marksman13
Member
Never seen a Ruger No. 1 shoot like this 257 WM shoots. That 28” barrel is screaming those bullets down range too. Need to chrono a few loads.
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Poor Old Quarter Bore
- Thread starter DocRock
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now THATS what im talking about!....maybe i should do a single shot for my .257wby project....that really has appeal to me for some reason.
I built a 25-06 back in 87.It has a Wilson #4 contour barrel screwed into a M700 action and is in a HS Precision stock.It was never that accurate,even though it had a good barrel and everything was done right,or so I thought.In 2014,I decided to get it to shoot or get rid of it.I quick check with the headspace gauges showed that I made a glaring mistake on this rifle.The bolt closed on the field gauge.A lot of time had passed and I learned a few things in that time.I tightened up the headspace to barely be able to close the bolt on the go gauge and cut a little off the barrel and re-crown it because of a rust spot out near the end.End result-it's one of the most accurate rifles I own.100 grain SMK's fly at more than 3,200 fps and they hit inside half an inch.Nosler Partitions do almost as well.The twist rate is too slow for anything much over 100 grains,but it's still a very flat shooting rifle,and is just evil on whitetails out as far as I have any business shooting them.No,it won't stop a speeding locomotive like the 6.5 CM will,but it shoots a lot flatter out to 500 yards,and the deer seem to think it's plenty powerful enough.I keep a lot of the SMK's on hand though,they're probably not too popular and Sierra may drop them.But,I love my quarter-bore.
marksman13
Member
If I remember correctly, you do a lot of stalking and still hunting and this rifle is fairly heavy. Long, varmint profile barrel makes it a little unwieldy in tight spaces, but it is well balanced. I don’t love the Zeiss that’s mounted on it. Local dealer has a Swarovski Z5 2.4-12x50 that I’m probably going to put on top of it. Really nice looking rifle in my opinion, but I’ve always coveted a No. 1.
Your correct most of the hunting I do is spot and stalk, or still....or ride around in the truck lol
Balance is more important to me than length or weight for the most part. I learned to hunt with long heavy guns, and only recently really started adding lighter, shorter rifles to my equipment. Just loosing the 5-7" of action probably makes that rifle shorter than most of mine lol.
I think a Z5 would be a nice addition to that rig.
Balance is more important to me than length or weight for the most part. I learned to hunt with long heavy guns, and only recently really started adding lighter, shorter rifles to my equipment. Just loosing the 5-7" of action probably makes that rifle shorter than most of mine lol.
I think a Z5 would be a nice addition to that rig.
A decent read with ballistic data stacked up with similar bullet profiles in a few other cartridges.
https://ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/25-06-remington-beats-6-5-creedmoor/
https://ronspomeroutdoors.com/blog/25-06-remington-beats-6-5-creedmoor/
OP
OP
DocRock
member
He certainly makes the case for the 270 Win.
But on a more serious note, there is a case to be made for a fast twist quarter bore with higher BC bullets to fit current trends. It's a pity the 25 CM or 257 Souper, or a 250 Savage AI haven't gotten more traction.
At the end of the Terminal Ballistics writeup on the .25 Souper, a .25 Humdinger cartridge is mentioned from Australia which sounds like a .25 Souper AI or similar. There's a little info around the web on that, including using .260 Remington cases instead of. 308 cases, plus discussion on a .25-284.
https://www.varminthunters.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-24919.html
Personally I think chasing MV is best done in '06 or larger cases for case capacity, short cases for burn efficiency. I just don't feel a strong driver to abandon the .25-06 Remington since I can buy Federal Premium ammo with a 110 grain NAB @ 3100 fps MV, or Underwood ammo with that same 110 grain NAB @ 3250 fps MV. I don't see myself or other typical quarter bore users targeting medium game past the 1800 fps minimum impact expansion velocity according to Nosler for the .257 110 grain NAB with those MV's, even though the BC is *only* 0.418. Short or long action bolt stroke isn't a factor for me as from a hunting philosophy standpoint I hunt like I have a single shot rifle. I'm not contemplating some sort of combat scenario with non-dangerous game. But I use a bolt action rifle with a magazine in case follow-up shots make sense, including a simple humane finishing shot on anchored game that's still kickin'. And I find the whole discussion around a "+1" rifle magazine capacity and contortions to achieve that in some CRF rifles with non-detachable magazines for typical hunting of non-dangerous game a distraction.
