Hey guys.
It's been a long time sesne I last post on this forum. Now to my question. About two years ago I bought an Arisaka sporter rifle from a guy needing money. The barrel was stamped 257. The sporter job was an ok job but I wasn't really interested in the rifle I was really just helping the guy out when I bought the rifle. I'm really a Mauser guy so just took the rifle home, cleaned it up and put it in a hard shell case. A few days ago I pulled the rifle out to see what it really needed to become a safe "loaner" rifle. While inspecting the rifle more closely, I discovered I had a Type 38 with the original barrel still on the rifle. The barrel had been pulled, stripped of sights, and reinstalled. The chamber has been reamed to accept the .257 case the bore is still 6.5. Therefore, I have on my hands a 6.5X257 or sometimes called a 257 Jap. Now my questions.

1. Does anyone know anything about performance of the this chambering. (I own 4 6.5X55's)

2. What are the differences between this chambering and the 6.5X57?

3. Are dies still available?

4. Does anyone have a set they want to sell?

A 6.5x257 is a 6.5-7x57. Since a 257 is a necked down 7x57. The jap was a 6.5x50. Around 57grs capacity vs 47. Within a grain or two of the 6.5x55. Yep dies are available. I believe the 6.5x257 is different in the shoulder area from a 6.5x57Mauser. My first rifle was exactly what you have. I hunted a year or two as a 6.5jap then made it a 6.5x257.