257 Roberts- What's it worth?
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terry alexander
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257 Roberts- What's it worth?
Anybody got an idea what a 257 Roberts might be worth? It's a Remington Model 722. Appears to be in pretty good shape. What would you give for this gun? What do ya'll think a good ballpark figure would be? Thanks for any suggestions.
Terry Alexander
"What a jaw on a dawg"
"What a jaw on a dawg"
The info I have is the model 722 was manufactured from 1948-1962 and only around 118,000 of the rifles were made. It also says that the 257 was only produced in 1948. I'm not gonna put a value on it as you can tell it's probably worth a little bit of coin. As far as caliber goes it's a 25 caliber pushing 2800 fps which is an outstanding medium game cartridge. I have a 25-06 (which is basically the same thing) and have killed a lot of deer and a couple cow elk (with premium bullets). All have been one shot kills. Hope this helps.
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Mike Leonard
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This is the same rifle I killed my first deer with it was my Grandfather's gun.
My Mother was also a 257 Roberts fan and I saw her knock over a lot of big mule deer and antelope with her's and some were way out there. She could shoot it!
The 722 Remington is a model I have a good deal of expereince with having owned a dozen of the 722 and the 721 which was the long action.
The gun was rather a plain Jane workhorse, straight non figured american walnut stocks, stamped metal non detachable magazine box. The action is strong and the weakest link is the small extracter ring inside the bolt face that pulls the fired case from the chamber. This is not a claw type extracterand is not a controlled feed action similar to the mauser or model 70 winchester. If you are using reloads and don't full length resize and load them up pretty hot to where they get sticking this small metal extracter can snap off and leave you in a bind. ( Had it happen).
This is still a fine servicable weapon and most of them shot very well. To get the full benefits of the 257 Roberts catridge it is necessary to open the chamber up a little which any competant gunsmith can do, and also revamp the magazine box a bit to accomadate more length. This way you can load 115 or 120 grain bullets in the case seat them out a bit and have an elk killer with a good controlled expansion bullet. If you are shooting 100 gr. or less in it no need to bother. In fact in this day and age I seldom use the heavier bullets in the Roberts. I load a 90 Gr. Barnes X with IMR 4350 powder and a less than max load of about 3250 FPS. And I can handle anything from coyotes to elk if I choose my shots. The light recoil and inheret accuracy of the Roberts make this easier to do than with a more powerful harder recoiling rifle.
P.O.Ackey said the 257 Roberts is about as close to the mythical all around rifle for North America as a reloader could wish for. Ned Roberts the orginator of the 257 Roberts was an avid varmint hunter and long range woodchuck man, but he also wanted a gun he could carry confidently in the deer woods. the 257 Roberts does this about as well as any. When the 243 Winchester and 244 Remington AKA 6MM Remington came along they unseated the old Roberts because they were brought out in flashy new style rifles and had lot of the day's gunwriters beating the drum about them. Neither of them can match the all around versatility of the Roberts.
Many Roberts were rechambered to the 257 Roberts Ackely Improved which moves the shoulder angle out to 40 Deg. and slightly increased the powder capacity. Back when powders were not as good as they are today a significant velocity increase was noted. But today it is not really work the expense you can load you own in the standard case and be so close to the AI's velocity that really it is not worth messing with an original gun.
I would say keep the 722 and enjoy it. If you sell it you will be hard pressed to get over $300. for it unless it is in fantastic near new shape and you find a guy that just can't live without it.
Note: Kimber has just come out with their Super America Model in the Classic 257 Roberts. About $1200. but it is a beauty!
My Mother was also a 257 Roberts fan and I saw her knock over a lot of big mule deer and antelope with her's and some were way out there. She could shoot it!
The 722 Remington is a model I have a good deal of expereince with having owned a dozen of the 722 and the 721 which was the long action.
The gun was rather a plain Jane workhorse, straight non figured american walnut stocks, stamped metal non detachable magazine box. The action is strong and the weakest link is the small extracter ring inside the bolt face that pulls the fired case from the chamber. This is not a claw type extracterand is not a controlled feed action similar to the mauser or model 70 winchester. If you are using reloads and don't full length resize and load them up pretty hot to where they get sticking this small metal extracter can snap off and leave you in a bind. ( Had it happen).
