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,
Awesome. Lacy's book was published before this rifle was made.
Regardless, you could also just Google the following.
remington 700 classic stainless 257 roberts
I've had one of these in my hands years ago in a local gun store. Super nice piece. Additionally, I've held in my hands the 700 short action ADL synthetic in .257 Roberts that I purchased from this very forum.
First of all - nice rifle. I actually have a friend that has one of these & have even had the pleasure of shooting it a time or two. Wish I could snag this one.
And to 7x64, I don't see anywhere in the OP's post where he ever suggests that this rifle is a "one cartridge per year" Classic as only you keep saying - it is a Classic Stainless though. A special run Classic. Not sure why you are having such a hard time understanding the different between the two???
"Rather hunt Mule deer than anything else" "Team 7MM-08"
"OK. Gears were turning. Had to go back but I believe what he has is a Bill Hicks Co. limited run. Some searching says 2002ish. But it was as you describe; a SS Classic in 257. Can't find anything on the action length or numbers."
So IMHO all that is happening is confusion over what is a Classic.
All my books and catalog collection states that Remington Classics were the one cartridge per year rifles.
If Remington chose to produce other limited run uncataloged rifles and call them Classics, "Classic Limited" to be precise for selected vendors, then so be it.
As I said way back before the flaming began, it sound like a very nice rifle but it does not conform to what Remington collectors would label a Classic. They were cataloged blue and Walnut rifles made from 1981-2005.
I agree it has become a waste of space, but I'm still waiting for 257 Heaven to point out any error in my posts on the 03A3. I would PM him but he's hiding under his desk.
7x64 I hope you like black chicken... as I was lucky enough to find this Lipsey's (I think) special run when they were new on the shelf! I have one unaltered and it is the classic style only stainless and a limited run. The only differentiation between that and the caliber specific classics is that this is stainless and made for one distributor. I'm not a Remington expert but I do know which firearms I have purchased over the years and this is one fine example of a Remington classic. Great rifle!
Mule Deer, "Yeah, real men don't flinch, especially gun writers!"
I remember when I was a kid reading Shooting Times and other magazines, the 700 Classic was first introduced in standard calibers like 243, 308, 30-06, 270, 7mm Rem Mag along with 22-250 and 6mm according to Remington (which I didn't remember). First started production in 1978. The limited calibers started in 81 as most know. I have owned five different calibers of classics and all have been shooters. Your 257 is a fine example and would be a great addition to anyone's safe.