Well...I have been looking at two Encore barrels, one in a 23" .25-06AI the other a 24" .257 Weatherby.

WHAT SHOULD I DO??

PS - I don't reload...

Thanks!

Mark

Well if you don't reload or have someone that can you are pretty much limited to the 257 Weatherby. Last time I priced factory ammo I wouldn't be shooting it much

While you could in theory shoot a normal 25-06 in the AI chamber your velocity will normally be lower.

I would hold out for a normal 25-06 barrel. All the velocity you would ever need and much cheaper to shoot.

Mark what types of ranges are you looking to use these tubes at?

Either one will do just fine, IME if you go to the 25/06 round and run it in your AI it will not vary in speed. But, that has just been my experience.

Mark D

Here in MI, 300 yards would be an EXTREMELY long shot with most deer taken at less than 100 yards.

Mark

That was what I kind of was thinking,that being the case I would take a hard and close look at the AI tube.

Although the Wby rounds won't set you back that much per year if you either reload yourself or don't shoot them much.

Mark D

quote:

IME if you go to the 25/06 round and run it in your AI it will not vary in speed.

I've found that firing a factory round in AI chambers the velocities are 50-100FPS less. The larger chamber doesn't allow as much pressure to build. Not enough to really worry just enough to need to adjust for at longer distance.

One concern I would have is that a properly chamber AI will be a CRUSH fit on a factory round. I have no experience with an Encore to say if that would cause a problem.

It's been my experience that nothing is gained with the weatherby, (that is, your not utilizing it up to it's potential)unless the barrel length is
atleast 25-26 inches.
I'd get a 25-06 remington and call it good.
Trigger

Get the Weatherby it is flat shooting moderate recoil and lots of power. Also ammo is easy to find, but can be pricey. And yes Roy Weatherby shot a Cape buff with one, Just a stab at the Weatherby haters. If you don't like the ammo prices stay with a 25-06Rem. I would not go Ackley Improved.Best of luck

Hi Rug,
I own quite a few Weatherby's including a pair of 257's. With the proper barrel length, the 257WBY is head and shoulders above the 06'. But with the barrel lengths the originator has as options, the 06 is the sensible choice, unless it's a status thing.
To be fair, I have no experience with the AI, but since it does not follow the shorter, and fatter modern magnum trend, it to would seem to need more barrel length to utilize it's potential.
Trigger

A 300 yard shot is easily doable for the standard .25-06 and the AI version will yield a slight performance gain over the standard version.

As for the .257 Wby, it's a neat round but not worth the trouble IMHO.

Both would be better for speed with a slightly longer barrel but a 23" .25-06AI would be a better match than the Wby. at 24".

Really it's a "Whatever tickles your fancy" issue. Both of these offer performance that surpasses whats required. Nate

quote:

Well...I have been looking at two Encore barrels, one in a 23" .25-06AI the other a 24" .257 Weatherby.

WHAT SHOULD I DO??

I'd look at different barrels......something more like a standard barrel.

I like my .257 Weatherby, but it has to have a 26 in. barrel, otherwise all you'll gain is muzzle blast. If you don't reload I sure wouldn't want a Ackley cartridge, either. I'd go another route than these two.

257 WBY. Still has the velocity advantage and you don't have to fireform cases. I am not a WBY fan but I like the 257, 340 and 375.

I love the .257 Wby but you need at least a 26-inch barrel. I also have two 25-06 AI both have 24 inch barrels and shoot 100 grain Partitions at 3550.

My sugjestion is !!
start reloading ! get the AI, hang out at the range and find someone to show you how its done. fireforming is no problem, But you might be smart to start with a standard chamberd cartridge. You say 300 yards is a long shot in your neck of the woods, That means most any moders round will do for you , mabye get a .308.
or a 7X57 mauser, or my favorite deer round the .257 Roberts ...tj3006

My favorite 25cal is a Sendero I had converted last summer to 25-06AI. I think a 24" would work, but a 26" is better. The 257 Wea. desperiately needs a 26" & if I bought a custom barrel, it would be 27-28" in that round. I do not understand a 23" AI or a 24"Wea.,especially in aN Encore where you can buy a 26" barrel at about the same price as a shorter one & because it is a single shot, the gun is still short.
Look at it this way, you can buy a 26" reg. 25-06 barrel & be just as fast as a 23"AI, &
remember, I like the AI!!

Well, I am not going to help this at all. My first .25 was and is a .257 Weatherby (by Winslow), and I still love it after 30 years. I have a .25-06 Steyr too, which shoots half inch groups all the time, but I usually grab the .257 Wby when I want to quarter-bore hunt.

LLS