Guys:

I shoot a little .257 Roberts bolt rifle which I really like. However, being a rifle nut, I was thinking about picking up a Ruger No.1 in 6.5 Creedmoor or maybe a 6.5 Swede. For practical purposes, is there any real difference in killing power between the various .257s (.257 Roberts, 25-06, .257 Weatherby, etc.) and the .264s (6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Swede, .264 Winchester, etc.)?

I would say no.
With similar powder capacities, and proper bullet weights that small a difference in bullet diameter will not make a difference, IMHO.

I have owned and shot game with both a 257 WBY Mag, and a 246 Win Mag.

Actually I could not tell that they killed deer, any better/faster, than a 243 Winchester.

After all you can only kill a deer so dead.

The bigger case cartridges do have an advantage in trajectory and wind bucking that does come into meaningful effect at 400 yards and out...

IF the rifle AND shooter have the accuracy and skill to use that advantage.

I will admit to not having a 25 caliber rifle, but I would guess the only difference would be 140+ grain bullets. For whitetail deer, probably not much difference.

I would say no real difference. Yep there is a 140 in 264. If I really needed a 140 or else I would also me looking at bigger cases.

But heck gun nuts not need to justify.

I've hunted with a number of 6.5s , .250-3000, .257 Rob and 25-06IMP. The greatest difference is the 160 grain bullets in the 6.5 vs the 120 grain bullet in the .257.
IMHO the 160 puts the 6.5 into a different game category especially when you are talking cup and core. roger

I agree with Roger. Shooting a 155 Mega at close to medium range or 140 partition at long range should give you an edge on larger animals. I love my 257 Roberts but my 6.5x55 is more versatile. For deer, it doesn't matter.

I don't think you'd be able to tell the difference until you're out past 250 yards with the Roberts or 300 with the .25-06. I have no experience with the Wby version.
There is no aurgument that the 6.5 has better ballistics at longer range. I've toyed with the idea of a Creedmore myself.

Oh yeah .007 is a huge difference

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:
Oh yeah .007 is a huge difference

roger

quote:

The greatest difference is the 160 grain bullets in the 6.5 vs the 120 grain bullet in the .257.

Yes. +1 to that. And the reason why although I have a 270 Winchester I also have a 280 Remington. Those 160 grain bullet weights and above...

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:

quote:

Originally posted by SR4759:
Oh yeah .007 is a huge difference

roger

It's not the .007", it's how you use it that counts

It's not the 0.007", it's the extra 40 grains of bullet weight. Moose with a .260 - sure. Moose with a Roberts - not so much.



.

I have a 257Roberts/25-06/257weatherby and a 6.5X55(want a 264Win Mag) and like them all. For tougher game such as wild boar I prefer the 6.5. For deer/pronghorns the 257's are just as good.
If a 6.5 interests you get it. Never can have too many hunting firearms---or firearms period.

quote:

Originally posted by TX Nimrod:
It's not the 0.007", it's the extra 40 grains of bullet weight. Moose with a .260 - sure. Moose with a Roberts - not so much.
.

A quick look at the sectional desity of a 160 gr 6.5mm compared to the 120gr in .257 and the difference at longer range should be obvious.

Not nocking the .25, I have several and like them, but bigger animals at distances where the .25 cal is loosing steam the 6.5 heavies are still quite capable.

I find the 140 grain in 6.5 a big step up from the 25 cal for larger animals. The 140 grain loads almost always exit and I can't count on the 257 roberts to do that.

A good 115-120 grain bullet from the BOB will penetrate alot of moose before it stops, just dont try to shoot em in the head.

Interesting question. The difference in diameter is only .007" but the .264 bullets come in weights up to 160 gns where the .257 stops at 120 gns. Imagine a 25-06 with a 160 grain bullet.

In equal bullet weights the two are not significantly different. The .264 has the advantage of heavier bullets.

quote:

A good 115-120 grain bullet from the BOB will penetrate alot of moose before it stops..

And a good 140-grain bullet from a .260 will penetrate even more moose - have you even shot one? I have, more than one when I lived 27 years in Alaska. Sure, you can kill them with a .22 Hornet, but few ethical hunters would try to do so. You cannot always count on a nice standing broadside shot - not if you actually want to kill a moose.....



