Best 25 cal.

12 August 2005, 18:42

Thomas Jones

Seems to me,
An important thing to consider is how much rifle do you want to hall around. If you don't mind a full sized.(24 to 26) inch pee shooter, get a 25,06. If you want somthing like a 20 to 22 inch barrel go with the .257 roberts. Nothing wrong with the savage either, if you are into tiney little rifles.
My Roberts is the Ruger RL. had to spend alot of time with ot to get it to shoot well, but it is a sweethart. It heats up real quick though. I am having a 25,06 built, it will have a 26 inch Douglas barrel. I may well go with a Roberts inproved, with a sporter weight 22 inch at some point. 25,s are great ! ...tj3006

15 August 2005, 22:11

the jigger

mark dobrensky,
i use 39.6gr of RL15 under a 100gr noslee bal tip in my 250AI and get great results. this load is 1.5gr under max according to the sierra manual but, it is the most accurate of those i used in load development.

12 November 2005, 01:41

Clem

I have the 257 Roberts and have become quite fond of the quarter bores. My cousin has the 250 Savage and rarely takes any of his other rifles of the rack. I'm partial the Roberts as a good compromise - especially if you reload - and I'm just a bit nostalgic, the name just has a nice ring to it. The 25-06 if more open country. Quite frankly, if you shop around and find a good buy on a nice rifle that shoots well you will be pleased with any of the 25 cal's.

12 November 2005, 04:16

joecool544

The best .25 has been around since 1944 and that would be the Royâ€¦

12 November 2005, 07:33

Rod Smith

I don't know about the best, but I am happy with
my current, favorite .25! It is a Sendero 25-06
that I had re-chambered to 25-06AI, Skim-bedded,
rec. trued, & recrowned with a Holland recoil lug. It shoots it's favored bullets into 1/4-3/8
inch. I used the 125 Wildcat at 3,250FPS, which
flies about the same as a 200Gr. 30calMK! It will shoot the 115TSX at about 3,350-3,400FPS, in other words very near .257 Wea. Of course the
Wea. can be loaded a little faster, but not by
much. This takes care of my .25cal. needs!

12 November 2005, 07:54

.366torque

.257 AI Accurate and deadly! 'Nuff said

12 November 2005, 10:24

Dr. Lou

.25 is a great deer calibre. My choices are:

1) 25-06

2) 257 WBY

3) 257 Roberts

IMHO, there is no need to AI the 25-06 or the Bob.

12 November 2005, 22:33

Rod Smith

Different strokes for different folks!

13 November 2005, 00:56

Lawdog_Gary

quote:
Originally posted by Dr. Lou:
.25 is a great deer calibre. My choices are:

1) 25-06

2) 257 WBY

3) 257 Roberts

IMHO, there is no need to AI the 25-06 or the Bob.

You got that right. I agree with you completely. Lawdog

13 November 2005, 07:01

Rod Smith

I look at it a different way, based on the velocities & real results. The 25-06AI is very close to 257 Wea. speeds, it won't quite get there, of course, but it suits my needs. I was
looking at building a .257Wea. as my next project, but I nowdon't know why I would. If I want a big gain, I need to build a .257STW or a better choice would be a 300 Win. necked down as it is very close to STW with less powder. Of course if I wanted the ultimate 25 in vel., I would build a 257 Allen mag. as it blows all of the above away!
The Wea. is great, but with my set-up, it gives me nothing. On the other hand, if you have a Wea
that shoots 1/4"-3/8" groups all day long, you are in good shape too!!
Ain't it great!

13 November 2005, 18:04

tom ga hunter

I have 1-250 savage sa m700, 2 257 roberts on long rem 700 actions, 1 on a short , 1 on a mauser, 1 25'06 on a rem 700 & a 25'06 encore...you can't go wrong on any of them..but my coice would be a 25'06 if it was just 1 because there it is simpler to find, handloading manuels reflect real world loads and factory ammo is closer to the gun's potential. A 257 will almost do anything a 25'06 but that's just almost.

13 November 2005, 22:43

Rod Smith

tom ga hunter

Does your Encore shoot well? I have an Encore
Mz. & I may buy a 25 cal. barrel, so I am curious.

13 November 2005, 22:52

Lawdog_Gary

My collection of "quarter Bores" include a Win. M92 .25-20, a Win. M94 .25-35 along with 1 .25 Rem. on a Rem. M30, 3 .250-3000 Savages(a M99 Savage, a Rem. M722 & a Ruger M77). I have 2 .257 Roberts( a pre-64 M70 & a Ruger M77). I have 3 .25-06â€™s( A Ruger M77V(older tang safety model), a Rem. M700 BDL Varmint & a Ruger No.1). Lastly I have two .257 Weatherbyâ€™s(a pre German USA made Mark V Deluxe & a new Weatherby Vanguard Sporter). The really nice part about these is I can go down to the local sporting goods store and buy ammo for them. Wildcatâ€™s are good but at times can be a royal pain to feed. Lawdog

14 November 2005, 05:06

MajorCaliber

.257 Roberts

14 November 2005, 07:17

Rod Smith

Lawdog

No doubt, the fireforming is not for everyone,
but I do like the overall package. That's why
in my first post I mentioned why I like it, but
the good thing is the fact that we have so many
good choices like the Wea. & the 25-06.

