Is this possible, just by using a chambering reamer? Or is there a "hidden" diameter on the Mauser chamber/case profile that makes the conversion impossible?

I'm asking about conversion to a standard 280 Remington not to the "AI" or "Improved" version.

Is it just as simple as say converting 8x57 to 8mm-06 appears to be?

By that I mean similar to the hidden "diameter" that means one can't convert 243 Winchester to 244 Remington as there is an area on the 243 case wider than on the same point along the 244 Remington case.

I can't just use a 7x57 "as is" as I want this for France where military calibres are prohibited. But here in UK one can get old 7x57 BSA rifles cheap for about the equivalent of US $180.

The 7 X 57 neck diameter is slightly larger than the .280 but the amount is small.....

READ CAREFULLY: IF IT WAS MY BARREL I'd run the .280 remaer in it and go hunting.....

The difference is so small I wouldn't be concerned about it.

Will France let you get away with it being labeled a 275 Rigby? or let you get away with say a 275 Rigby AI?

Even tho a 280 is a good cartridge, I'd hate to see a good 7 x 57 barrel changed...

Edmond on the polticial forum should be an excellent source of info on the laws in France and what will pass their military restrictions..

If you are going to use it on the Continent, then why not something more Continental - perhaps 7x64? Nothing wrong with using a good German cartridge in France. The Germans have been doing that with good effect since 1870. Of course the Americans have as well, so I guess a 280 Rem would work fine too.

Maybe you could set the barrel back and rechamber it to 7mm-08. Depending on the magazine length you have on your gun, that might fit better than the 280.

quote:

Maybe you could set the barrel back and rechamber it to 7mm-08

If you set it back only enough to clean the shoulder you still have the neck issue.

I've reamed a 7x57 with a 280 in my case the ring was just enough that I could feel it with my finger nail. Brass was loaded at least 3 times before it was converted to my wildcat. If the ring is an issue simply clean it up. If you don't reload I can't see it as an issue.

Using the dimensions on Steve's page the 7x64 would leave an even larger ring.

I have a Brno 22H that was re-chambered from a 7x57 to .280Rem. and there is a tiny ring on the case neck where the 57mm case ended, it soes not impede functioning at all.

The European case specs. give the 7x57 somewhat LARGER diameter at the rear and this means that this chamber is generous for the .280 at that point. It causes no problem in THIS rifle, just takes a bit more powder to reach top velocities and it SHOOTS like dambusters.

Now, THIS chamber type is COMMONPLACE among Euro rifles and the Brenneke case is SMALLER at the rear than the .280 Rem., SO, it would NOT be a wise conversion, IMHO. The .280 Rem. is the best option for re-chambering any 7x57n rifle such as this rare, but, not pristine Brno, that is not really "collectible; it is the best standard cartridge available and one I regard highly, with appropriate handloads, of course.

You can get an easy 200 fps. velocity increase with 160s over the Mauser case and that is worth the trouble to re-chamber longer barreled rifles. My short Brno 21H is staying a 7x57 as is my Husqy 4100, both with 20.5"tubes.

Enfield....

Dewey & Ramrod are correct regarding the chamber "Ring" on the case neck.

The rechambering from 7x57 to .280 Remington will not clean up 100% UNLESS the barrel shoulder is set back, meaning the barrel shortened (cut off) at the chamber area say @ .25" the barrel threads recut and THEN rechambered.

There is an article in Ken Waters "Pet Loads" on a similar conversion from 7x57 to 7x64 Brenneke where he did not take the advice of his Gunsmith and had to have the barrel set back & rechambered due to the "Ring". Other than that it is certainly do able.

Both the .280 Remington & the the 7x64 Brenneke are excellent cartridges. My personal preference between the two would be to have the barrel chopped back far enough to chamber for the 7x64 Brenneke which would make the European logistics much simplified.

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Will France let you get away with it being labeled a 275 Rigby? or let you get away with say a 275 Rigby AI?

Unfortunately some say "Yes" but the actual French Law is quite clear in that it says any weapon "capable of firing" a military calibre so .275 is prohibited.

There would also be the problem that being prohibited you can't buy loaded ammunition in that calibre (7x57) in France.