This is still a fine servicable weapon and most of them shot very well. To get the full benefits of the 257 Roberts catridge it is necessary to open the chamber up a little which any competant gunsmith can do, and also revamp the magazine box a bit to accomadate more length. This way you can load 115 or 120 grain bullets in the case seat them out a bit and have an elk killer with a good controlled expansion bullet. If you are shooting 100 gr. or less in it no need to bother. In fact in this day and age I seldom use the heavier bullets in the Roberts. I load a 90 Gr. Barnes X with IMR 4350 powder and a less than max load of about 3250 FPS. And I can handle anything from coyotes to elk if I choose my shots. The light recoil and inheret accuracy of the Roberts make this easier to do than with a more powerful harder recoiling rifle.
P.O.Ackey said the 257 Roberts is about as close to the mythical all around rifle for North America as a reloader could wish for. Ned Roberts the orginator of the 257 Roberts was an avid varmint hunter and long range woodchuck man, but he also wanted a gun he could carry confidently in the deer woods. the 257 Roberts does this about as well as any. When the 243 Winchester and 244 Remington AKA 6MM Remington came along they unseated the old Roberts because they were brought out in flashy new style rifles and had lot of the day's gunwriters beating the drum about them. Neither of them can match the all around versatility of the Roberts.
Many Roberts were rechambered to the 257 Roberts Ackely Improved which moves the shoulder angle out to 40 Deg. and slightly increased the powder capacity. Back when powders were not as good as they are today a significant velocity increase was noted. But today it is not really work the expense you can load you own in the standard case and be so close to the AI's velocity that really it is not worth messing with an original gun.
I would say keep the 722 and enjoy it. If you sell it you will be hard pressed to get over $300. for it unless it is in fantastic near new shape and you find a guy that just can't live without it.
Note: Kimber has just come out with their Super America Model in the Classic 257 Roberts. About $1200. but it is a beauty!
MIKE LEONARD
Somewhere out there.............
Somewhere out there.............
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Mike Leonard
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Roy,
I sorta feel the same way about the 264 Win Mag. You need a 26"barrel on it get all that dang powder burned behind that little 6.5 bullet and then they are as long as a well rope and not too handy. The old 270 stoked with a good hot load of H-4831 and a 130 Gr. Barnes Triple Shock bullet will do all the 264 will do and maybe a little more if you go up in bullet weight. The minute difference in trajectory in actual hunting conditions doesn't amount to a hill of bean. The hearbeat of a man that is charged up will pull it off more than the little difference in bullet flight.
Sorta like old Jack OConner the king of the 270 said. Beware of the man that shows up in camp with a beat up 270 or 30-06 which he carries around all year and shoots jack rabbits, prairie dogs and coyotes with cus he is going to shoot rings around that man with that shiney new Weatherby that doesn't have a ding on it.
I sorta feel the same way about the 264 Win Mag. You need a 26"barrel on it get all that dang powder burned behind that little 6.5 bullet and then they are as long as a well rope and not too handy. The old 270 stoked with a good hot load of H-4831 and a 130 Gr. Barnes Triple Shock bullet will do all the 264 will do and maybe a little more if you go up in bullet weight. The minute difference in trajectory in actual hunting conditions doesn't amount to a hill of bean. The hearbeat of a man that is charged up will pull it off more than the little difference in bullet flight.
Sorta like old Jack OConner the king of the 270 said. Beware of the man that shows up in camp with a beat up 270 or 30-06 which he carries around all year and shoots jack rabbits, prairie dogs and coyotes with cus he is going to shoot rings around that man with that shiney new Weatherby that doesn't have a ding on it.
MIKE LEONARD
Somewhere out there.............
Somewhere out there.............
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Roy Auwen
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10-4 Mike,never wounded an elk with the 270,killed them all.
The 264 mag 140gr. shot two differant bull and had to chase them both a fair distance,and finish them with follow up shots.
Sold the 264 and bought 7mm rem mag,in 1979 and still use it,love it.
Killed everything from rock chucks to moose, everything in between.
The 264 mag 140gr. shot two differant bull and had to chase them both a fair distance,and finish them with follow up shots.
Sold the 264 and bought 7mm rem mag,in 1979 and still use it,love it.
Killed everything from rock chucks to moose, everything in between.
Roy Auwen
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terry alexander
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Thanks for the info. everybody. I'm not selling the gun. I was thinking about buying one. Guy wants for 500.00 for it. I thought it would be a good deer rifle for my nephew to hunt with. Pretty lightweight,less recoil etc. Nephew is ten years old and I told him I would try and get him a deer this year. It will be his first one. Thanks again.
