Author Topic: Mauser .257 Roberts - Is It Safe? (Read 1200 times)

Range Finder · « **on:** March 08, 2006, 01:46:44 PM »

Riflemen:

Recently I inherited a rifle that has a mauser action and barrel. It's a .257 Roberts and it's very nice. Has a hand-made sporter stock and was made by an engineer in Remington Arms. He used Remington ammo in it but I want to use Federal, Hornady or Winchester ammo. Although I think it will handle this ammo(+P) I thought I'd ask what you guys thought. I think it is a Mauser 98 action but quite frankly I'm not sure. I am reasonably sure it's a Mauser action. Please help me if you can. Any info greatly appreciated.

Thanks and good shooting! :grin:

Range Finder

Racepres · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2006, 02:18:33 PM »

Set a ruler accross the front ring, if it's 1inch and 3/8 or so its a small ring if 1 and 1/2 or so its probably a large ring. Also take out the bolt [bolt release on the left works like a ruger] look along the rear just ahead of the root of the handle [inline w/ the extractor] if there is a small lug it is probably a large ring . look at the locking lugs [two opposing in the front] if it has a flat bottom it is a small ring if it seems to encircle the case head [rim really] it is probably a large ring. HTH. Either action will handle the 257 handily .. but the small rings do not handle escaping gasses [in the event of a case rupture] very well. Even if vents have been drilled in the bottom of the bolt on a small ring I would insist on the best eye protection available when firing any load approaching modern pressure levels... Good luck sounds like a very cool piece and BTW the bob don't really need to be +P to be effective. MV

Range Finder · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2006, 03:34:52 PM »

Racepres:

Thanks for the information. The front ring is approximately 13/8" across the top. The ring is 11/2 " long. However, there is a locking lug just ahead of the bolt handle base in line with the extractor. Also, when looking straight on at the bolt face, the extractor along with a shallow rim around the top between the front opposing locking lugs forms a partial ring which would encircle about 190 degrees of the cartridge rim.

By the way, I'd love to use the standard loads but Remington is the only factory standard load ... at least the mildest of the factory rounds. I'm also not sure how they'll fire yet as I'm putting a new scope on top of this rifle. I'm a bear hunter and if I could use the Federal Nosler 120 gr bullet I consider using the Roberts to take a bear. Ive taken some nice ones and would like to take one with the Roberts. Deer would be no problem. I'm not one to make a caliber something it's not but with that being said I'd like to get a bit more out of the Roberts than what the Remington ammo offers.

Thanks again. I'm going to try and post some photos of this rifle if I can and I'll keep you posted. Good shooting.

Range Finder

Racepres · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2006, 04:00:49 PM »

Sounds like a large ring OK xcept the ring meas. which is hard w/o taking it out of the stock and using a caliper. Should definitely have 2 vent holes on the bottom side of the bolt, and if ya measure the stock screw spacing it will probably be 7-7/8+ although, not necessariliy. [could be intermediate action]. Pics is the best bet . If ya can't post em drop me a e-mailw/ em at amradrag@hotmail.com. If it is in fact a large ring mauser [get me a good pic of the bolt shroud in the safety area] then It will handle the bob in any configuration. Mine in 6mm'06 shows no stress whatsoever. Good luck. hope it turns out for the best for ya as I believe this could easily become yer fav. piece... MV

Huffmanite · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2006, 04:57:31 PM »

Take a look at WWW.hoosiergunworks.com/catalog/mauser_reference.html
and www.surplusrifle.com At surplusrifle take a look at bolt disassembly pics of various Mausers. May help you ID what you have.

Recently had my 1891 Argentine small ring rebarreled to 257 Roberts and my gunsmith cautioned me not to shoot +P ammo in it. Which means only shoot Remington.

Range Finder · « **Reply #5 on:** March 08, 2006, 05:15:43 PM »

Racepres:

You're correct with the stock screw spacing and mine measures slightly over 77/8" and there are two gas vent oblong holes in the bottom of the bolt. Also, I pulled up an exploded view of a Mauser 98 action off the internet and that's what I got. So I guess I can shoot the other brands of ammo.

I agree with you. I've got/had lots of rifles but there is just something about this Roberts. I'd like to send the K4 that was on top back to Weaver to be reconditioned if the cost is right but in the mean time I think I'll re-scope it. I'm very anxious to see how the old Roberts shoots.

Thanks again for the walk-thru help. I really appreciate it.

Range Finder

Racepres · « **Reply #6 on:** March 08, 2006, 05:26:40 PM »

Ha! I just happen to have a k4 on my 284 mauser [odd ctg choice for a mauser eh?] I like it alot, and I do have a couple of those big 44 and 50 mm jobs ... but in a sleek rifle there is just something about a classy scope... Hope you enjoy it in bunches... MV

Range Finder · « **Reply #7 on:** March 08, 2006, 05:48:49 PM »

Huffmanite:

Thanks for the good advice. I've got the M98 action so I should be able to shoot other ammo besides Remington. How's your Roberts shoot the Remingtons anyways?

I plan on shooting mine with a new scope very soon and I'm really looking forward to hunting this rifle.

Good shooting and thanks again for the response.

Range Finder

tbmaker · « **Reply #8 on:** March 08, 2006, 06:02:59 PM »

I built a 257 on a small ring Turk action. Love it.
Most of the commercial rounds out there are safe. Not loaded to full potential. The exception is Hornady's light mag load.
Mine loves the Fed 120 NP. Why try anything else.
Though I've tried most.

S.S. · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2006, 07:35:18 AM »

Before proceeding any farther, You should make a chamber cast
to be absolutely sure of the caliber! I have seen Mausers in at least 60 different calibers. There is probably 100's more that I havn't seen on a military Mauser action. I am talking sporterized military weapons not sporting guns. In sporting weapons I would bet that just about all calibers have been tried in a Mauser action at one time or another .
safety first.

Huffmanite · « **Reply #10 on:** March 09, 2006, 01:43:59 PM »

well consider me a newbie at shooting. I retired about 5 months ago and decided to renew my interest in reloading and shooting, something I've done little or none of since a teenager. Got started with having my partially sporterized 1891 Argentine rebarreled. Once I got the newly rebarrel action back from gunsmith and fitted it to old military stock, I looked at it and said oh why not, get a semi-inletted stock to shape and finish. Then because finding 257 Remington ammo in my area difficult, decided to reload my own. Went ahead and got supplies necessary for it as well as my 30-06 Madsen rifle and 43 Spanish Remington rolling block. I'm having fun.
How does my 257 shoot with Remington. First let me tell you I had not fired anything but a .22 in twenty years. Well finally shot it a couple of weeks ago. Took it to range to sight in a scope I had mounted and bore sighted and to try out my reloads for it. Only shooting at 50 yards, but first shot was with Remington ammo and it hit almost dead center of target. I was stunned. Sheer luck really. Had trouble holding cross hairs steady due to heavy military trigger pull. However I had no real trouble keeping Remington ammo within inner circle of target. Same thing with my reloads. Shot my scoped 30-06 Madsen that day too and my results with it rather poor compared to 257.