It can definitely fit into some of the short actions.
I have not built one on it (I decided to build a 257 Roberts on a 1909 Argentine action) but at one pooint I was considering using a short action Model 70 Winchester Classic Compact Action and actually bought one of these with that purpose in mind.
Terry Wieland, in his synopsis of the 257 Roberts in A-Square's "Any Shot You Want", says:
"It is a nice little cartridge. Quiet. Low recoil. It fits neatly into the new short Winchester Model 70 (with spacer removed) and that saves on length. The 257 Roberts is also adaptable to short barrels; ideal as a handy woods rifle in the East, or as a light mountain rifle in the West."
I measured the magazine box on my Classic Compact. It is 3 1/8" long without the spacer used to shorten it for the 308 Win. cartridge: adequate for the 257 Roberts cartridge.
The compact version of the Win. Model 70 only holds 4 rounds, which is nice if you want a light rifle. I think (??) that the 308 Win. versions of the Feather Weight Model have a 5 round magazine if you want the traditonal 5 rounds.
To me it just makes sense to get an action that is scaled right for the cartidge you want.
Of course, being just a 7mm Mauser necked down to 25 Caliber, any standard length military Mauser action is ideal for this cartridge, but they weigh more than the short Model 70 actions.
If saving weight is an important criteria, use the Classic Compact Action. If you want 5 rounds, use the Feather Weight. If weight is unimportant (24" barrel, 71/2 lbs without accessories or ammo, like the classic Rigby Mausers Bell used to shoot all those elephants: this will make the sweetest shooter), use a military Mauser action.
This is for classic sporting rifles. I don't know what would be the best short action for a varmint type rifle. Perhaps one of the Remington's, but I don't own any of these.
Of course, for the blown out Ackley Improved round, you will have to imploy a gunsmith experienced in modifying the rails and follower to get perfect feeding with this modification of the cartridge with all these actions.
[Edited by Herodotus on 03-04-2001 at 11:44 PM]
