Ideas for .257 Roberts custom?

[cgturner7]

Years ago I shot my first Texas whitetail with this caliber and fell in love.  I'd like to build a custom but would like your ideas.  Only two conditions-  1) I'd like to do as much of the work as I can,  2) Keep the cost under $600.  Ready, set, go!!!

[Hooker]

Great classic cartridge, I 've got one started on a Mauser action. I,m planing on a full length stock 20" barrel butterknife bolt handle.
So far I've got the action and a Shilen barrel. I have to many projects going at once I'll probably finish them before they shovel dirt on me  :-)
I've got about 250 in this one so far. A friend of mine has a Carcano barreled action in 257 Roberts you may be able to pick up at good price.
It'd be low pressure rounds only. If your intrested PM me I'll hook you upwith him.

Pat

[Yukon Jack]

$600 might be a tough limit for a custom rifle.  If you can find a surplus 8x57 Mauser or 7x57, rebarrel and restock, you might get close.

Another option would be to find a well worn M70, M54, 721, 722, 700, etc... and have it rebarreled.  That's likely to push you over the $600 also, though.

I've toyed with the idea of finding a decent milsurp Mauser chambered in 8x57, part out the entire rifle except the action and start from there.  Safety conversion, new trigger, new barrel, new wood, etc...  I'm not sure you can do it for $600 unless you do everything yourself.  Not too many of us non-gunsmiths can.

Probably be money ahead to just find a good used 257 Roberts from Winchester, Ruger, or Remington.

[sgtt]

If you frequent gun shows, gun stores, and pawn shops you may find one already started.  I would look at every semi-customized mauser on the table.  They usually do not cost as much as the Rem. next to it.

[Coal River Rat]

Tough one! A few different options that I see. If you already have a 700 or 70 action this might be possible. Send your action to Pac-nor or Douglas and have a barrel of your choice and budget put on along with truing up the action, lapping the lugs ect.-+ or- 400 bones. Find a take-off stock(You'll never find a McMillian at a price this low), but you can find a take-off HS precision(w/alum. bedding block) for around 150 or a Rem Ti takeoff stock for around 100 to 150. Even with the block bed it anyway- and start out with it freefloated until you shoot it and go from there,do it yourself- about 30 bones. Put on a set of Talley lightweight rings for about 40 delivered. If you budget allows it look at a trigger job from a local gunsmith for about 50, or do it your self-$0. The reason I would go with a Rem or Win. action is you'll have no problem finding used parts or aftermarket accessories for these models.  Another option is to buy a Ruger 77 in 257 Roberts(comes with good scope rings)-465, buy a Timney or Rifle Basix trigger- about 75 and install it yourself, bed the stock yourself(accurglass)- about 20-25 bones. The latter would not be a bad option if you are on a strict $600 budget.  I hope you already have the scope your gonna use.   Good Shooting and Good Luck!

[Mike in Ct]

For 600 dollars you should be thinking of a top quality used gun or one of those single shot handi-rifles & adding a custom barrel...used 257 roberts do show up from time to time...The old ruger M-77 I had was a nice sporter & it shot 100 gr. bullets pretty well..mostly depending on it's mood & mine...I owned that gun for nearly 20 years & all I miss about it was the trigger job I did to it & my old Lyman 3 X 9 scope..Reloading for that gun was trying..deer loads that fit in the magazine needed to be shorter than optimal lenght for the (over) lenght amount of free bore in that tube..I used 120 gr bullets only once & they were not any better..If you can check the lenght of the throat & see how it is cut you will do ok if the gun has the rate of twist you want for the bullets you wish to shoot..I shot a good many deer & varmints with that gun..It was nice looking & easy to carry..A Fast handling bolt gun with the safety in the right place..The long throat on the chamber cut into that gun really bugged me...For best accuracy I had to load cartidges too long for the magazine...other than that it was a fine rifle..mike in ct.

