Author Topic: rechambering the 7x57 to 280 remington (Read 2382 times)

anthony passero · « **on:** October 24, 2004, 06:32:34 PM »

Gang,
Would there be any problems rechambering a 7x57 mauser to 280 remington? the rifle in question would be a pre 64 model 70 winchester. the gun is beat up some so has minimal collector value.

anthony

gunnut69 · « **Reply #1 on:** October 24, 2004, 07:03:25 PM »

I would strongly advise against altering this rifle. A low number of this caliber were made and almost any are valueable.. Besides unless the bore is damaged it will do almost what a 280 will as is.. The 7x57 is vastly underloaded by American manufacturers but when loaded to it's potential is nearly a 280 already... I suppose the rechamber would work but would check the cases at the shoulder length of the 7x57 to verify the 280 would clean it up. If not the 280 AI version most assurdedly will clean it up.

Graybeard · « **Reply #2 on:** October 24, 2004, 07:04:41 PM »

So long as it is a long action this should be a fairly simple project. Assuming of course the current chamber isn't over size. At the base they start off the same size. I've not looked at a cartridge dimension drawing to verify that taper is OK. A .280 AI might be a better way to go to be sure it all cleans up OK.

Double D · « **Reply #3 on:** October 24, 2004, 07:26:31 PM »

Yikes! 7 x57 caliber in a Pre 64 M-70 is considered RARE according the Blue Book of Gun Values. Pre WWII on 60% condition is worth $1100. If you just have to have a .280 buy a new rifle.

There are also a bunch of fake 7 x57 M-70's out there also.

Do your research. Find out if your gun is s real 7 x57 M-70. If it's a fake and the action is long enough go for the .280. Like Gunnut says the 7 x 57 is almost as good as the .280

gunnut69 · « **Reply #4 on:** October 25, 2004, 05:46:26 AM »

These old M70's are a great investment.. they prices rise every year!!! A bunch better than CD's!! If you handload the 7x57 is so near the 280 it's scarey, and if you don't load just buy Norma ammo. They load the 7x57 to it's potential...

anthony passero · « **Reply #5 on:** October 25, 2004, 07:40:46 AM »

Thank you gentlemen for getting back to me so quickly. i am thing it is a model 70 pieced together. the stock is short it is a 50s gun when they stopped making from what i understand the 7x57 in the late 40s. but man, i love pre 64 model 70s!! i learned to shoot with my pops standard wieght 270 as a kid and my hunting rig for a long time was one that was rechambered to 300 weatherby. they were both stolen. whelen said if you could have only one rifle and did not already have one, get a 280 as it slightly outperforms both the 06 and the 270.Now that i do not have the room for a large battery anymore and only have my 35 whelen which just beats me too much for the amount that i shoot now, i figured this was a cheaper way to have my cake and eat it too. He only wants 600 dollars for the rifle. I know pre 64 70s in 7x57 go for at least double that. any chance they could fake the action?
Good shooting,Anthony

gunnut69 · « **Reply #6 on:** October 25, 2004, 10:49:29 AM »

I still say to simply buy the rifle and use it.. The 7x57 is a great caliber.. Remember WDM Bell killed a rather large group of elephants with one, saying it was the only caliber that never failed him. That group of cartridges included the 450/400 and 256 Mannlicker/Schoener, a rather diverse group! With 140 grain bullets the 7mm Mauser round is a very efficient killer.. If I were offered the rifle at $600 US I would already have it at home!!

VFR · « **Reply #7 on:** October 26, 2004, 01:39:20 AM »

I rechambered a 7x57 CZ to 7X64 with no problems. I also had a beater '53 M-70 in '06. I had the bbl rebored with a twist of 1:12 and rechambered to 9.3x64. I took several head of African plains game with it using 286gr Partitions. I have gotten infinitely more use out of the modified gun than I ever did as an '06. Go ahead and do it.

kutenay · « **Reply #8 on:** October 28, 2004, 09:10:39 AM »

I recently had a much rarer and better rifle than a Pre-64 Mod. 70 rechambered from 7x57 to .280. this is a genuine, original Brno Mod. 21-H "roundbolt" and is one of only a few hundred ever made; the total number of Brno 21-22 series rifles made is somewhat over 40,000. This rifle had very good metal, but, hard use had battered the stock, so, I decided to rebuild the stock and, due to a very long throat, re-chamber the rifle.

My loads push the Nosler Part. Gold Moly-Free 160 gr. at 2800+ fps. and the groups are usually about .6, with a 3-9 scope. The whold rig is very light and trim, the balance is superb. So, I would say, do it, the .280 is just a superb round when properly handloaded and the rifle you have is not really worth keeping as a collector's piece. For those who may think that I am slagging the sacred "old" Mod. 70, I have now owned 33 of them and currently own 10 plus 2 factory H&H actions. They were and are a fine rifle, but a Brno 21-22 or ZG-47 is better, IMO.

