Lipsey's .257 Roberts

[south_ridge]

I've always wanted a No. 1, and I've wanted a .257 Roberts for a while now. So I'm taking a look at the current offering from Lipsey's. A couple of questions:

1) Is there anything special about the Lipsey's runs other than the caliber (I seem to remember them having a higher polish)?
2) For those of you that bought one, what do you think of it?

I know Lipsey's has been exclusively offering other calibers as well, so I would also like input you guys have about the other ones you have.

Thanks.

 

[Watergoat]

Can't speak to the Bob, but I have the 6.5x55 and the 303 British, very happy with both. The finish seems to be the same as the other two I bought last year, quite nice for a production rifle.

 

[picketpin]

I don't think there is anything special regarding the fit or finish on the Lipsey rifles.

Basically they are "A"s Light Sporters made in a run of 250 in a caliber not currently chambered/cataloged by Ruger.

Several years ago they were stainless and walnut. This time around they are blued and walnut.

I haven't bought one yet but probably will in the next year or so. The 257 Roberts is my favorite cartridge of all time and this should be a light rifle that handles well, just like the rest of the "A"s.

Ross

 

[Lloyd Smale]

ive got one and it looks just like my other #1a. I really like it its been a decent shooter so far. Most groups go around 1.5 inch at a 100 with a couple at one inch. Im going to bed the forearm this week as it tends to shoot the first 3 into less then an inch and then open up the group on the next two as the barrel heats up. I know alot of guys bought these to put in there safes and will never hunt with them. Want a dirty crime. Ruger has probably never made a slicker little gun for whitettail hunting. Anyone buying mine years from now will get a gun with MANY rounds shot through it and many deer to its credit.

 

[pisgah]

>Im going to bed the forearm this week as it tends to shoot the first 3 into less then an inch and then open up the group on the next two as the barrel heats up ... Ruger has probably never made a slicker little gun for whitettail hunting.

Just curious -- you usually shoot more than three whitetails at a time? ;-)

 

[south_ridge]

If I buy it, I will shoot it. I don't own guns that I don't shoot.

Thanks to all of you for the feedback on this issue. Now I just have to decide how bad I want one of these. I've got a couple of other guns on my "to buy" list that are more practical, but I just keep coming back to this one.

 

[picketpin]

Every once in a while a guy should buy himself on he simply "WANTS" and not worry all that much about practical or whether it fills several niches.

That being said either the "A" Light Sporter with the 22" barrel and sights or the "B" 26" barrel and no sights are superb deer/antelope rifle and with lighter bullets pretty decent varmint rifles.

For what it's worth there is a Stanadard Sporter "B" from the early 80s on GB for $800 complete with a decent Redfield scope of the correct era.

Of course if hunting out of a blind/stand the lighter/shorter "A" might work better for you needs.

No idea what else is on your list but I'd look at long term availability of each and if the others are more likely to be around longer, I'd jump on the #1 in 257 Roberts.

As I mentioned I don't currently have an "A" but will probably buy one. The reason I haven't jumped yet is I built my own in 257AI "AH"about 15 years ago.

Hard to go wrong with the 257 as a deer rifle. From astand the single shot shouldn't be an issue.

Ross

 

[Lloyd Smale]

I always shoot 5 shot groups when working up loads. To many times shooting 3 shot groups ive just got lucky and shot a good group and found it wasnt repeatable. With 5 shots you get a much better idea of what the gun likes and if nothing else it gives me more confindence in a gun

. quote="pisgah"]>Im going to bed the forearm this week as it tends to shoot the first 3 into less then an inch and then open up the group on the next two as the barrel heats up ... Ruger has probably never made a slicker little gun for whitettail hunting.

Just curious -- you usually shoot more than three whitetails at a time? ;-)[/quote]

 

[south_ridge]

The notion of a single-shot rifle is definitely intriguing. I've killed a lot of deer over the past 20 years, all with a bolt-action rifle. All have been killed with the first shot, although I usually manage to get off a second shot before the animal expires.

