25-06 or 257

[Larryh128]

25-06 for many years, my son owns it now and he and my grandson killed a pair of does with it on Saturday. Super accurate, very lethal, EASY to get a good load, easy on the shoulder. What's not to like. 257 W biggest drawback for me is the cost of brass and availability. I have 25-06 brass that's marked 270, 30-06 etc.

 

[STOMP442]

I have always been a fan of the quarter bores. That being said about the only one I don't own is the .257W. Every one of them I have ever messed with has been super picky on loads and needed to be loaded down to .25-06 velocities to group well. I don't care how fast it is if I can't hit what I am aiming at. I have a .25-06 built on a Savage action with a 26" Criterion barrel set in a Savage American stock that shoots 115gr Bergers at 3248fps with H4350 and half MOA or better accuracy. When I was dating my wife who is also a hunter and shooter, I brought out the .25-06 one day when we went to the range. She fell in love with it and has claimed it as "her rifle" and used it on every deer hunt since then. I still tease her that she only married me for my .25-06.

 

[fourpower]

Trying to decide if want a new 25-06 or try 257wby.any input be great thanks Steve

I got my first 25.06 in 1958 and fell in love! the number of deer and coyotes that rifle got is out of this world and also some elk. I was lucky enough to get the first remington sendero stainless in Oregon many years ago. once I found a load for 115 bergers and h-1000 it is a super gun that I shoot all the time @ 900yds. I also load for 4 more 25.06s all remingtons and they all love the same load. all kinds on animals in my area hate this rifle.

 

[oldhoward]

Hi, I have both cartridges. The 257 WBY is wonderful but more expensive to shoot. If you reload try the 257 WBY. The 257 WBY is harder on barrels too. The 25-06 is close power wise and adequate for deer sized game and perhaps ELK. I think the deciding thing is cost, can you afford to feed he beast?

 

[22BRGUY]

Trying to decide if want a new 25-06 or try 257wby.any input be great thanks Steve

What exactly do YOU see or feel about the 2 cartridge differences that YOU like and dislike?
What matters MOST to YOU?
Speed
Accuracy
Barrel life
Range
Other

 

[17VLD]

What exactly do YOU see or feel about the 2 cartridge differences that YOU like and dislike?
What matters MOST to YOU?
Speed
Accuracy
Barrel life
Range
Other

At first the OP’s question seems easy,but in reality it’s not.
Both cartridges have dads that are cool AF,been around and loved for ever and are really pretty darn close in performance.As 22BRGUY so aptly put it the decision is yours dear reader,”pay your dollar and take your choice”
Matt

 

[AlNyhus]

The 250 Savage Ackley checked all the boxes for me when it came time for a .25.

I know this strays a bit from the subject, but there you have it...haha.

 

[rkittine]

I am also a fan or the .25-06. Easy to load for, many places carry factory ammo if you need some right away and as pointed out, lots of options if you are looking for a ready to go rifle. Not sure I would do a custom build in it, nor a .257 Roberts magnum either, though I did enjoy shooting a Remington 700 in standard .257 Roberts when I used to hunt.

I asked on the forum some time ago about why not a .25 caliber for Bench Rest and the responses seemed to be grouped around the lack of suitable projectiles.

Bob

 

[AckleymanII]

Years ago, I shot the barrels out of a Remington Varmint 25/06, Sako Varmint 25/06, and a Ruger Varmint 25/06. I bought a couple of Mark 5's used, got around 600 rounds out of them, hate that long freebore. Then built a 25/284, really bad mistake on a short action.

Then I met a gunsmith in San Diego shooting a 257 Weatherby with zero freebore. We went coyote hunting, he popped a few, hair floated down for what seemed like 5 minutes. Then shot a couple of crows way on out there.

I ordered a reamer for a 257 Weatherby with zero freebore and a short neck where I could just neck down 7 Mag brass in one pass and be done...New Winchester brass. Winchester brass is tougher than Norma brass...no big secret there.

First trip to the range, Load development was 12 rounds, 100g ballistic tips with 71.5g of R#22, bullet just touching the lands, velocity out of the 26" barrel was 3850 fps and groups were in the 2's. 100g Partitions were 1/2" groups. I used std Forster benchrest dies.

IN the last 25/06 I had, the powder charge with the 100g bullet was in the 54g area with 3150 fps, and 71.5g with 3850. 650 fps more worth it, That will be up to you.

 

[Clark]

I have loaded hot 25acp, 25-20, 250 Savage, 257 Roberts, 257 Roberts Ackley, 257 Roberts Ackley rimmed, and 25-06.

From trying to kill animals at long range, I have found 6.5-06, 280AI, and 7mmRM to be better.

 

[Beruisis]

I've owned & hunted with all the 25 calibers except 25-35.
Settled on 250 Savage; have three of them.
No flies on 25-06 or 257 Roy though.

