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Old March 19, 2017, 07:35 AM   #1
Deerhunt
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.257 Roberts

I was looking for a Remington 760 in .257 roberts and there aren't a lot out there and I was wondering what calibers you could rechamber (think that's the right word,having a brain fart) it in. I know that a short caliber probably wouldn't work and I read in this forum that a 25-06 would work but Remington didn't make the 760 or 7600 in 25-06 any advice besides contacting the custom shop? (I asked about it 3 months ago and no reply)
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Old March 19, 2017, 07:47 AM   #2
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The 257R hasn't been a factory option in the 760 for 1/2 century (+/-) so finding one in decent condition will cost big $$. A custom re-barrel of a 30/06 to 25/06 would also be big $$. I seriously doubt Remington Custom would make this conversion so you need to be looking for a gunsmith who specializes in the 760 barrel work.
I don't want to rain on your parade but such an odd request is going to be expensive regardless of where it is done.
FWIW My first deer rifle was a 760 (30/06) and I've mounted and zeroed scopes on several 243-30/06 while I was in the gunshop business. I don't feel the 760 platform is designed to provide the accuracy to actually utilize the range capabilities of the 25/06 cartridge vs the 243 Win. I've used both cartridges extensively over the last 50 years so I do know what each is capable of in the field.
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Old March 19, 2017, 08:02 AM   #3
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How would c getting a 760 or 7600 30-06 and putting a 257 roberts barrel on it work?
Sorry if I asked any dumb questions so far as I am only 13 and still trying to learn


P.S. I hunt with a 7600 in .243 so I am familiar with the pumps
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Old March 19, 2017, 08:10 AM   #4
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You need to do some research on if the 760 / 7600 is one action size and multiple magazines or multiple action sizes.

If same, you would just buy your 760, buy mags for the caliber you want and send it off to be rebarreled.

Remember, with a bolt rifle, part of rebarreling is accuracy improvement. With a 760, accuracy improvement might be minimal because it will be limited by how the gun locks up and by attachments to the barrel stressing it.
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Old March 19, 2017, 08:30 AM   #5
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First off you'd have to find a gunsmith who works on Remington pump rifles. A lot of gunsmith have more business than they can keep up with, so they don't have to take work they don't want to do. The second thing you'll have to realize it costs money to rebarrel, figure an average of $600-700 depending on barrel used. So if you pick up a used 760/7600 for a reasonable price, figure it's going to cost you over $1000 to rebarrel. As the price i quoted you doesn't include any of the finish work like bling or coatings to the metal, or any other work you might want done.

Hillbilly custom rifles works on the Remington pumps, you might contact him.

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Old March 19, 2017, 04:03 PM   #6
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I found this on the barrel extensions for a 7600

Note: I don't have a 7600, so it was a search result..

https://www.shootersforum.com/gunsmi...on-7600-a.html
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Old March 19, 2017, 04:27 PM   #7
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Thank you for that surveyor that was very helpful
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Old March 19, 2017, 08:00 PM   #8
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"How would c getting a 760 or 7600 30-06 and putting a 257 roberts barrel on it work?"

It could work OK especially if you could find some factory magazines for a 6mm Remington. The 6mmR is basically the same case(same length and close to same overall dimensions-6mm R, 257 Rob, 7x57) as the 257 Roberts. The 257 might feed fine through standard 270/30-06 mags. I don't know this for sure as my only reference is based on Mauser 98 actions.
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Old March 19, 2017, 08:05 PM   #9
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The Remington mags are for multiple caliber and the one is for 243,257,6mm,308,7mm-08,and 260
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Old March 19, 2017, 09:19 PM   #10
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The 257 Roberts is based on the 7x57 mauser case which means it falls between what is normally a short action caliber (223 or 308 based) and long action (stuff based off 30-06; 270, 25-06, etc). Remington put the 257 Roberts into their short action rifles.

25-06 goes in a long action. And the 760 barrel has that big lug on it. So you can't make the shorter 257 roberts that way without a lot of expense. And there aren't really any other 257 calibers out there besides the super long 257 weatherby mag. A bolt gun would be a lot easier to come by. The Remington 722 can be found on gunbroker. And it's really the same as today's 700 short action--fits in the same stock. I got a nice one last month on gunbroker in 257 Roberts for a little over $500

Savage bolt guns are easy/cheap to rebarrel. It'd run about $225.

