Hello Guys

I'm just about finished assembing a 257 Roberts that has been on the go for 6 or more years.

Was getting set up to reload for it last night and found that I have to seat 110gr projectiles wayyy into the case (its a mauser 98 so I have plenty of magazine lenght) - its got a very short leade.

Its a hard to replace and expensive barrel, if I send it to a local smith with a dummy round of the right length are there traps/caveats I need to be aware of in this job.

Thanks

Shouldn't be a big deal to have the throat custom cut.

That should have been part of the original chambering setup. So that alignment would be perfect.

It won't make any difference on the setup. Just a couple turns with a properly fit throating reamer.

My 257 Roberts loves 87 grain Hornadys.

1/2" at 100 yards.

Death on Coastal Blacktails.

Why the 110 grain bullet?

One word for 110's - Thar, but also big Red Deer and Wapiti (Elk) should I ever get off my butt into that country.

Most standard Roberts reamers are cut with the short throat used with the short OAL factory ammo. The short OAL was necessary for the factory rifles of the day.

Yes the throat lengthening is a simple job BUT....choose your smith wisely! My friend Caribou Bob had the nearest Guild smith rebarrel his M70 to 9.3x62 and to make a long story short the guy hosed up the job by using a chamber reamer without a throat and then throating the chamber with a throating reamer. Well, surprise surprise, he ended up with a Weatherby-like freebore of more than 1"!

Moral: choose your smith wisely and don't be TOO impressed by the outside polish.
Regards, Joe

Mine loves the Hornady 87's to, and I have loaded some 120's in it, but I think I'll just keep loading with the lighter 87's.

Using a throating reamer is like cutting butter with a hot knife. I suggest you make a reamer bushing inconjunction with feeler gauges to control the cutting depth. Or use a Micrometer Adjustable Reamer Stop.
Longshot