is a 26" barrel really a big advantage over a 24" in this caliber? weatherby accumark in 257 wby mag only has a 24" barrel.

I just happened to know of a guy that chopped 2" off of his 257 Weatherby. At the range over the chrony he lost about 90 fps going down 2 inches. The 257 is an overbore cartridge and thus requires a 26" barrel to reach its potential. If you like the rifle and it fits you well buy it and you or the game you shoot won't know the difference.

90 fps on a bullet that is travelling over 3200 fps is negligible. don't ya think? i know that there are some that like em as fast as they can get em, but 90 fps isa non issue.

nc, i assume that is for the great state of north carolina, for me if i'm hunting a big bean/corn field the 25.5 barrel and brake on my rem 700 dosent bother me, but it is not a very practical tree-stand gun, my new love for huntin the woods is my wifes model 7 in 260 rem....if the gun your looking at is 24" and you like everything else about it go for it, 90fps out of a 3200+ is nothing

and oh yea!!!! welcome to the forums

It shouldn't mattetr. The 25-06 has more than enough velocity to eek everything out of the 25 caliber bullets. My Sierra Manual shows 3100 fps for the 25-06 and 3200 for the Weatherby. Both with the 117 grain bullet. A critter would sure never know the difference.

If I had to have a 24" barrel,I would go with the 25-06.The small velocity difference isn't worth the big difference in ammo and brass prices.The accumark in 257wby has a 26" barrel.The vanguard has a 24" barrel.

I'm with you stubble! I also don't like the extra muzzle blast and recoil of the Wby.!

Drilling Man

ncpreacherboy1:

Are you sure it is a Weatherby Mark V Accumark, and not a Vanguard. Good luck.

the accumark i'm looking at is used and it has a 24" barrel. guessing had 2" whacked off of it.

If I found a .257 Wby that had an accurate 24" barrel, I would probably just shoot it. If I was building one from scratch, however; I would either builda .257 Wby in a 26" tube or a .25-06 Ackley Improved in a 24" or 25" barrel length. My current .25-06 Ackley Improved delivers 3242 witha 117 gr. bullet and 3523 with a 100 gr. pill - out of a 24" barrel. This is a Douglas 1:10 barrel.