6.5 Roberts Improved?

[cash_tx]

Interesting find on the preowned rack at my local Cabelas store today. A Remington 798 that has been rebuilt with what appears to be a McMillan-type stock and a 26 inch E.R. Shaw barrel marked "6.5/257 Ackley". Never heard of the caliber, but based on a quick internet search, I think this is also known as the "6.5 Roberts Improved". I assume that caliber is produced via a combination of the 257 Roberts AI with the neck sized up to 6.5mm(?). Making one's own brass and reloading for it should be "interesting". It strikes me as an unnecessarily complex way to recreate the 6.5 Swede or Creedmoor. Anyone ever cross paths with this caliber?

Btw, it's probably a sure bet the original owner had well more than that asking price into this build; I'm thinking maybe a grand or so.

 

[Saul]

Not a fan of the stock, but that is just me.

For that price, maybe you could be the kind soul who rescues this rifle and restores it to 257 AI.

 

[Rem280]

Haggle them down!

 

[cash_tx]

It's just not the project for me. That particular combination of components and such an oddball wildcat caliber is just not very appealing to me, and I'm sitting on too many project rifles already.

 

[CBH Australia]

It's just not the project for me. That particular combination of components and such an oddball wildcat caliber is just not very appealing to me, and I'm sitting on too many project rifles already.

By the time you find the right dies and fire form cases the cost will double the purchase price.

 

[colorado]

I think the 257 Roberts is a lovely cartridge. If you're going to go up to 6.5mm why not just shoot the parent cartridge, the 7mm Mauser?

 

[cash_tx]

I think the 257 Roberts is a lovely cartridge. If you're going to go up to 6.5mm why not just shoot the parent cartridge, the 7mm Mauser?

Exactly! The idea of going through the contortions of combining the 257 Roberts case, the Ackley Improvement, and then re-necking to 6.5mm makes no sense to me at all. Just get a 7x57 and be done with it.

 

[V42]

The reason for it was the Japanese 6.5 Arisaka rifles that came to the US as war trophies. Ammunition wasn't available but the 257 Roberts could easily be necked up to 6.5 to match the bore and a reamer for the x57 case was large enough to clean up the existing chamber. The result is a 6.5 Roberts or 6.5x257 Roberts in standard or Ackley versions. Another name for the Ackley version is the 260 AAR (All Around Rifle). I think I have dies and a reamer for the standard version and dies for the AAR.

 

[cash_tx]

The reason for it was the Japanese 6.5 Arisaka rifles that came to the US as war trophies. Ammunition wasn't available but the 257 Roberts could easily be necked up to 6.5 to match the bore and a reamer for the x57 case was large enough to clean up the existing chamber. The result is a 6.5 Roberts or 6.5x257 Roberts in standard or Ackley versions. Another name for the Ackley version is the 260 AAR (All Around Rifle). I think I have dies and a reamer for the standard version and dies for the AAR.

Ah, I see and thanks for that background. It makes a lot more sense now.

 

[mdwest]

I would assume the same is true for the 6.5 carcanos (6.5x52 vs the Arisaka at 6.5x50) that all came home as well?

 

[93marlin]

I would buy it simply because I'm weird.
This is the sort of project that I like to mess around with!

 

[rdog]

The dies may be an issue but the brass & forming it is not much of a challenge , may be you could use a Hornady 6.5 neck die to neck up 257 R brass or neck down 7x57 brass , fire form & then neck size only. If it was for sale in Australia i would buy it. as i am a 6.5 fan.

 

[V42]

I would assume the same is true for the 6.5 carcanos (6.5x52 vs the Arisaka at 6.5x50) that all came home as well?

I don't know if Carcanos were rechambered the same way, I think it was always easier to get surplus ammunition for them from European sources.

 

[112Savage]

6.5x257 Roberts AI should be closer to 6.5-06 or 6.5-284 Norma ballistics than to creedmoor or Swede

 

[jpr9954]

Heck, I'd buy it just because I'm a fan of P. O. Ackley.

That said, I have enough weird calibers in my collection. .256 Newton, anyone?

 

[Bert the Turtle]

I’d have to sit down with paper to be sure, but it looks like you may be able to have a gunsmith take a tenth of an inch off the chamber end and rechamber it in 6.5-284.

If the dimensions work out, you’d be able to keep the barrel and have nothing but a rather small amount of labor in the project. Use the oddball caliber to haggle the price down and you may be able to have a really useful rifle at very little cost.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Interesting find on the preowned rack at my local Cabelas store today. A Remington 798 that has been rebuilt with what appears to be a McMillan-type stock and a 26 inch E.R. Shaw barrel marked "6.5/257 Ackley". Never heard of the caliber, but based on a quick internet search, I think this is also known as the "6.5 Roberts Improved". I assume that caliber is produced via a combination of the 257 Roberts AI with the neck sized up to 6.5mm(?). Making one's own brass and reloading for it should be "interesting". It strikes me as an unnecessarily complex way to recreate the 6.5 Swede or Creedmoor. Anyone ever cross paths with this caliber?

Btw, it's probably a sure bet the original owner had well more than that asking price into this build; I'm thinking maybe a grand or so.

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@cash_tx
But it and run a 263 win mag reamer into it open the bolt face and you'll have a fantastic Kong range rifle that will shit all over the creedemore.
Bob
Just a thought

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I would assume the same is true for the 6.5 carcanos (6.5x52 vs the Arisaka at 6.5x50) that all came home as well?

@mdwest
The 6.5 carcano is an unusual calibre that's actually .268 and from memory it has gain twist rifling so it's not a true 6.5
Bob

 

[cash_tx]

@cash_tx
But it and run a 263 win mag reamer into it open the bolt face and you'll have a fantastic Kong range rifle that will shit all over the creedemore.
Bob
Just a thought

It's a good idea, but I've just got too many other projects on hand right now. I actually need to get rid of a few before getting anything else.