Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Riddle me this: 257 wby or 25-06 ?

It is not needless to say...why won't you have another on of those?

Rifles aren't the ultimate thing in my life, and I'd never even had a belted mag before trading into a Roy. I've got a 257 AI that is pretty darned close to keeping pace w/ the '06 (mine does 3250 fps w/ 100s) which'll do anything I need doing w/ a rifle, but as you say, that Roy is an amazing cartridge that does things that somewhat defy numbers.

And no, rifles aren't the ultimate thing in my life...

I have never owned a Weatherby, and won't. Too expensive to shoot, pretty expensive to reload.

The OP is looking for something for varmints, I thought. A few fps isn't going to make up for the price of Weatherby ammo, to me at least.

And, I just don't like Weatherby rifles. They look Japanese to me, like a 1968 Datsun.

I really like the beauty of the Browning but I could not get consistent groups with the 2 factory loads I tried. I did not bed or do any work to it but I have never had the same issue with the m700's I have. Really a shame because it seemed like a very good quality rifle. I have since learned a lot more about my m700's and feel comfortable sticking to them. I might look at a Vanguard for the next one though.

thanks, just asking why you seemed to have bad luck with your browning. I have several XBolts and are totally pleased with all of them. I shot one of my best bucks this year with an XBolt in 25-06.

I have two 257 Roys and a 25-06. I have shot perhaps a dozen deer and antelope with each rifle. The Roys are much faster, but in my experience spanning almost 30 years the 25-06 is the better field rifle. Both kill very well, the roy a little more spectacularly, especially with TSX bullets. Most of your shots at game will be under 200yds and one could not tell the difference in field results. The 257 Roy will be a little harder to find ammunition and quite a bit more difficult to sell or trade. But scratch your itch. I decided several years ago that my collection would never be without one of each.

7 Rm or 264 WM brass can be run through the FLS & fireformed for perfect function, so unless one is buying factory ammo the difference isn't as great as it might otherwise seem.

The Vangard doesn't look to me any different from a Remington 700 (which I don't care for at all, but which has a cult following). My Vangard is UBBER accurate, though.

If I were looking for a deer/varmint rifle to shoot a lot I'd go '06. If you want a hunting rifle that gets a few rounds each year first to verify zero and then to kill stuff like lightning, the Roy is a good candidate.

Which means a 26% increase in powder volume and muzzle blast. My 25s start with the .250-3000 and end with the .25/06. Have not found any of them wanting. That said, if I ever decide to get a magnum chambered rifle, it'll probably be the the .257Wby. Had an urge for a .264WM a couple years ago, but it passed. There's just something about .25s...

Wasn't it Frank Gorshin, a.k.a. "The Riddler" in the original Batman series, that coined the phrase "Riddle me this...?"

Take a look at the Rem 700 CDL SF in 257 Roy. 2 of them in my hunting camp, they shoot amazing and are purty too.