257 weatherby vs 25-06
01-07-2005, 08:23 AM
#11
Giant Nontypical
Join Date: Jul 2004
Location:
Posts: 6,357
RE: 257 weatherby vs 25-06
I think the assessment of these two cartridges would have to be the Weatherby .257 magnum is faster and hence flatter than the .25-06, which are general advantages of the Weatherby over the .25-06; and the Weatherby .257 magnum has more kick, a louder report, is more expensive using either off-the-shelf or handloads, and is generally more difficult to find if you happen to forget your ammunition on the coffee table at home and have to resupply at some out-of-the-way feed store in Lone Wolf, Wyoming, which are generally disadvantages of the Weatherby against the .25-06.
I own a .25-06 and love it. Every deer I have shot with it went down in a big hurry. For me, the discussion above would push me to prefer the .25-06 to the Weatherby .257 magnum, but if someone gave me an accurate .257 Weatherby magnum I would be happy to shoot it and use it! One thing I have realized about myself is that I should keep my shots under 300 yards, and few people would argue a .25-06 shooting 117 grain bullets isn't flat enough out to 300 yards to reliably take antelope or deer. What does a Weatherby .257 magnum buy me if I keep my shots inside of 300 yards? More expensive ammunition, less flexibility.
I own a .25-06 and love it. Every deer I have shot with it went down in a big hurry. For me, the discussion above would push me to prefer the .25-06 to the Weatherby .257 magnum, but if someone gave me an accurate .257 Weatherby magnum I would be happy to shoot it and use it! One thing I have realized about myself is that I should keep my shots under 300 yards, and few people would argue a .25-06 shooting 117 grain bullets isn't flat enough out to 300 yards to reliably take antelope or deer. What does a Weatherby .257 magnum buy me if I keep my shots inside of 300 yards? More expensive ammunition, less flexibility.
01-07-2005, 09:35 AM
#12
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Morgantown WV USA
Posts: 299
RE: 257 weatherby vs 25-06
ORIGINAL: oldelkhunter
Hmm sounds like a split vote. My only hangup with the 257 is Norma Brass and spending double the amount that normal brass costs . Although in the long run if the gun is a shooter and it will be(remington custom ) not a big deal. I have also considered building a 257 WSM and using necked down 270WSM brass.
Hmm sounds like a split vote. My only hangup with the 257 is Norma Brass and spending double the amount that normal brass costs . Although in the long run if the gun is a shooter and it will be(remington custom ) not a big deal. I have also considered building a 257 WSM and using necked down 270WSM brass.
01-07-2005, 09:39 AM
#13
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Morgantown WV USA
Posts: 299
RE: 257 weatherby vs 25-06
ORIGINAL: Alsatian
I think the assessment of these two cartridges would have to be the Weatherby .257 magnum is faster and hence flatter than the .25-06, which are general advantages of the Weatherby over the .25-06; and the Weatherby .257 magnum has more kick, a louder report, is more expensive using either off-the-shelf or handloads, and is generally more difficult to find if you happen to forget your ammunition on the coffee table at home and have to resupply at some out-of-the-way feed store in Lone Wolf, Wyoming, which are generally disadvantages of the Weatherby against the .25-06.
I own a .25-06 and love it. Every deer I have shot with it went down in a big hurry. For me, the discussion above would push me to prefer the .25-06 to the Weatherby .257 magnum, but if someone gave me an accurate .257 Weatherby magnum I would be happy to shoot it and use it! One thing I have realized about myself is that I should keep my shots under 300 yards, and few people would argue a .25-06 shooting 117 grain bullets isn't flat enough out to 300 yards to reliably take antelope or deer. What does a Weatherby .257 magnum buy me if I keep my shots inside of 300 yards? More expensive ammunition, less flexibility.
I think the assessment of these two cartridges would have to be the Weatherby .257 magnum is faster and hence flatter than the .25-06, which are general advantages of the Weatherby over the .25-06; and the Weatherby .257 magnum has more kick, a louder report, is more expensive using either off-the-shelf or handloads, and is generally more difficult to find if you happen to forget your ammunition on the coffee table at home and have to resupply at some out-of-the-way feed store in Lone Wolf, Wyoming, which are generally disadvantages of the Weatherby against the .25-06.
I own a .25-06 and love it. Every deer I have shot with it went down in a big hurry. For me, the discussion above would push me to prefer the .25-06 to the Weatherby .257 magnum, but if someone gave me an accurate .257 Weatherby magnum I would be happy to shoot it and use it! One thing I have realized about myself is that I should keep my shots under 300 yards, and few people would argue a .25-06 shooting 117 grain bullets isn't flat enough out to 300 yards to reliably take antelope or deer. What does a Weatherby .257 magnum buy me if I keep my shots inside of 300 yards? More expensive ammunition, less flexibility.
