Light, flat & fast...What round should I choose?

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Glad I’m not the only one with a soft spot for an old M99 in 250 Savage.

@Mtn_Infantry
The 250 Savage is everything the 243 wanted to be but NEVER WAS.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Could it be, deep down inside, you really want a left handed Savage 110 .243 Win.? Your friends may tell you it's wrong, and to ignore such sinful desires. But it’s okay…

@RedTag
Wash your mouth out with soap, say 1O our fathers and 10 Hail Mary's and repent of your sinful way's .
A left hand rifle fine they make some beautiful ones even in Savage.
But
In 243 that is just plain rifle blasphemy.
Now if'n y'all had said 25 ought six all would be forgiven
Bob

 

[akrifleman]

For antelope and most western hunting, wind drift matters a lot more than "flat". If your wanting to say in your listed bullet weights, and you want to buck the wind and stay away from drag, you are really only talking 6mm or 25cal. For accuracy and reloading, there is no need for a belt. The mentioned 257 Ackley, 25-06, 25 or 6 Creedmoor, etc are all very good choices. I'd suggest it more comes down to are you looking for factory rifles and ammo, or are you an avid reloader. Some of the superb cartridges are a reloading only proposition, as the factory choices for ammo are meant for historic chambers and twist. I now start with the bullet(s) first, and then figure out the platform.

Example:
ELD-X Cal. .257 128 gr .633 (G1) .319 (G7)
Berger Elite .257 133 gr .613 (G1) .315 (G7)
So, to me that is an 8 twist. Something a 25 Creedmoor has out of box, and the others "could" be rebarrelled for.

Not saying a 264 can't do the job, but an efficient cartridge with a high BC will out "wind" the others.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

I’m very partial to the .264 Winchester. I shoot a 127 grain Barnes LRX at 3,220 fps and get 3/8” groups with it. It’s been great on all game we’ve (we’ve because it’s become so popular that I, my son and the kids of several friends have all used my .264) used it on. Pronghorns, mule deer, Whitetails, elk, desert sheep. It’s flat, fast & very effective.

Anyone who thinks a 6.5 Needmore is an ideal long range rifle has never had a .264. Same bullet but about 400 fps faster.

@DLSJR
I could never understand why the 264 win mag and the 6.6 REM mag were never popular. Both excellent cartridges in my book, just ahead of their time.
Gun writers didn't help either by saying it's not doing anything the 270 won't do. Well yes they are and doing it better
Bob

 

[akrifleman]

@DLSJR
I could never understand why the 264 win mag and the 6.6 REM mag were never popular. Both excellent cartridges in my book, just ahead of their time.
Gun writers didn't help either by saying it's not doing anything the 270 won't do. Well yes they are and doing it better
Bob

I fully agree, but:
Barnes LRX 0.468 (G1) 0.229 (G7)

Bullets passed up the 264 win, which *should* have been more popular for 50 years. Reminds me of the Tucker car. Just to far ahead of its time.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

260Remington, more balanced then the x55 with light bullets, fits in a short-acton. Cases will never be an issue.

243 would also do what you want here..

@GuttormG
The 260 REM to get the best out of it really needs a long action and long throating.
That way those long sleek bullets can be seated way out to use the case to its capacity
A 243 won't do anything but make me laugh.
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Some thought should be given to the rifle this light, flat and fast cartridge will be fired in. To get the most speed out of the 257W, 25-06 and similar rounds a 24 inch + barrel and in the weatherby’s case, a magnum action is needed. If a heavier, longer rifle meets your needs then these rounds would be a good choice.

If on the other hand, you want a light portable rifle firing the light, flat and fast round the short action rifles with a 22 inch or shorter barrel would be appropriate. The 257 Roberts , 6.5 Creed, 6mm Creed, 6mm Remington, 6mm/308 (I used this name rather than .243 as to not offend Bob), 260 Remington …..My favorite rifle for spot and stalk is a compromise between the 2…it’s a Weatherby mkV light weight in 270 Winchester. It’s the 6 lug action with a thin barrel.

I think I’d focus first on the type of rifle I wanted then match the cartridge to the rifle. Tikka makes left handed rifles in a variety of calibers. I just saw that they make it in 6.5 PRC. - a 6.5 Creed on steroids.

@DG870
The 257 Weatherby is actually designed for a standard long action {aka 30-06 length}
Bob

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

FYI - This past week, someone put a 25-303 Winchester 1885 on Guns International with resizing dies. They called their wildcat the 257 RKB (Rimmed Krag British).

View attachment 734782

@odonata
Grab it before it disappears.
Little bit dear in my book but beautiful
A rimmed Roberts +P and in the right action.
Bob

 

[roklok]

I just recently went with a Ruger No. 1 (lefty friendly) in .257 Weatherby. 28 inch barrel should get close 3800 with 100 grainers, and the falling block keeps things fairly short even with a 28 inch tube.