Terry Alexander
"What a jaw on a dawg"
"What a jaw on a dawg"
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Mike Leonard
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Terry,
I would try to talk him down a bit on it and buy it for the boy you will not be sorry. It is about the best if not the best first gun for the deer hunter. And with it should he decide to hunt a little bigger game say an elk, caribou or black bear he has plenty of gun for it. Even if you do not reload Hornady sell a load in their Light Magnum series that features a 117 Gr. Ultrabond Bullet with a proprietery load that whistles it out there at 2900 FPS! That load equals or is above any factory 25-06 load on the market excluding the LM load for it.
Many folks ruin a young hunter in one of two ways.
1. Let him use Dad's old 270,308 or 06. It's pretty short and he will only be firing a few shots. Well although in this crazy world of magnum fanatics who think you need a 300 magnum or more to kill a deer, these cartridges mentioned are quite powerful and generate considerable recoil for a youngster. And after a practice shot or two they are closing their eyes and flinching when they pull the trigger. The story ends with a miss or a gut shot critter that they have to follow up and sometimes that doesn't fit to well with a new hunter either.
2. Oh just let him shoot it with a 223 or a 243 with a light bullet it won't kick and he will be ok.Well in reality this probablt work out better most of the time than example one in some states the 22 calibers are not leagal, and if you have a large bodied deer you may end up with insufficient penatration if you don't carefully select the proper sighht angle. Buck runs off kids is embarassed and swears when he gets big enough he is going to buy a 300 Ultra Mag to hunt deer with. ( Maybe this is where some of the logic I spoke of earlier about magnums came from.
Their are several good choices for the new hunter and you could handload or choose slower reduced recoil loads in the bigger rifles I mentioned earlier if you wish to go to the trouble.A better way to go is choose a gun like the 257 Roberts with a good fast moving controlled expansion bullet. Not hardly any recoil plenty of reach and punch for the largest of deer, A properly loaded 243, 6 mm or 25-06 are not bad choices either.
Twas in my 12 th. year when I first was able to get a permit to hunt deer with a rifle. Coming from an avid hunting family I had been along on all kinds of hunts deer, antelope, varmints and tons of bir hunts since I was able to walk, but this is the first time I was going to be doing the shooting.
My Grandad who was a short stocky fellow had a Remington 722 in 257 Roberts with a K-4 Weaver scope on it. Many times when I was at my Grandparents house he would take me to his shop where he built custom hunting knives and open up his gun cabinent and let me handle the rifles and shotguns. I can still close my eyes and smell Hoppes #9 Gun Treatment. When the 257 was in my hands I had visions of walking next to Jack OConner hunting sheep, or busting coues bucks from the Arizona chapparal. He told me you use that gun and it will never let you down.
That wonderful day came when out of a brushy pocket ran a big 4x4 mule deer buck. He was intent on putting country between us and he was running full out. I can still remember the allmost slow motion type dream of it as the Remington came to my shoulder it was a bit shakey as I found the lunging buck in the Weaver's eye, but my practice that I had done on running jack rabbits helped me. I had a little desperate feeling because my Dad, Mom, and uncle were along on the hunt and I didn't want to blow it. I pulled the crosshairs ahead of his shoulder and squeezed the trigger. I don't even remember the report of the rifle but I still remember the audible Whop! of the bullet hitting the buck. He was only about a hundred yards away, and as he cartwheeled and came to a sliding stop in the skiff of new snow a Deer Hunter was born, and all that thanks to the 257 Roberts. I have many rifles but I still shoot my Roberts and love it.
I would try to talk him down a bit on it and buy it for the boy you will not be sorry. It is about the best if not the best first gun for the deer hunter. And with it should he decide to hunt a little bigger game say an elk, caribou or black bear he has plenty of gun for it. Even if you do not reload Hornady sell a load in their Light Magnum series that features a 117 Gr. Ultrabond Bullet with a proprietery load that whistles it out there at 2900 FPS! That load equals or is above any factory 25-06 load on the market excluding the LM load for it.
Many folks ruin a young hunter in one of two ways.
1. Let him use Dad's old 270,308 or 06. It's pretty short and he will only be firing a few shots. Well although in this crazy world of magnum fanatics who think you need a 300 magnum or more to kill a deer, these cartridges mentioned are quite powerful and generate considerable recoil for a youngster. And after a practice shot or two they are closing their eyes and flinching when they pull the trigger. The story ends with a miss or a gut shot critter that they have to follow up and sometimes that doesn't fit to well with a new hunter either.
