Originally Posted by
emtrescue6
Hey buffybr, I am currently on the search for a donor rifle to build my first custom rifle (anyone got a left handed Rem 700 BDL action in 270 or 30-06????)...anyway, I am considering building a 257 Roberts AI...how is your rifle on barrels??? How do you like the cal? I am really starting to like the .25 cal's and have always wanted a Bob....
Any suggestions or comments welcome!
When I built my .257 AI, I had been reading PO Ackley's books. and I thought the .257 AI just looked really cool. I bought a new Mauser Mark X barreled action in .25-05 and had a smith re-chamber it to .257 AI. That was back in the late 70s.
I load my .257 AI fairly hot, but below the point of any visible over pressure signs. I'm still on the original barrel and there are no signs of wear. It's my favorite deer and pronghorn rifle, and I've killed a number of sheep with it. I don't really shoot it a lot, maybe one or two boxes of shells per year.
If I had it to do over again, would I build another .257 AI? Probably.
There is a good thread by John Barsness, a gunwriter from Montana who has had about a dozen rifles chambered in .257 Roberts or .257 AI, over on 24hourcampfire in the Ask The Gunwriters Forum.