14 November 2005, 17:55

tom ga hunter

To Rod Smith

I don't know, i bought it but haven't put it in the frame, I have had mixed results with my encore my 26" 223 is a steady 5's rifle but the 338'06 bbl is a steady 30's rifle with a moving point of impact. We are in the middle of deer season here so i spend my time in the field rather than the range..I have only shot the 338'06 with 4 loads on 3 days but the 223 shot out of the box.

15 November 2005, 02:11

brytstar

quote:
Originally posted by brytstar:
My 257 AI is my go-to rifle for Western Maryland whitetails, works in Missouri too.

15 November 2005, 04:24

3584ELK

Well, well, well. When I bought my Rem 700 Mtn Rifle in 25-06, I was told by everyone who could sell me one that the caliber was dead and Rem was starting to limit the chambering. This was in April, 2004. It seems everyone here likes it, I love it, and it seems to be a very nice combination for deer, sheep, goats, and even prairie dogs! These arms makers...

18 November 2005, 04:43

todbartell

25-284 is a fun cartridge

I'm running 110 gr. Accubonds @ 3180 fps out of a 24.5" m700 custom

.8 moa out to 330 yards

18 November 2005, 23:23

Lawdog_Gary

quote:
Originally posted by 3584ELK:
Well, well, well. When I bought my Rem 700 Mtn Rifle in 25-06, I was told by everyone who could sell me one that the caliber was dead and Rem was starting to limit the chambering. This was in April, 2004. It seems everyone here likes it, I love it, and it seems to be a very nice combination for deer, sheep, goats, and even prairie dogs! These arms makers...

Even before Remington adopted the .25-06 in 1969 and gave it their name the .25-06 has been a solid seller. Nothing has changed since that time. A lot of other Remington cartridges will drop by the way side before the .25-06 disappears. Lawdog

20 November 2005, 17:35

rollinghills

The 250-3000 is the best overall 25 cal. for hunting in the east. The 25 cal.s are best suited for light & handy do-it-all rifles capable of handling anything from groundhogs through whitetails. The 250-3000 fits the light & handy rifles better than the Roberts, 25-06, or 257 Weatherby cartridges. The 250-3000 easily propels 100 gr. Nosler Partitions at 2900 fps and 75 gr. VMAX's at 3300 fps. With one of these loads it is easy to hit and humanely dispatch the appropriate quarry at any range a lightweight sporter should be shooting under field conditions. So why burn more powder? In the case of 25 cal.s, more is less, IMHO.

rollinghills

20 November 2005, 21:20

bartsche

quote:
Originally posted by Lawdog_Gary:
My collection of "quarter Bores" include a Win. M92 .25-20, a Win. M94 .25-35 along with 1 .25 Rem. on a Rem. M30, 3 .250-3000 Savages(a M99 Savage, a Rem. M722 & a Ruger M77). I have 2 .257 Roberts( a pre-64 M70 & a Ruger M77). I have 3 .25-06â€™s( A Ruger M77V(older tang safety model), a Rem. M700 BDL Varmint & a Ruger No.1). Lastly I have two .257 Weatherbyâ€™s(a pre German USA made Mark V Deluxe & a new Weatherby Vanguard Sporter). The really nice part about these is I can go down to the local sporting goods store and buy ammo for them. Wildcatâ€™s are good but at times can be a royal pain to feed. Lawdog

I'd hate to feed your managery with store bought ammo. Some of that obsolete stuff will get a little pricey.I'm a little envious of course. roger

20 November 2005, 23:10

Lawdog_Gary

quote:
Originally posted by bartsche:
quote:
Originally posted by Lawdog_Gary:
My collection of "quarter Bores" include a Win. M92 .25-20, a Win. M94 .25-35 along with 1 .25 Rem. on a Rem. M30, 3 .250-3000 Savages(a M99 Savage, a Rem. M722 & a Ruger M77). I have 2 .257 Roberts( a pre-64 M70 & a Ruger M77). I have 3 .25-06â€™s( A Ruger M77V(older tang safety model), a Rem. M700 BDL Varmint & a Ruger No.1). Lastly I have two .257 Weatherbyâ€™s(a pre German USA made Mark V Deluxe & a new Weatherby Vanguard Sporter). The really nice part about these is I can go down to the local sporting goods store and buy ammo for them. Wildcatâ€™s are good but at times can be a royal pain to feed. Lawdog