[Somerled]

You might look up ER Shaw. www.ershawbarrels.com

I assume you're looking a a bolt action. The surplus 98 Mauser actions often require more work than they are worth. It's difficult to find one in good shape.

Some budget actions such as the Howa 1500 might work for you. I'd probably look around for a used Model 700 BDL or Winchester Model 70 Classic long action. I think they would work better than a short action.

I had a Model 700 Classic .257 once. They were made one year only. Maybe you can find one somewhere for not much more than your benchmark price. I think Winchester chambered the Model 70 Featherweight in .257 Roberts for awhile. It is a pretty rifle.

As for stocks, I'd probably look at synthethic if I was building a turn bolt. Brownells.com is a good place to look.

You could get a T/C Encore with a Fox River/TC .257 Roberts barrel. There's nothing wrong with a single shot. It would be a compact rig in a tree stand.

[armory414]

Check with Gun Parts Corp. for actions.  They currently have Charles Daly Mauser actions from Czechovslovakia--I believe the same stuff used on the old Interarms Mark X.  Barrels can be had through them, or another source.

If you are looking at options other than bolt action, I suggest looking at the Thompson Center Encore single-shot.  A used frame can be had for around $250, a carbine stock for around $100, and and that leaves you $250 for a barrel.  If you want a custom barrel, check out OTT technologies or Fox Ridge Outfitters.

[jgrass5]

Great caliber,

My brother has a Remington Model 700 Mountain Rifle thats probably 10 years old. It is probably the ideal carry rifle for whitetails. Its light, balanced and extremely accurate with 117 plus P Federals. It just makes you shoot better there is no recoil to speak of.

I think he paid less than $450 for it new.
Just food for thought.

Thanks,  Jerry

[gunnut69]

Most used rifles don't get worn out.  They simply don't get shot that much, the exception of course are the varmit calibers..  Still you should be able to find a good used 257 Rob to use as a starting point.  The cheapest are usually the Remington 722's.  This was a standard chambering and were quite a few made.. I've seen them bring as little as $250.  I'd replace the bolt handle and perhaps install M700 floorplate/nagazine parts.  I've a 721 that I'm replacing the standard parts with a detachable magazine assembly from a M700 long action,..  The M70's in this caliber are a bit pricey but occasionaly one comes up of the auction sights that has been messed with.  The collectors aren't all that interested and they Bring between $400-600.  Restore it right and the value will return(some)..  Then there are the custom rifles.  The value of these are usually quite low and the 257 is a favorite cartridge of the custom makers.  I bought a push feed M70 with a custom stock and a Douglas CM barrel at a gunshow.  The previous owner owns a well known shooters supply company..  The rifle was a trim little sporter in the mountain rifle tradition with a wood stock at least xx perhaps xxx and was chambered in the 280 AI.  It even came with the RCBS dieset to reload it with.  It had one flaw,,  The stock had castoff, for a left handed shooter. I'm right handed.  But at $300 for the whole works, I will try bending the existing stock.  If it breaks, I'll restock it!!  Of course this is one more project for the shop that won't be paying so it's priority is pretty low...  Paying folks to the front!!

[magnum308]

cgturner7,

Custom is what you make and you cam make whatever you want to make it. If you have a passion for a custom rifle go for it. The .257 Roberts is a  classic too and very worhty of a custom rifle.

My thoughts, and just my thoughts, I'd go for a full custom job. I'd probably start with a Winchester Classic action (I'd like to make it a short action but I don't think it'll fit on one. This calibre could be made into a very light little rifle) because I like CRF actions and it'd be cheaper than shortening a M98. Have the action blueprinted, lugs and rails lapped to work and feed as smooth as glass. A nice 22" Douglas Premium barrel with barrel band fore sight (I like these). Custom stock in Califorian walnut or the like in AAA fancy grade. Skelton grip and matching high polised blued cartridge trap in the butt stock. Dale Goen's Fleur de lis with points checkering pattern and a nice Pachmyre classic recoil pad. Then I'd have a partner to my FN M98 classic custom .308 Norma Mag, see below:











Unnfortunately, I don't think you'll do it for around $600.

