98 Mauser .257 Roberts...need input

[Chuck from arkansaw]

I am SLOWLY rebuilding a 98 mauser in .257 Roberts.  It was built in the 50's as a sheep rifle, and I bought it at an estate sale several years ago.  I have always wanted a good .257 as a combination varmint and deer rifle, but found this one would not shoot.  I replaced the stock, scope, trigger, scope bases, etc, and it will not group better than 3" @ 100 yards. I have bought a hand lapped Wind River Rifle octagon barrel in .257 and plan to build the gun up with a new high grade walnut stock and nice furniture over the next couple of years.  Some of the decisions I have to make are in regards to the throat length, type of stock, and barrel length.  I really like the mannlicher type stocks, but that would limit me to a 18-20 inch barrel, I am wondering if the Roberts would take well to a barrel that short.  If I do not go with the mannlicher stock, I will use a clasic style, no roll over cheek piece.  In that event I would probably have the barrel cut to 24".  I would primarily shoot 75 to 87 gr. bullets, and am thinking I should specify a throat short enough to reach the lands with the lighter bullets.  I reload, and could adjust the heavier bullets, and powder to compensate for the shorter throat.  Am I thinking backwards here? should I go with a longer throat for the 120 gr. bullets, and live with the longer throat and lighter bullets?  I also need to find a gunsmith who could do a good job threading, chambering and crowning an octagon barrel for this action.  I would appreciate any advice on any or all of the above issues.

[gunnut69]

The Roberts would do fine in a 20 inch barrel and 22 inches will work in a mannlicker stocked rifle.. The 7x57 is a wonder in the 20 inch barrel but I prefer the visual balance of the 22 inch.. Just seems to look better to me..  Not scientific but its just a personal preference.

[cwlongshot]

I agree, the Roberts will be fine with a shorter barrel. BUT keep it as long as possible. You may have to cut and crown a couple times but this was what came to mind first when you mentioned your accuracy problems....

 The other isn't as pretty....You say it was built back in the '50's, right? I would do a chamber cast and include a couple inches of barrel. Look close to see how the leade and chamber dimensions look.....  LOTSA guys built 98' Mauser's ...SOME OF THEM WHERE ACTUAL GUNSMITHS!! 

 CW

[iiranger]

did he rant on the .257. Loved it. BUT, he did say it appeared to be the project of a committee. The original bullet was the long, round nosed bullet that was all they knew how to make for finest accuracy, THEN, and factory throat cut to that spec, AND they came up with shorter, more pointy bullets --all wrong for this chamber/throat-- but never got the spec changed... And the factory put the .257 in the short action where they had to seat the long, round nosed bullets deep to make the short magazine length...  He always used a full length Mauser action so he could seat bullets farther out... If the bulk of your shooting will be varmints, by all means go with a chamber by a quality smith who can adapt it to the shorter bullets. You want the heavier slug, you will give up some powder capacity seating them deep--but not so deep in a Mauser, but it is all a balancing act. Even if you plan to only hunt game with it, the high quality slugs available today make the original throat specs a poor decision. And in those days, pre 4831, the Ackley would equal the .25/06 in a lighter rifle...  luck

[gunnut69]

The gain from seating a bullet farther out of the case is small. so much so that the velocity gain is likely less than the variation the same cartridge will produce in different rifles of the same caliber. I prefer the longer action but the gain is truly minute... Shoot the gun before deciding to do anything drastic. As always recrowning is a first step if accurany isn't up to expectation. Check the bedding, especially the action bedding and work with several loads before makinog any big decisions. The difference between the Roberts and the 25-06 is small until heavier bullets better utilize the 25-06's larger case capacity.