Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Where is the 25-08?

John, your point is well made for sure. However, the 257 roberts is what it is and I just don't see how you can build a successful marketing case around the cartride to make it the "243 of the next century". there is simply too much history to get the industry to "reinvent it". even if the 25-308 is basically the same thing, at least it would be something new that a marketing campaign could be built around.

new generations of hunters want better, improved stuff. I think the 25-308 could fill this need.

I just think it would be a dandy round, even if it doesn't offer anything really new.

with 243, 260, 7mm08, 308 and 358 all on the 308 case, why not the good ole all American 25 cal.

please do not attempt to apply logic to this request!

It is with the 110 AB.....

That sums it up right there.

25-08?

isnt the .260 close enought (and just about perfect)

i love my 260. i loved my 243s and 257 bob too, but the bob was in a long action ruger. i just thought a 25-08 in a kimber 84m with pretty wood would be nice. if they make it, i'll buy. if not, i'll get another 243. should have kept the bofors sako forester.

does any major maker build a 257 bob on a short action?

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If anyone can get the 25-308 domesticated, it is Mule Deer (now, if we can only convince him that is should be done)!

does any major maker build a 257 bob on a short action?

just take any win 70 short action and send it to douglas barrels and they will send you back a 257!

Doubt that the 25-08 would happen. My bucks (and very few of them) are on the 25-284 for a wildcat domestication.

BMT

Sadly, I must agree.

BMT

Why not the 25 WSM? Seems they would sell more since "magnum" is in the name.

I have more 25cals than I should: 25CCR(wildcat),257Roberts, 25 Souper, 25/06, 25/284 and 25WSM. Don't know if I forgot any. I hunt with the 25Souper and use the 257Roberts as a loaner rifle for youth hunts or for some of the ladies.
120gr Sierra BTHP in the Souper and a 100gr NoslerBT in the Roberts. Both are great on deer, never a problem.
I think the Souper would sell like hotcakes, not that it is any better than the Roberts, just newer. Why is the 7/08 so much more popular than the 7x57 and they are about ballistic twins. Why has the 300WSM do so well when in reality it is no better than the 300WM. Short action and no belt, WOW. I load all my rounds and much prefer the 300WinMag. Gave my 300WSM to my son-in-law. With the proper add campain the Souper would be a seller. I think the 260 will die out, sorry guys.Rick.

Actually, the .308 case is getting very dated. What we need for the next generation is a 6.5x47 Lapua necked-down to .25. Get Ruger to chamber it as the 257x47 77.

If you don't like that, how about the 6.5 Creedmore necked down? Call it the Quarter Creedmore.

KS

ETA: Added a smiley just in case.

What if all the major gun companies pledged not to develop another new cartridge unless it could truly achieve something not achievable by an existing cartridge? What if they then directed all their R & D resources toward building better guns?

If the R & D people did that we would nothing to complain about. New cartridges is what is keeping the gun industry going.

How many of us still need a 243,270,30-06 7mmMag or 223, the big 6 according to sales.

I would welcome a 25-08 but doubt any gun/ammo manufacturer would take the risk. Look at what "used" 257 roberts are selling for.

Doc

but not until i send them a big fat check. then i would have one rifle for the price of two. no thanks. don't need a 25-08 that bad.

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Guess I need to buy one of the Rifle Looney hats! I had a .257 DGR built on a Rem 7 action. Duane Spooner built it and it is a .260 Rem case necked to .257 with shoulder set back slightly to lengthen neck. As close to a .25 Souper as possible without actually being one. About 150 to 200 fps faster than .243 with 100 grain bullets and has better selection of lighter weight bullets than .260 Rem. Very versatile for varmints, coyotes up to deer. With up to 120 grain bullets it is probably better than .243 for deer. Does nothing that .250 Savage AI,.257 Bob or 25-06 would not do. Agree it is a niche specialty for all reasons stated.

Wincehster gave you something MUCH better: The 25 SUPER SHORT MAGNUM.

There now, doesn't that feel better? . . . . .

BMT

So many "inbetweens". We only need Quarters: 20, 25, 30, 35, 40, 45, & 50. Think of the saving in bullet manufacture that could go into bullet technology. Build them based only on military brass: 223, 308, 30-06, 45-70, 50 BMG.

yes, the 25-284 would be a dandy but let's no get carried away for now. you could market the 25-284 as a "short action 25-06" and maybe that could get some traction.

the 25s should do better in the US.

ricksmith,

The 7mm-08 sells better than the 7x57 because it works in a short action, and there is a perception that 7mm-08 factory ammo is a lot faster than 7x57 factory (which really isn't true, but perception goes a long way). Also, the throats on 7mm-08 rifles are very consistent, unlike the throats on 7x57's, which vary all the way from pretty short to really, really long.

The .257 was designed to work in a 2.8" magazine, and in fact all factory ammo fits neatly in a short magazine. Therefore the .25-08 would be redundant.

The myth that the .257 needs a longer action to work is just that, a myth. Apparently it got started back in the 1930's when the only rifles for the round had long actions, because ALL bolt rifles (except the 1920 Savage) had long actions. These long-action rifles had spacers in the magazines so the .257 would feed better. At least one of the rifles, the Winchester Model 70, also had a long throat. So the short (2.8") factory .257 ammo did not shoot so well.

Rifle loonies took out the magazine spacer, then handloaded .257 ammo with bullets seated out a little longer, which shot better. They also guessed they were getting a lot more velocity, and they probably were, because the .257 factory ammo of the day was really wimpy. But it wasn't because they could seat the bullets out further.

All of that changed after World War Two. Winchester fixed the throat on their Model 70's to match 2.8" .257 ammo, and Remington brought out the 722 with a short magazine in .257, which worked fine. Nowadays all .257 factory except Remington is loaded to modern velocities, and works fine in short actions.

Yet you still read and hear about how the .257 Roberts needs a long action to work right, despite the fact that any reason for that "reasoning" disappeared maybe 60 years ago.