.257 Roberts or...?

by AaronB, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 09:23 (11 days ago)

Hi all.

As I've mentioned before, I inherited a nice little stalking rifle built in Germany around a Mauser 98 action. Its original chambering was 6.5x57 Mauser, a sporting caliber of long standing in Germany. It's lovely all around except for the military barrel with the stepped contour.

As it turns out, this rifle was rebarrelled in 7mm Mauser in the states by someone who actually wanted to be able to buy ammunition (go figure). I have been considering putting another barrel on it, one with a proper contour for the stock, and this gives me the opportunity to consider caliber.

I could get another 7x57 barrel for it. I could put it back to 6.5x57. I could rechamber it to 6.5x55 Swede, 7.65 Argentine, any of a host of other Mauser cartridges, or any of the large number of variations on the .308 Winchester.

But I'm toying with the notion of .257 Roberts. I have not shot quarter bores at all, but I know that them as loves 'em, loves 'em a lot.

What say you?

-AaronB