Not sure this is the right forum for this or not, but here goes anyhow. I'm having a little trouble making up my mind about a semi-custom project.

I have a Win M70 Lightweight currently chambered in 270 Win I originally bought as a donor. It's a shooter too. But I also have a M70 Classic Featherweight also chambered in 270 win. It too is a shooter.

I want to build a classic rifle and I am considering these 3 chamberings; leaving it as a 270 (but I don't really need 2-270s although saving a little money is never bad), 257 Roberts or 7x57 Mauser.

The gun is going to be primarily a whitetail rifle. I have a nice Claro semi-inletted stock and will have a gunsmith that is a friend of my family do the work.

Anyhow, my question is what would you do and why? Should I leave the barreled action alone and leave it a 270 and just re-stock it? Or should I go the extra mile and have it rechambered to a 257 or 7x57?

All opinions welcomed. Thanks.
Technoman26

I'd go the extra mile and have the thing done in .257 Roberts if it was me.
Lots of supporters of the 7x57 here but you wouldn't really be able to tell the difference as far as recoil and game performance between the .270 and 7x57. The Roberts drops deer very effectively and it has far less recoil and muzzle blast than the other two and what a classic deer cartridge.
Just my couple of cents.

The choice would be easier if it did not shoot well. If you have a son or daughter you can pass one of your 270's onto then I would just restock this one.

Both the 7X57 and the 257 Roberts are classic deer cartridges. I do think you will see a slight reduction in recoil with the 7X57 over the .270. You will not see a difference in performance though. I have a 7X57 and another 7mm that essentially duplicates .280 ballistics with 140 grain bullets. There is a slight difference in recoil level between the two, wit hthe 7X57 being the milder. Both are equally effective on deer (whitetail and Muley), antelope, and hogs.

The .257 Roberts just has a certain charm. Very effective deer, varmint and antelope round in its own right. Plus it is very mild in the recoil department. I am having a Roberts built just for these reasons. It should be a real sweat shooter both on game and the person doing the shooting. I can see myself spending lots of time at the range with the Roberts.

I would look at what you really want from the rifle. If you are wanting a lightweight, mild recoiling rifle that can be used from varmints to deer than the Roberts is the choice. If you are wanting something more dedicated to deer and for moderate range on larger game to be used as a backup rifle to the .270, than the 7X57 is your choice.

1. 270 Win- Save on reloading room inventory.
2. 257 Roberts if that tickles your fancy and you want a smaller rifle.
3. 7x57- just not enought difference between this and the 270. see #1

That my opinion.

We could justify a use for every cartridge in existence I suspect. The truth is we can hunt everything from a tit mouse to a moose with a huge varity of cartridges, many might be illegal but a hungry man never concerns himself with that. So, you've got your hunting rifle in 270 and apearently reload so I'd sure go for something else. 257 Roberts would be good, 250-3000 maybe a 6.5-06, thats what I have and absolutely no need of!

I have a Feather weight in 270 Win. also. If I wanted something different I would go for a 257
witch I also own.

I'd go with the Bob. Perfect deer rifle caliber. Just perfect.

I have a very difficult time removing a barrel from a good shooting rifle.
There's nothing wrong with a pair of 270 rifles.

quote:

I have a very difficult time removing a barrel from a good shooting rifle.
There's nothing wrong with a pair of 270 rifles.

Ditto,

One thing I like to do is to put different optics on each. You could have one w/ a low powered or mid powered scope and place a larger 4-14+ scope on the other for alittle longer range shooting at critters.


Also, I work up different loads for different rifles. Like this year I had one 7rm zeroed w/ 160 Accubonds, one zeroed w/ 150 solid bases, and one zeroed w/ 150 NBTs. I just grab the one with the load for the situation.

You may want to get a good heavy load worked up in one and have some flatter shooting 130s in the other.

