Pre-64 featherweight, want a Rebarrel to 257 Roberts?

[singleaction]

I picked up a pre-64 (1955 low comb stock) model 70 featherweight chambered in ‘06 last spring. Initially, it was going to be an investment, but I have since learned that the stock has been refinished, and I paid way too much for it. It is still a pretty decent rifle, and I would like to make use of it. I have this harebrained idea of re-barreling it to 257 Roberts, and having the barrel remain pretty much a pre-64 featherweight contour, but a couple inches longer. I am not a believer in the miracle 3”+ 257 Roberts being tremendously faster than the 2.8” version. However, since the magazine is long, I might as well take advantage of it. I would like a 1:8” twist Stainless cerakoted or Nitrided barrel. My front sight can be removed from the old barrel and put on the new barrel (featherweight front sight bases were machined integrally before 1955). I’m not sure, at this point, how long I want the throat to be, but I want to be able to seat 75gr V-Max bullets out reasonably long and kiss the lands. I want to hunt deer and antelope with 115gr partitions &/or BT’s, but I will be shooting more coyotes than deer. Can y’all recommend a barrel company (or reasonably priced smith) than can make this happen for me? If done correctly, I would only have to open up the barrel channel a small amount. Thanks for any recommendations!
Matt

[kings6]

I would check with Isaac Gallagher of Gallagher Firearms in Jasper AL. He works almost exclusively with rifle work like that and has done great work for me in the past.

[potatojudge]

As much as I like the Roberts, I'd look at the 25-284 for a long action.

Build the gun around these Bergers seated with the bullet base at the neck/shoulder junction:

bergerbullets.com/product/25-caliber-133-grain-elite-hunter/

There's no guarantee that your barrel will like those bullets, but it also allows for traditional bullets or Hammer Bullets, and at a greater RPM which is a good thing for 75 grain coyote loads.

The other drawback is a shortage of top shelf Roberts or Mauser brass. Lots of great 284 brass out there now. Downside to the 25-284 is barrel life.

If you're having a barrel maker fit and chamber the rifle you'll need to shop around for someone who has the profile, twist, and reamer that you want. Sometimes you need to find a gunsmith that is known for 25 cal work because they'll have a better reamer selection optimized for modern designs.

Lastly, you're probably going to lose the featherweight feel doing this. If the new barrel is even a little beefier and the bore is smaller you'll have a heavier, weight forward rig.

If you're just looking for something different JES could always make it a 338-06 or 35 Whelen for a couple hundred dollars.

[singleaction]

Mar 16, 2024 10:48:34 GMT -5 potatojudge said:

As much as I like the Roberts, I'd look at the 25-284 for a long action.

Build the gun around these Bergers seated with the bullet base at the neck/shoulder junction:

bergerbullets.com/product/25-caliber-133-grain-elite-hunter/

There's no guarantee that your barrel will like those bullets, but it also allows for traditional bullets or Hammer Bullets, and at a greater RPM which is a good thing for 75 grain coyote loads.

The other drawback is a shortage of top shelf Roberts or Mauser brass. Lots of great 284 brass out there now. Downside to the 25-284 is barrel life.

If you're having a barrel maker fit and chamber the rifle you'll need to shop around for someone who has the profile, twist, and reamer that you want. Sometimes you need to find a gunsmith that is known for 25 cal work because they'll have a better reamer selection optimized for modern designs.

Lastly, you're probably going to lose the featherweight feel doing this. If the new barrel is even a little beefier and the bore is smaller you'll have a heavier, weight forward rig.

If you're just looking for something different JES could always make it a 338-06 or 35 Whelen for a couple hundred dollars.

Thanks for the suggestions! I agree that the 25–284 is a great option. I don’t think I want to do a 25–284 partly because I don’t want to have to do any magazine, follower, or feeding modifications. I’m not really sure if any would be necessary, but if this rifle was a Remington 700 long action, it would likely feed like greasy sausage without any modifications.

Adding a couple of inches of barrel length, while maintaining the same basic featherweight contour, shouldn’t mess things up too much for my taste.  The current crop of model 70 featherweights in, magnum calibers, have a 24 inch feather weight barrel, and seem to handle pretty well. In fact, it is the magnum Caliber featherweights, that inspired my idea for this barrel.

That Berger bullet you mentioned, along with the Blackjack bullet, could be used in the Roberts with a fast twist, given a sufficiently long throat. However, for now, I’m gonna keep a reasonable throat that will surely accommodate long seated 75 grain VMAX. The throat can always be lengthened in the future, if I so choose. Finding good quality 257 Roberts brass will be an issue. I may have to make up some from 7x57. I don’t mind turning necks, if need be. I like to knock the high spots off the necks of my varmint round brass anyway.

There is a historical fascination aspect to this build for me. I have always wanted a pre-64 model 70 featherweight, but Winchester never made one in the caliber that I most desired it in, which is 257 Roberts. This will finally let me have one, and made up just the way I want it. 

[nicholst55]

I just sold all of my surplus, NIW .257 Roberts brass... Just saying. That stuff is made from unobtanium right now, and quite spendy when you do find it. Kind of like .480 Ruger brass, until a couple of days ago.

[woody]

I would stick with the .257. Great round and will work good in the pre-64 action with no mods.

For a barrel look at Hart barrels. I’ve had them do a few guns. They do stainless only but looks like you plan to have it cerakoted so not an issue. I have a 7-08 on a Ruger 77 they did. It’s a tack driver!!!!

[singleaction]

I looked a little closer at that 135gr Berger that Dr. Potatojudge suggested. I might see if I can run it in the fast twist Bob, but only if I can accurately shoot that V-Max as well.

[x101airborne]

I bought my wife a 257 Roberts for her first whitetail rifle. I haven't seen it since we packed up and started building our new house but I am pretty sure it was a Win 70 "Classic", basically a post 64 made pre-64. Might save you some headache with a rebarrel job.

[singleaction]

Mar 17, 2024 7:44:48 GMT -5 x101airborne said:

I bought my wife a 257 Roberts for her first whitetail rifle. I haven't seen it since we packed up and started building our new house but I am pretty sure it was a Win 70 "Classic", basically a post 64 made pre-64. Might save you some headache with a rebarrel job.

Those are good guns. I had a Cabela’s 50th anniversary Featherweight super grade in 257 Roberts. Same barreled action. I had to sell it, and a bunch of other guns, when my left knee’s ACL blew out several years ago. They are accurate, and the modern model 70’s, overall, are objectively better than the pre-64’s. However, this gun is something I’ve just wanted for a very long time, and the longer barrel and fast twist are part of the want.

[z1r]

Mar 17, 2024 9:29:24 GMT -5 singleaction said:

Mar 17, 2024 7:44:48 GMT -5 x101airborne said:

I bought my wife a 257 Roberts for her first whitetail rifle. I haven't seen it since we packed up and started building our new house but I am pretty sure it was a Win 70 "Classic", basically a post 64 made pre-64. Might save you some headache with a rebarrel job.

Those are good guns. I had a Cabela’s 50th anniversary Featherweight super grade in 257 Roberts. Same barreled action. I had to sell it, and a bunch of other guns, when my left knee’s ACL blew out several years ago. They are accurate, and the modern model 70’s, overall, are objectively better than the pre-64’s. However, this gun is something I’ve just wanted for a very long time, and the longer barrel and fast twist are part of the want.

Shouldn't be that hard these days to source a barrel in a duplicate contour but a couple of inches longer.