battle of the .257

[nowarningshot]

My vote for the 25-06. Have not read the whole post. Sure someone has pointed out the cost of factory Weatherby anything. If the OP reloads and is buying new, then the 257 weatherby, if he doesnt reload the 25-06. Ammo for the 25-06 is not that easy to find, but it is a lot easier to find than 257 weatherby or the Bob.

 

[Ranger Dave]

I liked the wbee until I saw the price off the ammo and brass. 25-06 is the route I would go.

 

[Dogleg]

I liked the wbee until I saw the price off the ammo and brass. 25-06 is the route I would go.

Weatherby factory ammo is available for about $40 a box which compares well with premium ammo in any caliber. (.270 and .300 Bee as well but I digress) .257 Weatherby can be formed from 7mm Rem or .264 Win Mag brass in one pass.

 

[brybenn]

I do reload but locally the wby is $20 more a box for factory. I'd love to have the wby but I can't see its needed speed over my 25/06. I hunt Ontario and a 500 yard shot at a coyote is an extremely far shot and deer and bear are less then 200 usually. Think I'll keep the 25/06. Thanks for the replies

 

[hoytcanon]

That's the thing about the Roberts, you can dump the 243 & 260 and want for nothing. It's more perfect for deer than the other two.

Surely you jest! Not to derail this thread into a side debate, but were I to simplify the locker ( not gonna happen because I shoot all of the .308 case cartridges)... But I would go to the .260 over the .257 Bob for pretty much every application. If held to a "quarter bore" it would be (and is) the .25/06... That is not to say that I don't appreciate the Bob, just doesn't have a place we my set...

 

[SuperCub]

bdl post

 

[SuperCub]

But I would go to the .260 over the .257 Bob for pretty much every application.

I didn't say the 257Roberts was best "for pretty much every application", I said it was perfect for deer. Obviously, any cartridge [like the 260] that offers heavier bullets versatility, will be a better choice for heavier game.

Either way, the OP was asking about 25cals.

If held to a "quarter bore" it would be (and is) the .25/06...

The 25/06 is an excellent choice as well, but the 257R is easy to get 3100fps with 100gr bullets. That's lots for deer.

 

[Republic of Alberta]

Ouch!!!

I'd like to get a 250 savage for my girl though

I ordered a 250 Savage reamer for my little boy. I just need to order a bbl for him and then I will have everything I need.



How do you guys like the 100g Nosler Ballistic tip for deer? I got 4 boxes of them and figure that is where I will start and end for deer bullets out of the 250.


Also ordered a 257 STW reamer for myself yesterday. Finding the right powder is going to be the biggest challenge for the STW because of powder bridging issues.

 

[Andy]

I have a Browning 1885 High Wall in 257 STW. With a 26" barrel, it's still shorter than most 24" bolt guns. I can do 3900+ fps with 100 gr pills with several powders. I don't need it, just wanted it mostly for the fun of load development. Sadly 4000 fps with a 100 gr bullet is not achievable at same pressures. Maybe some day I'll have a 600 yd deer shot I'll need to take - nah, that'll never happen.

http://www.canadiangunnutz.com/foru...7-STW-10-Loads-for-the-100gr-Sierra-Game-King

 

[FLHTCUI]

"Nothing shoots flatter, hits harder or is more accurate. Guaranteed.”

Weatherby has long guaranteed its Mark V rifles to shoot a 1 1/2-inch, three-shot group at 100 yards from a cold barrel when using Weatherby ammunition; the company proudly boasts that it was the first firearm manufacturer to offer an assurance of performance. However, whereas 1 1/2-inch three-shot groups were once considered extraordinary, such accuracy is now viewed as mediocre, despite being more than acceptable for hunting big-game animals.

If you want to read another mans opinion you can look up the issue of American Rifleman November 2012 issue and aaron Carter explains it a little bit better...