Good Luck

Reloader

I don't think there is any appreciable difference between the 257 Roberts, the 270 or the 7x57. I'd take your best 270 and do it in the fancy stock and set the other 270 aside for another project. You ought to think about a 9.3x62 or 338-06, ie, something bigger than the 270 class rifle. Kudude

Since you are asking for opinions. I would measure the throat on the rifle you are thinking about barreling. If I were not able to do that myself I would find a smith with a bore scope & have them look it over. If it has a lot of life left & shoots good, I would leave it alone. If not I would rebarrel it & not look back.

As much as I love the 257, it does not make economic sence to pull a good 270 barrel & spend $500 on a new barrel to gain very little. I'd build as is & if you can shoot the barrel out move up to a 35 whelen. Although I own & use all 3 of your choices there is no practical difference in them, If you want a varmint rifle a cz 527 is less than a good rebarrel & reblue job.

Thanks for the opinions thus far.

I'd like add these caveats;
It is unlikely I will ever go down this route again and I have other guns for other purposes. I am only trying to make a decision on one of these three cartrdiges, this is going to be a deer rifle. Plain and simple, medium sized, light skinned game. It may perhaps be shot at the occasional coyote or woodchuck, but will mostly be carried during deer season.

I realize that removing the barrel from a perfectly good 270 might not make sense, but I am willing to do it. I don't mind spending the money on rebarreling.

Also, I chose the three options above, because they are cartridges I am interested in owning. Regardless of duplication, or no meaningful differences in them, the new rifle will be one of those three cartridges.

Reasoning; I really have a hard time wanting to own 2 270s. I know that all are very close to the same thing, but I just want something new and different to play with and load for.

I am currently leaning toward the 257. I though it might be a nice round for my purposes. But the 7x57 has some allure as well because the only custom rifle my father ever had was a beautiful sporterized Springfield A3/03 done in 7x57 that I loved to shoot and is now in the possesion of my youngest brother.

Mostly, I want to keep the rifle chambered in a "classic" cartridge. And yes, I know there are many many more options, but I knew when I started this process I wanted a long action, model 70 chambered in one of those 3 choices.

Thanks again for giving your opinions. I'm glad to hear all the reasoning behind them. IF anyone else wants to chime in, great.

Technoman26

Two 270's is a good thing. It's a much better hunting round than the 257 RR anyway. The 270 Win is popular and the 257 RR never was.

The 270 is a good shooter. Be happy and keep it and your money.

One of the three 270's that I have is loaded up with the sleek 110 gr Vmax for fun. It shoots using a medium rate powder. The 270 is an improved 257 RR. The 7-57 has the same problem with the 270.

Now if that were a varmint rifle the 257 RR might make some sense. No, that will not happen.

I would,nt go with the 7X57,
Its a fine rould but I would want to bulid one on a mauser not a model 70.
Of the rounds you mention I would go roberts, with a light sporter weight 22 inch barrel.
But If I only had 2 rifles, I would go up in power from the 270. A .338 06 or a 35 whelen.
but then again if you hunt nothing bigger than deer mabye the Roberts is a better way to go.
the roberts is great fun to shoot , and versital to be sure. I have 2 and for anything up to mule deer and mabye even caribu, it is great fun...tj3006

Opinions?? Plenty here!

IMO, the 7X57mm and the .257 Roberts, while certainly classic cartridges, are too close to a .270, especially the 7X57mm, but both are close. I'd make that other .270 into a .338/'06 (.338 OKH!!). It's a classic too. Or, a .35 Whelen.

Then you'd have rifles well suited to game from sod poodles up to elk (.270), and elk and all other North American really big game up to the biggest African plains animals (.338 OKH).

In as much as you don't want 2, .270s the 7x57 looks like the way to go if you are a reloader.

You can load down the 7x57 and be close to .257 performance with heavier bullets if wanted.

Than again you can have the best of both worlds with a 6.5 x55. Truth is no matter which you choose you'll be making the right desision. roger

quote:

Originally posted by tom ga hunter:
As much as I love the 257, it does not make economic sence to pull a good 270 barrel & spend $500 on a new barrel to gain very little. I'd build as is & if you can shoot the barrel out move up to a 35 whelen. Although I own & use all 3 of your choices there is no practical difference in them, If you want a varmint rifle a cz 527 is less than a good rebarrel & reblue job.

