6.5-257Roberts load data?

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roysclockgun

Handloader
Dec 17, 2005
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http://i101.photobucket.com/albums/m78/ ... Type38.jpg

I purchased the rifle shown in the http above. Of course, the dealer at the gun show did not know what he had, in part, because the the top of the original Type 38 Arisaka barrel was stamped "257". It is rechambered to 257 cases, but retains the 6.5mm bore. I remember this conversion being popular after WWII and on into the 1950s. Two questions:
Anyone have load data?
Anyone can tell me the drill for converting 7x57 Mauser cases to 6.5-257?
Thanks, Steve
 
I don't believe that the conversion ever got popular enough to be standardized. However, you are correct in saying that what I have is 7x57 necked down to 6.5x57. Whoever did the conversion, wrongly stamped on the root of the barrel, "257". The rifle came with a box of .257Roberts cartridges, with only one cartridge missing. I am assuming that the last owner fired that too small bullet through the .264 bore and promptly gave up on the rifle. The dealer from whom I got the rifle believed that it was for .257Roberts, but I had already assertained that the barrel and bore were the original 6.5mmJap. I have used a .257Roberts die, but installing a 6.5 button expander. With this, I can run through .257Roberts brass or 7x57mmMauser brass and get my, as you say, 6.5x57 brass. I realize that I am over working the necks, but don't know how else to do this.
The rifle likes heavier 6.5 bullets of at least 140gr. 160gr bullets group best. [url=http://i101.photobucket.com/a...01.photobucket.com/albums/m78/ ... Type38.jpg
This url will show you a photo of the rifle. The stock is the original Arisaka Type 38 rifle stock, cut down, inlaid and checkered. I have grown fond of rifles that appear to be reworked war trophies. [/url]
 
I have an older speer manual #9 that had some load data, but the book
is on loan to a friend.
 
VihtaVuori Oy lists data for the 6.5x57 in their manual. The cartridge was established in Germany during the 1890s according to the manual I have in hand and was still available as a factory loading by RWS at the time the book was wrote (1995). The cartridge is a 7x57 necked down but they don`t say if any other changes are made other then to the neck diameter. Velocities appear to be in the 6.5x55 range, ~2600 fps with 140 gr bullets.
The Hodgdon #26 manual has data for the 6.5x257 which would be based on the same parent case. I don`t know if it is the same cartridge though, might have a different body taper, base to shoulder lenght, ect. I didn`t find anything in the Speer #10 forward or Sierra, Nosler or Hornady books I thumbed.
 
my speer #7 has data on 6.5x57 but most of the powders are no longer available
 
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