I have a Remington 700 LA with a nice 2.5lb trigger that I would like to re-barrel in a 25 caliber as I've never owned one. I have a .473 Bolt and a Magnum Bolt.

This will be my first custom barrel rifle and I would like a Heavy Stainless Fluted Barrel.

Which caliber would you recommend for deer?

Which barrel maker?

Thanks for any input.

A LA and .473 bolt face and a 25 cal calculates out to a 25-06 for some serious deer slaying. I have a Sendero and I think you would like the Sendero style stainless fluted barrel. I have not built one yet but there are a lot of good smiths out there and some on the forum if I am not mistaken.

quote:

Originally posted by Dwight:
A LA and .473 bolt face and a 25 cal calculates out to a 25-06 for some serious deer slaying. I have a Sendero and I think you would like the Sendero style stainless fluted barrel. I have not built one yet but there are a lot of good smiths out there and some on the forum if I am not mistaken.

I had thought about a 257 Weatherby or a 257 Roberts but are they just over kill? I'm coming out of my Bigger is Better phase and looking for lower recoil,flat shooting with enough horsepower rounds. I recently bought a 7/08,308 and 300 Savage and am letting my 7,300 and 338 Magnums take a rest.

You already have the perfect deer killer in the 7mm08 and I will never change on that point. My all time favorite caliber works great on deer and capable of Elk also. I have shot deer to 350 with mine and never shot a deer twice since 1982.

shilen

I would opt for a 257 Weatherby over a 25.06 and 257 Roberts anyday. Overkill? Who cares, it is a fantastic flat shooting hard hitter.

As for barrels, I've got quite a few from different makers.

I think you'd be tickled pink with a Broughton, Lilja, Krieger, Jarret, Hart to name a few. I like my Pacnor just fine as well. Kostyshyn has been making quite a stir among the prairie dog shooters. He's relatively new but he's a one guy operation last I heard. But, in my opinion, this is a good thing....like Mike Rock at Rock Creek barrels. One guy does everything from beginning to end product, preturned blank, ready to ship to your smith or you.

I just sold a Kostyshyn bbl to another AR member who will make quicker use of it than I was ready for. Regardless, my next bbl will be from Kostyshyn. Kostyshyn's website

I think the deciding factor is , at what range do you expect to shoot.
I love the roberts, I have 2. A also have a 25,06.
While I have been temted to try a .257 Weatherby, its awfully hard on barrels.
With the .257 Roberts I would say that with a 22 inch barrel, you can get 100 grain bullets out to well over 3100 , or go with bigger bullets say a 120 at 2700 to 2800.
Absolutly enough for any deer waliking out to 300 yards mabye a litle more.
the Roberts is easy on barrels recoil is no problem at all, and its just a coll classic cartridge.
As a side note, I would recomend douglas barrels. Fluted if you like the looks of them or want to lighten up your rifle a bit.
But I don't buy that they make any significant difference in cooling you barrel...tj3006

LA= 25-06 or 257 Roy
SA= 257 Bob
The weatherby is a hell of a lon range killer and the recoil is reasonable. I'm going to build a Bob on a Rem 600 this year.

Normally I'd steer you toward the Roberts as I think it is the best of the 25s, but since you want a heavy barrel the 25-06 is the answer. Somewhere between the Weatherby and Roberts in power and velocity, the 25-06 would be your ideal choice posessing all the virtues that 25 calibre has to offer without the Weatherby expense.
Yup, that would be my choice...

you already have the magnums covered, build that 25'06,26 inch pipe would give you plenty of speed, conture 4,5,or varmit,would work fine and not heat-up as fast, your choice, it be cheaper to feed than the 257 wby, and it would not be found lacking imho. barrel maker kreiger,hart,2 many 2 list, regards jjmp

If it's got to be a .25, then there are many good ones to choose which fit the long action well. If you want to be a bit different, I suggest the .25/284 especially since the new quality 6.5/284 brass could be so easily necked down in a full length die. The performance would be the equal of the .25-06. Any of the premium barrel makers will be a great choice, the smith that does the work will matter more!

257 Roberts or Roberts AI...

Close enough to a 25/06 with less powder...

257 Weatherby, the 270 will equal it with a little heavier projectile..magnum's are for guys with excess testosterone.. especially in the smaller bores...

I'm in the camp with the Roberts or Imp. Bob as it is the equivelent of a .25-06 for all practical purposes.

That said the .25-284 would be a one off and be the same as a .25-06. A Roy is a bit much and brass isn't cheap. A .257 WSM would be my choice if going to a mag bolt face.

thismortalcoil ,IMHO you'll greatly hamper the Bob putting it in a SA. It needs a intermediate or LA to get it's potential. If you want the Bob performance on a SA check out the .257 DGR or a .257 Durham Jet. I have a 600 I was going to burn up and send to Duanne, but the more I shot it the more I like it. Nate

Thanks for all of the input.

I have decided on a 25/06 #5 Contour with 6 Flutes in Stainless with a bead blast.

I will let you know how she shoots in a few weeks.