3000 and 3100 FPS with Hornady 117's. Shoots these great as well as the little 75 grain varmint bullets. Shoots 100 and 120 grain cast at moderate velocities (1700-1800FPS)under 1" at 100 yards for 5-shot group. Missed taking home the "golden wheelweight" award at Winnemucca last year though. Got beat out by Curmudgeon's infamous "Jezebel" rifle. It's twisted 1-10" by the way.

One of our group got a 100 grain condom to stabilize in his Savage 99 and nailed an antelope at a very long (300 yard + range).

I know nothing about the .250 Savage Improved.

I made up tons of .257 AI simply by necking up 6mm/.244 Rem and a few 7mm Mauser cases and firing them in the AI chamber. Never had to inside or outside ream a single 7mm case (your mileage may vary!).

[SCHUETZENBOOMER]

Both AWESOME cartridges. I tend to favor the .257Bob AI. Launching 117gr's @ 3066fps, it drops deer like a cement statue.

[Herb in Pa]

Grice Gun Shop had a limited run of Browning Micro Medallions made up in 257 Bob with a 22" barrel. I got one and after barrel break in fired 3 rounds of Remington 117 grain factorys that you could cover with a dime @ 100 yards. I've since developed a 75 grain Vmax load with Reloader 15 that cuts cloverleafs. I wanted a walking varmint gun for those wiley PA groundhogs.

[Charley]

I've built a couple of .257s, one on a 95 action, one on a 96. The .257 on the 95 action is my favorite whitetail rifle.

[ratitude]

I have a .257 AI with a 26" barrel and the velocities I am getting aren't just close to advertised .25-06 speeds, between 3000 and 3100 FPS with Hornady 117's. Shoots these great as well as the little 75 grain varmint bullets. Shoots 100 and 120 grain cast at moderate velocities (1700-1800FPS)under 1" at 100 yards for 5-shot group.

I know nothing about the .250 Savage Improved.



I don't know that much about the 250 Savage Improved either since I don't have it yet. However, from what I have read the 250 Savage is one of the cartridges that really responds well to the "improved" case form and capacity. It should be in the 257 Bob to 257 Bob AI range, some say 25-06 territory but that's probably stretching it. I will probably choose the 28 degree shoulder in lieu of the 40 degree shoulder for better feeding. I believe I have also read that the 28 deg shoulder is closer to optimum angle desired by P.O. Ackley himself than the 40 deg which was a "marketing" driven angle. Going from memory on that and not quoting exactly.