.25 cal options

[tweakkkk]

In looking for a handy do-all cartridge I keep coming back to quarter-bore choices. Calibres up to .243 don't strike me as optimal for medium game or serious target shooting, and over .264/6.5mm are too much for varminting and informal practice plinking. So I'm trying to figure out which .25 is right for me.

Can somebody give me a good reason to opt for .25-06 over .257 Roberts? Given the weights of most .25 bullets, especially if you're typically going to be shooting in the lighter range for varmints, the case capacity of a .25-06 seems to be a bit much. Even with heavier bullets I can't see the .257 Roberts giving up much of an edge. The long -06 case made sense with a big .30 bullet in an era of inefficient powders, but with a smaller bullet and today's powders? Isn't it really wasteful? And then there's the .257 Weatherby Magnum... well I don't need to set my target (or barrel) aflame with velocity, and the amount of powder that case uses to achieve that velocity just seems ridiculous.

The .257 Roberts seems more efficient in my eyes, can anybody tell me something I'm missing here? Actually why isn't there a viable .25 round based on the .308 case? That case capacity seems to get awesome efficiency in that weight range, with the .243 and .260 as examples. Why don't more people shoot .25-08 wildcats?

Or should I go more mainstream and just pick a side of the gap to fall on, and go with either a .243 or .260?

 

[dakotasin]

a gun that you get that will 'do it all' is a tough compromise because the gun will recoil too much for serious varminting duty, or will be too heavy for serious hunting.

for what you mention your desired purpose is, the 25 souper (25-308) is about perfect, but is strictly a handloading proposition - which isn't a bad thing, just something to be aware of.

the 25-06 and 257 roberts come close to achieving the ideal of a dual purpose gun. the 257 weatherby is a wicked big game cartridge, but will most certainly provide more recoil than you're likely to be happy with on a dog town.

long way of saying if you need perfect justification for a new gun, you won't find it. i firmly believe it is best to get two guns to cover both of those purposes - and that could even be a fat barrelled 25-06 w/ a 26" barrel, and a sporter, mountain rifle in the same chambering and 23" barrel.

i have both the 257 roberts and 25-06 and prefer the 25-06 by a long ways. handloading both of these cartridges to their full potential finds the roberts further behind than you think.

the thing to do here is not over-analyze your decision, but pick one that appeals to you, and run w/ it. you will find the shortcomings (if any) of your own accord, and from there fine tune what you expect from a rifle. without knowing where you live, my guess is you will find you don't need a purpose-built varminter near as much as you need a big game whacker... or vise versa.

go 25-06 and good luck!

 

[steve4102]

257 ai

 

[GooseGestapo]

For practical purposes, if reloading for a modern rifle made since the 1960's, there is little difference between the .257Roberts and the .25/06.

I've got two "Roberts", and a .257wbymag, and have handloaded for friends .25/06's.

If starting out again with what I know now, I'd probably still get the Roberts again.

My most recent aquisition is a Ruger M77/MkII. It has a short throat, but it's not a problem. I easily get 3,100+fps with most powders, and have seen 3,200fps with H4350; and, 3,000fps with IMR4831 and Berger 115gr VLD. The Berger 115gr VLD worked as advertised. A "near" spine hit just behind the shoulder on a 100lb doe was a bang-flop at 120yds. The only "fly in the ointment" with this rifle is that it's not particularily accurate. The Bergers have been the best with 3-shots "ususally" beating 1" at 100yds, but usually, 1.25" for 5-shots with anything Sierra, Speer, or Berger is the best it'll do. My usual load for a 'Robert's, is the 100gr Hornady PtSpt, over 45-47.0gr of either IMR or H4350. Good for 3,000-3,150fps depending on rifle/barrel/lot#'s of components.

An aquaintance gave me about 10 boxes of .257Roberts brass about 20yrs ago, and I still haven't loaded with all of it. Brass life is excellent if you're gentle with the full length sizing.

My handloads run to within 50fps of the .25/06 (as it should, there is less difference between them than the .308-.30/06 for case capacity) so there is nothing to seperate them except that it takes 3-5gr's more powder to do the same thing with the .25/06.

Only caveat with any of the .25's is bullet availability. With the 1/10 twist, you're limited to the 120gr bullets available on the heavy end of the spectrum. Not that it's a real problem. I've never shot anything where the .25 wasn't big enough. I've found that the only real compatibilty problem is with some of the plastic tipped bullets and the .257wby. It pushes the 115gr Ballistic Tip too fast for big game use at closer ranges. But, then, thats the problem I've had with the .243...............

FWIW; the .25's are really wicked on ground hogs and prararie dogs with the 75gr Hornady HP's, V-max, and the 85gr Nosler BallisticTips. A buddy in college from Maryland used a Remington Varminter in .25/06 to shoot ground hogs at extended ranges. He claimed several 500yd hits. He used the Winchester factory 87gr. My custom M98 featherweight sporter has claimed numerous prararie dogs at over 300yds with the 85gr Nosler BT at ~3,400fps.

enough of my ramblings......

 

[joneb]

How about the 6mm BR ?

 

[Grumulkin]

I have a 25/06 and a 257 Weatherby and love them both. Both are deadly accurate and I don't think the recoil is bad in either.

 

[jimmyraythomason]

I am facing the same question. I am going to build a Mauser custom in 25 caliber and can't decide between the two either. I don't have any experience with either cartridge so I will be watching this thread closely.

 

[ForneyRider]

I'm trying to sell the .257 Roberts to my dad that needs an East Texas all-around caliber. Depending on what shows up on the lease that day, is what we hunt, whether it be coyote, pig, deer, or bobcat.

The longer distances in West Texas require flatter shooting .25-06, or .257 Weatherby.

I consider 25-06 Remington, and .270 Win for that matter, a magnum-performing round. Not what you want in an all-day varmint hunt.

My next choice would be the .243 Winchester for a dual-purpose caliber.

 

[NCsmitty]

Calibres up to .243 don't strike me as optimal for medium game or serious target shooting

I think that if your set on a 25 cal rifle, the 25'06 is the logical choice because of ammo availability and it's the top of the line in a non-magnum chambering.

Just don't write off the 243 Win, as it will do double duty as a fine deer rifle and a superb varmint caliber that will do long range target work too. It will use a lot less powder to do the job and recoil less too.

Something to ponder as there are small differences between 308 based cases and '06 based ones.

NCsmitty

 

[JimKirk]

Just Thinking ...If you gota use a long action gun ....which you have to do ...to get the full use of 257 Roberts....why not use the full action length 25/06... you'll be toting the same sized gun! Just thinking!

Jimmy K

 

[Heavy Metal]

Listen to NCsmitty I have a Ruger KM77VT MKII .243 as well as a .22-250 and I am seeking in the same model Ruger a .25-06, and if they had still offered a .220 swift in it as well... I like the 243 as well as the other calibers....