6.5x55 or .257 Roberts?

[cgturner7]

I'm considering my next rifle purchase. I currently own a H&R Ultra in .308 and my grandfather's old Remington 30-06. I want a smaller caliber for Texas whitetail hunting. Which of these two calibers would you purchase and why?

[North Texan]

Both guns would serve the purpose well. I would probably go with the .257 since I think ammo is a little easier to find. If you reload, then it wouldn't make much difference. I don't have much experience with the 6.5x55.

[jmfa1957]

I have no experience with the .257 Roberts, so my opinion is one sided. I absolutely love my 6.5 Swedes. I've got two M38 Swedish Mausers with open sights and one CZ 550 in 6.5x55 sporting a Zeiss Conquest scope. All are phenomenal shooters, and my CZ is undoubtedly capable of much better accuracy than my shooting skills can realize without a bench rest.

The 6.5 mm bullets are very stable in flight, and the high sectional density means that they penetrate extremely well. They are more effective on game than the numbers may suggest. The 120 and 129 grain bullets do really well on deer, and the Swede will drive these fairly fast for flat shooting, ~2600 to 2800 fps with the right powders. The 140 grain bullets are effective on tougher critters like hogs; the Swede can drive these about 2500 fps. I've never tried the 160 grain bullets, but the Swede doesn't drive these all that fast, up to 2400 fps, and I've not found a need for them yet.

If you reload, ammunition is seldom a problem, just get on WWW.MidwayUSA.com and order up what you need in terms of brass and bullets. Not sure what ammunition availability is in Texas, but out here in the People's Republic of California neither 6.5x55 nor .257 Roberts is all that common, but both can be had. Frankly, if I had the .257 I would reload for that as well.

The .257 shoot mostly lighter bullets than the Swede, so if you like to shoot varmints and coyotes as well as deer, you might find the .257 to be a bit more versatile.

I doubt that you would regret buying either caliber; however, I highly recommend getting one of each so as to avoid any possible disappointments.

[James B]

I own both of these calibers. I would hate to give up either one but would give up the 257 before the 6.5x55. The Old swaede does well on varmitrs as well with the 85 grain hollow point. You must reload however to take full advantage of either one of these rounds. If you don't wish to reload then a 25-06 would be the way to go in this class of rifle.

[Virginia7]

Neither one. The Swede & the Roberts are both good cartridges, BUT both are too limited in the availability of factory ammo. Then again, if you handload, I guess I'd take
the Swede - little better bullet selection I think.

As noted above, I too would go with the 25-06 in this case, or maybe a .270Win.
On second thought, yep, I'd go with a .270Win.

[Charley]

I have a fair amount of experience with the 6.5x55, and am just starting out working with the .257. The 6.5x55 is more flexible...if you reload, bullet weights fromm 85 grains to 160 are available. Heaviest .257 bullet I am aware of is a 125 grain. Sectional density and ballistic co-effiecent are all on the side of the 6.5. When you get right down to it, though, for Texas whitetails, either one will do a more than adequate job.

[Superpig]

I have owned and hunted with the 257 Roberts for the last five years. It is the rifle I reach for most when I'm hunting deer and feral hogs. If you are a handloader and are trying to decide between the two I would choose the 6.5X55. It's a versatile round and with reloads can reach respectable muzzle velocity. If you don't reload I would pick the 257. You can choose from Federal Premium ammo loaded with the 120 gr. Nosler Partition or the Hornady Light Magnum load with the 117 gr. SST. One word of caution is that new factory rifles aren't plentiful in either caliber. They can be found and usually can be ordered by a local gun shop.

If you don't handload I would opt for the 25-06 or the 260 Remington. The 06 will achieve around 150-200 fps more velocity than the 257 with the same bullet weights. The 260 is factory loaded to higher chamber pressure than the 6.5 and factory ammo is much more available. I hope I have helped you in your decision. Also, factory new rifles are easier to find in 25-06 & 260.

[BareBack Jack]

I would go with the 25-06 in the Ruger #1,just cause it has a 26 in. barrel and the 25-06 shines with a 26 inch tube.

The 25-06 with a 115 gr bulet handles the white-tail and the mulies here in Montana with no problems.It should work for them Texas white-tails to.

As for a varmit gun it will take any coyote that walks,85 gr hollow points.

[8mm/06]

I think both calibers will do the job you're looking to do. I have a preference for the 6.5 X 55 cause it has a wider range of uses. But the .257 is a sweet round...based on the 7 X 57 case, and hard to argue with its success.
I am still toying with reaming out the chamber of an old Arisaka I have...was going to have the chamber cut a bit deeper to become the 6.5 X 257 Roberts...but it would be so close to the Swede round that I currently use that I've been putting off spending the money.
Whichever decision you make yuou'll probably fall in love with the soft recoil and flatt shooting rifle. Take your pick.

[halcon]

I have both and if I had to make a choice it would be the 6.5X55 . I reload so it is easy to get ammo for both of them .