Last edited by 30Cal; March 19, 2017 at 09:26 PM.
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Old March 20, 2017, 03:22 AM   #11
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Wisdom from 30Cal! 257 Roberts, really? OK, let's try and support that thought for a while and try to be positive about it without ignoring valid negatives.

First of all, not to ignore the Elephant in the room: Take up reloading or go home and choose another caliber. But it's a great caliber that was deservedly popular until it was swept aside by the advent of the 243 Winchester. It didn't abruptly go away, but has faded away and a cult following remains and there are still new rifles being made for it, probably all bolt actions, although, I did find this: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/630769566

Myself I would prefer it in an older classic bolt-action, ideally a pre-'64 model 70 Winchester, but I ain't got pockets that deep unless astounding luck fell upon me. But there is this newer push-feed that could work out nicely: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/630250837

And then there are Kimbers and Rugers and a few Remington 700's out there.

But probably the best deal might be an older Remington model 722 like this one: http://www.gunbroker.com/item/630589997

And remember always that older classic rifles have an enduring charm that none of the modern plastics can ever have.
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Old March 20, 2017, 07:29 PM   #12
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I had a really nice custom Mauser rifle built a few years ago. I knew I wanted a Shilen barrel and it was a full length 98 action. I wanted something classic and the .257 Roberts seemed like a great choice. Then the gunsmith suggested going with .257 Roberts AI. Can fire all the factory ammo plus the AI version adds on 150 fps or so. Great rifle and I would sure rather have it than a .270 or something.

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Old March 20, 2017, 10:19 PM   #13
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Don't be bad-rappin' my 270, now....
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Old April 9, 2017, 08:04 AM   #14
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In my experience the 257is a wonderful cartridge. Mine is an AI,but that's a minor preference.For most purposes,its unnecessary.

What you are somewhat up against,it is a "square peg" cartridge in a time of "round hole" rifles.

In the days of the 257,the receivers of choice were milsurp bolt actions,or the Winchester/Remington equivalent.The magazines,rails,etc were set up for the Mauser cartridge case derived rounds or 30-06 derived rounds.
As the 257 is a necked down 7x57,it fed and functioned fine.The Mauser length box gives plenty of room to long seat bullets.
If you find any bolt receiver ideal for these cartridges,you can easily build a very nice hunting rifle.
You are free to have your preferences,but the 257 works via precise shot placement.In that way,a bolt offers plenty of follow up.Generally,you will have a lighter,more accurate,and more dependable hunting rifle with a bolt gun.
Most (not all) 6mm Rem rifles would work well to convert.Some 6mm Rem rifles were built on true short actions,like the Rem 600. You CAN do that.But if you do,you will be deep seating lighter bullets to a short cartridge length. That decision by Rem may have contributed to the success of the 243.
Rem twisted the 6mm barrels for light,short varmint weight bullets,and stuck the 257 with anemic 117 gr round nose (shorter) bullets.

You might have to build it,as the 257 lacked the sales volume to sustain factory chambering. I'd avoid the 257's built on 308 length actions myself.You don't have mag length for long seated 115 and 120 gr bullets.

If you choose a 308 length action,bolt,pump.or semi,we are back to the square peg and round hole.While I am a .257 fan,I also know the 243,260 Rem,7-08,and 308 are also fine cartridges.
Any of them will serve as well as a .257 . Its easy to have those in a short action repeater.
A 260 Rem and a .257 R just are not that different. Seven thousandths of an inch!! Velocities are equivalent. More bullet types are available for the 260.

My point,with the available choices,and not creating unnecessary trouble for yourself,Think about that square peg/round hole thing ,get her done,and go shoot!

Last edited by HiBC; April 9, 2017 at 08:12 AM.
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Old April 9, 2017, 01:02 PM   #15
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I don't know of a pump action done in 257 Roberts. May have happened, but I was a baby...

If your after the 257 Roberts, then why not the Savage 99, or better yet a Ruger M77.
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Old April 9, 2017, 05:34 PM   #16
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Savage 99 was never made in 257 Roberts. It was made for short action cartridges only. As stated above, 257 Roberts is an intermediate length cartridge.
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Old April 9, 2017, 06:16 PM   #17
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Look up REMAGE barrels.

They do a Savage like thread cut and a nut.

Once you et the barrel off (Gunsmith) then its easy to put the new on.

