[cratz2]

I've really just about exhausted my resources trying to find a 257 Roberts that suits my requirements and am starting to think about buying a rifle in another caliber and having it rebarreled. I know the 257 is based on the 7x57 case but are there any other calibers that have the same boltface?

Thanks for your help.

[Mike Irwin]

Yep.

Anything that will work on a .30-06/.308 bolt face with work with .257 Roberts.

A FEW possible rifles include:

.22-205
.220 Swift
6mm Remington
.240 Wby. Magnum
.243 Winchester
.250 Savage
.270 Winchester
.300 Savage
.25-06
6.5x55 Swedish Mauser (a little oversized, but will work)
7mm Remington/.280 Remington
.260 Remington
7mm-08 Rem.
8mm Mauser
.358 Win.
.35 Whelen

In other words, there are a TON of possible conversions out there.

[cratz2]

I did not know what... Thanks Mike!

[Badger Arms]

Mike forgot about 50 or 60. My favorites you might not come across in a bolt action are the 45 ACP and 44 Automag... HEHEHE.

Might I suggest you find a rifle that has the correct aciton and magazine length to suit your needs. The Savage short-action is a bit short, IIRC, for the .257. Remington and Winchester are excellent choices.

[Mike Irwin]

Forgot 40 or 50?

Nope. I didn't forget them. I didn't go for wildcats, improved cartridges, "flash in the pan wonder calibers," most of the European metric stuff, etc. Only what's relatively commonly available right now on your dealer's shelves.

You'll find a used .270 a LOT sooner than you'll find a 9.3x57 Mauser or a 7mmx64 Breneke.

As for .45 ACP, doesn't everyone have a DeLisle carbine in the closet? :)

[cratz2]

Thanks for the replies guys. I'll probably be looking for either a Winchester or Ruger long action and go from there.

[Meanoldfart]

Why do you particularly want a .257 Roberts? Not that it is a bad caliber, There are just a lot of more modern calibers out there, that will do the same and more.

[Otony]

If it is one of the current short action Savages, it does have a magazine long enough for the .257 Roberts. The newer Savages have a 3" magazine.

Even if it were not a longer magazine, factory .257 ammunition would run through a shorter mag. It is only when you handload the .257 to a longer overall length that you would run into a problem.

[Mike Irwin]

There's a lot of older cartridges that will also do the same thing as the .257.

Sometimes the having is the most important thing...

[Badger Arms]

Mike, I shoulda put a smiley face after my post. Sorry. Here it is:

:) :) :) :) :) :D

[cratz2]

Why do you particularly want a .257 Roberts? Not that it is a bad caliber, There are just a lot of more modern calibers out there, that will do the same and more.

Not sure... I have several rifles in what I consider 'sensible' calibers - 243, 25-06, 6.5x55, .270 and .308. I grew up shooting a 257 Roberts on a Mauser action owned by one of those 'one rifle' guys and it just left a lasting impression. I'll probably get it reamed for the Ackley Improved version and they're within 100 or 200 fps of the 25-06 while using less powder.

As always, just looking for another rifle.

[Meanoldfart]

O.K. cool reason, but if I was a young fellow today searching for a "new" rifle, I'd love to try out a 7mmWSM. Short action, Lots of powder, and REAL fast.
Just my $.02
MOF:D

[cratz2]

but if I was a young fellow today searching for a "new" rifle, I'd love to try out a 7mmWSM.

Yeah, those new short magnums don't do much for me. First of all, I don't see why powder effeciency enters into hunting cartridge selection. There are so many 300 Winchester Magnum and so many 7mm Remington Magnum rifles and ammo at stores that I just don't see the need for these new cartridges.

Furthermore, I don't know how much difference 400 fps makes to someone that never shoots beyond 300 yards. I mean, the 6.5x55 has been killing game all over the world in all sizes. A 140 Gr 6.5 mm bullet at 2,800 fps will pretty much kill anything that walks with proper shot placement at pretty much any reasonable distance. If you can do this with a chambering that doesn't kick much, doesn't use much powder and is easy enough of the barrel to last for 100 years, why not?

My grandmother's brother did game control in eastern Tenn from about 1935 until about 1960 plus or minus a few years when he was shooting at my fathers countrymen :D and he did all of his killing with a 257 Roberts and a 357 Magnum. Good enough for him, good enough for me. He heavily influenced my cartridge choices and gun choices. I've been fighting getting a Roberts ever since I've been buying rifles. I guess old habits and desires die hard.

[Mike Irwin]

Badger,

I know you were just joking, but there is a lot of truth in your statement.

When you get right down to it, I wouldn't be surprised if you could link upwards of 500 cartridges directly to the Mauser .473 diameter head.

I once sat down to do a "family tree" for the Mauser cartridges, and by the time I finally surrendered, I had something well over 100.

I know there are more, a LOT more, but I was having problems getting dimensions for some of the European experimental military rounds.

[Freightman]

I just got a 6.5x55 Swede built on a VZ24 Bruno Mauser action you can cover a five shot group with a nickel I am in love.