With .243 and .264 so popular why isn't .257?

[Sraw]

This isn't really meant to cause a debate on which is better but for my knowledge on how those who know these things think.

With the 243s and 264s dominating competitions, I feel like one could reasonably assume that the 257 could bring quite a bit to the table with the right bullet offering a good compromise between speed and bc. Everything I've read points to bullet selection being the thing that holds it back.

So why isn't there a call for more high bc 257 bullets and why arnt we seeing debates asking things like 6mmx47 vs 257x47 vs 6.5x47 lapua?

 

[Uthink Uknow]

There aren't many .257 bullets around.

 

[KMart]

The gun manufacturers only make and sell the 25-06 any more and they are hard to find. Maybe the odd 250 Savage. And those 2 are the only ones that have any factory ammunition made and sold. I don't know if any manufacturers make and sell ammo for the 257 Roberts any more.

Doesn't take a lot of bullets to satisfy a few people.

There are a lot of good wildcat rounds out there in 25 cal. Custom high bc bullets are available through at least one custom bullet maker.

All it would take to get the 25 cal back on the map is for a manufacturer start selling 25x47L rifles and ammo, then get(pay) one or two of the top PRS shooters to start shooting it and win. Call it a tactical and paint it black and you are off to the races.

 

[snert]

Because it is too obvious. For years it was too small (25-35) then too big (25-06) and then it suffered from magnumitis (who wants a 250 Savage when everyone knows it takes a 7 mm Rem mag to kill a deer) and then the 243 "kids gun" took away that market, and well, here we are...all around 257 but always something else. With nice capacity 6mm's and 6.5s, it makes little sense to replicate something only in 257. Just my observations, not being critical.

 

[RustyMetal]

I'm guessing because it's been around since 1955 and was always a popular hunting rifle for "Junior". An introductory caliber for a younger hunter. AND a wide selection of rounds, similar to the popularity of the .30-06.

 

[Sraw]

I remember the simple answer to 7mm08 vs 243 being 260... Now that the latter two (diameters) are so popular in competition I'm surprised the answer isn't 257 whatever with a high bc 120's something bullet.


I'm wondering if there is some magic physics equation that kept lapua from making their proprietary cartridge design, that is popular but not barreled by any factory rifle manufacturers, a .264 rather than .257.

 

[xswanted]

I think a 130-135 grain SMK or a tipped something or other or a hybrid thingy would be a pretty neat offering in a .257.

A guy would probably need a 8 twist or better to shoot them so not only would a guy have to find the bullet, but also a barrel to make it work.

It'd be a fun setup in a 25x47 or something along the lines of a 25WSSM

 

[Prose]

I've seen a 257 based off the creedmoor case that was a good shooter, but without the bergers and sierras of the world developing world class bullets for the caliber, it just wouldn't compete. Nothing wrong with the caliber that's for sure, but the market isn't there.

 

[IdahoSharpshooter]

Short Range Bench Rest pretty much killed the 25, imho. They specified minimum 6mm, and we all know that accuracy is all about minimum to get the job done. A 25BR would be cool, but only Jeff Fowler and I were interested in the early 1990's in updating bullet designs. We got Jerry Simonson (sp?) to make dies, and he and "Mac" McCluskey made bullets, but nobody cared.

 

[Capt. Oblivious]

The gun manufacturers only make and sell the 25-06 any more and they are hard to find. Maybe the odd 250 Savage. And those 2 are the only ones that have any factory ammunition made and sold. I don't know if any manufacturers make and sell ammo for the 257 Roberts any more.

Doesn't take a lot of bullets to satisfy a few people.

There are a lot of good wildcat rounds out there in 25 cal. Custom high bc bullets are available through at least one custom bullet maker.

All it would take to get the 25 cal back on the map is for a manufacturer start selling 25x47L rifles and ammo, then get(pay) one or two of the top PRS shooters to start shooting it and win. Call it a tactical and paint it black and you are off to the races.

Haha

 

[KMart]

Short Range Bench Rest pretty much killed the 25, imho. They specified minimum 6mm, and we all know that accuracy is all about minimum to get the job done. A 25BR would be cool, but only Jeff Fowler and I were interested in the early 1990's in updating bullet designs. We got Jerry Simonson (sp?) to make dies, and he and "Mac" McCluskey made bullets, but nobody cared.

Need to talk to Randy Robinett at BIB bullets. It seems he has a soft spot for the 25 and does pretty well with one.

 

[284winner]

Same holds true for the 270 win. Never made it to the competition arena but many love the cartridge on game animals. BCs aren't favorable but berger has a few bullets that do put it in competition with 6.5s or 7s. Just never had a following in the competition field.

 

[Seeking_Coyotes]

Good thread topic.

 

[Kurz]

Here is an entry from this very website:

http://www.6mmbr.com/gunweek052.html

Darrell's 25 BR "Peppermint"

and

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2007/09/25br-robinett-offers-new-88gr-match-bullet-in-257-cal/


25BR? Robinett Offers New .257-Caliber, 88gr Match Bullet

I have all the equipment and material to make Match Grade .25 caliber bullet but I do not have the time to make such an effort right now.

Regards.

 

[Mr.Spradlin]

Short Range Bench Rest pretty much killed the 25, imho. They specified minimum 6mm, and we all know that accuracy is all about minimum to get the job done. A 25BR would be cool, but only Jeff Fowler and I were interested in the early 1990's in updating bullet designs. We got Jerry Simonson (sp?) to make dies, and he and "Mac" McCluskey made bullets, but nobody cared.

That must have been when Denny and Bruce Andrews were playing around with the 25BR.

 

[Dug]

Last year I thought about building a 25 Souper(25-308) but the bullet thing backed me off. Best long range bullet that I knew of is a 115 VLD, & it's BC doesn't come close to 130 VLD in 6.5 or 105 in 6mm. Fast twist barrels in 25 are scarce also. Didn't take me long to give up on the idea.

 

[Dgd6mm]

There aren't many .257 bullets around.

I believe this is the main culprit.

 

[JRS]

Last year I thought about building a 25 Souper(25-308) but the bullet thing backed me off. Best long range bullet that I knew of is a 115 VLD, & it's BC doesn't come close to 130 VLD in 6.5 or 105 in 6mm. Fast twist barrels in 25 are scarce also. Didn't take me long to give up on the idea.

Evidently, you haven't looked at the BC on the BIB 110 Gr. BT. A .52 BC ain't too shabby Bartlein, Krieger, etc, offer 25 caliber barrels in just about any twist rate you might want.

 

[mikecr]

Big bullet makers plenty provide 22,24,26,28, and 30 even cals.
They won't pull resources for 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31 odd cals, without a big market for them.
And while there may be limited sources, like from BIB, it's too risky.

To justify investing thousands in odd bullets up front, because you couldn't count on their later availability, for a wildcat, it better provide for something you couldn't already have cheaper/easier.

 

[JRS]

Most of the major manufacturers produce 25 caliber bullets in a variety of weights. In fact, Sierra produces 11 configurations and weights for the 25 caliber, to include the MK.