I have an opening for a .257 in my life. I have been less than exstatic about my 257 ultralight. in fact I sometimes miss the 2 bit it replaced, the bug holer I called it. I have been lookking long and hard at the 25's and I come up with the vanguards, and coopers as guarenteed accuracy. I know there is a big cheddar spread between em' but I think I can shell out 3/4 of 2 grand if it will let me sleep at night.

pretty much I require a rifle that will shoot into at least the .6's and handle reasonably. I hunt with synthetic guns and I am not really a proponent of safe queens. I buy them to hunt with. I often am away on backpack hunts for 2-5 days so weight is a concern and reliability is paramount.

my 257 has taken deer, elk and bears but when I shoot paper it just makes me mad.

so what are my options for a 15huny-ish shootin' iron that is quarter bore, reliable, accurate and handles well.

I'd build

Buy a Kimber and have it accurized.

It may not meet your weight limit for backpacking, but I highly recommend the Vanguard. My Sub-MOA is just that and always shoots .5" to .7" with my load of R22 and 100 TSX. Factory loads do the same and I am beginning to think may be the same load as my handload. The only load I have had shoot over one inch in the Vangaurd is the Ramshot load published in Handloader by Mr. Barsness (no offense to Barsness, my gun just didn't like the load). The gun balances great for long range shooting and is my idea of the ideal long-range western deer rifle, which it will be used for this fall.

cooper ex........

woofer