I think the MRC short action is 3", which would give you breathing room. Mexican Mauser would be the classic choice, and a small-ring Husky also a good one, I think.
SA will work. 3" is perfect.
My .257 Roberts is on a LA 700, throated accordingly. My loads run 2.9+" or so. 3" would be ideal for that one, too, although the smith that put this one together tweaked it until it's one of the slickest feeding bolt guns I own. And it feeds no matter how the round is positioned in the 3.4" box.
