I never answered this post way back when. Although a lot of other posters did.
True, efficiency does drop off as case capacity increases for the same caliber bullet.
But the smaller capacity case will have to generate more pressure to gain the same velocity. Sooner or later, it simply will not keep up.
Back when the 22 BR first came out, everybody was saying……”it will do anything a 22-250 will do”. Well, no it won’t As bullets get heavier, it runs out of gas.
Since I am a Short Range Benchrest Shooter, I am a big fan of high efficient, short, chambers with minimum body taper. That’s how you can describe a 6PPC and a 30BR.
OLD THREAD,,, But here goes. This hits home! I also have a long standing Short range BR love, and some LR, as Jackie points out Efficient! I also never answered this way back, didn't even read a lot of the post. But I sure have read enough to we have many making statements that never used a 1/4 bore. I also seen many using loads at 60K cup to justify comments over the 25 cal at 50K cup!
I won't nock the 25/06 but when it comes to this bore, it is a bit over bore, and wastes some of it's space, is a tad pickier and much harder on throats, over a 257 Roberts! Make that an Ackley Improved Roberts, and the differance is a thing only a chronograph can distinguish! Plus the 257 AI uses about 10% less powder to get the same job done. It stretches less, and has longer more forgiving neck. Its just more efficient doing the same job. Plus easier to tune, and still can use factory Roberts ammo in a bind. Anytime you compare hand loads to factory, your leaving performance and accuracy on the table, with any cartridge using factory!
I have used many of the 6mm'rs, and I assure you, I'll take the 250 Savage over them anyday, and twice on deer hunting day! The 1/4 is a much better Hammer on deer size game. for deer or antelope, it is the most practical caliber I have ever used. out to 600 yards DRT is, well dead right there! Ya you can use a bigger caliber, more powder, more recoil, and do the same job. But doubt it will be more accurate, easier to tune, or as capable in as light of a rifle! One thing many forget to mention is how accuracy becomes much harder in the field the lighter the package is, just because of the recoil, it's hunting, not setting on a bench with winflags and an absolute rest with heavy rifle, if it is I've confused EFFICIENT once again,,,,
Make mine a 1/4 bore for deer size game, and I'll take mine in a 257 Rob AI! At least till I find something more efficient and as capable, @70 years old, I'm still looking!