As for muzzle blast it is hardly more than when I had a 30:06 autoloader (Remington 742) but the Bee does burn more powder and does kill them dead as will any other cartridge when the shooter does his/her job too.

Me, I am happy with my S-2 and would really like an ultra-lite in .257Wby.

Best regards,
Rob

 

[dan belisle]

I've Been thinking about a 257 STW, pushing 100g ballistic tips.

The 25-06 is a nice lady's rifle.

This. - dan

 

[Johnn Peterson]

Visiting our Daughter & Son In Law in AB a few years back, I found they were both using the 12BVSS Savage in 22-250 for varmint/pred shooting. For an inexpensive rifle, I couldn't believe the accuracy results they were getting and it didn't seem to matter what ammo they were using. Everything shot well. After seeing that, and as at that time I already had a Ruger No, 1 in 22-250, I thought perhaps I 'needed' something along that line, but something a little bigger. I mentioned, possibly a 243 or 25-06 and I was told "Good luck"! Luck was with me as Bashaw Sports had one which I had them ship to me, with decent glass.



Up until then, I had never really given much thought to a 25 as I never had a specific need for one. I did go for decent glass on it but 'bang for the buck', for an inexpensive rifle even with my first reloads through it, I was impressed with the accuracy. He has since passed away but with my second batch of reloads, hs4570 was at the range with me and he was very impressed with the results as well. He signed the target, shot at our somewhat informal local range, the furthest distance being 185 yds.

 

[hoytcanon]

I didn't say the 257Roberts was best "for pretty much every application", I said it was perfect for deer..

I said "pretty much every application" and was including deer in saying that.

The 25/06 is an excellent choice as well, but the 257R is easy to get 3100fps with 100gr bullets. That's lots for deer.

I was getting 3250 fps from my .260 with 100 grain TTSX and Benchmark... but I have since opted for 120 grain TTSX with a milder load of H4350 for 2950 fps and improved accuracy... which is also, plenty for deer...

I've Been thinking about a 257 STW, pushing 100g ballistic tips. The 25-06 is a nice lady's rifle.

Sure the .25/06 is a fine ladies cartridge, just like the .243, 6.5X55, 7mm-08, .250 Savage, .257 Bob etc... etc... etc...

... I mentioned, possibly a 243 or 25-06 and I was told "Good luck"! Luck was with me as Bashaw Sports had one which I had them ship to me, with decent glass. Up until then, I had never really given much thought to a 25 as I never had a specific need for one. I did go for decent glass on it but 'bang for the buck', for an inexpensive rifle even with my first reloads through it, I was impressed with the accuracy... shot at our somewhat informal local range, the furthest distance being 185 yds.

Johnn... that is the kind of accuracy we have experienced with our .25/06's... a fine cartridge.

 

[sunray]

"...I just don't know why..." "I want one." is reason enough.
"...wondered bout weatherbys mag..." The word 'Weatherby' adds to the cost of anything it is on. None of 'em do anything any other cartridge won't. The ammo just costs more. Think $45 per 20 and up.
"...is the most devastating varmint round ever devised..." Nonsense.

 

[track]

Visiting our Daughter & Son In Law in AB a few years back, I found they were both using the 12BVSS Savage in 22-250 for varmint/pred shooting. For an inexpensive rifle, I couldn't believe the accuracy results they were getting and it didn't seem to matter what ammo they were using. Everything shot well. After seeing that, and as at that time I already had a Ruger No, 1 in 22-250, I thought perhaps I 'needed' something along that line, but something a little bigger. I mentioned, possibly a 243 or 25-06 and I was told "Good luck"! Luck was with me as Bashaw Sports had one which I had them ship to me, with decent glass.



Up until then, I had never really given much thought to a 25 as I never had a specific need for one. I did go for decent glass on it but 'bang for the buck', for an inexpensive rifle even with my first reloads through it, I was impressed with the accuracy. He has since passed away but with my second batch of reloads, hs4570 was at the range with me and he was very impressed with the results as well. He signed the target, shot at our somewhat informal local range, the furthest distance being 185 yds.

