Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
It's kind of in between....a little longer than the 250-3000 and a little shorter than the 25-06.
What to build, any ideas?
- Thread starter ChadH
- Start date
It actually chambers GREAT in a short action, and even with heavier bullets it has no problem feeding in a Savage Short action. The question I need to research is the terminal ballistics of available bullets. No doubt you can shoot them, but can you achieve optimal intended velocity for the different bullet design options. A great website for this (I have found anyway) is: http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowledgebase.html
Lots of good information to consider there.
With respect to a .257 chambering in a short action Savage... here is a short video of the exact same model Savage Weather Warrior, in .243, rebarreled to .257 Roberts, chambering factory Fed premium 120 gr partitions:
http://s490.beta.photobucket.com/user/slowpokeslim/media/P1050700.mp4.html?fromLegacy=true
I am confident it will work beautifully if that is what I end up choosing. I am kind of leaning towards .257, .250 Sav, or .260... reading up on load/bullet combos right now to see if that leads in any particular direction. .250 is slower than the .257, but really terminal ballistics of the bullets concern me more (and what it would mean for barrel length, I don't want to go to long trying to achieve a certain velocity, as per XYZ bullet design requirements, and create an overly heavy rifle that my wife wouldn't enjoy carrying). If I still lived in Missouri and hunted Whitetails in a bean field at 200 yards and under, in my back yard, like the old days, I wouldn't even worry about it. Here in the west, the possibility of a little longer shot is a higher.
Great ideas guys. I really appreciate the input.
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I am sure Jack O'Connor's wife would agree with you completely, if she was alive to bear witness. A 7X57 is a very neat round. Unlike the .257 Roberts, it does have the potential to have feeding problems in a Short Action due to the heavier bullets optimal for the caliber, I haven't tried it personally, nor seen one chambered in short action, though I have heard it can be done, but is considered a "medium action".... I may buy a 7X57 modified case and put a bullet in it and see how it fits the chamber and ejection port. It would be interesting to know for sure.
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Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Correct. And I am sure that with a light bullet it would be fine... the question would be with a heavier bullet (the weights that are optimal for 7X57 140, 162 168 grain), would it be seated to long to feed in a short action, without becoming a compressed load? I'd have to see that for myself I guess.
I always enjoy threads like this and look forward to whatever decision you might make. Of course we'll also need to see pictures of the finished project along with some targets. I think we all say "I'ld like to build this or that someday" so it's kinda fun sorta being involved at some level. My current build in progress is a 7 RM...which started as a .280 AI but the donor action I found was a mag bolt face. Brux fluted 26" mag contour, Medalsist stock, fluted bolt, action/barrel K&G coated in satin stainless, bolt and bottom metal in matte black. Dan Glover is building it and I CAN'T WAIT!!
Good luck on your build.
Good luck on your build.
Drhorsepower
Veteran member
Maybe, though in the spirit of "keeping it mild enough recoil (and I suppose this implies light weight as well) for my wife to shoot" I would probably rather stay away from a Magnum caliber. The Calibers suggested so far (.250 Sav, .257 Roberts, .260 rem, 7-08) shouldn't require alteration to the Savage bolt face. If I was to go with something like 7mm wsm or even .243 wssm, then I would have to add a Magnum bolt face for sure.
Colorado Cowboy
Super Moderator
Recoil can be controlled a little is with a muzzle brake, but it is really noisy. I have one on my .300Wby that is a screw on. I use it when I shooting on the bench at paper and screw it off when I'm hunting.
BobT
Active Member
The cartridge you seek is the .270/08 improved. It gives .270 ballistics in a short action case with 10 grains less powder. It also works splendidly in a short action Savage.
Just an all around great short action cartridge!
Bob
Just an all around great short action cartridge!
Bob
Now there is something I hadn't thought of Bob. I am guessing the recoil is quite managable. What kind of muzzle velocity are you getting and what bullets are you shooting? Is that a stock Savage you rebarreled? What barrel did you select (and length)? Weight of rifle... give us the particulars man!The cartridge you seek is the .270/08 improved. It gives .270 ballistics in a short action case with 10 grains less powder. It also works splendidly in a short action Savage.
Just an all around great short action cartridge!
Bob
Thanks for the idea Bob...
P.S. I sure miss those MDC shooting ranges.... nice benches. Where is that one? The one by our farm has a lid though... kind of nice in the summer heat... though a little LOUDER, LOUDER
BobT
Active Member
I'll have to dig out the chronograph data, that particular barrel was a Douglas 24 incher, now an 18" fire form barrel. The next one will be a Kreiger or Broughton. Rifle is an M10, Rifle Basics trigger and Stockade bolt handle, Boyds stock. That rifle is no longer in the stable but I'm going tomorrow to look for another one to replace it. I have a fair bit of load data I can share if you decide to go this direction. I'll try to get the chrono data posted in the next couple of days.
The range is at Indian Trail state forest in Dent county.
Bob
The range is at Indian Trail state forest in Dent county.
Bob
BobT
Active Member
I have looked all over creation and can't find my chronograph records. From my 24" Douglas barrel I was squirting the 130 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip out at around 3200 fps. I never got any farther than the 130 grain bullets in serious testing so I can't report from personal experience on the heavier weights. The only caveat with this one is the cost of dies, my RCBS set was $275.00 if memory serves.
Bob
Bob
.270/08 - I really like that one. Did you go with 18 or 30 degree shoulder?
I've got a .270 that really shoots and every time I take it to the range or hunt with it I wonder why I've got all that other finicky stuff. In it's place the .270 will hang pretty tough.
I've got a .270 that really shoots and every time I take it to the range or hunt with it I wonder why I've got all that other finicky stuff. In it's place the .270 will hang pretty tough.
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Sawfish
Very Active Member
You have the same dilemma with your rifle that I have with one of my Savage Strikers. It is a given that anything in the .308 Family will fit (.243 Win; .260 Rem; 7/08; .308 Win; .358 Win.). I have wrestled with the 7 x 57 conversion, as I have a good bit of brass for that caliber. Ditto with the 6.5 x 55 Swede (which is currently the front runner). The 120 Sierra or Nosler bullets will fit and function through the magazine. I could also do the same with the 7 x 57 by seating the 140 gr. Nosler BT bullets a little deeper, which is exactly what Winchester does with its WSSM series. After many considerations, I am down to 6.5 x 55 Swede; 7 x 57 Mauser; or (a distant third) .358 Winchester.
What is not in limbo is barrel choice McGowen barrels will make you a threaded and chambered SS barrel to fit your action for a tad under $180. I replaced the factory barrel on my .300 WSM Striker with a McGowen because the usable length of a factory Striker barrel is only 13.5" (not counting the brake). I was very pleased by their price, service, and quality. I do not think that you would be disappointed.
What is not in limbo is barrel choice McGowen barrels will make you a threaded and chambered SS barrel to fit your action for a tad under $180. I replaced the factory barrel on my .300 WSM Striker with a McGowen because the usable length of a factory Striker barrel is only 13.5" (not counting the brake). I was very pleased by their price, service, and quality. I do not think that you would be disappointed.