 

[Rifleman97]

I’m biased, but I’m a big fan of the 257 weatherby, also known as Roy’s Favorite

 

[Ryan]

@DLSJR
I could never understand why the 264 win mag and the 6.6 REM mag were never popular. Both excellent cartridges in my book, just ahead of their time.
Gun writers didn't help either by saying it's not doing anything the 270 won't do. Well yes they are and doing it better
Bob

Craig Boddington actually writes quite a positive review of the 264 Win Mag. And it is what the B&C record book Dall sheep was taken with back in the early 60's. The 7mm Rem Mag was more what eclipsed it, and honestly the 270. Just caught more people attention with a bit more, whether it was needed or not for the job.

As for my choice concerning the post, I'd go with the 25-06. But I'm biased owning a Thompson/Center Encore frame and barrel waiting to get outfitted a good lefty stock and scope. I intend on handloading and @Bob Nelson 35Whelen was nice enough to pass along some great loads that make it a real lazer beam. While I have a lot of appreciation for the 257 Weatherby, one of it's down sides is brass availability and cost. I found 25-06 brass without an issue, sadly not so with Weatherby.

 

[Flbt]

@Mtn_Infantry
The 250 Savage is everything the 243 wanted to be but NEVER WAS.
Bob

Hey mr bob
My wife’s 6mm is acting up
We have not checked it out yet.
She is just using my little cz 6.5 Grendel.
If it needs a new barrel I have got her talked into trying the 257 r since if she wants to stick. With the 6 there 3 others in the house.

Kinda hoping it’s not a lose screw. Just have to buy 2-3 case of ammo if she changes lol

 

[roklok]

I had no problem at all finding brass for my recently acquired 257 Weatherby. Midway had at least two brands in stock, Gbroker had quite a few options as well.

 

[steve white]

Bob Nelson and Rifleman beat me to it--257 Weatherby. (Great minds think alike...)


OTOH, you could be very happy with a 25-06...and a lot cheaper to feed.

 

[Rifleman97]

Bob Nelson and Rifleman beat me to it--257 Weatherby. (Great minds think alike...)

Especially with Peterson brass available these days. No brainer. If fast and flat is the goal, there’s nothing better. Well, maybe the 6.5-300, but until I can get Peterson brass for the 6.5-300, I’ll stick with the original fast and flat.

 

[Daisy]

6 creedmoor. Shoot the 95tmk if you reload.

 

[Flbt]

I had no problem at all finding brass for my recently acquired 257 Weatherby. Midway had at least two brands in stock, Gbroker had quite a few options as well.

The catalog I have here . The loaded ammo was only like 7$ more than the 20 rds of brass.

 

[steve white]

If I'm not mistaken, that's a necked-down 25-303 British. I love both of my 303 British falling blocks. This would be a cool rimmed cartridge to shoot.

Post in thread 'My 303-25'

Jun 2, 2021

I remember him!
And if I remember correctly he was the guy who used to ride a little motorcycle through the bush/ scrub after deer!
As you said he liked the .303/243 for sambar hunting and I'm sure it served him well, but all things considered I prefer my .338WM...
But getting back to the .303/25, I'd love to get a .303/25 EPPS in a nice strong front-locker and really wring it out to see what it could do...

@Badboymelvin

Russ top photo is a,100 yard target with 115grain nosler combined technology silver tips
Middle 2 loads of 25/303 Epps...

• Bob Nelson 35Whelen

• 

Post in thread 'What's your one favorite caliber?'

May 7, 2025

7x57

I wonder what Bob's answer will be. Hmmm... ;-)

@cash_tx
I won't keep you guessing any longer mate
As everyone knows I love the 35 Whelen
BUT
My favourite for most of my shooting I reach for my 25. It is my own design and will take all the game I hunt here in Australia.
What's not to love with a 25 cal with a 75gn VMAX at over 3,900 fps to reach way out and explode little fury critters
Or
Switch up to a 100gn Barnes TTSX at over 3,600fps to take on anything up to big deer out to any sane range
Or A 115-117 gn Nosler combined technology Silver tips or SST at over...

• Bob Nelson 35Whelen

• 
• 

What designation/how do you order dies?

 

[BlueFlyer]

Now this is a sexy fast 25 that don't need no silly belt

Hey Bob, depending on how all the current crap falls out. I have quite a bit of Super 303-25 brass.
My father has a Lee Enfield in 303-25 that may have to go to god. If you are interested in rehoming the brass. I assume you have an Epps chamber?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Hey mr bob
My wife’s 6mm is acting up
We have not checked it out yet.
She is just using my little cz 6.5 Grendel.
If it needs a new barrel I have got her talked into trying the 257 r since if she wants to stick. With the 6 there 3 others in the house.

Kinda hoping it’s not a lose screw. Just have to buy 2-3 case of ammo if she changes lol

@Flbt
The standard Remington loads in 257 Roberts are very very sad indeed.
Loaded to its potential it gives the 25-06 a shake up. It's no problem getting 3,200fps out of the Bob with 100grainers and upto 2,900fps with 117s
Les Bowman and Nick Harvey worked up loads back in the 80s and tried to convince Remington to load the Roberts properly but alas they didn't listen.
The Roberts is a wonderful well balanced cartridge for deer.
Bob