Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 257Bob AI vs 25-06

But you get such a cooool cartridge w/o a belt, using 20 less grains of powder, with brass that doesn't cost $1.80 a piece. Weighing those differences against the difference in velocities, I'd still go with the .25-06 AI.

(When are we going sage rat shooting????)

I've had three .257 Roberts A.I.'s two Remingtons and one Ruger 77. All short actions. Currently using a Remington 700 custom rebuild. The A.I. will do everything the .25-06 will do with more efficiency. However, if you want a light weight varmint rifle, the .257 Roberts A.I. is a bit much. I would recommend something in the 6mm or .224 caliber. With the new bullets they cam do so much more than a few years ago.

Mine is on a Mexican Mauser action with a Krieger barrel and a Rimrock stock. It makes a handy mountain rifle. My loads with 115 grain Partitions are roughly equivalent to what I have seen in several .25-06s for which I have reloaded. You would have to go to a .257 Wby to get a significant increase in velocity, or you might be able to accomplish the same thing in a short-action with a .25 WSM.

But doesn't everybody know that the 25 WSSM is a POS?

Jeff

everbody 'cep you and me

The 25 WSSM is about the same capacity as the 257 AI and runs at higher pressures... whats NOT to love??

well, she's short, fat, & dumpy. But she performs pretty well.

COL for my 100g TTSX loads is as long as my 110g AccuBond and longer than my 115g TTSX, 120g Grand Slam and 120g A-Frame loads. That's reason enough for me.

The real benefit of the .257 Roberts is, IMHO, found with a case capacity well matched to a shorter 20" or 22" barrel. For the .25-06 I would prefer a 24" or 26". (Not sure you can even get shorter than 24" in a factory .25-06, but I haven't surveyed the market, either.)

In the Ruger lineup, the 22" .257 Roberts comes in at 7.0 pounds while the 24" .25-06 is listed at 8.25 pounds. Another good reason to select the Roberts.

Probably another reason my Ruger Roberts is my favorite rifle...

[Edited again to add - Savage lists a .25-06 with a 22" barrel. I would still prefer 24" for that cartrdige.)

I built my .257 AI from a .25-06. The long action gives ample magazine room for 117 and 120 gr bullets. It's been my favorite sheep, deer, and antelope rifle for over 30 years. I also used it to drop one of my largest bull elk in his tracks while I was hunting sheep in the wilderness north of Yellowstone Park.

The .25-06 has a slight velocity edge, but I've never felt my .257 AI was lacking.

I fell into this problem..

ended up with a 25.06 heavy varmint barrel to put on a Savage..
I was looking at rechambering down to a 257 Roberts...

however what my friend the gun smith pointed out, was that I could save the expense by just loading the 25/06 case to 257 Roberts AI standards...

pressure would be lower and also barrel life would be extended..

so as much as I love the Roberts and how little I like the 25/06..I am living with a 25/06 and life is just fine..