Quick

[brentwal]

Somebody talk me into buying a quarter bore. Never had one but would like one.

Purpose. Like a single guy needs a purpose to buy a gun.

Use- putting .257 holes in paper and critters.

Price range <$900 for the rifle.

The cartridge candidates are the .25-06 Remington and the .257 Roberts. No .25 WSSM or .257 Weatherby Mag.

The rifle candidates are the Browning A-Bolt Hunter, the Remington 700 CDL, the Ruger M77 Mark II Standard, the Savage 111GCNS and the Tikka T3 Hunter. Did I miss a canidate.

Have at.

 

[foghornl]

Unless you "roll your own" ammo, the .257 Weatherby is.... well ammo cost prohibitive. {At least for me}

Last time I wandered through the ammo counter at my local Gander Mountain, the Weatherby fodder was $58 per box of 20.

The .257 Roberts was less than $20/20, and about the same for .25-06

 

[rdbrowning]

The 25-06 is a great deer and antalope round out to 4-500 yards if the winds isn't too bad. The recoil is mild enough for bench shooting to actually be fun, not just bearable. Was looking for a 25-06 a few years ago and ran into a 257 Wby in LH for a really good price and got it. Other than the cost of ammo I have enjoyed it alot. Hitting clay pigeons on the berm at 710 yards really instills confidence. Unfortunately my work schedule and deer movements have not coincided yet in order for me to report on terminal effects.

Of the models you listed I would pick the Browning A bolt if you intend to leave it as factory standard. If you are planning to modify it, the Remington would be most flexable for after market parts and it looks good from in factory configuration too.

 

[Freddymac]

.257 Weatherby all the way

one of the flattest shooting cartridges ever made. with light bullets great for varments, medium weights for coyotes, heavy for deer or sheep. My Weatherby ultra light will print sub MOA with factory ammo. and .3"-.5" groups in my friend's hands with hand loads (he was a SEAL). This gun can shoot beter than I can and around 7lbs, with a scope, its a joy to hunt with.

 

[critter]

I only have experience with the 25-06. Mine is made on a M98 action with barrel and stock from Midway. Barrel is 26" Shilin. It shoots like a dream, is cheap to feed and LOVES my 100gr Nosler BT reloads. Puts deer DOWN and is good on vermin also. Don't overlook that choice.

Remington, Winchester, Ruger, Browning? Well, all are really great guns. Get the one that fits you best and feels most natural to you. You'll shoot it more.

 

[Skofnung]

I don't have one myself, but a Rifleman that I have a great deal of respect for swears by the .25-06 when it comes to Florida whitetail.

 

[LHB1]

Brent,
For personal reasons I limit my hunting rifle battery to no more than 3 rifles at a time. For 35 years, one of those rifles has ALWAYS been a .25/06. The other rifles have varied from 6mm Rem thru .338 Win Mag and just about everything in between but the .25/06 is a permanent caliber for me. Guns included a custom stocked Mauser Supreme action with Douglas Premium barrel, then a Ruger No. 1 Single Shot for many years, and now a custom stocked Win M70. YMMV but a .25/06 obviously suits me for deer sized game.

Good shooting and be safe.
LB