WTK Aprox cost/difficulty 7x57 rechamber 7mm-08

[treedawg]

I've located a nice used Steyr in 7x57 and I'm not crazy about the round.


From my limited research it looks like the chamber could be reamed to 7mm-08.


The price on the Steyr is OK, but not great. I'm afraid I would be upside down in this project, but I thought I would ask anyway.


Advice/suggestion and approx cost???


TD

[gundoc]

Probably $125. I will have to check it to make sure the conversion can be done safely.

[treedawg]

GD, the 7x57 has a diameter of .284 and it's a long action.

It's built on a very strong Mauser style action.

After further consideration I'm not sure I want a 7mm-08.

What would you suggest?

TD

[gundoc]

Rechambering is one of those things I don't get a lot of call for. I have dug through all of my references and online and have yet to find a suitable chart or suggestion for this question. I will keep looking and would to hear from members about their ideas. Thanks!

Doc

[cma g21]

How about .280 Remington? It should work, as my cousin had a Ruger 77 in 7x57 recambered to .280.

It was originally my rifle, but I could never get a decent group out of it. I gave it to him, and he had the same problem. He finally had it rechambered (on the advice of a gunsmith) and now it shoots much better.

[surbat6]

The 7mm Mauser cartridge has an overall length of 3.06 inches, the 7mm-08's OAL is 2.80. Seems like the barrel would have to be set back before rechambering the longer caliber to the shorter. Other dimensions seem close. Re-barreling might be a more viable option. Actually, the 7x57 cartridge is a good round in its own right. Velocity is only about 200 fps faster with the 7-08, so the conversion might get you a little extra power, but would it be worth the additional cost? Also (it seems unlikely given similar base and body dimensions), with any rechambering to a different cartridge body style, there's a possibility of feed problems. I'd recommend using that Steyr with its original caliber. Just my .02.

[treedawg]

How about .280 Remington? It should work, as my cousin had a Ruger 77 in 7x57 recambered to .280.

It was originally my rifle, but I could never get a decent group out of it. I gave it to him, and he had the same problem. He finally had it rechambered (on the advice of a gunsmith) and now it shoots much better.

I have a 700 Mtn Rifle in .280 and it's an awsome little round.

I think 7mm-08 is based on a short action so that would rule it out since the 7x57 is a long action.

How about a 7mag since it's also a .284.

I'd prefer to keep the barrel otherwise I know I'd be way over budjet on the project.

TD

[cma g21]

I don't know about the 7mm RemMag. The reason my cousin went with the .280, was because the gunsmith told him it would be the cheapest to do.

Maybe the 7mm would require a little more work?

[Tailgunner]

All those mentioned use the same bore/bullet. You would have to set the barrel back quite a bit to make it a 7-08 (and the 7mm mauser will run circles around the 7-08 when loaded to the same pressure).
The 7mmRM will require having the bolt face opened up to IIRC .550, the other 3 all use the same .473 bolt face (to be expected, as the 7mm Mauser is the grandfather to the other 2 rounds). You might have to modify the bolt stop & mag for the 280 (7mm-06).
With handloading (factory ammo tends to run a little light due to some of the weaker actions out there) your 7x57 will handle anything your willing to go after (a guy named Bell used it quite often on elephant). IOW If it was mine, I'd work up a good load or 2 and be happy.

[treedawg]

I had a chance to get a closer look at the gun today. When I looked at it last week I was in a rush and something just didn't seem right to me. For the life of me I couldn't determine what model Steyr I had looked at. This shouldn't come as shocking news since I've never claimed to be a Steyr expert.

This gun is located a good friend's pawn shop so I went back in today and we pulled it off the rack. He told me he thought it was a Steyr SBS but he also said he wasn't sure since he took it in a long time ago.

Well, neither of us are sure what it is now. It's built a Steyr Mauser style action. It has a Uncle Mikes composite stock. We aren't sure who made the barrel, but the blue is deep and rich.

We then pulled it up on the computer to see what he loaned on it and I almost passed out when I saw he has $400.00 in the gun. He's a very good friend who I shoot and hunt with so I'm sure he was shootingh straight. He told me it came in with a Sako he wanted badly so he
paid more than normal for the Steyr.

I offered him $200.00 cash and he declined, but I' m sure he'll come around. He's funny like that.

TD

[Tailgunner]

Sounds like a military M-98 Mauser, that was built at the Steyr factory in the 30's/40's, sporterized (new barrel/stock) probably in the 50's/60's than restocked again in the 90's.
Unless your in love with the rifle as is, don't pay more than the receiver alone is worth to you (plus any salvage value for the optics). Make sure you pull it out of the stock to look for rust pits below the stock line.

[treedawg]

It looks like I finally figured out where the action came from, but I still know nothing about the builder and likely never will.

The left side of the receiver side rail is stamped "WAFFENFABRIK STEYR" with "AUSTRIA" underneath. Just like the one in this picture. http://randyrick.us/AustrianFirearms/rm1912.htm

Thx
TD