I'd hate to feed your managery with store bought ammo. Some of that obsolete stuff will get a little pricey.I'm a little envious of course. roger

You got that right. While .25-20 is actually getting somewhat easier to find, I can't remember the last time I saw factory ammo for the .25 Remington(that also includes the .30 Remington). Even factory .250 Savage is getting hard to find. Funny thing is that I just bought 200 rounds of once fired Remington brass for the .25 Remington on Ebay. I get lots of hard to get brass off Ebay. Reloading equipment is reasonable too. Lawdog

27 November 2005, 19:52

Joe Young

My preference would be the Roberts, because I have just bought a 1949 Win 70. I have wanted one for 45 tears and bought it as my retirement present, as well as a 220 Swift made the same year. Don't know how they shoot, but they sure are purdy!

28 November 2005, 04:24

M16

I like the .257STW. Speed kills and no other .25 caliber can match it.

29 November 2005, 12:21

todbartell

speeds kills throats too

30 November 2005, 01:37

M16

quote:
speeds kills throats too

That it does. But it depends on how you shoot your gun. I wouldn't suggest going on a varmint hunt with a .257STW. If using it for big game and you only shoot say 20 rounds a year letting the barrel cool you may only get 50 or so years use out of the rifle.

01 December 2005, 22:08

lofter

Always wanted a "Roy" but didn't like the look of the marks so i had this built.

04 December 2005, 04:32

Joe Young

quote:
Originally posted by vapodog:
I'm a .25 cal fan and own or have owned three .257 Roberts, three .25-06 and two .257 Weatherby.

When it's all said and done the .257 Roberts in my M-70 gets the nod for deer hunting almost every time. It'a also spectacular on pronghorns and handles the varminting jobs nicely as well.

Vapodog, does your M70 have a shortning spacer or standard magazine box? I just had my 1949 Bob stock refinised and rechecked, but he lost the box. I have one of each, haven't got the stock home yet and wonder which to use. One other question, I have 4 pre 64's and this is the only one I have to load from the mag for single load. The extractor does not jump the case head when single loading into the chamber.
thanx, joe

04 December 2005, 16:05

rollinghills

lofter :

Nice looking firearm. Is that a SAKO actioned rifle? How does it shoot?

rollinghills

04 December 2005, 20:45

drgondog

A lot of good choices.. I have a 250 Ackley Improved, a 257 Ackley Improved and a 25-284 and a 25-06 and 257 Weatherby. They all shoot exceptionally well and I can't tell the difference on deer or antelope - one shot kills, dead is dead.

If I had to choose among the ones I have I would have to go 25-06 for two reasons.. 1.) factory ammo and 2.) it is suitable for anything up to BUT NOT INCLUDING elk. I don't care what Roy Weatherby says, - his darlin ain't an elk rifle even though it will definitely kill one.

If you have to have a short action I would pick the 25-284 - easy wildcat, just neck 284 brass and use either h4831 or h4350 for 100-120gr loads and RL-19 works very well also.

My two cents worth - but based on 40 years of using all of them.

30 December 2005, 09:50

AK Hunter

My first choice for my own use is .257 Bob. I have to admit, if you are not a handloader, I'd recommend the .25-06.

30 December 2005, 19:44

Lowrider 49

I have a mauser action 257 that shoots MOA or so, a .25-06 Springfield with Douglas 24" that shoots best of the bolt actions under MOA and is about 10 lbs, a .25-06 Rem 700 that shoots 1.5 moa and 2 years ago I got a Encore factory 24" tapered barrel topped with a 3-9x Leupold.

Encore shoots best with 100 gr Horny Interlock and 54 gr of H4831. ...always under an inch and sometimes under a half. I like the Encore a bunch, but I'm thinking about a 22" .25-35 AI barrel for the Contender....under 6 pounds with a 6x Weaver out the door...that COULD be my best .25!!

30 December 2005, 20:16

Stormbringer

Everybody has a favorite and mine is the 257 Roberts AI. I have owend 25.06's and the standard 257 Roberts.

I think the 257 Roberts AI is a fantastic round that comes very close to 25.06 velocities with less powder. I would recommend a long action for the 257 AI as it lets you seat bullets out further.

The 257 Weatherby is a great cartridge too. If you are into higher efficency or will not need the extended range it offers than take a good look at the 25.06. If you handload and want to try a wildcat give the 257 Roberts AI a try. I think you will be pleased with it.

Mike.

30 December 2005, 21:08

AggieDog

I would pick the 25-06 in a standard cartridge, and the 257 wby in a magnum cartridge, both are the exceptional ones within the 25 cal family. The 243 win and 25-06 pretty much did in the 257 Roberts, but it is a fine cartridge also.