Yeah, 6mm can still be found over-the-counter, or on-line, but it isn't readily available.

Plus, what is available is, AFAIK, limited to bullets of 80, 85, 90, 95 and 100 grains.

If you are intending to shoot larger varmints, the 80s would be fine, if hard to get.

But if you want to shoot ground squirrel/PD/crow sized animals, you might like (hand-loader only) lighter bullets: my go-to bullet is the explosive, highly-accurate 55 gr Nosler BT, but my rifle shoots the 87 grain Hornady and 85 grain partition very, very well, and those bullets are, within limits, fine for deer-sized animals.

I've never heard that shooting light (more correctly, "short") bullets in any of the several 6mm chamberings is very much handicapped by a 1:10 twist. But I can tell you (from personal experience) that a 1:12 twist may not stabilize heavier bullets if they are too long.

So I think your idea of 1:10 shooting 75 - 80 grain bullets should be excellent for larger varmints, especially with a 26" heavy barrel.

(IMO, the 6mm Rem offers spectacular opportunities for the hand-loader. There is wide variety of bullet weights, constructions and styles to choose from. I hope you play with them [I drool at the velocity you could get with 55 grain bullets out of a 26" barrel].)

You just thought you were confused, wait until we get through with you, you will really be confused!

Something to keep in mind is that 257, 7x57, 6mm Rem, 243, 8x57 250-3000, and a host of others can always be made from the 30-06 and .308 cases. Something to consider in this day and time with the shortages of components being what they are...

You guys must not have gotten out from behind your computers, lately. I have NOT seen any 250-3000 Sav. or .257 Roberts ammo on the shelves in a long time. Late last year Hornaday made a run of .257 R, but it's been a couple of years since I've seen .250 Sav. Brass for reloading is non-existant for both, unless you don't mind paying Noslers' price for .257 R, or don't mind reforming available cases. But, I am seeing .243 Win and earlier this year Rem made a run of 6mm Rem. Personally, I've never had much trouble getting any .308 Win. based case to feed from a std length '98. If "factory" and "availability" are of any concern, go with one of the 6mm/243s. The twenty-fives are nice and I own them myself, but I have pleanty of components. If you are building a rifle you'd like to have ammo to shoot it, right? Order your barrel from your desired maker and get the twist you want. The barrel is the last place to skimp on $$$$ for your build.

I presently own Mausers in calibers .257 Roberts, 6.5X54 Mauser, 6.5X.308, 6.5X57, 7X57,.308 Winchester, .30-'06, 8X57 IS, 8X60S, 8X64S, 9X57,.358 Winchester, 9.3X57, 9.3X62, 9.3X64, and 10.75X68.

I would recommend the 6.5X.308, which is practically identical to the 6.5X54 Mauser, and, under the name .260 Remington, loaded ammunition commercially available (four loads listed as "in stock" at Graf & Sons)and using a case easily formed from .308 or .243 Winchester brass.

It is easy to load and can be used with a wide range of bullet weights for varmints or deer. It is low recoil and at least if the one I own is typical, satisfyingly accurate. I have had mine for about 50 years now, and have never had reason to be disappointed with it.

Slivers,
You are certainly correct, fortunately I have 3 or 4 life times of 250-3000 brass and I can still buy 22-250s and one pass thru my 250 Sav. die and presto I have 250-3000 ready to load. I also have a a couple of dozen factory Rem and Win loaded ammo in 250-3000..

Today I am fairly certain one should stay with the high selling calibers only like 30-06,& 270,
Availability is troublesome on most everything.

I know what you meam. Going through a box of stuff a club member was getting rid of, I found a peanut can full of 22/250 formed from all sorts of parent cases.

quote:

Originally posted by thirdbite:
Interesting how times change. When I first began reloading, you had to buy .250 savage cases and neck down to 22-250. Now you buy 22-250 and neck up to 250.

A friend of mine on the E side of OR ran off with my Mauser in 358 Win years ago. Killed boku, deer elk and then started using the 358
PISTOL bullets for diggers and has pretty much given the elk a free pass for years onw. 358 Win for?
MP

quote:

Originally posted by Bohica:
A friend of mine on the E side of OR ran off with my Mauser in 358 Win years ago. Killed boku, deer elk and then started using the 358
PISTOL bullets for diggers and has pretty much given the elk a free pass for years onw. 358 Win for?
MP

Uuhh... Did you maybe post in the wrong thread by mistake?

P.S. Couldn't find any 6mm Rem ammo at local Cabelas last week. May need to reload, or rethink...

Why not go completely oddball, and make it a 6.5x57?

quote:

Originally posted by jstevens:
Why not go completely oddball, and make it a 6.5x57?

Go back and re-read my original post. I'm not looking for something oddball...