VFR · « **Reply #9 on:** October 29, 2004, 02:58:05 AM »

Kutenay,
Hah! Last year when I posted on another forum my plans for reboring my pre64 M-70 '06 to 9.3x64 you discouraged me from doing so. Now you tell me you modified a rare Brno! Is nothing sacred? :-) I hadn't carried the '06 in years, but as a 9.3 I took a nice gemsbok and kudu in Namibia a couple of months ago. The old M-70 is no longer a safe queen. Bob

gunnut69 · « **Reply #10 on:** October 29, 2004, 10:21:04 AM »

Well altering a pre64 that was one of the most common built is one thing, one of the rarest is quite another.. The gentleman never indicated there was any major problem with the 7x57 M70 and I pointed out that altering it was possible but would loss him some of the cash value of the rifle. Historic weaponry should be preserved if possible as its not replaceable... A decent pre-64 M70 in a rare caliber could easily bring enough money to cover a brand new 280, perhaps even a custopm one. Some of us may not have any money worries but I always try to address this concern in answers such as this. As to the Bruno the real fact is simply put this. Your destruction of a valuable rifle doesn't make it a good choice.. It simply makes it your choice.. Old mausers make wonderful sporters as do the present Clasic style M70's.. The CZ's currently being produced are truely great rifles and would make a better choice financially and historically than destroying a fine collectable. But if that was your choice so be it, that doesn't make it right for others... By the way, many 7x57 have long throats in deference to the original 175 bullets used. That is not necessarily a bad thing... The 280 and the 7x57 are surprizingly close in ballistics when loaded to the same pressures.

Don Buckbee · « **Reply #11 on:** October 29, 2004, 10:35:36 PM »

The 7X57 is a wonderful cartidge. My Deer rifle is a 7X57 and I can't think of a better round for Deer hunting in Michigan. Both of my sons had 7X57's during their teens while they were growing up, and still use them to this day in their 30's. I reload and have studied the reloading manuals and am convinced that the 280 just doesn't warrant rechambering a 7X57 to the 280. And, I can't convince myself to go the 7X57AI route either.
FWIW.
Don

kombi1976 · « **Reply #12 on:** October 31, 2004, 01:59:15 PM »

I concur with Don and Swampman. If you reload you can really squeeze some oomph out of the 7x57 by loading it up to about 50,000psi which US factory loads don't. Sako and Norma or even the Hornady Light Magnum loads will give you more than enough thump to hunt most North American game. Jack O'Connor described the 7mm Mauser as a "viscious killer". Stick with the 7x57....it's classic.

EdSmith · « **Reply #13 on:** October 31, 2004, 06:36:50 PM »

I say go ahead and alter it,my opinion is that in the next 30 years none of us will have any guns anyway.they will all be turned into scrap iron.truly sad days are ahead. ed smith

MSP Ret · « **Reply #14 on:** November 02, 2004, 11:27:15 AM »

Those days are not close by if we all get out and vote Bush today and continue to vote Republican for as long as we live, BUT if enough wimpy socialist democrats out there vote for that turn coat and traitor kerry we are much closer to having the UN or a UN clone group come knocking at our doors for our guns.

Keep the gun as it is, a wonderful 7x57. I have a nice single shot 7x57 H&R Handi Rifle with a nice custom Fajen walnut buttstock and a 12" long American black walnut forearm which I load for. It will shoot sub 1" groups all day with no discomfort to the shooter. A classic single that will take any big game this continent and most others have to offer. As was stated above, the 7x57 caliber with solids and good shot placement has taken many Elephants with one shot kills. I also have a .280 Remington barrel for another Handi reciever I have and the 7x57 loaded properly will do everything the .280 will...and with class!!!

If that pre-70 in 7x57 was in front of me for $600.00, stock beat up or not, it would not be there long....

....<><.... :grin:

Ed, isn't Portland where they have that socialist Police Chief who came from Pennsylvania and hates guns? I have heard it referred to as the Peoples Republic of Portland, and thats from a person (me) who is living in that liberal bastion of Massachusetts!!! Although I am a Christian Republican and almost everyone I know are Republicans also. We here cannot figure out how the liberals keep getting re-elected, our Governor, Mitt Romney, a staunch Republican has asked for the resignation of that weasel kerry but kerry just ignores him and the will of the people that he quit as our senator and the nationwide news never airs any of it!!! Left wing news groups all....

anthony passero · « **Reply #15 on:** November 03, 2004, 05:41:38 PM »

Thank you gentlemen for all the feedback!! When I put cash on the table the man backed out of the deal. The rifle was beaten up and I am still convinced it was not an original 7x57. Man, do I love the pre 64 though! I think it was a parts gun though. I love the 7x57, but the 280 is the caliber for the 06 case, just check the down range ballistics if loaded to the same pressure as an 06 or 270. Does anyone out there have any idea what case holds more powder the 7x64 or the 280? I will probably wind up buying a weatherby in 280 or a sako/tikka in 7x64. i Remington has that detachable box thing and the newer ones just do not seem to be fitted as well as they ised to be.need a wood stock. Does anyone make a good mauser these days? I wish winchester would make the featherwieght in a 7mm/280 but only out of the custom shop. The ruger is just too heavy and though from this and other forums the Mk2 seems to have a good reputation, the old ones just did not shoot well in too many of the ones I have seen. Anthony.

