Rebarrel Job: Long or Short Action Needed for .257 Roberts?
- Thread starter schlitz45
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GooseGestapo
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No need to limit yourself to a short action, unless you’re doing an ultra light build.
My custom M98 was originally a 7.92x57 or 8mm Mauser.
If you choose to use a short action, it makes sense to use the original short throat or “Remington” throat. The x57mm case has adequate capacity for the typical bullets and powders.
However, in a modern strong action when loaded to the same pressures as a .25/06 or .270win, the gap between the .257Roberts diminishes to near nothing!
It’s argued that the Robert’s case is near optimal for the .25 bore.
The H4831 speed powders have given me the best performance with 110 gr and up bullet weights. 4350’s speed for 100gr, and down with 4064’s with 70-85gr bullets.
If I were to build another’Bob, I would possibly try to get a 1/8” or 1/9” twist barrel as there seems to be some interest in heavier than traditional weight bullets.
My custom M98 was originally a 7.92x57 or 8mm Mauser.
If you choose to use a short action, it makes sense to use the original short throat or “Remington” throat. The x57mm case has adequate capacity for the typical bullets and powders.
However, in a modern strong action when loaded to the same pressures as a .25/06 or .270win, the gap between the .257Roberts diminishes to near nothing!
It’s argued that the Robert’s case is near optimal for the .25 bore.
The H4831 speed powders have given me the best performance with 110 gr and up bullet weights. 4350’s speed for 100gr, and down with 4064’s with 70-85gr bullets.
If I were to build another’Bob, I would possibly try to get a 1/8” or 1/9” twist barrel as there seems to be some interest in heavier than traditional weight bullets.
Gary W. Strange
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- Jan 1, 2018
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- 454
I love the .257 Roberts, have two. One short action and one long action. Like them both, but with the .257 Roberts, reloading is nearly a must, to get the most out of it. One is limited on bullet selection with a short action. If you are building, I would definitely go with a long action.
The 257 Roberts seems to have a 2.775 standardized length, but the parent case, the 7 X 57 has an OAL of 3.071". Traditional American "short actions" are based on the 2.800" overall max length of a 308 Win. Given a 30-06 has an OAL 3.34", I am going to claim that 7 X 57 mm actions are an "intermediate" action.
I have a pre 64 M70 in 257 Roberts. It is long throated, and a previous owner took out the short action parts, so now the magazine box is 30-06 length. I can seat my bullets out to 3.0" if I want, and they feed perfectly well from the magazine. I consider this an advantage as long seating the bullet adds a bit of air space, which can be filled with more powder, to have more velocity at the same pressure, or more powder to +P levels. Either way, I think it advantageous to seat the 257 Roberts to 2.9" in my M70, as that is close to the throat.
Based on what I see, a 1930's or post war Mauser military action would be just the ticket for a 257 Roberts. The magazine box for a 7 X57 or 8X57 is long enough for a long 257 Roberts round. I would avoid WW1 and earlier actions, and I would avoid German WW2 actions after 1942. This is primarily based on suspicions of wartime actions built under wartime stresses by unhappy slave laborer's. The ones at FN pulled tricks such as raising heat treatment temperatures by 100 C, just low enough to pass a proof test on a machine cannon, but brittle enough to ensure it would fail in service. Tee he, tee he. This was very dangerous as when the Nazi's discovered saboteurs, they executed them, and not in secret. They left the bodies hanging so everyone got the message. Arbeit macht frei "Work will set you free!" EEK!
I would not use a 308 Win standard American short action. However a 30-06 length action will work well, just pick one with an integral magazine box. The detachable magazine box guns are designed so you buy, magazine boxes, I don't know how flexible 30-06 length magazine boxes would be to short rounds. You know, something like a 60's, 70's, 80's, 90"s M700 ought to work out fine. Anything with a 30-06 case head and a 30-06 magazine box. A push feed M70 in a 30-06 length cartridge out to work well. You have lots of options.
I have a pre 64 M70 in 257 Roberts. It is long throated, and a previous owner took out the short action parts, so now the magazine box is 30-06 length. I can seat my bullets out to 3.0" if I want, and they feed perfectly well from the magazine. I consider this an advantage as long seating the bullet adds a bit of air space, which can be filled with more powder, to have more velocity at the same pressure, or more powder to +P levels. Either way, I think it advantageous to seat the 257 Roberts to 2.9" in my M70, as that is close to the throat.
