What model of Winchester/USRA 70 and at what price?
All of the Browning and Winchester/USRA built 223 and 243 WSSMs are supposed to have chrome lined barrels, while the 25 WSSMs don't have the chrome lining. From my limited experience, the biggest problem with the 223 WSSM is the factory standard 1 in 10" ROT barrels. With all that case capacity, most folks want to shoot heavier bullets that won't usually stabilize in the 1 in 10" ROT barrels. I have a Winchester/USRA 70 stainless Ultimate Shadow in 223 WSSM that shoots good groups with the 55 and 64 grain factory loads. I shot 1 whitetail with the 64 grain PP factory load, got through/through penetration, and the deer went maybe 20' before falling over DRT. I don't think that the 223 WSSM is a good choice for punching paper and I don't think that it would rate high in my hierarchy of commercial 0.224" bore cartridges.
The majority of people who install good quality after-market barrels report excellent results with their WSSMs and I can testify that my Shilen barreled 25 WSSM is a consistent MOA shooter. I don't know if the 25 WSSM and 257 Roy match up very well. The 25 WSSM falls into the 257AI or 25-284 performance range, while the 257 Roy is a much larger, much faster cartridge.
I'm a big 25 WSSM fan and think that it makes a great dual-purpose varmint and medium game cartridge for the man who reloads and who likes the AR, Browning, or Winchester/USRA rifles that it fits into best. I currently have 4 rifles chambered in 25 WSSM that I shoot quite a bit:
1. Winchester/USRA 70 stainless Ultimate Shadow in a McM Compact, mounted with a Leupold VX2 2-7x33 for hunting antelope and deer.
2. Winchester/USRA 70 CM Super Shadow in a W/U walnut Fwt stock and Ultimate Shadow bottom metal, mounted with a Redfield 3-9x40 for hunting antelope and deer.
3. Winchester/USRA 70 CM Super Shadow with a 23" Shilen stainless varmint contour barrel, mounted with a Leupold VX1 4-12x40 for shooting varmints.
4. Winchester/USRA 70 CM Super Shadow with a 24" W/U 70 stainless Coyote barrel, mounted with a Lyman 8x for shooting varmints.
"camowildcat" over at
www.wssmzone.com is a big 223 WSSM fan, so you might go over there and get better feedback with which to make a decision.
Jeff