Benefits of the 1/4 bore?

[MudRunner2005]

I've talked myself out of a 7-08 many times, I'm currently talking myself into one .

A 24-26" 7mm-08 Improved with a 1:8 twist heavy barrel pushing the new Berger 195's would be awesome. Performance would be similar (possibly even better) than my 24" 5R .308 Win pushing the Berger 210/215's.

I grew up hunting with a 7mm-08. Awesome cartridge for deer.

 

[AZShooter]

It has been over ten years ....Dan and I had been shooting the 7 Rem mag and the 7 STW with 3 groove lilja barrels with excellent results. We decided to make a couple of 257 Weatherby chambered rifles with the 3 groove lilja as well. We had NO idea what kind of special rifles we were about to create.

We ordered a custom reamer from PT & G with a shorter throat and angle of 1 1/2 degrees. The intent from the beginning was to use the Berger 115 VLD with moly. The first two were 9 lb with SS 28" #5 fluted barrels. Little did we know! These rifles were so impressive we built two more that were lighter with 26" barrels.

I sold the lighter one to Allen and our mutual friend Tim made one with our reamer. Deason also made one for his wife and daughter to use. So that makes five rifles.

I cannot say exactly why they scream but they do. We are getting obscene velocities with the 3 groove, moly and perhaps some help from the custom chamber. Three rifles use RL-25, Deason's uses H-1000 and my new second barrel uses RL-33.

Sure you will wear out a barrel in 1000 rounds or so of top loading so what? This is a high performance package and man does it deliver!

Dan prefers it to all his other rifles and has taken 6 mule deer and 4 elk near his family ranch in SW Co. Tim, Allen, Deason and myself have taken 21 coues wt. Tim and I each (finally) got drawn for Az antelope and we each got one, my shot was at 580 yds. A few javelina, coyotes and LR jackrabbits have succumbed as well.

For the flatness, low wind drift, light recoil and excellent killing abilities this chambering is amazing.
Sure you can mash the larger animals flat with a big 30 or 338 ( I use a 300 RUM for elk) but for anything lighter the 257 is just wonderful.

I hesitate to tell you guys how fast I am running the 115. It is beating what most get with a 100 gr bullet. The norma brass primer pockets are lasting past five firings. I primarily use is for our tiny coues wt. Here is my trajectory for 4000 ft elevation where I hunt. The second column is wind drift in a 10 mph crosswind. Setting the zero at 2.8" affords me the luxury of not having to do a thing except shoot with many of the shots.

100 2.8
175 4.3
200 4.4
300 2.9 3.0
400 -1.9 5.4
450 -5.6 7.0
500 -10.4 8.7 2179 ft/lb

-----------
Regarding the 6mms: I messed around with two long barreled 6mm-284 with appropriate twist to shoot the 105 Berger hybrid. Best I did was 3485 fps. This will barely beat the 257 in wind drift at my usual comparison of 500 yds @ 8.5". It cannot compete with the 257 for flat trajectory or energy not to mention less bullet.
6mm-284 trajectory same conditions as 257 shown above
100 2.8
200 4.2
300 2.3
400 -3.3
450 -7.5
475 -10.1
500 -12.9 1847 ft/lb

Your performance may vary. I know I will always have a 257 Weatherby in my gun safe.

 

[the jigger]

I have read all of the responses and can find no real reason to take issue. That being said , I love my 1/4 bores(257's). I have six! Not because I think they are superior to anything but because I've made all of them shoot really well.
I'm 78yrs old! I'm not going to hike the mountains to chase elk. I have no desire to go to Africa.
My varmint weight 25/06 has taken prairie dogs out to just over 400yds. My varmint weight 243 will do the same thing; but it's not a 257. I also shoot pd's with a 308 using 125gr bullets.
Other 25/06,257 Roberts, 250AI,and 250/3000 will kill any deer I am liable to see.
The numbers game will make you nuts if you let it. Decide what you want to do and select the tools to get it done. 17,22,243,257,264,277,284, 308.338,416, just decide how much you need to do the job at hand and go for IT!!!
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

A 24-26" 7mm-08 Improved with a 1:8 twist heavy barrel pushing the new Berger 195's would be awesome. Performance would be similar (possibly even better) than my 24" 5R .308 Win pushing the Berger 210/215's.

I grew up hunting with a 7mm-08. Awesome cartridge for deer.

Might be an interesting combo. But I think the 180 eld would be the better option. That would definitely make for anow interesting round. The 7mm-08 was nothing I ever took a shine to. I like it but I like my 6.5s better.

 

[Creedmoor shooter]

It has been over ten years ....Dan and I had been shooting the 7 Rem mag and the 7 STW with 3 groove lilja barrels with excellent results. We decided to make a couple of 257 Weatherby chambered rifles with the 3 groove lilja as well. We had NO idea what kind of special rifles we were about to create.

We ordered a custom reamer from PT & G with a shorter throat and angle of 1 1/2 degrees. The intent from the beginning was to use the Berger 115 VLD with moly. The first two were 9 lb with SS 28" #5 fluted barrels. Little did we know! These rifles were so impressive we built two more that were lighter with 26" barrels.

I sold the lighter one to Allen and our mutual friend Tim made one with our reamer. Deason also made one for his wife and daughter to use. So that makes five rifles.

I cannot say exactly why they scream but they do. We are getting obscene velocities with the 3 groove, moly and perhaps some help from the custom chamber. Three rifles use RL-25, Deason's uses H-1000 and my new second barrel uses RL-33.

Sure you will wear out a barrel in 1000 rounds or so of top loading so what? This is a high performance package and man does it deliver!

