.25-06, .257 roberts, and .260 remington......?

Question

Which one do you think is best and why?

Answer 1

257 Weatherby Magnum

But of your choices, I would go with 25-06 for the ability to buy ammunition easily. It's a bit more common than the other two (and more common than the 257 Weatherby Mag) and a great bullet. I know a lot of people like the 260 rem and it's a great bullet, which comes in heavier weights, but I prefer the 25-06. I sold my 25-06 for the 257WM.

Check below for a ballistic chart to compare all 3 of your chosen bullets.

Notice that the 260 Rem has a bit more oomph to it than the 25-06, but they're very similar ballistically. Based on availability though, I'd go for the 25-06.

Answer 2

Friend, the .25-06 is a wonderful cartridge and, if you knew how dedicated I am to the old .303, you would know what a compliment that is. The only problem with the .25-06 is that big casing: it can hold a LOT of powder. I handload for about 40 different calibers right now and have a bit of experience with this one. If you want maximum muzzle velocity COMBINED with utter pinpoint accuracy, you ALWAYS load just a bit light. There is no cartridge which performs its best, accuracy-wise, with absolute top loads. The .25-06 is included here. What the .25-06 likes is a fairly hefty charge of something like 4350 with the heavier-medium slugs. For absolute heaviEST slugs, old 4831 will give you best accuracy. Both these powders work best in a 26-inch tube and the accuracy they will deliver is astounding. Some years ago, I spent an afternoon "caribou hunting" with a couple of friends and a Sako .25-06 with a 26. As there was no hunting season at the time, we shot our caribou from the backs of Canadian quarters, at 50 yards. The idea wasn't to hit the quarter; that was MUCH too easy with this cartridge/rifle combo. The idea was to put a kill shot on the caribou, which takes up less than half of the backside of the quarter. We HAD the accuracy required and the afternoon was a success. The one fellow collected our dead caribou and gave them to his daughter for show and tell at school, which really shut up the military brats (he had done 2 tours in Nam with USMC but now is 'just' a truck driver), being that we were in a base town. You have the perfect barrel length for this cartridge, friend. Obey your own instincts and leave it alone. You really should get into handloading, friend. You can craft your own ammunition so well that your rifle will outperform anything else that shows up at the range or in the field. There is no substitute for accuracy and good handloads, along with the rifle you have, will give you maximum accuracy for that whitetail.... or if you just want to pop a couple of 300-yard gophers. Serious.

Answer 3

Well personally I am in love with my .257 roberts, but I've had some work done to it and also I reload. I had my reciever headspaced and trued and mated to my stock. I also had the rifle glass bedded. I installed a step crowned, fluted barrel and pretty much completely accurized the rifle. I work at a gunsmith's so it was a little cheaper for me to do the accurization on my rifle, however, if it's bang for your buck that you want, the .25-06 remington is an ok rifle I guess, considering ammo is everywhere and is farely inexpensive. As for accuracy however... the .257 roberts is one of my favorite varmint rifles.

Answer 4

25-06 is VERY popular in the west where it is very flat shooting and useful for MULE deer hunting. It is versatile because it can be loaded for Pronghorn with a lighter bullet, and loaded even lighter for Prairie dog or Coyote shooting too..My understanding is the .260 is basically a 6.5mm x55 Swede under slightly different clothing. If the ballistics are there, well then it's a very sweet round indeed, as is the SWEDE. The .257 Roberts is a honey, perhaps a perfect whitetail round for reloaders who can reload to +P power levels.

Answer 5

25/06 if you don't reload
it is very popular and ammo is available every where

257 Roberts is good cartridge if you reload and with lighter bullets you can mach the performance of the 25/06, but it is not as popular

260 Remington would also be interesting if you reload

for a non reloader i would go with the 25/06

Answer 6

If you're just using it for medium game like deer, the 140 grain 6.5mm bullets are hard to beat. The Bob is the best balanced of the quarter bores; it'll certainly do for deer, and it's also a fine varminter, where the 25-06 has always seemed to me a little much. But the other guys have their point about finding factory loads.

Answer 7

Definitely the .25-06 Remington. The other two are good but ammo is becoming hard to find. The .25-06 is a stellar deer rifle.

Best.

H

Answer 8

All of the are great rounds. For hunting purposes I would opt for the 25-06. If I was going to buy one for my daugther the .260 would get the nod as the short action would help with overall weight. The .260 should penetrate better due to the higher BC of its bullets and would get my vote for anything larger than mule deer.

Answer 9

Best Choice 25-06 because it is.*

Answer 10

the .25/06 is one of the best pure whitetail only calibers available today. it is much more popular that the other two, making it less expensive to shoot. also, Winchester makes a 85 grain supreme ballistic silver tip that you could use for varmints, too.
good luck safe hunting.