After doing some looking for 257 Roberts ammo/components and seeing very little I had a thought/question pop into my head.


Do y’all think that the ammo shortages over the past couple of years lack of ammo for certain cartridges being produced by manufacturers will be enough to push a lot of calibers that were hanging on by a thread completely away while ammo companies focus on what it mainstream once things get back to normal?

Maybe. It will be driven by the market if people stop buying them.

On your 257R, Grafs has 7x57 brass in stock. It just needs to be run through a 257 sizing die and your are good to go.

I think it is very possible.

Even me as a hand loader, there are times I am having to get creative with brass choices, and use bullets that were not my first choice, but were what I could get.

Lots of cartridges are "limited run" that they do batches once a year or even more between runs. Some have been fully dropped over the years. Some others get a limoted run from a different manufacture or even from retailers request.


The 257 Roberts I expect to be around a long time. But there will be times it os in shorter supply. Crunch times like we have been in once again manufacturers will what sells the most. Big runs and less setup swotching between cartridges.

Limited run seems to be the norm based on what I’ve seen on store shelves for the past year or so. You start seeing the same calibers on the shelves of multiple stores for a few weeks and then they all disappear. 25-06 was easy to find a few weeks back and now it seems to have been replaced with .270 and 30-06. It makes you wonder if someone at the factory decides to produce so much of each while they have so many of the same casings. But I will say it seems the factories never stop spitting out .223 and .308 as the stuff is now collecting dust on store shelves everywhere.

Could be wrong but suspect the runs are now much shorter than before supply chain issues hit everyone.

I actually got in to reloading in 2007 because I bought that Kimber is 257 Roberts. Ammo was slim pickings back then. Kimber is still making them so people are still buying them.

No more .357 SIG? Okay with that.

I had been thinking about a 6mm Rem AI build. While an exceptionally awesome round, I find myself second guessing.
Mostly because of component availability (brass). Not sure.a.243 AI might be a better choice.
I shot my regular 243 (non AI ) yesterday and it just center punches a 1/2" orange dot @100 yes and you have to ask yourself " Do I really need more" ?

Guess I might have a couple more boxes of collectors ammo

6mm Rem A.I. is definitely something I would try to talk someone out of. A low capacity parent cartridge, has to be water or fire formed, and finding brass would be a pain. If you want a quick, low ES 6mm, the easy button is the 6mm Creedmoor. I have no doubt I could have brass bought and headed my way today.

The 6mm AI would have a decent amount more capacity but I agree it’s only worth it if your willing to go long action with the heavies.
6mm AI would have around 58-60gr capacity vs maybe 50 max with 6CM depending on brass used.
Is that enough to warrant the extra work and hassling with finding brass… I don’t think so.

I don’t think many are going to die out; most of the oddballs are already reloaded for.