So I don't think the #1 would limit me at all. But a full magazine is definitely a "security blanket" of sorts. Don't need it, but sure like to carry it around with me.

I'm trying to decide on caliber as well. Most of my hunting has been done with a .30-06 or .308, but I want to do something "different" for this one - .257 Roberts, 6.5 x 55, or 7x57. All are sufficient for the kind of hunting I want to do, and ammo availability is similar as well.

 

[Ruger1nut]

The 257 is a high polish rifle and the ones I have seen will stand out noticeably when laid side by side with a run of the mill 1A

Dave

 

[south_ridge]

Ruger1nut - Thank you for the feedback. I thought I had read that the Lipsey's #1As were high polish, but I couldn't find that information anywhere.

That information may have just cost me some cash.

 

[Hotel1Actual]

Have the Ruger #1s in .250-3000 surfaced yet?

 

[picketpin]

The LATEAST story is that they can't find any PROOF ammo for the 250-3000 so can't make the rifles, YET. ;-)

Ross

 

[mattsbox99]

I have the Lipsey's 6.5x55 A, and I don't think I could be happier, its a sub MOA gun with my handloads.

I guess I could be happier, with more of the cartridge offerings and maybe even a 25/06 A (AH?).

 

[Lloyd Smale]

Ive got a 1a in 06 and the blueing on my 257 is no better then that one.

The 257 is a high polish rifle and the ones I have seen will stand out noticeably when laid side by side with a run of the mill 1A

Dave

 

[MMichaelAK]

I bought one of the Lispey's 1A's i .257 Roberts last year. Im very happy. Nice polish to the metal and very good wood. Nice grain and good color. Wood to metal fit is nice but the wood is a tiny bit high at the metal. Still, not enough to make me not like the rifle.

 

[federali]

I have a custom light sporter built on a Sako A11 action in 7mm-08. From a cold barrel, thi rifle produces very acceptable 3-shot 100-yard bench rest groups. Continue firing and the group really start to wander. But, this is a hunting arm and I'm only concerned that the first round or two go where I direct it. The rifle isn't belt fed nor equipped with an AK-47 extended banana magazine.

Shooting five-shot groups is your choice but really not necessary in a hunting arm.

 

[geoff40]

I have a stainless Lipsey's .257, which isn't working out to be what I had hoped for. I can't get it to group very well so far, some shots are right on, while others are definite flyers, off my several inches. Its not me, I know that much.
I think a blued rifle would be a better choice, I frankly wish I hadn't bought the stainless version.

 

[federali]

While I own one Lipsey Ruger, I don't know their entire product line. If you have the full stocked International, it's a simple matter to have a gunsmith relieve the forend pressure against the steel forend cap. You'll find that this really helps grouping. I have a stock Ruger International Mannlicher in .243 that went from 3" groups to three shots under a nickel after this treatment.
Also, I doubt if the accuracy would have been any different in a blued, as opposed to a stainless rifle.

 

[picketpin]

MichaelAK: No idea how many #1s you own. ALL #1 are produced with the wood to metal fit a bit proud. Even the very earliest non prefixes are/were made with the wood a bit proud.

Geoff40: 3 shot or 5 shot groups. The "A" has a pretty thin barrel and it heats up pretty fast and POI can shift. Relieving the tip pressure more or may not help. #1s are very individualistic and what things that one responds to may or may not work on another.

I could re-hash it all here but you might check the files section on the Yahoo #1 Groups and there is a lengthy section on #1 accuracy and the steps involved and an order to try them based on ease of doing the change and the projected improvement in accuracy.

While I don't own a Lipsey 257 I do own others including an "A" and all certainly shoot acceptable "Hunting" accuracy.

Ross

 

[Quarterbore]

I got to handle one of these on Sunday and boy I was tempted but the wood just really didn't do anything for me. It had some light colored wood that ran in streaks in the wood that just didn't look right to me - reminded me of wood filler although I am sure that is not what it was.

Oh well, I want one in 308 and I keep looking for one without luck. Now I am also looking for a Ruger 1911 and one of these new 8-shot SP 22lr so last think I need is a 257 again.