.257 Roberts or...?
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
I'm not one to talk you out of any quarter-bore....
by Hoot 
, Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 11:28 (11 days ago) @ AaronB
especially the Roberts. I am a long standing fan of them and there's a couple here. That said, I'd be hard pressed to not bring it back to the original 6.5x57 in an attempt to keep the Euro flavor intact. In fact, that cartridge is on my short list of 'things that need to live here'. It shouldn't be terribly difficult to come up with the necessary bits to support it either.
Six point fives
Since the 6.5 Manbun and the 6.5 Manbun Mark II (Creedmore and PRC, respectively) have been a drug on the market, good 6.5mm bullets have been pouring out of the factories. Getting a good pair of dies ought not be difficult. A little more costly than usual, but not difficult... and of course I already have the shellholder and any number of appropriate powders.
Not to mention I can form brass out of 7x57 if need be.
Hmmm.
-AaronB
That's the spirit!
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 12:58 (11 days ago) @ AaronB
I'm with Hoot - put it back
as close to original as you can get. These types of sporters are unmatched for handling and offhand shooting.
What sights, if any? It probably had open barrel sights originally.
If D&T'ing for scope mounts, PLEASE hire someone that knows what they are about.
Came with mounts and rings
When I received the rifle it was already fitted with a scope. I forget exactly what's on it now (and I'm not close to it to check), but the work was properly done and the scope is a proper, period correct steel tube of fixed power.
Double-set triggers give me goose bumps, and this rifle's got 'em. :D
-AaronB
You never said anything about DST's!
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 15:27 (11 days ago) @ AaronB
There, my mind is made up completely and without question.
6.5x57mm Handloader article
See what Handloader had to say about the 6.5x57:
All good solid performance.
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Thursday, May 01, 2025, 08:59 (10 days ago) @ AaronB
What's not to like?
140-grain Partitions
I wish they had included the 140-grain Nosler Partitions in the testing. The Partition is my go-to for whenever I'm asking a caliber to punch above its weight class (like using a 6.5x57 on elk or moose, for example).
They did test the 100-grain Partition, which is fine, but I would likely use a less-expensive bullet for whitetails. Any good cup-and-core bullet should do for the ranges at which I hunt them.
-AaronB
Pity that.
by Hoot , Diversityville, Liberal-sota, Thursday, May 01, 2025, 12:40 (10 days ago) @ AaronB
But, I expect they will do fine. Partitions have always done well here.
In line with UBCS (TM)
by Paul 
, Thursday, May 01, 2025, 09:33 (10 days ago) @ AaronB
why not go all out, embrace the entire concept of a custom rifle and go with 6.5X57 AI. Blowing out the shoulder to get a shorter neck and more powder capacity would definitely put the rifle in a class by itself! Why let common sense get in the way of a good project?