We are talking guns here man. What does economic sense have to do with anything!!!!!!!!

We are talking guns here man. What does economic sense have to do with anything!!!!!!!! [/QUOTE]

Never pictures in when I'm on a project for myself, but my wife always has a little to say.!

I say make the lightweight M70 into a 257 Roberts, put a nice, light scope on it and call it your featherlight deer rifle. As senseless as it seems to pull the barrel off a good shooting rifle, a little variety never killed anyone (and a new barrel would most likely make the new rifle a tackdriver too). The 257 is a fantastic little caliber, and should do just fine in the deer woods. You can save the other 270 for longer range and/or bigger game for which the Roberts would not be appropriate.

No matter what you do, it's win/win. You have a nice pair of M70's - and that's going to be a rare thing in the future!

It sounds like you just want a different rifle, so I'd go for whichever gave you the performance differential you like the best, but as has been stated, there isn't a whole lot, the .257 will definitely prefer lighter pills.

Nothing wrong with a pair of .270's? Hell I've got a dozen. Some of them even shoot the same load!!!! Perish the thought!

I did like the program someone mentioned of working up a load for the 110 grain pill for one, and a different weight for the other.

I've got .270's that shoot about every weight bullet offered, and in different types, i.e. 3 diferent rifles which shoot 130 grainers, one for AB's, one for NBT's, and one for XXX's!

I obviously can't get enough of a good thing!

Well I agree with just making the best shooting .270 the one with the nice stock and keeping the other as is. However if you don't want 2 of them and have the cash I would go for the .257 Roberts.

My choice would be the .257 Roberts. Perfectly adequate for the game you intend and a pleasure to reload for and shoot. My M70 Featherweight is a 7X57, the .270 an old MS fullstock, and I wouldn't mind having an extra barrel in the gun room for either of them. Keep the other .270 barrel against future need, when the one you keep as .270 grows worn. I would not let the take off barrel go.

I would chamber the new barrel in 257 Roberts. It's a great round for deer and coyotes. Very accurate and mild recoil.

You already have 2 or those model 70 .270 calibers! Well, I will through a different picture your way, in the form of the 25 Roberts Improved OK.

You will pick up around 150fps over the .257 Roberts and still be able to use this rifle on coyotes, groundhogs, and a back up deer rifle as well. It shoots a 120 grain bullet 2900fps. Those 75 grainers will hit 3600fps.

I would leave as the .270 if you want to save a little money or have it redone to 7x57mm and do some really neat stuff to it. You will have a real classy rig either way but the 7x57mm seems a little more exotic.

"i want to build a classic rifle"

a mod 70 winchester in 270 winchester seems pretty classic to me. i would leave it as is, caliber wise.

whatever you decide, it'll be fun....enjoy

Gee, as many recommendations as there are here for the .257, I wonder how it ever fell out of favor! It IS a fine round. So's the .250 Savage!

It fell out of popularity because we are not the average "Joe Hunter".

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
I have a very difficult time removing a barrel from a good shooting rifle.
There's nothing wrong with a pair of 270 rifles.

+1

Back to range yesterday with the project rifle. On a gusty, windy morning, the rifle shot inch and a half 5 shot groups or smaller with everything I fed it. I'm sure on a good day with the right loads, the gun will do much better.

For now, it's going to remain a 270. It's got a great trigger and shoots good as it is. I'll save a little money and can always put a new barrel on and re-chamber it later.

Thanks for the input.
Technoman26

When you look to rebarreling at some later date, consider the 6,5x55.
It's mild like the Roberts and with it's high sectional density bullets will penetrate well. It is a very good round for whitetail. It certainly want damage meat like the 270 can and at times does.
Just my 2cents.
You do what ever takes your fancy.