All,

I’m undecided as to what to do with a project that I had thought I had all figured out, I need some help here, suggestions and opinions are solicited and gratefully accepted.

I have a new (never barreled) Falling Block Works model “J†action and according to Frank de Hass this action should handle up to the 30’06 and .45-70. I had just about decided to make up a 6.5 JDJ (I’m hoping to avoid trying to make up a rimless extractor) or a 6.5 30-30 AI. I also have a 6.5mm barrel blank that I can use. I’ve been searching the web in search of viable cartridge/caliber combinations made with a rimmed parent case with little luck. I would really like to find a way to make a 257 Roberts in a rimmed case any ideas?

What I would like to end up with is a medium range (up to 350 yards) rifle for medium size game. I would like to have an octagon barrel and fairly nice wood on it.

So anyone with caliber suggestions, configuration ideas, single shot gunsmiths names and/or guesses on what I may have to spend are welcomed. Oh by the way I already have a model “J†in 30’06 so that is out.

Thanks,

Marcos (elalto)

Well, you could contact Huntington's and get some of their RWS 7x57R or 6.5x57R cases and neck them down in your 257 Roberts dies for a 257Rimmed Roberts. Or just use your 6.5 barrel and have it chambered to 6.5x57R and use the 6.5x57R cases with no changes. If you want easier case availability, neck down a 7-30 Waters to make a 6.5-30 Waters (30-30 case, improved and necked down). Or do a 6.5 Wildcat of the 30-40 Krag case or the slightly shorter but almost identical 303 British case. Contact RCBS to see what they have already made up as far as wildcat dies, or call Redding with your own specs for custom dies (not cheap, but not that much more than RCBS's existing designs). There are lots of options for a rimmed case that roughly matches the 257 Roberts, it's up to yo which one you want to pick.

One could use the .303 British or the .30-40 Krag case as well.

The 256 Newton is 1 of my favorite .264" bore cartridges. Although it doesn't use a rimmed case, I would go to the extra (minimal) effort to build a rimless extractor, particularly since you already have a FBW "J" in 30-06 with an extractor that could be easily duplicated.

A 6.5-307 AI would get you 260 Remington performance with tough brass, but any unusual wildcat would be more expensive and more hassle than making a rimless extractor.

Jeff

Actually the .25-35 improved might be a sweet rimmed cartridge!

You want a rimmed 6,5mm, 350 yard cartridge.

Easy to find brass would be a plus.

How about a 6.5 baised on the 9,3x74R case?

Think of the 7x65 necked to 6.5, but since Hornady is making 9,3x74R brass, I would use it.

You could also blow out the brass a little, if you wanted to, like the Elmer Keith 338x74R. round.

The 444 Marlin case is a rimmed case with the right base diameter and length to build a 257 Roberts. I don't know how much rim you need but the 444 works in the Contender for the JDJ cartridges.