I didn't want to TJ's VZ post.

Vapodog, you stated in TJ's post, "I recommend you avoid shorter than 30-06 length rounds as they swim around in the magazine."

I picked up a VZ last weekend with the intent of building a .257AI on it (after the German classic). As these guns were set up for the Nx57mm family how much slop is there? Is it a consern?

I should have been more precise in that statement.....

It just seems a waste to use that action for something like the 6.5 X 55 length cartridges as it will easily hold the 6.5-06.....similarly why would one chamber the .257 roberts when the action will house the 25-06 well.....and the same for the 7 X 57 verses the 280 remington.

My first VZ-24 is in 6.5 X 55 and it's working fine.....I suppose I could block the magazine but so far it's functioning Ok so it's not a problem...I just wish I'd bought the 6.5-06 reamer in the first place and chambered the action to it's potential.....I can still rechamber the barrel....

If you want to house the .257 AI in it go ahead.....I doubt it'll be a problem...again...just not making use of the marvelous potential of the action.

Now I see the logic. Maybe not the light, but certinly the logic.

vapodog certianly makes sense, but if you really want a 257AI THAT is what makes these projects fun, making them what you really want instead of something you could buy off the rack somewhere - and no doubt cheaper than you can build it .

I was just interested Vapodogs logic path that's all.
I want a .257 AI (now), but conditions could change before I get to this action, so who knows what it'll end up. But right now, I have it slated for a walking/stalking/varmint/antelope/deer rifle and the .257 AI will do all those with aplomb. I have two kids (3 and 18 months) and they are going to need a civil deer rifle someday, and again the .257 is perfect.

I have a fantacy battery that I'm gearing up my shop to build. The entire n x 57 family of rifles from the 5.56 through the 9.3. The styles will not be the same between rifles, ie, heavy Varmint for the 5.56 or 6mm, American style for the 6.5, classic German manlicher for the 7 x 57, 8mm is currently filled as a Sporterized military (very nice looking though), you get the idea.
I have a .375x? SMLE project in mind too. But the 7x57 is taking center stage now.

In time I might look at building a big boy; that .416 Aggard looks like fun.

IMO, one of the really valuable features of the VZ-24 and other 98's is that in its original form, it is perfectly dimensioned for 57mm-length cartridges. I consider it an intermediate-length action as it fits those cartridges that are a wee bit long for commercial "short" actions and too short for "long" actions. And, as Vapodog points out, it can easily be modified to handle 30-06 length cartridges as well.

This is an unmodified VZ-24 magazine and the cartridge is a standard 30-06 round with a Hornady 180 grain bullet seated to the cannelure.

There is about an 1/8th inch of clearance yet.....FWIW

This is me milling out a VZ24 from 8x57 to 300WM [30-06 length].

I milled out the front and the rear.
It feeds like a dream.


My best rifle is a 257RAI on VZ24 with Lothar Walter heavy varmint barrel blank from Brownells.

quote:

Originally posted by vapodog:
I should have been more precise in that statement.....

It just seems a waste to use that action for something like the 6.5 X 55 length cartridges as it will easily hold the 6.5-06.....similarly why would one chamber the .257 roberts when the action will house the 25-06 well.....and the same for the 7 X 57 verses the 280 remington.

My first VZ-24 is in 6.5 X 55 and it's working fine.....I suppose I could block the magazine but so far it's functioning Ok so it's not a problem...I just wish I'd bought the 6.5-06 reamer in the first place and chambered the action to it's potential.....I can still rechamber the barrel....

If you want to house the .257 AI in it go ahead.....I doubt it'll be a problem...again...just not making use of the marvelous potential of the action.

Why have a 25-06 when you can have a .257 Weatherby