But my crystal ball has been proven foggy before. Adjectives like 'typical', 'average', and 'normal' have never well applied to me.
https://www.varminthunters.com/forum/archive/index.php/t-24919.html
Personally I think chasing MV is best done in '06 or larger cases for case capacity, short cases for burn efficiency. I just don't feel a strong driver to abandon the .25-06 Remington since I can buy Federal Premium ammo with a 110 grain NAB @ 3100 fps MV, or Underwood ammo with that same 110 grain NAB @ 3250 fps MV. I don't see myself or other typical quarter bore users targeting medium game past the 1800 fps minimum impact expansion velocity according to Nosler for the .257 110 grain NAB with those MV's, even though the BC is *only* 0.418. Short or long action bolt stroke isn't a factor for me as from a hunting philosophy standpoint I hunt like I have a single shot rifle. I'm not contemplating some sort of combat scenario with non-dangerous game. But I use a bolt action rifle with a magazine in case follow-up shots make sense, including a simple humane finishing shot on anchored game that's still kickin'. And I find the whole discussion around a "+1" rifle magazine capacity and contortions to achieve that in some CRF rifles with non-detachable magazines for typical hunting of non-dangerous game a distraction.
But my crystal ball has been proven foggy before. Adjectives like 'typical', 'average', and 'normal' have never well applied to me.
Offfhand
Member.
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- Apr 12, 2009
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- 2,442
Back when I was a barefoot farm boy I drooled over pictures of the elaborately carved and inlaid Weatherby rifles and promised myself that someday I'd own such a rifle in .257 Wby Mag. So I kept that promise to myself with this .257 along with this very early custom .257 Weatherby with mesquite stock. I think the .257 Wby is about the only viable .25 cal rifle on the market today and has been for a generation. It remains by favorite caliber for pronghorn, especially the vintage .257 with its 1950's period B&L scope. It don't get more better.
rbernie
Contributing Member
Put a 257 Roberts or a 257 Weatherby fast twist barrel on a Savage action, and you get all the room that you want for the heaviest VLD bullet that you might want to shoot. I am generally using a 1:9” twist as a generic standard; it’ll shoot the 75 grain varmint bullets well enough, but will also take me up to the 120s. I have not tried any of the heavier (130gr+) target only bullet offerings, simply because I don’t tend to do a lot of that type of shooting at this point.
I’ve pretty much standardized on the quarter bore over the last half decade or so for my base needs, in everything from lightweight walkabout scrub hunting rifles to inexpensive range toy chassis guns. I like my bigger bore thumpers, and I like my fast twist 22-250 rifles, but when balancing terminal effects, recoil, muzzle blast, weight&balance, and all of the other factors that go into rifle choice - I find the 257 to be a satisfying place to be.
I’ve pretty much standardized on the quarter bore over the last half decade or so for my base needs, in everything from lightweight walkabout scrub hunting rifles to inexpensive range toy chassis guns. I like my bigger bore thumpers, and I like my fast twist 22-250 rifles, but when balancing terminal effects, recoil, muzzle blast, weight&balance, and all of the other factors that go into rifle choice - I find the 257 to be a satisfying place to be.
Captcurt
Member
Nice goat.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
IMHO, the .250Savage deserves to be far more popular than the .243. Where it really shines is with premium bullets like the 100gr Barnes that expands nicely but yields DOUBLE the penetration of old tech cup & core bullets.
No, what is tiresome is having to explain to people over and over again why the 6.5CM was designed in the first place.
Gordon
Member
I have told the story of my 28 pound .258 Condor with super quick twis made in the early 60s with huge Unertl Programmer scope I bought 40 years ago and sold 15 years ago after I had my fun with it on large ranches in Central California. It had a full length .300 H&H case improved and necked to .257 (the .257 Condor was on a 30-06 case) and shot up to 200 grain bullets out of a 28" bull barrel from a 1-6.5" twist. all ready a couple of times.
I replaced it with a Savage early model single shot 112 series J ,with a Burris 4-14xAO scope in .25-06 . It is very accurate probably close to 1/2 MOA with right bullet and load. I shoot the older 117 Grain Sierra Game King BT over a case full (50 grains- near max 3100+ FPS) of 4831 short cut . It stays in safe fully sighted in and I know drop to 600 yards my son likes it for long range fun. The single shot action eats anything you throw in it's direction - LITERALLY ! Fun gun but weighs about 11 pounds. I also had a .257 Weatherby made in German with a Weatherby Imperial 2.5-10x scope on it for 20 years and shot a couple prong horn with it and it was perfect for that as Offhand mentioned with his gorgeous guns. I was afraid of the barrel life on the Weatherby for some reason and sold it a few years back along with a .300 Weatherby and a .224 Varmintmaster all made by Sauer .
I replaced it with a Savage early model single shot 112 series J ,with a Burris 4-14xAO scope in .25-06 . It is very accurate probably close to 1/2 MOA with right bullet and load. I shoot the older 117 Grain Sierra Game King BT over a case full (50 grains- near max 3100+ FPS) of 4831 short cut . It stays in safe fully sighted in and I know drop to 600 yards my son likes it for long range fun. The single shot action eats anything you throw in it's direction - LITERALLY ! Fun gun but weighs about 11 pounds. I also had a .257 Weatherby made in German with a Weatherby Imperial 2.5-10x scope on it for 20 years and shot a couple prong horn with it and it was perfect for that as Offhand mentioned with his gorgeous guns. I was afraid of the barrel life on the Weatherby for some reason and sold it a few years back along with a .300 Weatherby and a .224 Varmintmaster all made by Sauer .