.

quote:

Originally posted by ForrestB:
I find the 140 grain in 6.5 a big step up from the 25 cal for larger animals. The 140 grain loads almost always exit and I can't count on the 257 roberts to do that.

My experience too.

Since trying a 6.5mm I have switched to them and sadly almost never shoot my beautiful Bob.

That said, if deer were my only quarry, I could easily live with my Bob and a good 100 grain bullet.

I would say if you want a varmint then deer rifle then go with the 257.

If yon want a deer may be bigger game then varmint rilfe go with the 264.

The 257 cal with good bullets well kill a lot of stuff.

The 264 with with heavier bullets well give a bit better Penetration on bigger stuff.

I don't have any trouble hunting with one or the other.

quote:

Originally posted by Dave Bush:
Guys:

I shoot a little .257 Roberts bolt rifle which I really like. However, being a rifle nut, I was thinking about picking up a Ruger No.1 in 6.5 Creedmoor or maybe a 6.5 Swede. For practical purposes, is there any real difference in killing power between the various .257s (.257 Roberts, 25-06, .257 Weatherby, etc.) and the .264s (6.5 Creedmoor, 6.5 Swede, .264 Winchester, etc.)?

Yes and no. I have a 257 AI and it zaps deer as dead as any 6.5mm. However, when you mention "killing power", I have to gove the edge between the ones you mentioned to the 6.5X55, by a good margin, for its ability to handle larger bullets. I wouldnt use my 257 on a moose. But the Sweedes have been doing it with their 6.5's before I was born. As for deer sized game, dead is dead.

So what happens to this question when the C&C bullets (regardless of bonded or jacket thickness) are replaced with modern monometal construction bullets with 100% or near 100% weight retention?

quote:

Originally posted by capoward:
So what happens to this question when the C&C bullets (regardless of bonded or jacket thickness) are replaced with modern monometal construction bullets with 100% or near 100% weight retention?

In my mind, nothing, the 6.5's will still retain their advantage.

They still have an advantage, but the diffrence in penetration is truely negligable, especially in the case of moose. Really? There is a shot you take on a MOOSE, an ALASKA YUKON MOOSE with a 260 loaded with a 140 that you would pass because you thought the 120 grainer from the Bob might not make it from his ass to his chin? both will breake a big bone and be done in 5". Both will break a rib and give 20" to hide. Both will punch hide and give a solid 35" in all soft tissue given just a decent bullet. If you want to break a femur in Florida and exit a shoulder in Alaska you better start looking beyond the 260, or 257. Otherwise take your pick.

I had a 25-06. I mainly hunted the Texas Hill Country. I really wanted a 257Roberts Improved, until lots of pigs began showing up. I got a 7x57. When tht Creedmore came out I began th crave one of them, until Lapua begin to make Rem 260 brass. Now it's a no brainer. The difference between .257 and .264, is not so much the diameter as the bullets made for the standard twist of both calibers. No 120 grain .257 bullet is going to compete well with the same .264 bullet that weighs around 140gns in SD or BC. For deer there is little difference, but throw bigger, tougher game into the mix and the .264 wins. capt david

I like the 25's.....I have a 257 Roberts and a 25 WSSM.

But to me, talking about any 25 and moose in the same discussion shows lack of sense. Yes, you can lung shoot them and wait for them to wonder why they're falling down and drowning in their own blood....and hope the moose didn't wander out into a swamp to die.....

Please don't forget you are not the only thing hunting moose. I've seen very large brown bears while hunting moose in Alaska....which the gun writer "experts" always overlook when talking about calibers needed for a hunt. Often they have professional backup as well....

When you meet something at the top of the food chain with teeth and claws or a rut-crazed bulldozer with antlers and hooves what do you want to be carrying?

Out of respect for the animals and your hunt (and hunting partners) please use enough gun!

Both of these are good calibers. They just aren't for everything or everywhere.....

Cheers,

Dan

capdavid:

I agree with Dan H's post. While the 6.5 can shoot heavier bullets and can possibly be an elk round, I have other guns better suited for heavier game like elk and moose. In addition, when you hunting moose, especially in big bear country, the calibers begin a .338 and go up from there.

I shoot both 25-06 and 6.5-06AI. If you go to 6.5 move up to the 06 case in either 6.5-06 or the AI version to take advantage of the 140gr to 160gr bullets.

The 6.5-06AI is very efficient and approaches 264 Win Mag velocities but with much less powder.

Barstooler