25-06 or 257 Weatherby Which Quarter Bore?

[Double Dropper]

Currently have a 25-06 but have been leaning hard towards a 257 Bee, I do hear barrel life can be pretty short? The gun will be for antelope and open country whitetails only??? Which one, and no i have no interest in the 6.5 dream calibers.

[stob]

The Bee. A true 400M no hold over caliber

[waldedw]

I had a 25-06 for years, sold it off when I moved overseas in 1998, it was a great gun, flat shooting and great for deer / antelope sized game. I now have a 257 WM it's like a 25-06 on steroids, very accurate and polaxes game.

Bottom line is you can't go wrong with either if them or better still keep the 25-06 and buy yourself a 257 WM also

[Desert Eagle]

257 ftw

[Dean2]

257 Bee. Even using factory loads they are an awesome performer. Weatherby Select 110 grain, $48, 3500 fps, well under 1/2" 3 shots from a Ultra Light Mark V. Even my hand loads don't beat these results by much. This is NOT a target gun, but for hunting they are a really great choice.

[Fowl91]

Had a 25-06 for years, and it was my go to rifle for coyotes and deer. After i foolishly sold it to my cousin i picked up a 257 WBY. The 257 Weatherby has been by far the superior cartridge IMO. It has considerably less drop than the 25-06 (obviously due to a larger case and powder capacity), and the difference in recoil has gone unnoticed. If you can handle the increased cost of factory ammo and brass then I would recommend it over the 25-06. It really shines on open prairie deer hunting and gives confidence to longer shots.

[elkhunter11]

I liked my 257WBY, after I had it rebarreled, the stock barrel was a disappointment . I like the cartridge, having taken deer, elk, pronghorn, and mountain goat with it. That being said, if I didn't reload, I wouldn't have purchased one.

[AB2506]

Never felt I needed more than a 25-06.

[ward]

Originally Posted by AB2506

Never felt I needed more than a 25-06.

If you already have a 25-06, you don’t.

[CNP]

I asked myself the same question. Went with a 25.06. Never fired a .257 Weatherby so have no experience with it.

400 yd antelope. 100 gr Speer BTSP, RZ600 reticle

[Beeman3]

You could re barrel your 25-06 to a AI. Get close to 257 Weatherby performance. Mine with a 26” Krieger launches 115 Berger’s at 3350 FPS with H1000. If doing a re barrel look into a fast twist of 1 in 7.5 at least. To shoot the 131 black jack. There was rumours of other high BC 25 caliber bullets coming out or announced after SHOT. But these so far are just rumours.

[Dean2]

There is nothing at all wrong with a 25 06 but I have never bought a gun on NEED, always bought on want. The fun factor of any gun is 90% of its appeal as far as I am concerned and the 257 Bee is FUN. The suggestion to get a faster twist if u can is very good advice. It will soot the lighter bullets fine but will handle the heavies much better.

[Faststeel]

Buddy has a vanguard in 25-06 and we have been loading the Barnes 80gr TTSX bullets in it, moving pretty good according to the Labradar 3700 and change.....FS

[Double Dropper]

Already have the 25-06, brass, Redding Dies etc. but that damn Weatherby is fast out of the box and for any bullets less than 90 grains I have a very accurate 243 already, it just seems maybe redundant???!!

[Dean2]

Originally Posted by Double Dropper

Already have the 25-06, brass, Redding Dies etc. but that damn Weatherby is fast out of the box and for any bullets less than 90 grains I have a very accurate 243 already, it just seems maybe redundant???!!

Redundant = Good.

[Double Dropper]

Absolutely I think want overtakes "needs"

[Smokinyotes]

Wants, needs, it really doesn’t matter. If you want a 257 wby you need to get one. Since KS Arms rebarreled a Tikka of mine to 257 wby its all I’ve been packing for all big game. A 110 accubond at 3505 FPS, what’s not to like. Mine is zeroed at 300 yards for a “ hold on hair” to 400.

[Double Dropper]

That is hard to argue with......love that bullet, its all Ive used in my 25-06.