25 RPM

[Rifleman97]

I will say the design is solid. But being proprietary with expensive brass and only available in $1200+ rifles, it won’t stick.

What it does over the 25-06 with a fast twist barrel:

1. Doesn’t require custom mag box or single feed to seat bullets where they should be seated
2. Doesn’t require a custom barrel
3. Shorter fatter powder column on average will have lower SD and ES.

Number 2 would be a huge deal in its favor if weatherby would chamber the vanguard for $499 in it, but they only want to sell it in their expensive rifles. So it’s a waste.

The creedmoor was successful where the 260 failed due to being available in cheap factory rifles with no proprietary nature to it. Anyone can make guns or ammo for it, there’s all kinds of brass, good cartridge and reamer design that doesn’t require a custom reamer. But keeping it to only their most expensive 2 tiers of rifles kills it.

 

[analog_peninsula]

Pining for Old Weatherby cartridge design is like wanting an old 460 CID Engine when a 6 cylinder turbo beats it in every way.

Well … except for reliably, simplicity of repair and maintenance, and initial cost.

But your points about modern cartridge design are well made.

 

[Flbt]

What made Weatherby what it is hasn't been relevant in over 20 years. Nobody is buying extremely overbore magnums. We have rangefinders now, and ballistics/performance of low B.C. bullets get spanked downrange.

Pining for Old Weatherby cartridge design is like wanting an old 460 CID Engine when a 6 cylinder turbo beats it in every way.

I think the wbm are still really relevant especially the 257
Hold on hair to 400 no problem.
460 vs v6turbo
I would take the 460 any day of the week.

 

[Daryl S]

My 26", .257 Bob(Robert's) IMP did 3,199fps with 120gr. Hornady's and shot into 1.99" for 5 at 300 yards. Then the range was in yards, now meters.
It also did 3,482 fps with 100gr. Nosler Partitions(that I used on one moose). On the day I was chronographing my new .257Robert's IMP loads in Smithers. B.C. in likely 1977 or 78, a fellow showed up with a brand new Mark 5in .257 WTBY. My chronograph was a new Oehler 12, with the new "sky screens".
He was loading H4831, top load untested to that day. He had to use a 2x4 to open up his bolt as it locked up. His velocity with the Nosler 100gr. Partition(same bullet as mine) was 3,484fps. My VZ34 bolt lifted with one finger, while he had to beat his open.
I found that quite interesting at his lack of performance. It was supposed to do 3,700fps.
Now, that WTBY performance, although it sucked, might have just been one rifle, a slow one. I assume that is the case with capacity WAY over the top.

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

I think the wbm are still really relevant especially the 257
Hold on hair to 400 no problem.
460 vs v6turbo
I would take the 460 any day of the week.

I knew someone would say that, Fudds indeed. 200 measly horsepower, 6 miles to the gallon, more noise than go. And the only way you're holding on hair at 400 is if you're zeroed at 300. The .257 Weatherby is like #934 on the cartridge popularity list for 2025. I'm not saying you can't like it or even that you can't be sentimental, just don't be silly. I'm really fond of the Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage, but there's a reason I hunt a lot and it does not.

 

[Rifleman97]

the only way you're holding on hair at 400 is if you're zeroed at 300.

101 LRX out of a 257 wby sighted in for 1” high at 100

Only 12 inches below crosshairs at 400, for deer sized game that’s definitely holding hair still. This is at 1000ft elevation too, higher elevation only makes it better.

 

[Flbt]

I knew someone would say that, Fudds indeed. 200 measly horsepower, 6 miles to the gallon, more noise than go. And the only way you're holding on hair at 400 is if you're zeroed at 300. The .257 Weatherby is like #934 on the cartridge popularity list for 2025. I'm not saying you can't like it or even that you can't be sentimental, just don't be silly. I'm really fond of the Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage, but there's a reason I hunt a lot and it does not.

Heavy trucks need flbs not hp.
And yea do the wbm sight in at 300.
The 257 wbm is faster with 115-117 and 120gr than the 25 looking at the factory loads the heavy bullet for the 25 is 117gr
The 257 is faster with the 117gr bullet.
Same cal same weight the 257 is faster.
If you think new same cal same bullet weight is better than the old you by in to marketing to much.

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

Well … except for reliably, simplicity of repair and maintenance, and initial cost.

But your points about modern cartridge design are well made.

View attachment 737805
101 LRX out of a 257 wby sighted in for 1” high at 100

Only 12 inches below crosshairs at 400, for deer sized game that’s definitely holding hair still. This is at 1000ft elevation too, higher elevation only makes it better.

