I'm getting ready to order a new rifle from Kevin Weaver for Deer Hunting. It will be built on a 700 action I already own and will have a 26" Pac Nor barrel. I am having a hard time deciding which round. I plann to use a 100gr TSX on every thing. Does any onehave sugestions.
If it won't shoot the 100gr TSX I'll sell it and start over.

If you plan to sell it, a standard cartridge will be an advantage over a wildcat. I would personally go with the .257 Wby, although there are no flies on the .25-06(AI) either. I just can't be bothered with improved cartridges any more, largely a waste of barrel life, IMHO. In particular for cases which are as overbore as the .25-06 already is, you gain very little from improving. But this is too contentious a topic, and I'll quickly get out of it again.
- mike

I will agree with mho here, and recommend a plain vanilla .25/'06. In a 26" or longer barrel there is just not enough difference between the .25/'06 and the .257 Weatherby to justify the additional cost of Weatherby brass!

I have a 25-06 AI - IT IS OVER BORE, BIG TIME. The 257 Wby is as well - even worse. If you want a .25 I'd go with the 257 AI or 25-06, but neither would be my first choice for a DEER rifle. For an all around deer rifle, I'd choose 280 or 30-06 - I have a 280 AI and a 30-06 AI, and both are perfect. But, of the two I'd go with the 30-06 AI, because of the greater bullet choice in .308 caliber. You don't need more for deer.

quote:

For an all around deer rifle, I'd choose 280 or 30-06 - I have a 280 AI and a 30-06 AI, and both are perfect. But, of the two I'd go with the 30-06 AI, because of the greater bullet choice in .308 caliber. You don't need more for deer.

All way more than you need for deer, especiallly with a tsx. Go with the 25-06 or 25-06 AI

I have both a 25.06 and a 257 Weatherby. There's little difference in the top-end performance, but life is both simpler and cheaper with the 25.06.

If the 100 gr. TSX bullet is a requirement, the 25.06 is a good choice. I prefer a little heavier bullet and hunt deer with a 270.

A 25-06 burns enough powder for me. Brass is easy to get and so are slugs but I've never tried the TSX. For deer, I've always gone the 115 to 120 range but a lot of guys use 100 gr slugs.

You didn't say where your from or what typical distances you hunt at----but for deer especially under 200 yds, even the 257 Roberts is a heck of a round

Over the years I've owned a 25-06, 257 roberts, my own 25 wildcat (almost the 25-06 Gibbs) and for a very short time a 257Wby. I found like the others are saying the 25-06 is way overbore as it is. By improving the case or going to the 257 Wby I burned more powder for very small gain.

I sold the Wby, pulled the barrel off the wildcat and reused the action and stock. I now own a 25-06 and 257 Roberts. Then 25-06 will give me longer usable range but it has a longer barrel as well. The Roberts is 21".

If I was starting with the plan that if it didn't work I would sell it. For sure go with the 25-06. But, I've always found it is far cheaper to pull and sell the barrel and just replace it with the new caliber choice.

I have a 25-06 with a 26" barrel. I'm getting 3450 fps with a 100 grain bullet, and no signs of pressure. I'm also 2 grains below the max, but afraid to go much higher. I'd go with a straight 25-06. The Weahterby is a waste of powder.

It's also very tough to fill the 25-06 case with powder, and load density is pretty low. I went to 115 BT's just to increase the density.

Another 25/06 vote. And the 100 in TSX will give you a near perfect deer rig. I got some awsome performance with mine and conventional 100 X's.The TSX should just improve accuracy and give you a bit more speed.Loading it with 115 or 120's just duplicates a light 30/06.
Barnes give the best terminal performance when pushed hard, and light for caliber loads accomplish that best.

25-06....it's all the .257 cal one needs....If one wants another one the .257 Roberts is better than ever and a very fine deer rifle to 250 yards.

Most of these guys are right, .257 Roberts or .25-06 will work fine. For long range deer hunting, I still like my .257 Weatherby and I use the 100 grain TSX. They can be pushed 3600-3650 with a 26 in. barrel and is as easy to hit with at beanfield ranges as a .220 Swift. It is a specialized rifle, where the others are more versatile and efficient all round rifles, but it can't be beat for long deer or antelope.

I also like the .257 Wby, my old standby load being a 115 grain or 120 grain Nosler Partition at 3500 fps or 100 grain TSX at 3650 fps. I love all the .25's but respect the Wby round more the next morning. Good shooting.

25/06 h870 64.0 117 bt 3100 fps 3/8" yes full case to the top of neck must tap case w/dowel to get all powder in.