I've come across a commercial mauser rifle imported by Firearms International for veeerrry cheap. It is chambered in 243 Win. I certainly have respect for the 243, but preffer the 257 Roberts and 250 Savage as a deer/coyote combo round. This rifle has FN's short magazine intended for 308 win based rounds. Do you think this action will feed the 257 Roberts of the 257 imp. (Ackly or RCBS version). The 257 Super may be my best option, but I like the Bob just fine, if it will work. And no, I don't think the 257 Roberts Needs a 3" magazine. It wouldn't hurt, but not necessary.

Why not take the spacer out and use it for anything 06 based?

Well, one reason is that it will work better for shorter cartridges as is, plus you don't have to buy a new spring and follower. I just paid money to get one of the shorter assemblies for a 6mm Rem. If they din't work better, I suspect they wouldn't have spent the extra money to modify the original.

quote:

Originally posted by Art S.:
Well, one reason is that it will work better for shorter cartridges as is, plus you don't have to buy a new spring and follower. I just paid money to get one of the shorter assemblies for a 6mm Rem. If they din't work better, I suspect they wouldn't have spent the extra money to modify the original.

Don't be too sure. Last year sometime I bought a nice FN Barreled action of these classifieds. It came with the modified bottom metal. It fed like crap. Simply substituting a standard length commercial FN unit improved that a great deal.

Me, I'd ditch the spacer and replace the follower and use whatever length of the new magzine that suits you.

FWIW, I always run the 6mm in a standard length magazine.

Turns out that this action has standard length magazine after all. It will feed two 243's, but more than that creates probelems. This rifle doesn't shoot very well anyway, so it might be going down the road, or taken apart for the action.

I don't like the 243 Winchester either and have, instead a 6mm Remington as my "small calibre' deer rifle.

OTOH if 308 Winchester length is all it will work with why not consider either 7mm-08 or perhaps, maybe the best match with least gunsmithing, 260 Remington?

I hope that you have success with your 257 Roberts scheme!