Or even within 400 yards for the 25-06. It is a legitimate 400 yard gun on deer, sheep, etc. I tend to agree, why make more noise, kick, expense, etc. when there is no need? It is why the .308 and the 30-06 get sighted in then stay in the closet all season while I am out with the 25-06. I use game ear or special ear plugs or whatever with all of them, but the 25-06 is the only one that doesn't make my ears ring if I don't have hearing protection (lost an ear plug then had to shoot at a deer). Maybe the 26 inch barrel?
01-07-2005, 11:03 AM
#15
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Wall SD USA & Jamestown ND
Posts: 11,474
RE: 257 weatherby vs 25-06
One other point I would make on the two and will be widely disagreed with is that the 25-06 will drive 25 grain bullets to about their best peak performance. With the exception of the Barnes X bullets, many 25 caliber bullets get pretty fragil at speeds much above what the 25-06 is capable of driving them.
01-07-2005, 11:22 AM
#16
Giant Nontypical
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 6,471
RE: 257 weatherby vs 25-06
If you are going to go to the trouble of working up the brass, why not make a 25 WSSM? It would be small light, pack the punch of the 25-06. I think the 25 WSSM is probably the best WSSM at least from what I have read (I haven't shot one). 25-06 velocity and weights in an action shorter than a short action (.308, etc.). Seems like a great deer round. I'm too cheap to buy one when a box of bullets is so expensive, but if you handload anyway and you have to work up brass for the 257 Weatherby anyway, why not just go 25 WSSM?
01-07-2005, 11:27 AM
#17
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Gypsum KS USA
Posts: 1,289
RE: 257 weatherby vs 25-06
I haven't had them both at the same time, but I have had both at one time or another. As far as I'm concerned, the VERY small advantage the Weatherby mag has over the .25-06 certainly isn't worth the high price of the ammo and the gun (of course the bargain bin vanguard is pretty cheap), but the ammo is a little too rich for the small advantage it gave, as far as I'm concerned...I didn't reload at that time either.
If you're wanting a weatherby and like the .257Wby. Mag, don't mind a limited selection of ammo, and don't mind the high ammo cost-reloading brings it down a lot and broadens your bullet type options-it's a great round and a great rifle...I'd just rather have two Rugers in .25-06 and .22-250 than one weatherby (which is the trade I made when I got rid of my Accumark).
If you're wanting a weatherby and like the .257Wby. Mag, don't mind a limited selection of ammo, and don't mind the high ammo cost-reloading brings it down a lot and broadens your bullet type options-it's a great round and a great rifle...I'd just rather have two Rugers in .25-06 and .22-250 than one weatherby (which is the trade I made when I got rid of my Accumark).
01-07-2005, 11:39 AM
#18
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Morgantown WV USA
Posts: 299
RE: 257 weatherby vs 25-06
ORIGINAL: oldelkhunter
No I have looked at 25wssm and decided against it would rather have a 25-06..the 25wsm is the same case length as 270 and 300wsm. It gives up maybe 100 fps to the 257 wthby if that in a 24" barrel not 26".
If you are going to go to the trouble of working up the brass, why not make a 25 WSSM? It would be small light, pack the punch of the 25-06. I think the 25 WSSM is probably the best WSSM at least from what I have read (I haven't shot one). 25-06 velocity and weights in an action shorter than a short action (.308, etc.). Seems like a great deer round. I'm too cheap to buy one when a box of bullets is so expensive, but if you handload anyway and you have to work up brass for the 257 Weatherby anyway, why not just go 25 WSSM?
No, the 25 WSSM is the same length as the 223 WSSM and the 243 WSSM. It is super short mag case, not the short mag case. This makes it shorter even than the 270 WSM or the 300 WSM. It is two sizes smaller than 25-06 case.
01-07-2005, 11:41 AM
#19
Giant Nontypical
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location:
Posts: 6,471
RE: 257 weatherby vs 25-06
No, the 25 WSSM is the same length as the 223 WSSM and the 243 WSSM. It is super short mag case, not the short mag case. This makes it shorter even than the 270 WSM or the 300 WSM. It is two sizes smaller than 25-06 case.
01-07-2005, 12:13 PM
#20
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Morgantown WV USA
Posts: 299
RE: 257 weatherby vs 25-06
ORIGINAL: oldelkhunter
Exactly . I don't want a case that short I want the extra powder capacity the 270-300wsm case gives me. This will be a wildcat proposition until Winchester comes to their senses and introduces it.
No, the 25 WSSM is the same length as the 223 WSSM and the 243 WSSM. It is super short mag case, not the short mag case. This makes it shorter even than the 270 WSM or the 300 WSM. It is two sizes smaller than 25-06 case.
Yes, but they are getting the same velocity out of that case as 25-06 even with 120 grain bullets. The .25 WSM would be faster than the weatherby IMO.