rechambering????

[pdkillr]

Can I turn a weatherby 257 into a 280AI just by replacing or rechambering the barrel? Is bolt and magazine going to work. If not what would be the closest and easiest to make a 280AI. Other than a 280 rem, don't have one of those.
Thanks

[FEENIX]

Originally Posted by pdkillr

Can I turn a weatherby 257 into a 280AI just by replacing or rechambering the barrel? Is bolt and magazine going to work. If not what would be the closest and easiest to make a 280AI. Other than a 280 rem, don't have one of those.
Thanks

Best and easiest is to re-barrel (not re-chamber a non .284 barrel) to .280AI, next is to re-chamber a .280 to .280 AI.

Look at the first sticky on this forum on bolt face diameter courtesy of JE Customs.

[Jerry M]

Bolt face is different .532 bolt face for H&H based cartridges - .257 Weatherby Magnum; .473 bolt face for -06 based cartridges - .280 Remington or .280 AI.

You could rebarrel with a 7mm Remington Magnum or a 7mm Weatherby Magnum barrel (which are both .284 bore diameter just like the .280s).

To make your rifle into a .280 or .280AI you would have to replace the bolt and the barrel. That would not be cost effective in my opinion.