 

[trader steve]

I have a Ruger tang safety 25-06 a 250savage and Ruger number 1 in 257roberts the brass price on weatherby What I don't like. I have a 240wby I love it just brass cost. I'm on my second barrel on 25-06 and it's time to hand it down I have killed alot with it.only had it about 35 years lol.i love 25s just now it's time to replace the Ruger and my son get it.i truly appreciate and enjoy reading the information I'm getting.stev

 

[Bbear]

Like others, I really love the 25's. I have two - one a first-year production 700 ADL that I've re-stocked with a nice piece of maple. It's the 'slow' gun. It puts out the 110 AB at only 3200 fps. It has in excess of 3000 rounds down the pipe, but until I can't reach the distance or the groups turn into patterns, it will keep the same factory barrel. The 'fast' gun is a 700 BDL with a Douglas barrel on it that started out life in a pawn shop. This one only has about 2000 rounds through it. It puts the same 110 AB out at 3225 and keeps a .75 group at that.
With the ADL, I've taken everything from squirrels to elk. The BDL has about 100 whitetail and a few mule deer to it's credit.

I see no reason to add a few hundred fps to the bullet, not when brass for the Wby is so expensive.

 

[300Ultra]

I acquired my first 25/06 several years ago. It was the 700 BDL my father in law used for woodchuck all through the 90s. Cleaning practices back then weren't what they are now. I remember Sweets hitting the market,and lots of copper fouling coming out of the 25 Otter. I think maybe some pitting was also in the offing. At any rate. It shot very well for me,but fouled after only a few shots opening up groups markedly. It now lives here as a 280 AI.

I missed having a 25/06. So there is a Tikka T3 here now. A little short in the pipe,but still a wonderful rifle and round. Deer give up the ghost via 100 grains of Speer poison. It's not the hammer of Thor,but I have no complaints. Not sure about the deer. They may take issue with it.

The only Weatherby round I have done a lot of work with is the 270. Loved that cartridge. Easy to feed and no problems with belts or brass. I would have to think the 257 would be no more troublesome. Being biased in favor of the 25/06,I see no reason to launch an affair with the big .25. Now if my brother in law would offer me his Remington LSS 257 Wratherby I'd sure take him up on it. In lieu of that Ill just continue on with the 25/06.

 

[RustyPin]

The 250 Savage Ackley checked all the boxes for me when it came time for a .25.

I know this strays a bit from the subject, but there you have it...haha.

Yuppers, I no savvy, if the 250 Savage don't get her done why not the 25-08. Can you say BlackJack or no jack.

 

[17TACnes]

I have had my Remington 700 25-06 since 1983 and hunted with it every year since then. I have numerous other guns but my 25-06 is my go to gun. I put a H-S Precision stock on it years ago and skim bedded the action, then I worked up a load for it. It loves the Sierra 90 gr BTHP. Great caliber.

 

[BD100]

Trying to decide if want a new 25-06 or try 257wby.any input be great thanks Steve

Steve,

I've owned both for many years. Save yourself the trouble and go straight to the 257 Weatherby, especially if you're a re-loader. It's definitely worth the additional cost of ownership. I can tell you, 100's at 3600+fps or 115's at 3400+ fps are incredible performers and capable of some pretty spectacular kills. It kills beyond what should be commensurate for the bullet size. Furthermore, for all that performance, the recoil is surprisingly light. As for accuracy, it's pretty impressive for such a high intensity round and I've found it to be every bit as accurate, if not a bit more so than the 25-06. Additionally, it's a breeze to load for. Not finicky whatsoever.

If you decide on the 257, check out the new Weatherby Vanguard with a 26 in barrel. The Vanguards are excellent shooters. Often better than their Mark V counterparts.

 

[Murray Brook]

I own two 25/05's and a 257 WM Vanguard. I love both of these cartridges. The advantage of the 25/06 is that it is easier on barrels ,uses less powder and brass is more plentiful and cheaper. The advantage of the 257 is velocity. Cut it anyway you like with rifles of equal barrel length the 257 does 200-250 ft/sec better.In some cases maybe even 300 ft/sec. If you would plan on hunting big game like moose or elk with a 25 cal then the 257 would be better suited for this than the 25/06. In turn I believe the 25/06 is better suited to the person who does varmint hunting. The 257 barrel heats up much faster than the 25/06. Both cartridges exhibit great accuracy and as others have said both are easy to load for.

 

[Guybo]

I can't really comment on the .257 because I've never owned or even shot one. I'm sure it's a fine caliber and definitely smoking fast. I've been shooting a 25.06 for around 30yrs and at one time owned 4, a Sendero, Rem Classic, Rem ADL and an H&R single shot. I eventually sold them all but when I sold the classic I did it to buy the Rem CDL which I currently use. I don't plan on ever getting rid of this CDL, i'll just rebarrel when the time comes. I also can't see myself never owning a 25.06, it's no doubt my favorite caliber. Mike