Based on what I see, a 1930's or post war Mauser military action would be just the ticket for a 257 Roberts. The magazine box for a 7 X57 or 8X57 is long enough for a long 257 Roberts round. I would avoid WW1 and earlier actions, and I would avoid German WW2 actions after 1942. This is primarily based on suspicions of wartime actions built under wartime stresses by unhappy slave laborer's. The ones at FN pulled tricks such as raising heat treatment temperatures by 100 C, just low enough to pass a proof test on a machine cannon, but brittle enough to ensure it would fail in service. Tee he, tee he. This was very dangerous as when the Nazi's discovered saboteurs, they executed them, and not in secret. They left the bodies hanging so everyone got the message. Arbeit macht frei "Work will set you free!" EEK!
I would not use a 308 Win standard American short action. However a 30-06 length action will work well, just pick one with an integral magazine box. The detachable magazine box guns are designed so you buy, magazine boxes, I don't know how flexible 30-06 length magazine boxes would be to short rounds. You know, something like a 60's, 70's, 80's, 90"s M700 ought to work out fine. Anything with a 30-06 case head and a 30-06 magazine box. A push feed M70 in a 30-06 length cartridge out to work well. You have lots of options.
sage5907
Member
I also would also recommend a long action. My first high powered rifle was a Remington 722 in 257 Roberts and the short action would peel back the lead tip of every round that fed from the magazine. The front of the bullet tipped up at a steep angle instantly when the bolt started forward and rammed the bullet into the top of the receiver. I quickly figured out that is why ammunition manufacturers started making bullets with plastic tips. Plastic tip bullets and rifles that feed poorly were made for each other. I don't have any interest in building a 257 Roberts but I have considered building a 6.5 Swede which has the same cartridge case and if I did it would be on a long Model 70 action. The 6.5 Swede has advantages over the 257 Roberts because it will handle 120 grain bullets at higher velocity, and Nosler, Norma and Lapua all market 6.5 Swede brass.
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Larry in wyoming
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I'll pile on. Long action.
I think Brownells sells actions?
Or, cruise the pawn shops and buy some junker and go from there.
The cardinal sin of buying a donor action is to shoot it after purchase. All donors shoot extremely well. Just saying....
I think Brownells sells actions?
Or, cruise the pawn shops and buy some junker and go from there.
The cardinal sin of buying a donor action is to shoot it after purchase. All donors shoot extremely well. Just saying....
lightman
Member
I have seen both. My 700 is a CDL and is a long action. A friends Daughter has a 700 with a synthetic stock thats a short action. As the others have said, the long action gives you more options on bullets and seating length.
CowboyTim
Member
I've thought for a while that the 257 Roberts would be perfect in a mid length action like an M48 Yugo Mauser or an M24 FN...
The one i built was a small ring 98. Id personally not want a action/magazine shorter than 3" or longer than 3.2-4".
I will probably use a ruger American or Mossberg Patriot long action for the next .257 I put together.....most likely make it an AI and give it a fast twist tube.
130-135 class VLD at 3000fps is just about perfect for what we do here.
The Tikka actions would also be nice to build on.
I will probably use a ruger American or Mossberg Patriot long action for the next .257 I put together.....most likely make it an AI and give it a fast twist tube.
130-135 class VLD at 3000fps is just about perfect for what we do here.
The Tikka actions would also be nice to build on.
Anchorite
Member
Count me in the “go long” camp. Don’t restrict yourself.
GooseGestapo
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- Jan 6, 2003
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- 6,578
You read my mind LoonWulf!!!
Too many outstanding modern actions with Savage M110 style barrel/Reciever nuts facilitating assembly and headspace and custom barrel makers producing excellent quality barrels. Though choices abound, I can recommend E.R.Shaw from previous experience.
Too many outstanding modern actions with Savage M110 style barrel/Reciever nuts facilitating assembly and headspace and custom barrel makers producing excellent quality barrels. Though choices abound, I can recommend E.R.Shaw from previous experience.
CowboyTim
Member
I've used a few ER Shaw barrels and have one of the early MkVIIs in 300 Win Mag, never been disappointed.
Jim Watson
Member
As said, a .257 Remington Roberts is just a 6.35x57 so a Mauser would be right.
It is a known upgrade to put a .30-06 magazine follower and bolt stop in a Model 70 for the “Three Inch Roberts”. I think a poster here has one.
It is a known upgrade to put a .30-06 magazine follower and bolt stop in a Model 70 for the “Three Inch Roberts”. I think a poster here has one.
