Building a Left Hand 7x57

[IdahoMo]

Hello! I've always wanted a classic (wood, blued, CRF) 7x57, but as a lefty it they can be quite hard to find. With that in mind, I've just decided to have one built by a gunsmith I'm friends with. I'd like it to be a CRF with either a 3 position or mauser 98 style safety.

My questions are: Would you buy a parent rifle or just an action? If you went the rifle rout, what calibers would be easiest to convert (257 roberts is the only cartridge I know of with 7x57 as the parent cartridge)? If you just bought a new action, what company would you go with? As for the barrel, are there certain brands you would recommend? What else should I be considering?

Thanks in advance.

 

[MS 9x56]

Or Just buy a Ruger 77 left hand in 7x57.

 

[rdog]

A left hand Zastava LKM70 M98 in 30/06 or 270 W would be a good choice will feed 7x57 with no mods a bbl from
Shilen, Douglas, or Pac nor WITH 1-8 or 1-9 twist would be a good start. OR A RUGER 77 AS MS 9X56 SAID. I HAVE A RH RUGER 77 MKII WITH A SHILEN 1-9 TWIST IN 7X57 USE TO BE A 270 WIN.

 

[Bill_D]

I would buy a Ruger m77 left hand Hawkeye (I would wait to try and find one with a little character in the stock) in 30-06 or 270 then send it to RJ Renner and have him build you a classic English sporting rifle in 7x57.

He took my left hand m77 30-06 threw the old barrel away and put on a 23” Rigby contour Douglas barrel in 30-06 and completely reworked/recheckered/1” decorator red recoil pad/ express sights/barrel mounted sling swivel, the rifle into a beautiful English style sporting rifle that points like a shotgun and shoots great groups!! All for around 3k.

I was very tempted to do mine in 7x57 but I just have so much 30-06 loading stuff and it’s such a common and effective plains game caliber I talked my self out of it.

Advantage of a Ruger M77 is that it is already a “double square bridge” be it kind of the redneck version. All you have to do do it’s buy a set of the very high quality Alaska Arms scope rings and you have very effective one pice quick detach rings that when removed the recover is completely clean of bases.

Also the m77 is a much lighter and trimmer action than an m70 its will help save weight in the end.

This is my recommendation if you want to keep the project under 5k.

 

[IdahoMo]

Or Just buy a Ruger 77 left hand in 7x57.

I keep my eyes peeled for LH 7x57 and they are pretty rare. Only seen a couple in 3 years of looking.

 

[IdahoMo]

Thanks rdog and Bill_D, that’s all really good advice.

 

[coreydb]

Being a Lefty myself, there are a handful of left handed rifles offered by manufacturers; Savage, Ruger, Remington, CZ, Weatherby, Tikka, and Browning (all that I'm aware of). If you're wanting a Mauser action, Granite Mountain Arms will build a LH rifle for you. Other LH actions-if you're considering a build, are Defiance and Kelbly actions. I don't know if Zermatt makes LH actions, but this can get you looking in the right direction.

 

[Bill_D]

Here are some pics of my left hand m77 build by RJ Renner last year.

 

[RR 314]

I would go GMA.

 

[IdahoMo]

Here are some pics of my left hand m77 build by RJ Renner last year. View attachment 763501View attachment 763502View attachment 763503

Ohh wow! Thats a nice looking rifle! Was the stock factory wood and he just reshaped it?

 

[Fatback]

I have one built on a Winchester model 70 and it is a great rifle. If you can find one in 30-06 or 270 that would be a good donor rifle for this type of build.

 

[IdahoMo]

I have one built on a Winchester model 70 and it is a great rifle. If you can find one in 30-06 or 270 that would be a good donor rifle for this type of build.

Cool. Do you have a pic?

 

[Fatback]

Cool. Do you have a pic?

I’ll be glad to take a couple this weekend and post them up. Was planning on doing a bit of shooting this weekend anyway.

 

[Bill_D]

Ohh wow! Thats a nice looking rifle! Was the stock factory wood and he just reshaped it?

Yes it was the factory Hawkeye stock! Reshaped

 

[Bill_D]

I’ll be glad to take a couple this weekend and post them up. Was planning on doing a bit of shooting this weekend anyway.

Would love to see this as well!

 

[BANDF]

Your gunsmith should also be able to source a Park West (formerly Dakota Arms) lefty action. They offer them in both a round-action design, akin to a Rem 700 in concept and a more Model 70 styled action with a flat bottom etc., I believe they come with the bottom metal, trigger and so on as well.

 

[Fatback]

Not the best pic but you get the idea. I had hoped to get out and shoot some this weekend but that didn’t happen so these are the best I can do for pictures now. Next time I get this rifle out to the range, I’ll take some better pictures in the sunlight.

 

[IdahoMo]

Not the best pic but you get the idea. I had hoped to get out and shoot some this weekend but that didn’t happen so these are the best I can do for pictures now. Next time I get this rifle out to the range, I’ll take some better pictures in the sunlight.View attachment 763902View attachment 763903

Awesome, thanks Fatback!

 

[Tanks]

Rigby London Best comes with a left hand action. I ordered one in 9.3x62 but could have gotten on in 7x57.

 

[LeftySixgun]

Just another lefty’s input. I really like the 7x57!!! I’d buy an M70 in 270 and have it rebarreled. Brand of barrels….Ive only done one custom build and went with Krieger. I don’t have any complaints with Kreiger, it shoots great. I’d check to see who has your preferred contour in stock. But I think they are all good barrels.
The choice I’d have a hard time making is what throat length to have the chamber cut to….the long military style or the shorter throat. Ruger did both and I have both, long throat in a long barreled No.1 and a shorter throat in a short barreled No.1 RSI.
The long throat would let you run long heavy bullets out towards the lands and add more powder to gain a little in velocity. I see no reason to keep pressure on the lower side of the older 1893/95 actions the original 7x57s originated from, as long as you use a good strong modern action for your build.
I’d for sure have it built with some nice iron sights and quick detach scope rings.