.257 or 6.5 JDJ

[Left Hand Dave]

I would like everyone's thoughts and experiences with the .257 and 6.5 JDJ in both pistols and carbines. I know this is the specialty pistol section but I figure for these cartridges it's the same crowd either way. I think I have amassed enough brass to make it feasible to look for a barrel. Right now kind of leaning towards a carbine barrel but I love my pistols. Any information you have on accuracy, velocity, bullet selection or terminal performance on critters let's hear it. Use will be shooting for fun, varmints and maybe an occasional deer. I have everything I need to load for both cartridges so all I need is to choose a chambering and find a barrel.

 

[Ernie]

Accuracy will be dependent upon the quality of the barrel and how well it was put together for your Contender.
I would lean toward the 25 caliber for said purposes myself

 

[mjshell]

Accuracy will be dependent upon the quality of the barrel and how well it was put together for your Contender.
I would lean toward the 25 caliber for said purposes myself

I've had a 6.5, similar ballistics to 6.5 grendel, I got 2250 fps w. 123 grainers. 14" barrel. JD Jones loaded them to 2500 fps. I couldn't get close to his velocity's

I like quarter bores but have not owned a 257 jdj. I've been wanting a faster twist 257 jdj.

I do have a fast twist 226 jdj that has fine accuracy.

 

[41Magnum]

I've had a 6.5, similar ballistics to 6.5 grendel, I got 2250 fps w. 123 grainers. 14" barrel. JD Jones loaded them to 2500 fps. I couldn't get close to his velocity's

I like quarter bores but have not owned a 257 jdj. I've been wanting a faster twist 257 jdj.

I do have a fast twist 226 jdj that has fine accuracy.

I have a 6.5 BRM which very similar to a 6.5 x 30-30 and the best I've been able to get is around 2350 fps with a 120 NBT, H-4350 powder, 14" EABCO barrel. If I try to go higher I get sticky case extraction.

 

[WV Hitman]

Never had a .257 JDJ, but had a 6.5 JDJ since it's inception. Super accurate, minimal recoil. Killed a few turkeys, 500+ groundhogs, 300+ deer with it out to 400 yds. Never regretted getting it. I use JD's load data. Never bothered to chrono it, since it kills way out of proportion to its size.

 

[Left Hand Dave]

Not sure why but I am leaning towards a .257 in a Contender carbine. Although one of each in both pistol and carbine would be nice. That gets spendy though.

 

[Bearman375]

Still got a 257 JDJ , used mostly 90 Sierras HPBT, killed some big body whitetail and antelope out to 300+ with no problem at all, using a 3x12 Burris

 

[Ernie]

Awesome!

 

[big johnson]

My first SSK was the 6.5 JDJ and shot a couple of speed goats with it. went to the 309 JDJ. and the 375 JDJ , that was 25 years ago when I was thinking big roosters kiced the hell out of little ones. I had a friend that had a 250-3000 built. It shot really good . He lives in Colorado and shot every thing with it even a few elk. I don't know how 225 win. brass supply is, but their's lots of brass that can be used for the 250-3000 savage. The 250-3000 ackley might be a great choice with all the new bullets and powders.

 

[mjshell]

If you are going with the contender platform and have plenty of 225 brass I'd go with the 257 jdj. I don't think you will find anyone that will chamber a 250 savage imp for the contender. On the encore platform the 250 would be excellent.

I have both pistol and carbine encore setups in 257 Roberts ackley and really like them.

 

[Left Hand Dave]

I already have the .250 AI in an Encore 15" pistol. Just haven't played with it much yet.

 

[mjshell]

The 250 ai is known for its accuracy. One bullet manufacturer uses it as there accuracy cartridge. I was looking for a 250 ai when I came across my 257 rob ai's. Ballistically the 250 ai & 257 ai are very close to each other

 

[Bob Roach]

I have the 6.5x30JDJ which is pretty much a 6.5JDJ only using 30-30 brass for the parent case. Way back in the late 1980's or early 1990's I saw the handwriting on the wall about 225 Brass getting hard to come up with. No regrets at all going with the 6.5x30JDJ. No problem with brass life, and it will hold just a hair more powder than the 6.5JDJ.
Since you have plenty of 225 Brass. I would figure out which one currently has the best bullet or bullets for the velocity you will get.

Bob R

 

[big johnson]

In the early days before the encore if I'm remembering right SSK had the standard 250-3000 on their chamber list they said it was a low pressure cartridge. I would use the encore today if starting over and look at the creedmoor case, don't know which caliber I'd choose.