azpredator@work Report post Posted December 22, 2014 Please share your thoughts onn what this rifle is worth. I'm a little ignorant with rifles, but this one is a good shooter so I'm interested in making this my son's deer hunting rifle. * older 257 roberts that hasn't been shot for about 15 years until a few weeks ago. * douglas barrel (approx 1000 shots) * glass bedded * wood stock in very good condition * springfield action with no safety My dad shot this gun 8 times a few weeks ago and said it shot nearly 1/2 moa with factory ammo. What would you consider the value of this rifle? Any additional questions I should ask? Thanks for any input. Wade Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Couzer Report post Posted December 22, 2014 $300-$400 I would say, just IMO Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted December 22, 2014 How old is your son? My biggest concern would be the lack of a safety for use by a kid. We all know safety starts with the shooter, and it is a mechanical device that can fail, but I would want one for a kid. As for price, without seeing photos and a little more info, it is hard to tell. I think Vowell is on the right track. Maybe $300. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benbrown Report post Posted December 22, 2014 It's basically worth whatever you are willing to pay for it. As the previous poster said, without pictures any estimate is a WAG. At a minimum, you should have it checked by a competent gunsmith and, if you buy it, have an aftermarket safety installed. I suspect that the original safety wouldn't clear a scope and the owner decided against the added expense of doing it right. That, alone, would definitely prod me to have a gunsmith look at it before you commit, as there may have been other "money-saving" shortcuts by the builder that aren't readily apparent. I have had a couple of custom rifles built on Springfield '03 actions with Douglas barrels and they were very nice rifles. However, they were a little bigger and heavier than I would have used to start either of my daughters or any of my grand kids. JMHO. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azpredator@work Report post Posted December 22, 2014 ok - this is a good start. Thanks for the replies. I'd never heard of a springfield action and the ones online look outdated so I hoped it wouldn't be some rare action that demanded a thousand dollars. My boy is 16 and currently shoots around 500 shots / year from his rifles. He goes shooting with his friends, but I would add a safety to it before sending it with him. I assume this rifle would double his shooting and force me into reloading asap! He's limited to me buying ammo at $45/box. I like the sound of $300. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billrquimby Report post Posted December 22, 2014 Perhaps $250, or maybe less, depending upon the design and workmanship of the stock and whether anything was done to slim and shape the triggerguard. There were a lot of Bubba-worked Springfields after the DCM sold them for virtually nothing years ago. Bill Quimby 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted December 22, 2014 I can tell you the .257 Roberts is an OUTSTANDING deer/medium game cartridge. With hand loads, it will open up a whole new world for available rounds. I am a fan of the 1/4 bore, but with that being said, bullet selection is limited compared to some other calibers. But, what are out there are great. I like the Berger 115gr. Berger VLDs, Sierra 100gr. Match Kings, and the 100gr. Barnes TTSX myself. All are proven game takers from coyotes and javelina up to large bodied mule deer. They would slay a Coues with ease as well. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Benbrown Report post Posted December 22, 2014 I assume this rifle would double his shooting and force me into reloading asap! He's limited to me buying ammo at $45/box. I Worse things could happen to you (and to him). Reloading is a relaxing, enjoyable and productive hobby! 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
Havasuhunter Report post Posted December 22, 2014 At $45 a box, you can gather some reloading equipment and save money fast. Plus the 257 Roberts is an awesome cartridge that is way better with reloads than factory ammo. I can't imagine not reloading rifle cartridges with today's prices on factory ammo. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
billrquimby Report post Posted December 23, 2014 The .257 Roberts definitely is a fine caliber. I had two of them until burglars took them away. I shot several Coues and Texas Hill Country whitetails, a Wyoming angelope, and a couple of javelinas with them, as well as a Himalayan tahr, a chamois and maybe three dozen feral goats on a cull in New Zealand. I don't remember anything needing a second shot. --- Bill Quimby 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sjvcon Report post Posted December 23, 2014 Better get an idea on what the safety will entail and cost. You can get a Tikka T3 for mid $500's that will be new, complete, and a shooter. Others In that range too. Makes little sense to be $450 or 500 (once safety work Is done) into a Springfield when you can get a quality new rifle for not a lot more. Just my two cents worth. 2 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
