25-06 vs. 25-06AI???

Doc Coyote....been there and done that. I've had both the 25-06 and 257 Weatherby mag.....First I had the standard 25-06, then the Mag...then I went back to the standard 25-06, which I still use today.

I too, with my first 25-06, used it as my exclusive rifle...way more accurate than the Ruger Varmint barrel 22-250 my wife bought me (sold it).

I have hunted cotton tail rabbits (head shots only mind you), PD's, Deer and Elk all with the 100 grain Sierra flat base bullet. Never had to track an animal and they dropped dead right there. Great caliber and it isn't a punisher on the butt end either.
 
I know that after trying various 24" barrels & 2 26" barrels
the 26" barrels were definitely faster, I started not to get into the barrels here because I knew what would be said
& its funny, if you discuss it on a long range site, everyone agrees on this. I have heard that some Vanguard Roys are fast & that is fine by me, the 24" is not going to keep it from being a good rifle, but it will mean that I will NEVER buy one. You might get lucky and get a fast barrel, but I don't have that kind of luck.
I called Wea. & asked them if they would offer a Van. with a 26" barrel & they said that Howa makes that decision & they did not want to & they were quite independent about it.
The Wea. rep agreed vigorously that the 257Wea. needs a 26" tube, but what do they know, right?
In fairness, Layne Simpson had an article about the 257 recently & the Vanguard was fast compared to the 26" MkV
he used & sometimes it happens. But he also said that it was great for Mice to Moose & I am afraid he was giving
us a spin job to sell the Vanguard, I know he would use a different rifle for Elk or Moose, but sure it will kill them.
A very good and honest article was written by Ralph Lermayer
in the April 2005 Predator Extreme. The title is The Affordable Weatherby .257. He speaks highly of the gun but
he checked the speed of it vs his 26" & here are the results.
24" 26"
100 gr. Hor. Spire Pt. 3,462 3,602
115 Nos. Bal. Tip 3,260 3,400
115 Barnes X 3,048 3,400
117 Round Nose 3,204 3,405
Blame Ralph, not me!

More than likely this Vanguard has a slow barrel as the difference is more than many of us see, but with such a large case and a small bore (the ole expansion ratio thing)
the extra 2 inches will give you 100fps or so more often than not, whereas in a round like the 30-06 it may only be
25-40FPS on average. This is why I like the 25-06AI, but case forming is not for everone. With my Sendero, I can run with a Vanguard anyday & with superior cases.So I don't blame anyone who uses a 24", but with the powders I use, RL25 & Retumbo, I KNOW which one is more LIKELY to have more velocity with this round or with a 7STW, 30-378, 300RUM etc.
I like 20" barrels with a 308 or 260 & similar modest cases with fast expansion ratios, that works well.
But to think that you will only lose 100FPS with this round
with a 21" barrel with anything other than fast powders & light bullets, well OK!
 
People who only shoot 800 to 1000 yard matches end up with 28 or 30" barrels for a reason. And it certainly is not because they are cheaper or easier to fit in a case. It is also not because longer barrels are more accurate, they are not. It is for the added velocity which makes wind doping a litle bit easier.

Jack
 
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