2. Oh just let him shoot it with a 223 or a 243 with a light bullet it won't kick and he will be ok.Well in reality this probablt work out better most of the time than example one in some states the 22 calibers are not leagal, and if you have a large bodied deer you may end up with insufficient penatration if you don't carefully select the proper sighht angle. Buck runs off kids is embarassed and swears when he gets big enough he is going to buy a 300 Ultra Mag to hunt deer with. ( Maybe this is where some of the logic I spoke of earlier about magnums came from.
Their are several good choices for the new hunter and you could handload or choose slower reduced recoil loads in the bigger rifles I mentioned earlier if you wish to go to the trouble.A better way to go is choose a gun like the 257 Roberts with a good fast moving controlled expansion bullet. Not hardly any recoil plenty of reach and punch for the largest of deer, A properly loaded 243, 6 mm or 25-06 are not bad choices either.
Twas in my 12 th. year when I first was able to get a permit to hunt deer with a rifle. Coming from an avid hunting family I had been along on all kinds of hunts deer, antelope, varmints and tons of bir hunts since I was able to walk, but this is the first time I was going to be doing the shooting.
My Grandad who was a short stocky fellow had a Remington 722 in 257 Roberts with a K-4 Weaver scope on it. Many times when I was at my Grandparents house he would take me to his shop where he built custom hunting knives and open up his gun cabinent and let me handle the rifles and shotguns. I can still close my eyes and smell Hoppes #9 Gun Treatment. When the 257 was in my hands I had visions of walking next to Jack OConner hunting sheep, or busting coues bucks from the Arizona chapparal. He told me you use that gun and it will never let you down.
That wonderful day came when out of a brushy pocket ran a big 4x4 mule deer buck. He was intent on putting country between us and he was running full out. I can still remember the allmost slow motion type dream of it as the Remington came to my shoulder it was a bit shakey as I found the lunging buck in the Weaver's eye, but my practice that I had done on running jack rabbits helped me. I had a little desperate feeling because my Dad, Mom, and uncle were along on the hunt and I didn't want to blow it. I pulled the crosshairs ahead of his shoulder and squeezed the trigger. I don't even remember the report of the rifle but I still remember the audible Whop! of the bullet hitting the buck. He was only about a hundred yards away, and as he cartwheeled and came to a sliding stop in the skiff of new snow a Deer Hunter was born, and all that thanks to the 257 Roberts. I have many rifles but I still shoot my Roberts and love it.
MIKE LEONARD
Somewhere out there.............
Somewhere out there.............
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terry alexander
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terry alexander
- Posts: 15
- Joined: Thu Nov 29, 2007 2:22 am
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- Location: South Texas
I took the 257 to a gunsmith and he thought the barrel might be bad . The guy who owned the gun wouldn't go down on the price so I didn't buy it. A friend of mine is going to let the boy use a 243 he won't be using this deer season. We'll see how that works out and after deer season I'll find him a gun that will suit him. Thanks for the advice Hogwild.
Terry Alexander
"What a jaw on a dawg"
"What a jaw on a dawg"
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terry alexander
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Mike Leonard
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Good for him Terry!
I had one of my employees borrow my 257 for his Grandson to shoot his first deer. He was he was a little bitty fellow but my gun has a fairly short stock so it worked out for him and he made an excellent one shot kill at 150 yards and he was a happy camper too.
I had one of my employees borrow my 257 for his Grandson to shoot his first deer. He was he was a little bitty fellow but my gun has a fairly short stock so it worked out for him and he made an excellent one shot kill at 150 yards and he was a happy camper too.
MIKE LEONARD
Somewhere out there.............
Somewhere out there.............
Congratulations to your nephew Terry and let's see some pic's! If it was "not a trophy to most folks" but was to him is all that matters. Too many people today are too worried about what a deer scores or "trophy deer managment" that they forget that is not what this game is all about.
I have never been more happy than watching my 11 year old son hyper ventilate as he watched his first buck walk into view and then make a perfect shot after waiting for him to turn just right. It is on his wall and it is the best five point with a 6" spread I have ever seen!
I have never been more happy than watching my 11 year old son hyper ventilate as he watched his first buck walk into view and then make a perfect shot after waiting for him to turn just right. It is on his wall and it is the best five point with a 6" spread I have ever seen!
Great advice you got there from everyone, and congratulations. Another caliber you might try for first timers that has worked well enough that I still carry it some is the .250 Savage. They run right in the ballpark with the others mentioned before. I feel like I let the ol' .270 down when I carry something else, so don't very often. Mine is a model 99 takedown with a 4x on it but several others chamber it in their rifles--Ruger, etc.
Life's too short to drink cheap beer.