I have a 1953 featherweight .308. It is prety cool as is but it is not collectable, and I was thinking of turning it into a .257 Roberts AI. Of corse I will need a new mag bow with out the spacer, probably a follower and spring. Could I get new ones from the factory ? I supose at least the box would need to be adapted if it will work at all , What do you think ? ...tj3006

I would not cut up an original pre 64 for that reason.

Just buy a 25-06 and go hunting. Now you have two nice guns for the price of one.



Model 70 Classic, Sporter III







Item Number 535025225

Caliber / Gauge 25-06 Rem.

Magazine Capacity 5

Barrel Length 24"

Nominal Overall Length 44 3/4"

Nominal Length of Pull 13 3/4"

Nominal Drop at Comb 1/2"

Nominal Drop at Heel 1/2"

Nominal Weight 7 lbs. 8 oz.

Rate of Twist One Turn in 1 turn in 10"

Metal Finish Blued

U.S. Suggested Retail $742

savage 99, thanks for responding, I have a 25,06
under construction right now. And I aready ahve a .257 Roberts. If I was logical I would have bought my Model 70 classic 30,06 and stopped there ! The other 11 rifles I have bought since are all fun but the fact is my 06 can do any thing the I need a rifle to do just fine. I am going to a gun show this weekend looking for an action to build on. I might just but the pre war 30,06 I found, but an FN mauser or somthing along those lines might be great ! ...tj3006

1953 FWT in .308.

Nice!

Leave it alone or give it to me. Just kidding. i would love to get my hand on one of those.

Mr. Jones -
I understand wanting to build a custom, however I was just looking thru the Winchester pubs, and guess what...they still chamber Ned's fine 257, but do so thru the custom shop.

you would do well to sell it and buy what you want...Yours is not collectable, but its probably desirable and a good caliber for any big game...I might take it off your hands.

Here's a Pre-64 in 257 Roberts at Crosnoe Guns

Actually a 308 in that year (53) is not a common rifle, was that the second prodction year for this chambering?

I am quilty as charged of destroying a couple of original Winchesters. In my defense I start with rifles that have seen a lot better days and the isn't anything collectable or desirable left, just a lot of work and dollars to straighten out.

When I find nice model 70's, though I like them factory stock, I will strip the finish off and put an oil on the stocks though.

I think a 257 Roberts is a really nice cartridge, but do you really want it in a model 70? The downside is the size and wieght of the action, these were one size fits all deal on the model 70's actions. Meaning your action easily converts all the way up to 375H&H, or 30-06 without changing the bolt face.

If I was looking for a sweet 257 Rob, my preference would be a G33/40 or a small ring Mexican, followed by a couple of other small rings. The benefit ( at least in my head ) is I could keep the wieght down some and it would be a slightly handier package.

Note: I just checked my gun value book, the 308's of that year were very limited production items. My values book even goes so far as to add a note about beware of fakes in that caliber ( also 250-300 and 300 Savage ). If you really want a model 70 257 Roberts I would look at working out a trade, your rifle looks to be in good condition, and you might even come out a few dollars ahead if you took your time about the deal.

Its your gun and its not for me to tell you what to do with this, but I would do some checking and retink this. If your rifle was a 30-06 that needed work it would be a different story, as they made a lot of them and its easy to find a beater to customise. WInchester introduced the 308 in 1952, and I have no idea of the quantity of the first production year rifles, but it wasn't many.

schromf,

Several years ago I purchased a M70 Classic SS in .243, solely for the possibility of one day rebarreling it to a .257 Rob. I don't shoot .243's. My reasons for selecting that particular rifle were, 1.) I like M70 Classic SS actions. 2.) Winchester had discontinued the short-action in SS. 3.) The M70 Classic short seemed like an ideal prospect for a .257 Rob because of it's longer magazine. I might have to think about getting this project off the ground soon, my grandson is 4 years old now, and I don't think there is much probability that Winchester will make a Bob, not in this lifetime.

Mudstud,

I was refering only to the pre 64 actions on this. These were one size fits all.

Does the Roberts fit in a short action? I thought the 257 really needs more than a short action to work with 115 gr bullets, which is what I would want it. Otherwise the bullets eat up powder space.

Anyway if thats what you want I would go for it.

The difference in the weight of a Winchester and an a Mauser actioned rifle will depend more on the stock weight than the action weight. I think that the pre-64 model 70 actioned rifle will be cheaper and easier to produce than anything on a Mauser action and feed/function as well or better with minimal expense.

Well guys I made a mute point of it.
Bought myself a very nice 03 A3 sporter and I will likley beacume my Roberts improved...tj3006

schromf,

You are, of course, correct about the pre-64's. I guess I just wanted to enlarge the discussion a little!
The Bob is well-known in my household. My oldest son (now 30) received a 700 Classic .257 Rob for his first deer hunt. My second son (now 26) got a 700 Mountain Rifle in 257 Rob for his first deer hunt. I myself have had a 257 AI on a 700 long for quite a few years. The Classic .257's were made on the long-action 700's, but the Mountain Rifles were made on the short 700, w/ a 22" tube. The Mountain Rifle is really a nice handy rifle, partly because of the short action. In recent years I've become enamored with the Classic M70's, and came to know that the short version has about the longest magazine of any short-action around. Going from memory now, I think a short M70 Classic magazine can take a cartridge with an OAL of around 3.05" or so (may have to remove the spacer to do so, if memory serves me). I am away from home right now, and can't run down and check all this out. But, correct me if I'm wrong, this should be plenty long enough for a Bob. I think this makes for an interesting combination, a short action rifle, still able to accommodate a .257 Rob without the bullets having to be seated deeply into the case. Sorry to hijack this thread! Have a nice day!

Mudstud,

Yes 3.05" is plenty long.

As to being on the road I been there and done that, and I understand completely.