Magazine length of Remington's 257 Roberts guns

[inthebeech]

It appears that the 722 was built on a short action while the newer 700 Classic on the Long Action?  I am sur of the 722 of course because the model number indicates action length but for the Classic, I can not tell from images. Can you folks confirm / deny?  Also, would the short action 722 truly limit handloading the heavier 120gr bullets for best accuracy; just shy of lands without too much base protruding in the case?

[gunnut69]

I've used the 257 in a M70 and all of those were of course long actions but of the experiences I've had with the M722 there was little lost. In the longest bullets powder capacity may be lost but our powder selection today is so large a switch to a different powder will most often give all the 257 can deliver. If one isn't trying to turn the 257 into a 25-06 there won't be a problem I use the 100 grain Hornaday with great success. The moderate velocities allow the cup and core bullet to perform just as we'd like. The 25-06 is just about ideal for the heavier 120 grain slugs..but they will work in the 257.. It is a great round, one I love..

[parkergunshop]

My concern would be the inability with the short acton to seat the bullets out just shy of the lands.   This seems to give better accuracy and it does allow for more powder in the case with the slower burning powders and heavy bullets without having compressed loading.

I see little to gain from the few ounces saved and the slightly shorter bolt stroke of a short action vs a longer action.  Most of my benchrest shooting buddies opted for a  long action over a short action given the choice when building custom guns.

With several of the shorter actions, the bullets if loaded to work through the magazine stick down in the case below the beginning of the case neck, this reduces powder capacity.  This is especially true for the 120 grain bullet in a .25 caliber. 

[gunnut69]

It is true the case capacity is somewhat reduced and I have never really did a side by side but a lot depends on what one is trying to do.. I am not esposing the short or the long action but in the case of the 257 Roberts it makes little difference in performance.. If your looknig for more than the 257 has available go with the 25-06 or the 257 Weahterby... I've never met a deer the 100 grain Hornaday has taken cleanly. In most of the 257's I've dealt with the rifling was touched long before the OAL became too long for the magazine. The one that was not the case was a Ruger No.1 and I was getting close to the case not being able to retain the bullet for the bullets ogive to get close to the rifling. I don't have a huge experience with the Roberts but all I worked with were so easy to getting shooting well it just seemed too easy.. As to accuracy all shot better than most can ever use.. whatever the action length!

[parkergunshop]

Out of consideration for the shorter actions. factory ammo and the reloading manuals call for a shorter overall length for the .257 Roberts.

The Lyman Reloading Manual calls for an overall length of 2.750
The Sierra Reloading Manual calls for an overall length of  2.775
My reloads with a 100 grain Speer measure overall           2.870  For my .257 Ackley Improved Roberts on a Commercial Santa Barbara Mauser action.

The .257 Ackley Improved equals the 25-06 if you are looking from higher velocities in the 3200-3300 FPS range with a 100 grain bullet.

[gunnut69]

The Roberts is one of the best of the Ackley improved rounds.. Most gain for the bucks.  But that is not a fair comp to the standard Roberts is it.. Not just loaded to a longer length (.095 inch) but a case improved. What's the capacity gain for the Ackley in the Roberts case..? Enough to get close to the capacity of the 25-06?? Bet so.. I'm not saying there are ways to get more from the Roberts but I don't feel it's needed.. The Roberts does just fine as is..

[roper]

It appears that the 722 was built on a short action while the newer 700 Classic on the Long Action?  I am sur of the 722 of course because the model number indicates action length but for the Classic, I can not tell from images. Can you folks confirm / deny?  Also, would the short action 722 truly limit handloading the heavier 120gr bullets for best accuracy; just shy of lands without too much base protruding in the case?

 

Well let see Wyatt makes extended magazine for the Rem short action http://www.wyattsoutdoor.com/mag.html  the MBE-5 get you out to 2.995" you have to have a gunsmith do some work to make it fit.  If your looking at a Rem long action the magazine inside is 3.600".

What I always do is load up some dummy rds kind of see were I'd like the bullets seated as I's have the rifle throated for them and then see what action fit.