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Gordon
Member
I also really like and am into 25-20 and Have a Remington 25 pump with Lyman sights that is fun up to under 100 yards and a Remington # 2 Rolling block with a 8x Lichert boosted scope. good to 150 yards in top of picture and the bottom rifle I sold last year to a guy on this forum that was rare : a Savage 1920 "mini Springfield " takedown in .250 Savage .
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Gordon
Member
I used to shoot that 1920 Savage .250-3000 mostly with .25 acp pistol ammo from convertor adapters which fed from magazine . I could shoot it around the yard a charging gophers
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/savage-99-marbles-cartridge-adapter-243196068
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/savage-99-marbles-cartridge-adapter-243196068
Gordon
Member
I also have a very nice old Winchester model 94 from the late 40s in .25-35 which I was given by a lady from her husbands estate when we became friends in early 70s when I settled in Big Sur coming back from Vietnam. I didn't have a rifle at first when I got a job on a large ranch there as foreman . She gave me his 25-35 Carbine and his " heavy " a .35 Remington Model 8 . I also got his .357 6 1/2in.Ruger Black Hawk flat top 3 screw Old Model. . Rick Mallory of Mindon Nevada was killed in Maui Hawaii on his Vision Quest in 1969 , I still have his hat too. I used that 25-35 Carbine off of a 70 Toyota Landcruiser I was given to patrol the ranch with . I was well satisfied with the performance of the good 117 grain Remington Corloktd 25-35 bullet at 2200 FPS . It would kill lions to 300 yards pretty well , and pigs out to two fiddy
Poor old quarter bore no more !
https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/25-35-win-110-gr-ftx-leverevolution#!/
Poor old quarter bore no more !https://www.hornady.com/ammunition/rifle/25-35-win-110-gr-ftx-leverevolution#!/
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I like rifles with a 257 bore, but, it in no way bothers me that it is not more popular. My custom 250 Savage, the wife's Model 99 250 , and dad's 257 Roberts have been doing the job for many years.
Here's a story about the old man's 257 Robert's for any that care to read. Dad is 91 and grew up in the sticks poorer than dirt. He hunted a ton and read all the hunting mags from that era. The 257 was mentioned a lot znd it was a dream rifle for him. He had a 22 , but , never owned a deer rifle until someone gave him one. Eventually he scraped enough money together to by a cheap 30/06 that he used for about 40 years. One year I had some spare cash and I traded his 30/06 off and bought him a Ruger in 257 Roberts. I gave to him for his birthday when he was I his early 70's. I think that was the most excited I have ever seen him. He used the last 11 years he hunted and took around 20 deer with it. I wish he could still hunt with us. He wants me to use after he is gone, but, not sure I will be able to pull the trigger when that time comes.
Here's a story about the old man's 257 Robert's for any that care to read. Dad is 91 and grew up in the sticks poorer than dirt. He hunted a ton and read all the hunting mags from that era. The 257 was mentioned a lot znd it was a dream rifle for him. He had a 22 , but , never owned a deer rifle until someone gave him one. Eventually he scraped enough money together to by a cheap 30/06 that he used for about 40 years. One year I had some spare cash and I traded his 30/06 off and bought him a Ruger in 257 Roberts. I gave to him for his birthday when he was I his early 70's. I think that was the most excited I have ever seen him. He used the last 11 years he hunted and took around 20 deer with it. I wish he could still hunt with us. He wants me to use after he is gone, but, not sure I will be able to pull the trigger when that time comes.
eastbank
Member
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- Jul 30, 2009
- Messages
- 5,021
I hope you find the strength to use it and think of him while you sit in a blind or stalk the game you are hunting, I often shoot and hunt with family firearms and it makes me think of good times that are long gone in my past. I have given firearms to family and friends and I hope they use them for their intended purpose and not let them set out the hunting seasons. at 76 most of my family are long gone.
I here what you are saying about the family being mostly gone. One uncle and dad left out 14 aunt's and uncles. A bunch more if you include their spouses.
I take flowers to the 2 ladies that work in our office so I can pretend ,for a while, that I still have family. Thank God for my wife who shoots and hunt! She already uses one of dad's 22s at times. Her 250 Savage is her favorite deer rifle so it even ties into the thread.
I take flowers to the 2 ladies that work in our office so I can pretend ,for a while, that I still have family. Thank God for my wife who shoots and hunt! She already uses one of dad's 22s at times. Her 250 Savage is her favorite deer rifle so it even ties into the thread.
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