Why isnt the 6.5x57 a more popular round? I have been looking into this cartridge and ballisticaly it out performs the 260 Rem, and the 6.5/284 with heavier bullets and equals the 6.5-06 using less powder.

Good question. I once had a 6.5 X 57 which was a fine & accurate cartridge. The 6.5's seem to have trouble keeping or attaining popularity, in this country, for some reason. My guess is that many go to the .270 or .25-06 instead of the various 6.5 caliber loads.

It's the usual problem when the market is saturated with nearly identical products. Price point & availability usually win the day over trivial differences in performance.

And sometimes it doesn't even make as much sense as that, you never know.

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MikeG

Drop down another .007" and you've got the 257 Roberts...what was once a pretty popular round. Splitting hairs to call one better than the other, although with more case capacity and heavier bullets, a 6.5x57 "might" be a better cartridge for bigger game like black bears, larger wild hogs or even elk.

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Ask me about QDMA.

Over shadowed by the 6.5x55 Swede more likely.

CD

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De Oppresso Liber
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I've got a customized "Swede" chambered in 6.5x257 Rob'ts AI - will be taking it antelope hunting a a couple of weeks. Great cartridge.

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"Firearms only have two enemies - rust and politicans" author unknown

So, that would be an AI'd version of what the OP was asking about, right? I bet that is a very efficient little round!

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Ask me about QDMA.

Yep - that's it. Took .257 Roberts cases (necked down 7x57 ) and necked them up to 6.5 and fireformed. Tried necking down 7x57 cases, but found it easier and far less case damage to neck up. The rifle used to shoot sub MOA, but as age and eyes go, the groups are often MOA or slightly larger.

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"Firearms only have two enemies - rust and politicans" author unknown

One problem with the 6.5x57 is factory brass/factory ammo. Huntington has the brass from RWS and Midway has S&B factory ammo.

The Handloader's Manual of Cartridge of Cartridge Conversions has the 6.5x57 other names 6.5/7x57,6.5/257 Roberts and case forming from 7x57 cases.

I think one problem with the 6.5's is most are short action calibers in a factory chamber. You only have the 6.5x55 and 264 mag on a long action and the main stream factory rifles (Remington/Win etc) haven't chambered for the 6.5x284 Norma.

The wildcating is unlimited in the 6.5's but that is limited to those few that like doing that.

I have very limited experience with the 6.5's I shot a factory 6.5x55 had 264mag,6.5BR and 6.5x284 customs those were good shooters but I've moved on to other calibers.

Well fritz,

You got the 260 Rem and the 6.5x55 as factory rounds already. Then the 6.5-06 and the 6.5/284 for the reloaders. Just above, there is "THE CLASSIC" 7mm Mauser and the 7-08 and 280 Rem factory rounds - Just below, there is another classic in the 257 Roberts plus the 25-06.

Think MikeG is right, "It's the usual problem when the market is saturated with nearly identical products."

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Ray

And I have a 6.5mm257 Roberts Japanese dies, forming die and a chamber reamer, in the old days the 6.5mm50 was chambered to 6.5mm 257 Roberts Japanese.

F. Guffey