barrel length ?

tbmaker · August 27, 2001, 11:11 PM

i'm building a 257 roberts on a 98 mauser action. it will wear a ross thumb hole sporter,laminated stock and be used for heavy varmits and deer from a stand.
i'm seriously looking at a 26" barrel. will this length squeeze enough speed out of this cartridge to make it worth my time or is 24" enough? TIA

Archie · August 27, 2001, 11:46 PM

You can always trim it later.

The .257 Roberts is a dandy old round. But all small bores are dependant on barrel length for velocity.

C.R.Sam · August 28, 2001, 12:17 AM

tbmaker....welcome aboard.

Usin the Mauser will allow you to load to longer overall length than became popular once people started makin commercial Roberts on short actions. A very common and not very effecient combination was usin overall length of <2.75" and a long chamber throat. Necessitated by the short actions. Back when Springfields and Mauser 98s were the common actions for the Roberts, overall lengths ran more toward 2.775-2.80" and even more.

Do as much diggin as you can before you have the chamber cut for yours. There is a lot of info in assorted nooks and crannies and a large percentage of it pertains to fittin the Roberts in a short action. Not applicable in your case.

I built one in the late 40s, with laminated (walnut plywood) stock and 26" Jim Adair barrel. It was a screamin tack driver with 100gr Sierra and served well for bout 25 years without losing accuracy. I'm sorry but I no longer have the chamber dimensions.

Good luck with a neat old cartridge that still holds it's own.

Sam......gettin old is fun, bein old sucks.

August 27, 2001, 11:11 PM	#1
tbmaker Junior Member Join Date: June 17, 2001 Location: minnesota Posts: 5	barrel length ? i'm building a 257 roberts on a 98 mauser action. it will wear a ross thumb hole sporter,laminated stock and be used for heavy varmits and deer from a stand. i'm seriously looking at a 26" barrel. will this length squeeze enough speed out of this cartridge to make it worth my time or is 24" enough? TIA

August 27, 2001, 11:46 PM	#2
Archie Senior Member Join Date: May 26, 2000 Location: Hastings, Nebrasksa - the Hear Posts: 2,209	Go with the longer barrel. You can always trim it later. The .257 Roberts is a dandy old round. But all small bores are dependant on barrel length for velocity. __________________ There ain't no free lunch, except Jesus. Archie Check out updated journal at http://oldmanmontgomery.wordpress.com/

August 28, 2001, 12:17 AM	#3
C.R.Sam Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 1999 Location: Dewey, AZ Posts: 12,858	tbmaker....welcome aboard. Usin the Mauser will allow you to load to longer overall length than became popular once people started makin commercial Roberts on short actions. A very common and not very effecient combination was usin overall length of <2.75" and a long chamber throat. Necessitated by the short actions. Back when Springfields and Mauser 98s were the common actions for the Roberts, overall lengths ran more toward 2.775-2.80" and even more. Do as much diggin as you can before you have the chamber cut for yours. There is a lot of info in assorted nooks and crannies and a large percentage of it pertains to fittin the Roberts in a short action. Not applicable in your case. I built one in the late 40s, with laminated (walnut plywood) stock and 26" Jim Adair barrel. It was a screamin tack driver with 100gr Sierra and served well for bout 25 years without losing accuracy. I'm sorry but I no longer have the chamber dimensions. Good luck with a neat old cartridge that still holds it's own. Sam......gettin old is fun, bein old sucks.