Opinions good bad and ugly, have two donor/projects planned looking for opinions on these calibers, both guns will be same caliber.

I would throw in the 257 AI in the mix too. The 6/284 eats barrels but for some reason the 25/284 less so, but then the 6.5/284 loses target accuracy pretty quick. Maybe it is because the 25s are mostly hunting rifles so 2-2,500 rounds is acceptable. It is odd this isn't an issue with the 25-06 with the sloping shoulder although the longer neck could compensate for this.

Then there is the 25 Creedmore which duplicates the Roberts but has better brass available for it, it could also go in a short action. The Roberts can fit a short action but most are built on a long action, same for the 25/284 almost all are on a long action.

Either would be good and the two would make a nice mismatched pair. I think I would do the Bob and in a long action a 25-06. The 25/284 makes sense in one of the medium actions like the NULA and some others. If a long action then I like easy with the 25-06. Some would say the 25/284 is more accurate or at least it has the design features that are thought to make an accurate cartridge but I don't know if you could demonstrate this with hunting rifles.

Whichever you go with I would twist it as fast as 1-7" so you could shoot the longer Black Jack and Hammer bullets.

Thanks for the input, interesting ideas but these are the two calibers I am thinking of due to overall length and the actions I am using.

Thanks for the input, interesting ideas but these are the two calibers I am thinking of due to overall length and the actions I am using.

I have a few of each and think that the 25 Souper is a better fit COAL wise in short actions and the 25-06 is an easier option in long actions.

If the 51mm case length of the 260 made it an inferior option in short actions, I can't see how the 55mm 25-284 or 57mm 257 Roberts cases won't run into the same sort of COAL issues in short actions with longer/heavier for caliber bullets.

I have a 257, 257AI,25/06. Also a 6/284. If I was choosing between the two I would do25/284 if the action was long enough.

What action?

257 AI will run thru any action that a 257 R will.

257 Creed will run through any action a 25-284 will.

Yea - you beat me to the 25 Creedmoor option. I've had 257 and 257AI and 25-284. I still have my 257 Rbts mainly because of sentiment. Also have a 250 AI and love it for SA 700's. I guess the 25 CM is same as 250AI, basically.

I have owned about all the .25 options and still own a few of 257heavens rifles. I personally would do a standard Roberts or 250AI/25 creedmoor. The 257AI and 25-284 I still have but wouldn’t do again or recommend. I love my ULA 250AI I bought from 257heaven.

I have two lilja #2 .257 1-10” I would sell if you were interested for the projects. I believe one is a 3 groove and one is 6. Both stainless. PM me if your interested in the barrels.

I am thinking of standardizing things in my safe a bit so I don't have one off rifle calibers, I have a Mauser 98 action that is begging for a new barrel and I have a savage 99c action with 284 and a 243/308 clip, so I have seen 257R run in a 99 with a rotary mag so it will run in a clip I think. I think the 284 or one of its derivatives is the hottest thing you can run in a 99 action, i am not worried about it in the mauser it will get the barrel of caliber, i assume with the 284 case the magazine on mauser might need just a bit of opening. I just did the same thing with 260 Rem. I have a 99 and mauser action being built now. The 6.5 CM is the sexy caliber right now and have been off and on the fence on this one for sometime, yes it would be nice to say I have one but i get alot of opinions one way or another on the caliber working in the 99, or it might be just name only and bullet selection might be limited on length. Juts bene wrangling this idea for sometime and soon I am going to pull the trigger on something. Appreciate the ideas and i should of added the actions, because it does have a effect on choices.

John, here's the .17 I had ctw here build on a 99 for me. Or have him build you a 450 Bushmaster. Or one of each. Just because you can.

i have 99C/CDs in 257AI, 25-284, 6.5-284, and 338-284. As noted previously, they all run into COAL issues because of the magazine length with longer/heavier bullets. The first two do fine with most bullets under 115 grains, the third with most bullets 120 grains and under, and the third with bullets up to 210 grains. I would do the 25 Souper or 6.5 Creedmoor if I was going to rebarrel a 99 today. That said, I think that the 99F that I had rebore/rechambered from 243 to 260 is about as perfect a 99 for deer hunting at reasonable ranges as a person could wish for.

That is cool, I would like a 350 Legend but I doubt that case is 99 friendly. He probably gonna get some work from me here in some fashion.

In 50 years some elitist collector might damn you to fires of Hell for mucking up a factory specs Savage 99, but it is your rifle, your money, and your choice about what to do with it. I've mucked up a few Savage 99s and have yet to lose any sleep over what some future owner might think about me

The 350 Legend is a cartridge that hasn't piqued my interest, so despite my interest in new cartridges and rifles, it is a cartridge that isn't likely to find a place in my home.

Of the ones you are considering I would go with the 25-284 in the action you are using. Have both and they are both great.
GreggH

my last project has been the 257 Creedmoor and now with custom Whidden dies my 257 Creedmoor rifle shoots extremely well with a 7 1/2 twist Brux barrel.