Converting savage 308 t0 257 weatherby

[murphy102263]

I was thinking of changing my savage model 11 308cal to 257 weatherby. Is it even possible to do and how hard would it be if it can be done? thanks for any input.

[kweeks10045]

The 308 being a short action, would be hard pressed to digest a 257 Weatherby length cartridge. Without doing this conversion myself, the only way I can see it is a single shot.

[murphy102263]

yep thats what i was afraid of.....what caliber can you convert it to easily that would be a flatter shooting caliber?

[kweeks10045]

6.5x284 would be a good bet as well as 260 ackley improved. I will make a few assumptions here. 1st, a 24" barrel or longer will be used. 2nd, you are will to spend a little on proprietary or wildcat cartridges. If your budget will allow, check out the 7.21 Tomahawk from Lazzeroni. It will match the 257 Weatherby with a 7mm bullet. A 120 gr. Barnes TTSX at 3560 or so is as flat as you want it. Start with a WSM chambered rifle and save yourself some headaches. I guess a big questions should be, what are you trying to accomplish?

[EFBell]

257 WSM will exceed the weatherby and is very easy to build on a wsm action.

[sinman]

2nd the 257 wsm, or 6.5wsm

[murphy102263]

well i farm so i have many beanfields with 400 to 500 yard shots....i know the 308 is fine for that range but im just trying to elinate as much holdover as possible and i love the accutrigger and thumbhole stock on my 308 just want to change the caliber if possible.

[EFBell]

easy route would be 243 or 260. cool wildcat would be the 257-308 or 25 Souper as it's known.

[Apache]

257WSM is the only real choice on a short action quarter bore that performs on 257 Weatherby levels. I will be building one myself this late spring or early summer.

There are several others that would work, but not in a S/A quarter bore.

[murphy102263]

thanks for the info guys, you have given me several things to look into.....so i can convert my gun to the 257WSM if i understand you correctly....right?

[Blue Avenger]

I have a 7mm Rem Mag on a short action. single shot feed is no problem. ejecting an empty also works. I do have to pull the bolt to remove a loaded round.

[steveinwv]

Something to consider, my .257 Weatherby shows throat erosion that the eye can see with less than 200 rounds down the tube. Three round groups is the most I have ever put through it, so it's never been HOT. I would suggest a 7mmWSM with 120gr or less bullets for flat shooting and barrel life.

[sinman]

shooting a 120gr 7mm bullet out of a 7mmwsm will eat the throat as much as a 257wsm or 257 w. mag with a heavy bullet.

[steveinwv]

shooting a 120gr 7mm bullet out of a 7mmwsm will eat the throat as much as a 257wsm or 257 w. mag with a heavy bullet.


I have a 7mm Rem Mag that hasn't seen anything buy a 120gr. Nosler Ballistic at 3550fps. since I bought it 500 rounds ago and it has a new looking throat compared to my .257WM with 200 rounds.

[murphy102263]

i think i might go the easy route with the 243WIN or the 243AI

[bigjohnson]

Try a 25-284 its a 25-06 in a short action.

[steveinwv]

.257 Roberts Ackley Improved, then you don't have to change anything but the barrel. And you get good barrel life with performance near a standard .25-06.

[bigjohnson]

25-284 WILL give you 25-06 performance, sometimes more. All you have to buy is a barrel and a set of dies. All you have to do to make brass is run the cases through a full length size die. If your die is adjusted properly, no fire forming.

[EFBell]

You may/will have magazine length and extraction issues with a bob on a short action. Or so I was told as I thought of this myself once.

[steveinwv]

You may/will have magazine length and extraction issues with a bob on a short action. Or so I was told as I thought of this myself once.


I had one up until last year in a Rem 700. Nosler 85s and 100s fit, extracted, and fed fine. My .22-250AI on the other hand was a nightmare.