have both...257 is faster, eats barrels sooner,brass expensive, usually a bit heavier gun, 25.06 can be very light, brass easy to get and less expensive.....257 will get you out there further with heavier bullet. I use 25.06 mostly now as the one I have is super light and accurate...
25-06 vs 257 wby
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Glen8338
Member
I go with the .257 Wby. Mine shoots both 110 Interbond and 110 Accubond well. Buy good brass and get many reloads and the brass question is immaterial.
There is another option for the 25-06 AI, but you can't purchase ammo for it. But whatever you do, get a faster twist on your barrel's rifling than the 1 in 10" twist that is most commonly used in the 25 caliber rifles. I have shot the 257 Roberts and the 25-06 for more than 45 years, and my accuracy was harder to dial in with the 120 grain bullets than the 100 grain bullets. My favorite 257 has a Bartlein barrel with a 1 in 9" twist, and it shoots the 120 grain bullets sub MOA.
Lets not necessarily talk caliber but the rifle as you describe, nice wood stock in either 25 cal. You'll find supporters for both, the issue with any production rifle is you'r likely only gonna find it in 1-10 twist. This limits your bullet options and the newer ones coming out in 25 cal like the 131 Blackjack or 135 Bergers are not shoot well. So expense wise I'd find a nice Rem 700 in either caliber you choose (personally i'd go with the 257 Weatherby) find it in a CDL version which usually has nice wood, pull the barrel and put a 1-8 twist barrel in a matching contour snd length of the factory barrel. It'll take you 6 months to custom order the barrel, and I'd go Kreiger Direct, vs dealing with a retailer of other brands. Find a smith to rebarrel and chamber it. It'll be a bit longer road but your gonna have a more accurate and versatile...I personally have built a few of this nature but not with wood stocks. Issues there that make real accurate shooters harder to achieve but it can be done. Touch base if you choose to, and still haven't figure the route your gonna take.
weatherbyfan0527
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I have both. I haven't had a lot of luck with 25-06 accuracy in a couple different rifles (although, I am sure that's just a bad luck of the draw). 25-06 is a fine round. I've had three 257's that all shoot sub MOA with about anything you put through them. I have a stainless vanguard that has kinda become my pet go-to hunter. Its history is 7 for 7 on game with none requiring a follow up. 4 bears, 2 pronghorns and a mountain goat would all agree that it's a potent cartridge.
FYI: 2 bears were under 100 yards, 2 bears were over 200 yards, both pronghorn were between 365 and 400 yards, and the goat was 340 yards..... so it's shown good performance at a fairly wide range of distances on animals from 90 to 275 pounds.... all with 115BT's.I have them both and it comes down to a simple fact. If you were going to shoot it a lot then I would go with the 25'06. If you're just going to have it and hunt with it once in a while, I like the 257 Weatherby, it will out perform the 25'06 for sure on deer and antelope.
If anything varmint size is on your menu, I would go for the 25'06. It handles lighter bullets better and I've never had an accuracy issue between the two.
If it's a dedicated deer, antelope and other larger four legged creature rifle, then the .257 Weatherby.
You can't go wrong with either. I love them both and practically speaking the 25-06 will do nicely. That said my current Bee is running 110 Accubonds at 3510 - over 200 FPS faster than my 06' and with 3/4 MOA (I struggle to be a 3/4 MOA shooter many days, it probably shoots better) accuracy to 400 yards. The 06 has not been hunting in 5 years. I have run a 25-284 and loved it as well. If you stay with conventional bullets it is great out of a short action, but a long action and 7 twist would be alot of fun.
CB---a good question and it's spurred lots of good ideas. One thing that would be nice to know is how far you practice on a consistent basis and how far you shoot big game on a consistent basis?
Side note, I love both of those 25's, I had a 9 twist Brux on order now to re-do my old 25/06
Sanford338
Well-Known Member
It simply gets the job done! One and done...
I have both. I killed my first deer with my dad's Rem 700 25-06 and I have that rifle now. I also have a .257 Wby Vanguard. Both are sub-MOA rifles. I've killed loads of mulies & pronghorn with both.
I like the .257 Wby, but I love the .25-06. It has less recoil, feeds like a dream and wasn't picky when developing a load. The .257 has tremendous muzzle blast too. It's loud! Both will work. I would use monolithic bullets, especially in the .257 Wby. Velocities are high and you want something to hold together. Im using HVLDs in the .25-06. As others have said, bullet selection for long range is still partly lacking and most factory barrels don't have enough spin.
I like the .257 Wby, but I love the .25-06. It has less recoil, feeds like a dream and wasn't picky when developing a load. The .257 has tremendous muzzle blast too. It's loud! Both will work. I would use monolithic bullets, especially in the .257 Wby. Velocities are high and you want something to hold together. Im using HVLDs in the .25-06. As others have said, bullet selection for long range is still partly lacking and most factory barrels don't have enough spin.
I have several different 25 cals including both 25-06 (Tikka S/S) and 257 Weatherby Mark V Ultralight. I shoot them both a good bit but of all the 25 cals I own 257WTBY hands down. I shoot 100 gr in 25-06 for deer and 110 grain in 257. I also own 257 roberts and 25 WSM. I am building another 257 WTBY deep throated for heavy for class bullets 130gr hammer hunter and Black Jack bullets. Just got my reamer a few days ago from Manson. I have 26in CF Rock Creek barrel waiting to be chambered. I hope to get 3800+ with 130 gr hunters we will see where it ends up.
Either choice will due what you want in any deer class animal. Show us all what you end up building...
Either choice will due what you want in any deer class animal. Show us all what you end up building...
Charles Garcia
Member
I vote for the 257 Weatherby as well. I have had mine for over 20 years. Shot some with 75 grain Vmax on varmints. Then switched to 100 TTSX. Taken a real nice antelope at 510 yds with it and another at 165. Both dropped instantly with one shot. It's a Weatherby vanguard, std 1:10 twist. Shoots 3/4 inch groups with 7828 powder and Fed 215m, weatherby cases. Pretty easy gun to hand load. A friend of mine has a similar gun and he too says gun is easy to find a sub MOA load.
264 Win Mag Man
Well-Known Member
Just one more for 257 weatherby I ve had one highly recommend. I want to get another one. With the 25 06 I would go with 25 06 ai not just a plain 25 06. I like wood stocks also. I glass bed mine, they shoot great. Good luck.
freddiej
Well-Known Member
Looks like I waded into a quagmire of 257 Weatherby guys.
I have shot both, I prefer the 25-06 with a tight twist barrel for the heavy slugs. For the little more speed I get out of the 257 WBY, the amount of powder I consume over the 25-06 is just not worth it in my mind.
I set my 25-06 up for Nevada prong horn at 400 yard zero. I have never been disappointed in that gun or the rounds I built for it.
just my 2 cents worth.
I have shot both, I prefer the 25-06 with a tight twist barrel for the heavy slugs. For the little more speed I get out of the 257 WBY, the amount of powder I consume over the 25-06 is just not worth it in my mind.
I set my 25-06 up for Nevada prong horn at 400 yard zero. I have never been disappointed in that gun or the rounds I built for it.
just my 2 cents worth.