The LRX hits pressure super early and rarely achieves high velocities. Is this a theoretical load that hits 3600? I Used weatherby factory for my comment.

 

[Rifleman97]

The LRX hits pressure super early and rarely achieves high velocities. Is this a theoretical load that hits 3600? I Used weatherby factory for my comment.

It’s from my handload with it, I do seat it longer than factory but it still fits in the magazine with 0 modifications

 

[Rifleman97]

The LRX hits pressure super early and rarely achieves high velocities. Is this a theoretical load that hits 3600? I Used weatherby factory for my comment.

Here’s the same environmental but with Barnes Reserve ammo which claims 3500fps.

 

[TheWhitetailNut]

Heavy trucks need flbs not hp.
And yea do the wbm sight in at 300.
The 257 wbm is faster with 115-117 and 120gr than the 25 looking at the factory loads the heavy bullet for the 25 is 117gr
The 257 is faster with the 117gr bullet.
Same cal same weight the 257 is faster.
If you think new same cal same bullet weight is better than the old you by in to marketing to much.

An Ecoboost has more torque, a wider torque band, engine braking, etc.

As for RPM cartridges, I told Adam Weatherby himself the the .338 solved a problem nobody had. This sentiment goes double for the .25. Weatherby is looking for a way to be relevant and they are, but only just barely.

 

[DaddyFlip]

When you are mainstream/mass market you must keep up with the Joneses. Weatherby didn't have an alphabet cartridge line: WSM, WSSM, RUM, SAUM, PRC, RCM... RPM. They came up with the same solution everyone else did, they just did it last.

 

[RedTag]

I’m not opposed to genuine innovation but the last 25 years or so worth of alphabet soup cartridges is pretty boring to me. What pisses me off is how the major manufacturers have all but abandoned many the proven classics in order to pursue their latest greatest inventions that realistically bring little (to nothing) new to the table. The truths of cartridge design were realized a century ago.

 

[Spartan5]

Have a buddy that has the 25 wssm. He still loves it. I ever time we talk about it he thinks me for telling him to buy ammo by the case.
He liked the 90-95 gr. Load they had that they dropped. It was close to the 6mm 80gr load on speed.

You should buy ammo by the case regardless of what caliber you shoot. Except my 505 Gibbs, I have to buy that in components…

 

[Daryl S]

Seriously - ammo by the case? I bought 2 boxes of factory WW bonded .30/06 ammo 4 years ago, just to test it. Never bought any factory ammo before, or since, except for rimfire.
A peace officer's wage nor pension can buy ammo by the case. Maybe in a different country, but not here.

 

[Flbt]

Seriously - ammo by the case? I bought 2 boxes of factory WW bonded .30/06 ammo 4 years ago, just to test it. Never bought any factory ammo before, or since, except for rimfire.
A peace officer's wage nor pension can buy ammo by the case. Maybe in a different country, but not here.

Well we are taking years ago.
But o still buy it by the case.
If you don’t handload and buy a rifle that looks like it want be around long
You better get it while you can.

 

[Flbt]

Seriously - ammo by the case? I bought 2 boxes of factory WW bonded .30/06 ammo 4 years ago, just to test it. Never bought any factory ammo before, or since, except for rimfire.
A peace officer's wage nor pension can buy ammo by the case. Maybe in a different country, but not here.

And why not peace officers?
Our department sold us training ammo
For like 2$ a box for 9 and 38 3$ for 45
2 for 308 1.50 for 223
I bought a lot of it.

Your department don’t sell y’all ammo?

 

[Flbt]

I’m not opposed to genuine innovation but the last 25 years or so worth of alphabet soup cartridges is pretty boring to me. What pisses me off is how the major manufacturers have all but abandoned many the proven classics in order to pursue their latest greatest inventions that realistically bring little (to nothing) new to the table. The truths of cartridge design were realized a century ago.

There after money. They don’t seem to care about the shooting sports and passing it on anymore.

But how many of there are owned by non US organizations now?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I think I will just keep using my Ruger 77 RSI in 250-3000. I don’t think the critters I shoot would notice the difference. I thought they were talking about a slower speed vinyl record.

@MS 9x56
Taint nought wrong with the little 250 Savage.
Just ask the old timers that slew truck loads of elk with it to keep the family fed.
Bob

 

[Daryl S]

And why not peace officers?
Our department sold us training ammo
For like 2$ a box for 9 and 38 3$ for 45
2 for 308 1.50 for 223
I bought a lot of it.

Your department don’t sell y’all ammo?

We used "issue" ammo on our own range for practice. The joint did not sell ammo.