25-06AI vs. 257 Weatherby

[Russ-T]

Hey All!

I am (again) considering re-chambering a barrel for 25-06AI. it's currently 25-06 Rem. Brand new take-off barrel.

Anyone here have a reamer? or has done this cartridge before?

Also. Is it worth it to go 257 Weatherby?

Thanks!

Russ

 

[loadnplenty]

I have looked into this many times. I currently have a 257 Roberts Ackley Improved. I have hunted with it for years now.

Lots of info on the internet. From what I gather from all the forums I have read a lot of comes down to bullet weight and barrel length.

Main considerations is barrel life and ease of reloading. 257 Weatherby is stupid fast and over bore, especially with hand loads. This also equates to shorter barrel life. Brass is more expensive and harder to come by.

25-06AI is fast, not nearly as hard on barrel life and brass is super easy to find or make. The 25-06AI will mot reach the velocities of hand loaded Weatherby ammo. Life expectancy of Ackley Improved brass is usually better than standard due to the shoulder and lack of stretching in a tight chamber.

In all my reading, the one thing that everyone said is the 25-06AI will do exactly what the Weatherby will do cheaper and with a longer barrel life, just not as fast (lower velocity).

In also built a 338-06AI some years back. It surfaces on here from time to time. It was great caliber. It just obliterated deer.

 

[basstracker89]

I have a 257 WBY. It does hit like a little sledgehammer. But it is an expensive, hard to find cartridge. You won't get but maybe 3-4 rounds out of the brass. I think the 25-06 would have tighter groups. And ammo would easier to find at a much better price. The bore life might be like 400rds, so not a range gun. My reloads tend to run @ 3000-3300 FPS to extend bore life. I love my quarter bore, but..........If I had it to do over again, I don't know that I'd go with the mag. As bad as I hate to say it, that 6.5 Creedmoor might be a good option

 

[Russ-T]

As bad as I hate to say it, that 6.5 Creedmoor might be a good option

You're sounding an awful like wildbill1973z28

I have 6.5 Creedmoors and genuinely love the cartridge. I haven't even loaded for the 6.5 because I don't need to. the factory ammo I have shoots lights out and it's a done deal.

But, I load for everything else I have and love the process.

 

[basstracker89]

You're sounding an awful like wildbill1973z28

I have 6.5 Creedmoors and genuinely love the cartridge. I haven't even loaded for the 6.5 because I don't need to. the factory ammo I have shoots lights out and it's a done deal.

But, I load for everything else I have and love the process.

Sounds like you're trying to improve perfection. I looked back in my records to see when I bought my 257 Wby. It was before the cartridge was invented. But the 25-06 was out. A friend of mine had me branching out trying different things. I also researched the bore life again. It now shows @ 1750rds instead of 400 back when I bought mine.
Another thing. The rifling rate you select will have a bearing on what bullet weight shoots best. Mine won't hit the broad side of a barn with 100gr bullets. But the 85-89gr and 115-120s shoot great. 120 is what I use for deer, works great.

 

[Russ-T]

Sounds like you're trying to improve perfection. I looked back in my records to see when I bought my 257 Wby. It was before the cartridge was invented. But the 25-06 was out. A friend of mine had me branching out trying different things. I also researched the bore life again. It now shows @ 1750rds instead of 400 back when I bought mine.
Another thing. The rifling rate you select will have a bearing on what bullet weight shoots best. Mine won't hit the broad side of a barn with 100gr bullets. But the 85-89gr and 115-120s shoot great. 120 is what I use for deer, works great.

Which cartridge is perfection? 25-06?

 

[basstracker89]

Which cartridge is perfection? 25-06?

Creedmoor. The 25-06 would probably be a close second. With such good ballistic coefficient, anything between 24 and 28cal is hard to beat.