Have him do it or a home made barrel clamp

If its a once deal gunsmith, if you want to do more then buy the tools from Northern Shooters Supply (action vice)

Abut $150 total in tools.
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Old April 9, 2017, 07:16 PM   #18
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Quote:
As stated above, 257 Roberts is an intermediate length cartridge.
All my reloading manuals list the the max oal for 257 Roberts as 2.78", a bit shorter than the 308 Win at 2.81". That's short action.

I know some gunsmiths, rebarrelling mauser actions, took advantage of the 3"+ magazines by cutting the leade slightly longer so deer hunters could load 120 gr. spitzer bullets in their 257 Roberts. Maybe this is the source of the confusion about "intermediate" cartridges.

Last edited by oldscot3; April 9, 2017 at 07:24 PM.
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Old April 9, 2017, 07:46 PM   #19
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As the guys point out, .257 Roberts is pretty much a 6.35x57.
Just that Remington hamstrung it with blunt bullets and, in later models, with short actions.
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Old April 10, 2017, 09:26 AM   #20
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What about a 270? the 270 has a large list of bullets that can be used in it 90gr up to 160gr there is some 270 out there good luck
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Old April 10, 2017, 03:12 PM   #21
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I have two .257 Robt., a Ruger #1B and a Winchester M70 Featherweight. (FWT) I also have the FWT 7x57. They're very nice rifles and accurate too. My biggest gripe about the M70 FWT in those cartridges is they put a block in the magazine which make a shorter follower and long bolt stop part of the packaged. Replace those three parts with 30-06 length parts and you can seat longer for closer to the throat loading. One of these years I'll probably do just that to my two but they work OK as is.
The Ruger being a single shot rifle does not have that problem and is a tack driver. I like the .257 Bob.
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Old April 18, 2017, 09:53 AM   #22
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257 Roberts in a #1 and M77

The older tang safety Model 77 Ruger's would shoot up a storm. Very good rifle. My only gripe on the #1B was a very long throat the excluded 75 and 87 gr. bullets. Using a Mauser action is a winner-been there done that. Right, the real problem with the Roberts was poorly loaded factory ammo with RN bullets. On the other hand shooting a 243 with 117 and 120 gr. bullets will show you why the Roberts went by the way.

Last edited by J.G. Terry; April 18, 2017 at 10:20 AM.
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Old April 18, 2017, 10:31 AM   #23
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Kinda tough to shoot 117 and 120 grain bullets in a .243 AS ORIGINALLY PRODUCED, when the new and wonderful 6mms were running the .257 out of town. The Winchester's 10 twist is just adequate for a 100 grain spitzer or a 105 roundnose. The 107 gr SMK needs an 8 twist, the 110 gr SMK a 7, as do the heavy Berger VLDs. I do not know a major maker of 6mms as heavy as 117 grains.

The .257 Roberts was hamstrung by limitations of 1934 bullets and powder. IMR 3031 was about the best they could do at the time. If you wanted accuracy, you were probably better off with a bolt action .250 Savage.

Last edited by Jim Watson; April 18, 2017 at 10:42 AM.
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Old April 18, 2017, 12:48 PM   #24
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"The .257 Roberts was hamstrung by limitations of 1934 bullets and powder. IMR 3031 was about the best they could do at the time."

Not to mention that quite a few "customs" were made from 1893 and 1895 Mauser actions which were considered too weak for proper loads. A .257 Robt. loaded to equal pressures of the .243/6MM Rem. will run right along side them and in some gun beat them. If I had the choice of hunting deer with any of the three mentioned, I'd take the .257. I just like it a little bit better.
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Old April 18, 2017, 01:46 PM   #25
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I find a couple of things wrong with the "Roberts was loaded light to protect the Spanish Mausers" theory.

In the first place, it would be most unusual for a factory load made for major make factory rifles to be held down to protect custom shop products. The only thing close is the mild US 8mm made to be easy on 1888s and other pre-spitzer rifles.

In the second place, prior to the introduction of the .257 Remington Roberts in 1934, the custom rifles were chambered for the .25 (Neidner) Roberts and the .25 (Griffin & Howe) Roberts. Both are considerably different from the .257 Remington Roberts and from each other. There is no backwards compatibility, a .257 Roberts cartridge will not even chamber in a .25 Roberts custom of either type.
I doubt the manufacturers of the day would worry about the liability of a good stout load being shot in a rechambered .25 (Sharpe said there were not many of those.) or a new custom .257 on a Spanish Mauser action. There is certainly nobody underloading the .308 to safeguard the 7.62 conversions.
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