6.5 - .257 Roberts Arisaka

[Waistgunner]

I have a type 38 Arisaka Carbine that was converted to the 6.5 - .257 Roberts . It's in excellent condition , it has a timney trigger , Lyman rear reciever peep sight , other than that it's original. my question is ;can I shoot regular .257 Roberts ammo off the shelf in it ??? >>>>>>>>>>>> WaistGunner

 

[R.W.Dale]

I shoot regular .257 Roberts ammo off the shelf in it

You COULD in theory but if you did you wouldn't be able to hit anything. As 257 roberts shoots .257 diameter bullets and your rifle has a .264 diameter bore. So the answer is pretty much NO you can't shoot off the shelf ammo.

Now I've never been able to figure out the difference between 6.5x257 and 6.5x57 Mauser

 

[Jim Watson]

The difference between 6.5 x .257 Roberts and 6.5x57 Mauser is that you could get Roberts brass in the US when WW II surplus was cheap enough to mess with and not a "collector's item." I don't think I have ever even seen a 6.5x57 Mauser rifle or ammunition.

No, Waistgunner, you don't shoot .257 Roberts in a 6.5x257 Arisaka. It is a handloading proposition, rechambered just for available brass.

 

[hoghunting]

About two years ago I worked up loads for a buddy's rifle very similar to yours. The good news is RCBS makes dies for the 6.5x257 Roberts and Midway carries them. 257 Roberts brass is fairly easy to find. Just run the new brass into the sizing die and the neck will expand for the 264 bullet. I had amazing results with the 129 gr Hornady and IMR 4831. It does a great job on hogs and coyotes.