LOL!!! Don't take it personally Johnn but I keep on seeing that Moose Medallion pop up whenever you show a rifle. What's up with that? Are you superstitious? Permanent fixture in your carpet? What?

 

[BigUglyMan]

LOL!!! Don't take it personally Johnn but I keep on seeing that Moose Medallion pop up whenever you show a rifle. What's up with that? Are you superstitious? Permanent fixture in your carpet? What?

Proof that he actually has the aforementioned rifle, though that carpet is just about unique enough to stand in for the moosehead-dealie.

Which reminds me, Johnn, have you seen Ted this season? Remember that you have to moosehead-dealie him to prove you were actually there!

I have both a 25-06 and a 257 Weatherby though I haven't shot the '06 much despite owning it for 13 years. Maybe this fall. I've never fired the 257 as I originally bought it as a donor (it's a pre-64 M70 action that is on it's third chamber). When I built the 25-06 I toyed with the idea of doing the AI though at this point I'm glad that I didn't. Very little benefit (maybe even none) and in the end you have an oddball that is even less desirable than the original 25-06 (which it seems to be though for no good reason). Interestingly the 257 started life as a 257 Roberts. I sure with it still was...Pre-64 M70 Super Grade in 257 Roberts would be a real sweetie.

 

[track]

First off I love the 25/06 but have always wondered bout weatherbys mag. I decided on the 25/06 because I like shorter guns and most all my hunting shots are well under 300 yards. I realize a 22" barrel handicaps the 25/06 but it cripples the 257 wby mag. I load 75 gr Vmax to 3500 fps and 117 gr interlock at 3150 fps with the 2506 A debate with a buddy got me wondering if 250 fps more justifys a longer gun and more muzzle blast.
At what point do you quarter bore fans step up or down in case capacity ? A coyote or deer will never know the head stamp either way so how do you choose?

I'm happy with the 25/06 but im sure ill end up with a 257 wby someday. I just don't know why

Here is my 257 Weatherby built on a Remington action, Brown Pounder stock with a 28 inch Gaillard barrel which was custom built by Rocky Mountain Rifles. Needless to say it was a tack driver but it really shined with hyper speed. I was shooting 100 gr. NBT at over 3,700 fps, and once I tried a 85 grain NBT just for the hell of it where it travelled at 3,880. Personally there is no other 257 that I would purchase other than the weatherby. If you want speed for deer and coyote's as well as a natural tack driver, well.............

 

[SuperCub]

I was getting 3250 fps from my .260 with 100 grain TTSX and Benchmark... but I have since opted for 120 grain TTSX with a milder load of H4350 for 2950 fps and improved accuracy... which is also, plenty for deer....

You're right, the OP should abandon his quest for a 25cal and go with a 260.

 

[hoytcanon]

You're right, the OP should abandon his quest for a 25cal and go with a 260.

I was talking to you... not the OP... I believe that you opened the ball with; "That's the thing about the Roberts, you can dump the 243 & 260 and want for nothing. It's more perfect for deer than the other two."

I like the quarter bores and think the OP has a good idea now which way he is going...

 

[Johnn Peterson]

LOL!!! Don't take it personally Johnn but I keep on seeing that Moose Medallion pop up whenever you show a rifle. What's up with that? Are you superstitious? Permanent fixture in your carpet? What?

Not a problem but the Moose medallion you've referred to, in reality is actually a trivet for use with hot pots, plates and the like. It was a gift from my wife a number of years back and it usually is located on a coffee table in my den. Come into play when I'm eating a hot supper and watching a hockey game in the den.
It's part of the central decore theme of Moose in my den as the Moose is my favorite big game animal, to hunt and as table fare. As example,





As such, when I first started taking photos of firearms, I included a Moose related item, just cuzz. Usually with handguns, a coaster.



And with long guns, itis the well recognized trivet.