I've been a long time quarter bore fan. Loved the .257 Roberts, .257AI, 250-3000 and 25-06. All were great shooters and killed beyond what a person normally expected. The king of these in my opinion is the 25-06. I can't throw many rocks at the .257 Weatherby since I've never owned one. I have hunted with a guy several years who had one. From my observation the .257WB is a little tougher on the meat and tears the crap out of coyotes. Way worse than the couple hundred FPS would indicate, might just been the bullet used.

__________________
Still Learnin' as I go!

NRA Life Member

I have two 25-06's one in a Remington BDL given to me on my 18th BD (1972) and other a T/C Encroe.
I use the same hand load for both but seed the bullet a little farther out for the Encore, both will put 5 shoots inside a quarter. I have taken White Tail, Pronghorn, Wild Boar and Red Deer with them. I think it is the prefect gun for Hunting in the Texas HIll Country. The T/C Encore is my pick the first day of the season every year. After I take a deer with it I change out the barrel to 219 Donaldson Wasp for doe and cull hunting. For the Wild Boar and they are every where on our ranch I carry a Contender in 7-30 Waters(IMP).

Two great cartridges & I love them both. If you look at the the 2 rounds fired in a 26" barrel you will see 250fps and some change difference, with the Wea. fact. ammo typically loaded to higher pressure (Wea. brand). With reloads loaded to the same pressure in a 26" tube you will have about 200fps. difference. I settled on a Sendero 25-06AI which is 100-125fps faster than the 25-06. I found this to be the balance I was looking for with a difference of 75-100fps less than the Wea. with better & easier to work with brass. It is more of a serious reloaders round & not what I would advise most to do, but it is best for me personally.

Floored ANOTHER buck at around 200 yards the other day. This makes 6 for my 25-06 over a decade. I'd use it more but I have many rigs and go many places. The Weatherby is also batting 1000, but only at 1 kill so far. I think these two are the ULTIMATE deer calibers and will kill very much bigger game. I would take the .257 over the 30-06 in N. America. This means I'd be loading my own loads, however.

This thread has sure got me interested in a 257 Weatherby magnum, always wanted one. Here would be my choice, a Remington 700 CDL SF, available in this caliber -

I have always been a fan of the 25-06 especially during the 21 years I lived in Colorado. I think it's the perfect Antelope and Mule Deer gun and I have had great luck with mine.

I know it has been along time since this thread was active but I wanted to update. I have had a good season here and shot a nice six point with the weather by. Not a long shot though, about 125 yds. Blew heart out, deer ran a little and went down in a cloud of snow dust and lay still. Could have made that shot with anything but had the big 257. Also killed a woods buck with 30-30. And hand loads. Haven't hunted deer with the 25-06 in three years sadly.I use the marlin a lot in the woods. Love the power and absense of recoil of those large .25 s when I have to reach out though. Very good big game rounds

I like the 25-06, never really cared for ANY Weatherby cartridge. Not enough difference in the two except of the powder burn and muzzle blast is much more on the Weatherby. The 25-06 does it with a 24" barrel vs. the 26" Weatherby.

My 25-06 is a 26 inch 112 heavy barrel stainless. My .257 why is a 24 inch vanguard sub-moa. The weather by is 200 fps faster with everything, according to my chrono. Talk about two mild recoiling lightning bolts. I load my own ammo for both.

I sure liked my 1/4 bore! I found it easy to shoot and just as accurate as the .243 or 6mm Remington. The one thing I don't care for in the 257 Wby has already been mentioned and that is muzzle blast, amount of powder to load up an empty shell and the cost of those factory bullets.

I shoot both a 257 Weatherby and a 25-06 Ackley.I have in the past owned several 25-06's and had shot the barrel out of two before it was a factory round.It is a great varmint round but the barrel life will be an issue.The longest shot I have ever made on a deer was with a heavy barreled 25-06,I was young and foolish,today I would not do it.I find people that bad mouth Weatherby's have never owned or shot one.The 257 Weatherby is in a class by its self.I have chronographed a lot of loads both are impressive.You need a26 inch barrel to get the best from either round,but a 24 inch will work with the standard 25-06.I own a 257 STW reamer but haven't found an action yet and I am not sure its worth it.It's like a constipated elephant a lot goes in not enough coming out.

I'm not much on 25 cal but I do agree on the 257Wby as I had one build.

__________________
Semper Fi
Vietnam Vet
VFW

I am on my 5th 257 Weatherby.The older mark V had a 12 twist so they were limted to 100 gr max.A barrel maker here in Bakersfield bought a 10 twist button and we have had really good luck with his barrels.I built a 257 on a 1909 mauser which is one of my favorites and it shot very good until I hammered the lugs into a soft action and couldn't get the bolt open.Now I have another action that has no problems.I am getting over 3600 with Barnes 100 gr ttsx,using Imr 7828 or Win 780.A lot of our areas require lead free bullets for big game or varmints.I am impressed on how flat this cartridge shoots.