rem 721,722 action

[hatchetjack]

Are these actions worthy of a custom rifle build? I have a 270 that doesn't have 150 rounds through it. My dad brought it back from Korea in 63.

 

[rafterfp]

Absolutly!!! I have a 6.5 creed built on a 722 that score high built for me and it is STUPID accurate!!!! 1/4 min gun every day! With factory hornady match ammo!

 

[hatchetjack]

That's good to know..I was thinking of building Roy weather's 257. Would require a bolt face modification.

 

[MudRunner2005]

That's good to know..I was thinking of building Roy weather's 257. Would require a bolt face modification.

Build a .25-06 AI 40* Shoulder and you won't have to modify anything...And you will get very similar velocities. I had both and shooting side by side the .25-06 AI won hands-down because the only category the .257 Wby beat it in was speed, and that wasn't by much at all. I even use inexpensive Winchester .270 Win brass to form for it.

 

[hatchetjack]

Sounds like a great idea. You achieved better accuracy from the 06?

 

[MudRunner2005]

Sounds like a great idea. You achieved better accuracy from the 06?

Yes, but that had more to do with the .257 Wby was a lemon from the factory. Both calibers are capable of achieving exceptional accuracy. I bought it brand new in 2008, and had it until just before Thanksgiving of this past year (2014). It was a Weatherby MK-V Accumark. The barrel was a junk barrel from the factory and had issues that progressively got worse over the 200-250 rounds I put down it, in the many years I owned it. So I can't say the caliber itself is more accurate, but in my case, the .25-06 AI rifle was more accurate because it has a good barrel on it, and the .257 Wby had a junk barrel on it.

What I found most enjoying after shooting them both side by side (other than the accuracy factor) was that the .25-06 AI had less recoil, less muzzle blast, was smoother recoiling, used less powder, cheaper brass, all the while achieving similar velocities with the same exact bullet (Berger 115 VLD).

 

[hatchetjack]

Just out of curiosity how close were you seating the Berger to the lands 0n the ai? Im sure the barrel will last much longer in the ai

 

[MudRunner2005]

Just out of curiosity how close were you seating the Berger to the lands 0n the ai? Im sure the barrel will last much longer in the ai

I'll have to check when I get home. I'm not seeming to recall that off the top of my head, like some of my others.

Velocity will determine how well the rifling in the barrel lasts, which means, if they're the same velocity, they should have about the same barrel life with all things being equal....HOWEVER, the .257 Wby holds about 10-15gr more powder, which means a bigger blast, and a longer flame in the bore, which means it will torch the throat faster than the .25-06 AI will, so the .25-06 AI barrel should last a little bit longer in theory, but barrel life is something I don't like to go around quoting because it's got so many factors that play into it, that it's virtually an unknown. It could last 500 shots if you get it really hot and continue to shoot it, or it could last 2,500 shots if you only shoot it a few times a year and don't ever really let the barrel get hot. You just never know.

There is something called "The Point of Diminishing Returns", and what that is referring to, is when a case gets too big for a particular caliber bullet. Basically meaning that the extra efforts and extra powder capacities and shorter barrel life, are not worth the very small gain in velocity you will get. IMO, the .25-06 AI is the largest case the .25 caliber bullets can fully utilize, and any case larger than that (.257 Wby or larger), and you are burning 10-15gr more powder (or more) to only gain about 50-75 fps, but all that extra powder burns the throat longer causing heat cracking, which can lead to accuracy issues. So it comes down to this... Do you want shorter barrel life and greater powder consumption for only 50-75 fps increase in velocity? If so, then go for the .257 Wby. If you want to get the most efficiency out of your .25 caliber's case design, and only be about 50-75 fps slower than the .257 Wby, then go for the .25-06 AI.

I promise you this...Whatever you're shooting won't notice that missing 50-75 fps.

 

[hatchetjack]

I've had good luck with Krieger barrels so that's what it's gonna be.

 

[elkaholic]

Check out the 6.5 Sherman cartridge. Only .007" larger diameter than the .257 and will outperform it by a bunch with bullet options from 75-160 grains! Besides that, the Sherman will outperform the A.I. version, (or any '06 size). Dies and reamers are available and case forming is nearly as easy as the A.I.............Rich

 

[hhack]

I would go with the 25-06 AI or the 6.5 sherman, because you won't have to enlarge the bolt face and modify the feed rails just a simple truing the action and barrel swap.

 

[hatchetjack]

All I need is factory 25_06 ammo and shoot to freeform correct?

 

[elkaholic]

All I need is factory 25_06 ammo and shoot to freeform correct?

It will work for the 25-06, but is not preferable because you will end up with TOO short of a neck! Use 270 or 280 brass; preferably Norma.......Rich