azpredator@work Report post Posted December 23, 2014 Better get an idea on what the safety will entail and cost. You can get a Tikka T3 for mid $500's that will be new, complete, and a shooter. Others In that range too. Makes little sense to be $450 or 500 (once safety work Is done) into a Springfield when you can get a quality new rifle for not a lot more. Just my two cents worth. Believe me, I've tried. I've been 2nd or later in line on nearly a dozen rifles in the past 6 months. Just missed a tikka 204 ruger on LRH today! Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
sjvcon Report post Posted December 23, 2014 Well ... all I'm saying is if that rifle costs you $450 once you get the safety worked out, what you've got is an old action with a barrel at 1000 rounds. For another $125-150 you could have a new rifle that is at ZERO rounds. Sure ... you have to put some glass on it, but I didn't see where the Springfield is coming with glass. Another thing about that is you have some caliber choice. I don't have anything against a Roberts ... fine round with a great history. But the bottom line is that there are a lot of viable rounds out there that are more commercially available in case you had to pop in somewhere and grab a box. Rounds like the .243, .260, 7-08, .308 to name a few. Hand loading is great ... but if you need some quick ammo in a pinch, it's nice to know the local Wally World carries what you need. The .204 wasn't for deer, was it??? Little on the small side. If you are looking for a .204 for varmint I have one that I am not actively trying to sell, but some guys have inquired and I've decided I'd part with it under the right circumstances. PM me if interested and we can discuss it. Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
lancetkenyon Report post Posted December 23, 2014 At $45 a box, you can gather some reloading equipment and save money fast. Plus the 257 Roberts is an awesome cartridge that is way better with reloads than factory ammo. I can't imagine not reloading rifle cartridges with today's prices on factory ammo. I don't know about that. Even at $45/box, it would take quite a while to save money with reloading. I have loaded probably 10K rounds, and I might be breaking even about now....but my savings go into other upgrades (don't tell my wife). To the OP: Just because components are slightly cheaper, the equipment is a lot of money to get into. Press, dies, trimmer, and scale are all necessities. Add the cost of the niceties, trickler, powder throw, plates, case prep tools, high end seating dies, hand primer, etc., and the costs go up and up. Plus, high end components are not cheap either. Bench rest primers, powder, quality bullets, higher quality brass are all getting up there. I would think around $400+ for 200 rounds to start out just in components. A savings of $50, but add the cost of equipment, and it skyrockets. Add the cost of your time to load if you really want to. You can take about $200 off that initial price after you shoot the first 200 rounds by reusing the brass. But unless you shoot a LOT, it will take a while to go through 200 rounds of .257 Roberts. But cost is not why hand loaders get into it. It is the ability to tune loads for velocity and accuracy, ensure precise measurements are made in powder charges, seating depths, case prep, etc. Even with match grade ammo (which costs more than standard if/when it is available), a decent hand loader can get better results from a finicky gun by trying numerous powders, weights, bullets, seating depth, primers, etc.. But again, with trying 4 different powders, it get pricey really quick. I would say loading for my AR is about on cost with cheap factory ammo if not more. But I don't see factory 55FMJ giving me 1/4MOA accuracy with the way it is made. You would not believe the lack of quality control in super high mass produced stuff. I pulled apart 200 factory military rounds. Seating depth was different up to .120" alone, and powder charges were off by over 1 full grain with a 25gr. base average (24.0gr. to 26.1 grains). My varmint loads are thrown, and I check every 5-10 rounds on a beam scale. I would say they are all within 1/10 of a grain. My 69SMKs are individually weighed, and it shows. As others have said, hand loading is relaxing, and the pride in working up a super accurate load is worth the effort. Knowing you have a consistent cartridge is money in the bank. 1 Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
draggingnuts Report post Posted December 24, 2014 This might be a dumb question but when you say 1/4 moa what does moa stand for? Share this post Link to post Share on other sites
