The 257 Roberts was wildcatted by gunwriter Ned Roberts in the 1920s and introduced by Remington as a factory cartridge in 1934. Based on the 7x57 Mauser cartridge necked down to take a .257-inch bullet, it was probably the first cartridge viewed as a combination varmint and big-game cartridge, the role the 243 Winchester stars in today. Mild in recoil, accurate, flat-shooting, and extremely effective on game, the 257 Roberts is rarely seen in new rifles today but retains a substantial and extremely loyal following. Standard velocity is a 117-grain load at 2780 feet per second, but a standardized "+P" 117-grain load at a very speedy 2940 fps has been available for many years. Many of its dedicated fans use it for elk, but without question it is best-suited for pronghorn and deer-sized game.