EdSmith · « **Reply #16 on:** November 03, 2004, 08:18:04 PM »

MSP Ret yea,chitwood is his name,may all the seagulls in portland find his car a really nice roosting place,they will be leaving behind the same stuff that comes out of his mouth, I think a lot of it has to do with our schools,and on and on. I have been able to get my wife to see the truth on gun issues and hunting,ect. took some doing,she is family to that mcgovern guy that was running some years back. ed

gunnut69 · « **Reply #17 on:** November 03, 2004, 08:27:25 PM »

When you say 7x64 I'm assuming the Brenneke round and it's nearly the twin of 280. the other 7x64 is the Sharp&Hart version which has a 'bit' more umpf.. I wasn't aware the S&H was available anywhere.. Still the 280 is a very fine round of which I have 2 and was the caliber of choice when building a rifle for my lovely daughter. Still there is little gain in real life over the 7x57 when it's loaded to it's potential.. The 280 was available in remingtons MountainRifle and if it's like the one I bought they are quite useable. A little cleaning up and load developement and its a great little rifle. The other 280 I have is an Ackley Imp custom on a pushfeed M70. I bought it cheaply as the stock is set for a left handed shooter.. I intend to 'bend' it.. When it's finished I'll reblue and do the load deevlopement.. I like the 140 Partition and 4831 or 4350..

.308 Win. · « **Reply #18 on:** September 04, 2006, 06:12:11 PM »

I had a 7x57 in a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight of some vintage but it was not Pre-64. I did not reload and took it back to the dealer because of a lack of decent factory fodder. Before doing so, I talked to my gunsmith and he said he could make it a .280 or open the bolt face up and put in a Sako extractor and make it a 7mm Mag. That one took me by surprise but I didn't want a 7 Mag. anyway. I should have kept the gun and I should have kept it as it was in 7x57. I know some elephants were taken with the round way back when but I hunt nothing larger than whitetail and I could kick myself for ever getting rid of it. It was a sweet shooting gun and the Featherweight stock, to my mind, was the most beautiful factory stock ever. Live and learn but some lessons come hard!

gunnut69 · « **Reply #19 on:** September 06, 2006, 08:21:09 AM »

The 7x57 is truly a classic.. Once at a gunshow I spoke with a gentleman carrying a pushfeed featherweight in 7x57. He wanted $275, I offered $250.. I should have my @#$ kicked.. The 280 is a great round but is not worth a rechamber. Of course I'm a little stodgy I suppose. Last year I killed 2 does, never saw a buck I'd shoot. The first doe succombed to a 6.5x55 in a clasic featherweight..load was 125 Partition.. The last day of the bonus season, almost 3 months after the first deer, I took another doe.. This time with a pre64 M70 in 257 Roberts. The bullet was a 100 Hornaday. I've not worked up a load with the partition for this rifle. It loves the Hornadays so much I just don't have the heart. I like this one when meat hunting..

Ruskin · « **Reply #20 on:** September 07, 2006, 10:10:19 AM »

I know of a guy that was a pathfinder in the army. After retirement, he has had several rifles built, one of them is a 7x57.

He loaned the gun to a snipper going to Afgan or Iraq. When it was returned, it had made confirmed kills out to 700 yards. This was told to me by a gunsmith in the shop that made the rifle.

He loads his own and uses barnes bullets. I do know that they are really utilizing the potential of the cartridge. As stated: it is under estimated by people.

iiranger · « **Reply #21 on:** September 07, 2006, 10:20:03 AM »

Done it, great idea. Just a little more than 7x57; almost equal '06; and just behind 7 Rem Mag... AND as Ross Seyfreid pointed out in Am Rifleman, you get a slight step in the neck. Re chamber does not completely clean up the old chamber. You might notice it when resizing brass or if you feel for it carefully. Means about nothing... just a detail... luck

.308 Win. · « **Reply #22 on:** February 01, 2007, 11:38:57 AM »

I once had a Winchester Model 70 chambered in 7x57 and didn't know what I had. It was a beautiful little Featherweight model but since I had no knowledge or experience with the caliber and I did not handload, I foolishly took it back to the shop I bought it from. I'd give both my co hones to have it back now. Like I said, I just didn't know what I had. Thing shot really well, too. I hate to admit stupidity but that was what it was in deciding to take it back.