I have built two of the beasts and they are fast!!!! As far as barrel life goes if you are using it for a hunting rifle it is not a problem, after all how many shots do you shoot a year at game? If the throat goes, set the barrel back a turn or so and recut the chamber, alot cheeper then a new barrel. In my experiance, with proper care a good barrel in thei calliber will take about 2000 to 2500 rounds before your groups open up. The last .257 STW I put togther is still shooting .487 groups after over 1000 rounds. The owner is an excelent shot and hand loader so I am sure that is part of it but modern barrels from top notch makers like Shilen hold up better then one may think.

I have the opportunity to pick up a 257STW based on a Mauser 98 action(?), McMillian stock and a fluted/tapered barrel for a reasonable (low) price. It looks like it has been set up for a sheep/antelope rifle.

I don't know very much about the cartridge, but from what I have found out just recently it sounds interesting.

A search on AR didn't show very much recent comment.

Can anybody point me to any good information sources, availablity of brass, barrel life expectancy, etc?

Be vary carfull with that one.
I am no smith but I can't see how you can take enough steel out of a 98 action to to feed the stw case with out weakening the reciever.
I have a smith who knows his stuff and has been building custom rifles in the same shop for 25 years, he will only build the significantly shorter .257 weatherby on a MK 5 action and is hesitant to build even a 25,06 AI
on many actions. There is simply to little room for mistakes. With a bore that small even a a half grain of powder can raise preasure dramaticly and most anything can happen...tj3006