I understand one can build about any caliber on a 98 Mauser action, but it was designed by Paul Mauser for the 7x57 or 8x57 and they work best with little work...As to caliber the 257 fits the Mauser action best of the calibers you mention, I think the 22-250 and 250-3000 makes the best caliber choice based on the calibers your going to build in the future..A good Smith can make a 22-250 work in a Mauser. My main complaint is you have to block the magazine with rounds shorter than the 7x57 thus my belief the 257 Roberts is the best solution from that point of view. All this is argueable and has to do with opinnions.

The other problem that is raising its ugly head in the good ole USA, is brass, and 250-3000, 257 Robts, have been discontinued for 3 years by Rem and WW, and I doubt they will come back. Hopefully Norma and others will fill in the gaps, but wouldn't make book on any caliber that has slow sales. One wonders where the 6.5 Creedmore and some of the newer calibers will end up from a reloading standpoint..The American shooter isn't being taken into consideration in the decision making process, and good or bad, only the dollar counts..

20 yrs.a go I built a 7mm/08 on a Steyr made '98 expecting to have to deal with a few feed issues. I've had none! I'd not hesitate to try one in .243 Win. Ammo is available, but not in the varieties it once was. 80 & 100g loads are to be found on most shelves, but that's about it. I've got several intermediate length '98s (24/47s) to use, but haven't yet. When there's time, I guess. Those 24/47s are available at quite reaonable prices and in "very good to excellent condition".

I understand you can convert the 98 to a 250-3000 or about any other caliber, but I have never liked a 30-06 length action with short rounds like the 300 Savage, 250, 22-250 or even the 308, 243 284, 358 etc, If the action is too long for the round why not go with a 25-06, 30-06, 35 Whelen, 280 Rem, 6mm Rem, etc. Just my opine however, not written in stone for everyone.

quote:

Originally posted by slim buttes:
I have a 6mm rem built on a k98 action. this gets my vote.

6.5 Creedmore.Will do everything you want and you can use your 22-250 cases.

I'd go for the Bob (as I have one coming)

light 70 or 75gr bullets as a fox / coyote load and use 110-120 for deer (I'm going with 117gr Sierra Game Kings)

KR,

Mike

I suppose if I were made to own one rifle for all game on the planet or if I had to walk the African continent from one end to the other with what I could carry, it would naturally be a 7x57 or a 30-06, and I have spent many years making that decision, when I was bored or loafing around the house..still don't have that answer but sure narrowed it down..Bell said he would chose the .308 win. as the best of all and also said it would be the ideal elephant rifle..Not surprising to me, the 308 is an awesome all around caliber..

I have settled on a G33/40 6mmRem for almost all my TX hunting. It can also be built on the shorter MX Mauser but feeds a little better on the 33/40. Occasionally use Brno 7x57s. If I still had a MX action, I would build a 250/3000.

I'd vote 6.5x55 Swedish. It will run without alterations through most any military action you might build from. Brass and loaded ammo are readily available. Good selection of bullets for loading. Very accurate. Proven performer on small to large game. Second choice would be .260 Remington. Brass easily made from .308 if need be. A good choice for commercial Mauser actions altered to feed it.

quote:

Originally posted by fla3006:
I have settled on a G33/40 6mmRem for almost all my TX hunting. It can also be built on the shorter MX Mauser but feeds a little better on the 33/40. Occasionally use Brno 7x57s. If I still had a MX action, I would build a 250/3000.

I think alike, only I like the Bob over 6mm. I'm going to do a 7x57 on a vz33 action and a Bob on a 1902 Mexican machined like a vz33/G33/40. Thee 6mm is great, but I like the 115/120 partition for big muleys. Neither are elk rounds, but I know a guy who pulls elk out of Cherokee Park every year with a 243.

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
I suppose if I were made to own one rifle for all game on the planet or if I had to walk the African continent from one end to the other with what I could carry, it would naturally be a 7x57 or a 30-06, and I have spent many years making that decision, when I was bored or loafing around the house..still don't have that answer but sure narrowed it down..Bell said he would chose the .308 win. as the best of all and also said it would be the ideal elephant rifle..Not surprising to me, the 308 is an awesome all around caliber..

Sorry, Ray - do you have a citation for the Bell quote?

Just that Bell and the .308 overlapped by only 2 years, and without any citations, it looks like something Trax would say ...

BTW, I have the earlier two Bell books and have ordered Karamojo Safari today to get the later Bell stuff about the .318 ...


And we are FAR from the OP's question .... sorry for the hijack - I still want a 6.5x57 ....

7x64 Bren,

Surely 7x64 is a great choice (Says he who owns one )

quote:

Originally posted by Bren7X64:
Just that Bell and the .308 overlapped by only 2 years, and without any citations, it looks like something Trax would say ...

quote:

And we are FAR from the OP's question .... sorry for the hijack - I still want a 6.5x57 ....

That's OK, all good discussion.