Rebarreling a Mauser

C

Cyo

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I've got a nice 98 Mauser build on a DWM Berlin numbers matching action. It has a Timney trigger and a nice stock. It has the original number matching barrel that was rechambered to 8mm Gibbs (a 30-06 necked up to 8mm with a sharp shoulder and little taper). This was great when I was reloading and it was a great performer. Now that I'm no longer reloading and I lost the dies, it's not of use to me.

I'm thinking of just having the barrel removed and getting one chambered in .257 Roberts. I know it's a longer action than the short .257, but I don't really want to step up to the .25-06.

Will I have to do any other changes other than the barrel swap?
 
The robets should feed and the bolt face is the same so a rebarrel will probably work so long as your capable or have a decent smith. 98 barrels aren't drop ins.
 
"I know it's a longer action than the short .257"

The only place the 257 Roberts is "shorter" than the standard 8x57 is in the length of bullet outside the case.
 
True, the .257 Roberts is pretty much a 6.35x57 if Mauser had ever made such a thing.

The only thing against it would be if the magazine box and feed rails had been altered to feed the Gibbs. If the magazine did not have to be changed, the Roberts should work.

If you are no longer handloading, you should check ammo availability before you buy a barrel. I don't know what you have against a .25-06 but it is probably more common. A .270 even more so.
 
Thanks for the help.

I like the .257 because I had one before and still have some ammo sitting around. It's easy to shoot and, when I did reload, it was easy for me to work with. It's certainly not unlikely that at some point in the future I may take reloading up again. I just don't want to have a gun sitting around that I can't use.
 
If I had some ammo on hand, the first thing I would do is to load the magazine and see if it would feed to the chamber. Without shooting it, of course.
 
The .257 Roberts (as it was originally called when it was a wildcat) is nothing more or less than a necked down 7x57. It should work just fine in a rifle originally made for 8x57.

Except that converting that rifle to a .30-06 length cartridge required working on the feed rails, magazine box, and feed ramp, so whether the rifle would now work with a shorter round is "iffy."

Jim
 
If you don't reload anymore go with a .25-06. The Roberts is a cool round and I'll have one someday, but .25-06 ammunition is more plentiful and easier to locate. Just check an online retailer like Midway USA, they offer 27 loads for the .25-06 with 10 types available, 13 loads for the .257 Roberts with only 2 available. If I wasn't going to reload anymore there really isn't any contest as to which chamber I'd choose.
 
I have a 98 action with a 257 AI barrel on it and it functions perfectly, all you need to do is change the barrel.
 
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