And...to cause further problems...most modern .275 Rigby cartridges are in cases headstamped "7x57" or "7mm Mauser"! Certainly any that I handloaded for it would be as that is all the cases we can get here cheaply in UK.

The rifle I'm looking at is a knackered old BSA selling for about £100 which is around US $180 so it is no great "gem" or "treasure".

It's all the fault of the Germans really! I'm quite happy to use my 270 in France on boar and the French are quite happy with that too!

But I understand that in Germany 270 is illegal on boar as it is not actually 7mm! I would be very happy for a member familiar with German Hunting Law to correct me on that!

Is 270 beacuse it is 6.8mm and not 7mm illegal in Germany on boar and any other game?

So I'm trying to get a rifle that is legal in all three countries I might shoot boar in Belgium, France and Germany.

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Originally posted by enfieldspares: ...the actual French Law is quite clear in that it says any weapon "capable of firing" a military calibre, so .275 is prohibited.

That's a hell of a law. Sounds like it eliminates: 223, 6.5x55, 7x57, 308, 30-06, and 8x57. I guess that would make it easier on the gun shop's inventory. Wildcats only.

The 280 sounds like a great compromise. Necking down 30-06 brass would help tighten the neck, but what kind of problems would the headstamp create? Just a thought, and probably not worth the trouble if 280 brass is available. And why wouldn't it be? Nothing else is legal, at least in France. Also, what is the neck thickness of the 7x57 brass that is available? The 280 might not be any worse off.
.

a 7mm is actually 7.21
so double check the 277 of a 270 for making 7mm size.

The 7x57 Ackley Improved is basically equivalent to the 280 if you're not allergic to wildcats...or can you even use a military round that has been altered?

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Sounds like it eliminates: 223, 6.5x55, 7x57, 308, 30-06, and 8x57.

It does! So popular "medium" calibres in France are 270, 280, 7x64, 7-08. There do exist "oddball" calibres like 30-06 SHORT and 303 SPORTING which are essentially these two cartridges, American and British, where the barrel has been taken back one full turn so that a standard length 30-06 or 303 won't chamber.

In smaller calibres 222 is the "go to" in France standing in for the 223. Crazy laws...dating from 1939 when the then Government in France feared a right wing coup d'etat.

Even crazier is that any military rifle (converted of course to 30-06 SHORT or 303 SPORTING) has to have its bayonet lug/slot ground off or welded up. Madness!

enfield........

The legal requirements for The Fatherland are quite simple and your .270 Winchester fits the Bill quite nicely.

For Niederwild (Small Game which includes Roe Deer) .222 Remington is the legally accepted minimum although if less than a 50 grain bullet was used would probably not actually make the (non caliber specific) but 1000 Joules @ 100 meters regulation.

For Hochwild (Large Game, Reds, Fallow, Sika, Wild Boar, etc.) the legal minimum is 6.5mm with 2000 Joules energy @ 100 meters which puts the most commonly manufactured cartridges such as the .257 Roberts and the 6.5x57 as the legal minimum. Where the 6.5 Remington would be in this mess is unknown although it would also probably suffice but I have never seen one in the hunting fields here in Teutonland.

Net, your .270 Winchester is more than legal for any hunting here in The Fatherland and would certainly meet any non military spec in La (Le?, I forget, it is so insignificant) Grande Nation also.

Good Luck with your rifle decision.

quote:

Originally posted by enfieldspares:
Even crazier is that any military rifle (converted of course to 30-06 SHORT or 303 SPORTING) has to have its bayonet lug/slot ground off or welded up. Madness!

Actually, I can understand game animals preferring not to be bayoneted.
.

quote:

The legal requirements for The Fatherland are quite simple and your .270 Winchester fits the Bill quite nicely.

That is very, very kind of you to post that. I am grateful. I can stop looking for a 280 (7mm) and my pocketbook/wallet will be delighted too. Thank you.

It would be better to use an 06 length magazine and a longer throat in combination with H414 powder..You can duplicate the .280 by doing this. Use the specs of the Brno mod-21 or 22..You can seat a 175 gr. Hornady or Nosler .284 deep in the case.

You could even add to the above an IMP. chamber and take a run at the 7 mag.