257 Heaven, I was not wrong on the 03A3 thread. Everything I said was true and conforms with any book you can find on 03s/03A3s/03A4s. I collected 03s for longer than most folks here have been alive. Show me some original source data that proves anything I said was incorrect.
As far as this 257 goes, I am contacting the Remington's Collector's Society to get the straight facts from real experts.
The standard reference on 700s, Lacy's book, make no mention of any long action rifle being chambered for a short cartridge, nor would it have made any sense as the 25-06 was available. Back in the day Bob's were built on long actions with barrels having deep throats. This allowed more powder space when seating long bullets in the 120 gr range. Again this died once the 25-06 became a Remington standard cartridge.
It would be interesting if the owner of this rifle could supply the serial number and all the prime markings on the barrel to help the folks at the RCS.
If the folks at RCS tell me that Remington built Long action cataloged Classics in 257 Bob on long actions in stainless, I'll be happy to eat crow.
A bit of research yielded this:
"There is, for the fist time, Remington Classic rifle information consolidated in one place by a writer who researched Remington's records/factory codes, and several other sources (quoted in the article).
The information is in the 2008 Gun Digest, in the article " The Remington 700" by Steve Gash.
Here's the published LE Classic production table, simplified by me - as there lots more info in it:
Date code - Year - Caliber - Production Total
B - 1981 - 7x57, 2018 made
C - 1982 - 257R, 6561
D - 1983 - 300 H&H, 5846
E - 1984 - 250 Sav, 5742
F - 1985 - 350 Rem Mag, 5756
G - 1986 - 264 Win Mag, 3468
H - 1987 - 338 Win Mag, 4792
I - 1988 - 35 Whelan, 8805
J - 1989 - 300 Weatherby, 10,779
K - 1990 - 25-06, 6935
L - 1991 - 7mm Weatherby, 3092
M - 1992 - 220 Swift, 7594
N - 1993 - 222 Rem, 2021
O - 1994 - 6.5x55, 3858
P - 1995 - 300 Win Mag, 4232
Q - 1996 - 375 H&H, 3102
R - 1997 - 280, 1917
S - 1998 - 8mm Rem Mag, 2133
T - 1999 - 17 Rem, 3022
U - 2000 - 223, 3570
W - 2001 - 7mm-08, 2682
X - 2002 - 221 Fireball, 3567
Y - 2003 - 300 Sav, 4036
Z - 2004 - 8x57, 2248
A - 2005 - 308, 1479
Cumulative 25 year total: 105,981"
Now here's one to chew on:
http://www.gunsamerica.com/936834853/Remington-Model-700-Classic-Stainless-LTD-220-Swift.htmNote it is called a "Classic Limited" and is not a long action. Perhaps we just have a confusion in terminology as Remington chose to reuse a name associated with a "one cartridge per year" rifle for other rifles, appending the name with "Limited" ?
Always interesting on this site how some people are unable to have a difference of opinion without resorting to name calling and flaming anyone who dares to offer an alternative to their opinion.
I'll let you know what the RCS says. best, Larry