Magnum308

[riddleofsteel]

Pick up a lightly used Savage in 25-06. Take it to a gunsmith and have him set the barrel back and rechamber in 257 Roberts. The 257 Roberts benefits from a long action so it would be ideal and the price should be right.

[longwalker]

Thats is a hard thing to come by but this is how I did it.

I purchased a used Savage 110 with a scope in .270 winchester. I purchased an Adams and Bennet Barrel from Midway. and was off to the races. You will need the savage Barrel nut wrench and a set of head space gages. In addition you will need a Hydraulic press and some oak blocks to clamp the Barrel when removing the old one.

After you remove the barrel and action from the stock, you can either strip and refinish the savage stock or buy a new one and finish it.

I chose to do the strip and refinish with Boiled Linseed oil. It doesn't look like xxx fancy french walnut but It looks a whole lot better than it did.

When installing the new barrel, use the go / nogo gages to set the head space. screw the barrel in until they are set. The thread the Barrel lock nut down and tighten.

I did some work on the trigger and improved it enough to make me happy. I decided on a different Caliber 338-06 so I had to do some barrel inletting to clear the new barrel.

I have a unique hunting rifle I reconfigured myself for about $500.00 It shoots well enough I don't have to make excuses to anyone.

No machining required.


Longwalker

[while99]

The $600 limitation makes it tough.  I'm going to build a .257 Roberts but I already have the base rifle.  Not too long ago I bought a Winchester Model 70 classic stainless synthetic featherweight (no longer cataloged) in .270 Winchester.  When I shoot out the .270 barrel, I'll ship it off to Hart's or Douglas and have them build a .257 and will ask that they keep the existing barrel contour.

[riddleofsteel]

Unless you abuse that rifle by shooting it too fast or sloppy cleaning practices you may an old man before you NEED a new barrel. Of course if you give the .270 a chance to do its job you may forget the .257 Roberts altogether.

[ron haralson]

I have a 257 3 - position target rifle made on a tight budget, and would say it depends on how much work you can do yourself.

     I had an Arisaka action, added a Bauska barrel, Redfield sights(scopes weren't allowed in the competition of interest at the time) and got a maple 2x8 from the hardwood dealer to make the stock.

     That was 30 - odd years ago, but I still have the rifle and use it in the offhand matches at the Cast Bullet Assn. postals, where it's still competitive. For my purposes, I couldn't wish for a better rifle.

     So - good luck and let us know how you make out.

[Donaldo]

I think riddleofsteel had the best idea.  I was wondering why no one had suggested the Savage as a starting point.  If you shop around you should be able to pick up a 110 in 25-06 for less than $300.  Even if its not a 25-06 just get the action.  You probably would be better off with the long action, ie, 110, 111, etc.  The short actions are 10, 11, 12, etc.  Probably half the cost of a custom rifle is gunsmith labor.  With the Savage all you need is the barrel nut wrench (32-38 bucks), a decent vise, some wood blocks to fit the action, not the barrel, to change barrels yourself.  Go to SavageShooters.com. for good info on how to do this.  The action is straight round, the barrel is tapered round.  Very hard to get the blocks to grab a taper.  You can order a barrel for a Savage fully chambered, not short or long chambered where you have to have a gunsmith set the headspace.  There are various decent priced barrels out there, some chambered anyway you want.  Lothar Walther, ER Shaw are probably the cheapest.  The Walther is by far the best, some think as good or better than Shilen.  I think about $275 for the SS Walther.  You can also get a fully chambered SS Douglas barrel from SavageShooterSupply for about $259, I think.  MidwayUSA is closing out their threaded prechambered Adams & Bennet barrels for Savage for $99.  ER Shaw makes these barrels for Midway.  I don't know if they have the caliber you want.  If you find a 110 in a wood stock you can refinish the wood.  You should be able to go this route and get by for about $600.