Dan prefers it to all his other rifles and has taken 6 mule deer and 4 elk near his family ranch in SW Co. Tim, Allen, Deason and myself have taken 21 coues wt. Tim and I each (finally) got drawn for Az antelope and we each got one, my shot was at 580 yds. A few javelina, coyotes and LR jackrabbits have succumbed as well.

For the flatness, low wind drift, light recoil and excellent killing abilities this chambering is amazing.
Sure you can mash the larger animals flat with a big 30 or 338 ( I use a 300 RUM for elk) but for anything lighter the 257 is just wonderful.

I hesitate to tell you guys how fast I am running the 115. It is beating what most get with a 100 gr bullet. The norma brass primer pockets are lasting past five firings. I primarily use is for our tiny coues wt. Here is my trajectory for 4000 ft elevation where I hunt. The second column is wind drift in a 10 mph crosswind. Setting the zero at 2.8" affords me the luxury of not having to do a thing except shoot with many of the shots.

100 2.8
175 4.3
200 4.4
300 2.9 3.0
400 -1.9 5.4
450 -5.6 7.0
500 -10.4 8.7 2179 ft/lb

-----------
Regarding the 6mms: I messed around with two long barreled 6mm-284 with appropriate twist to shoot the 105 Berger hybrid. Best I did was 3485 fps. This will barely beat the 257 in wind drift at my usual comparison of 500 yds @ 8.5". It cannot compete with the 257 for flat trajectory or energy not to mention less bullet.
6mm-284 trajectory same conditions as 257 shown above
100 2.8
200 4.2
300 2.3
400 -3.3
450 -7.5
475 -10.1
500 -12.9 1847 ft/lb

Your performance may vary. I know I will always have a 257 Weatherby in my gun safe.

That's definitely some very impressive numbers! Looks like I haven't given the 257s enough credit!

 

[N2TRKYS]

I shoot 110 grain Accubonds in my 25-06 and love it.

 

[jasonco]

If you did much hunting at all before the invention of laser rangefinders and MOA reticles, it would be easy to understand the popularity of the 25-06. Fast flat shooting cartridges were popular, because accurately judging distance was extremely difficult, and almost everyone was doing holdovers with a regular crosshair.

The 25-06, though not as efficient, is still a nice step up from a 243, especially in the days before "ballistic apps". It hits harder, shoots flatter and helped people be more successful in the field. With 75 Gr. bullets it can do 3800 FPS and is an creditably flat shooting varmint round.

I have seen more deer killed with 243's and 25-06's than anything else and, to me, it seemed the 25-06 almost always performed better.

There are even a couple 25 cal. bullets that are almost legendary - the Sierra 117 Gr. Pro Hunter, and the Nosler 120 Gr. partition

Given all that, when my 25-06 wears out, I will re-barrel to a 6.5 something...

AMEN Brother. That's what it was all about back in the early days of the 7STW. And as a past owner of the first Sendero's in 25-06.

 

[BEEMAN]

I thought I read somewhere that Chinchanga and Hammer bullets are making some heavies for the 25 cal. I built my 25-06 AI so long ago that I did it with a 10 twist. It is a very nice gun to shoot. Like Mudrunner said 115 Bergers at just under 3400 fps isn't to shabby.

 

[J E Custom]

I've talked myself out of a 7-08 many times, I'm currently talking myself into one .

You can't go wrong with a 7/08, especially if it is for your children or wife. It has plenty of power and velocity for deer size game to 600 or 700 yards and very mild recoil.

I shoot everything from a 17 HMR to a 50 BMG and the 7/08 is my favorite rifle for deer hunting because of it's size and performance on game.

The only thing that I know of that will best it in this size case is the 7/08x40. The 260 Rem improved (40o shoulder would be a close second in my opinion.

And with a good muzzle brake Recoil can be lowered to 5 ft/lbs (about the same as a 223 rem).

There will always be faster more powerful cartridges but this little cartridge just performs better
than it should for some reason. (Some say it is just the right amount of power for deer and doesn't over stress the bullet).

Just my opinion

J E CUSTOM

 

[blacktail 8541]

I shoot both a 25/08 and the 7mm08. Both are excellent performers on deer sized game. Both are set up same with McMillan HTG stocks and Leupold VX6 2-12 scopes. Perfect for me.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

I shoot both a 25/08 and the 7mm08. Both are excellent performers on deer sized game. Both are set up same with McMillan HTG stocks and Leupold VX6 2-12 scopes. Perfect for me.

Like

Can you talk more about your 25/08. Same as the 270/08 there is little talk about them because of the slightly larger cousins the 257 Roberts and the 270 Win.

257 Roberts is Brass is as rate as hens teeth now. I make my from 7x57 Mauser or 270Win.

A 25/08 would be a simple one pass through the die.

 

[Edd]

I think a 257 Weatherby and some 128 gr Hammer bullets would make a nice hunting rifle. I think I'll check on a 7" twist barrel.

Roy would be proud.

 

[Plinker147]

There is no benefits to a 1/4 bore over all the 6.5 and 6mm variants
of today. But my 25-06 remains one of my favorites. Despite all the guns in my safe mine still seems to get pulled out for a niche type hunt once or twice a year. Just broke it out for th sons ibex hunt. Perfect light weight, light recoil gun, 115 gr BT at 3100, One shot 550yds, one dead ibex. Think I will always have a good 1/4 bore in my safe.

 

[Deleted member 46119]

I think a 257 Weatherby and some 128 gr Hammer bullets would make a nice hunting rifle. I think I'll check on a 7" twist barrel.

Roy would be proud.

Like