Rifle Quandry

[skeeter]

I am wanting some opinions.

First of all I have been looking for a .257 cal and or a .338 wm. Being LH my choice are limited and my search has been difficult to say the least. Though recent finds have me thinking.

Let me say my interest in the 2 additions is strictly personal & hunting purposes. I will leave out what I already have for shortening the post sake and the only thing that really has any bearing is my current M700 7mm rem mag, used for antelope to moose.

My desire is to have either .257wby or 2506AI. Leaning towards the later due to component availability(brass) and barrel longevity. This rifle will be used for antelope and deer. It was my thought I'd use it when in the open terrain of the farmland and use my 7mm rem mag when i hunt the forest fringe area where shots are typically closer range. The 338wm would be for larger game.

Ok to the quandry; recently I found a couple guns that are perking interest.

Used A+ condition Ruger #1 2506 26" barrel SS/Laminate (700 cad)
NIB Ruger M77 2506 24" barrel SS/laminate (700cad)
Barely Used A+++ M700 LSS 300RUM (gunsmith is selling for a client (750cad) and says it has seen less then 200 shots through it - litterly spotlesss inside and out)
NIB M700 LSS 300RUM (890 cad)

What I am pondering is this:

Buy one of the the 25-06 and have it ackley improved. Then eventually convert my M700 to a 338wm, once barrel is shot out (I replaced it maybe 500 shots - so will be a while yet!!).

or

Buy the 300 RUM for elk and moose. Hhave the M700 turned into a .257 wby.

or

Keep looking for a donar M700 LH action and build. (This the option I had turned to until I came across this mind twist)

Selling the 700 isn't an option I really do love the rifle and plan to still use it. I am thinking that I can use it when the time comes to rebarrel, if i still want to change.

So which one would you choose to mate with the 7mm rem mag?

BTW Any thoughts on the 2506AI? Is it even worth it with a 24" tube?? I know the wby I need at least 26".

Thanks

 

[JD338]

The fact is that you already have your mind made up for a 25-06AI and a 338 WM. If you buy one of the other rifles, you may not be happy and will be spending more money to get to where you want to be.
Just keep looking for what you want or buy a old used rifle for the action. Your smith will put together the exact rifle you want and will cost you less money in the long run.
The 25-06AI will get you very close to the 257 Roy, including limited bore life. It should be a great round for deer and goats.

JD338

 

[7mmfan]

Yes, you'll need a 26 inch tube for the 25-06 AI and I recommend this lenght for the standard 25-06 too. Don't forget the standard 25-06 can be loaded close to the Roy in 26 inch lenghts like the Ruger #1.

 

[Guest]

To add one more twist, the 257Wby comes from the factory in left hand versions, in the Accumark series of rifles. A great gun all the way around, and not terrible on components other than brass. A bit more expensive, though, as they run around $1500 or so (USD). Any of these will do what you want, but the 26" tube will really make them shine. Be aware that most of your performance in an AI comes from pressure increases, so you will be stressing brass a bit more, meaning you may have to anneal case necks and such along the way. Same with the 'bee, though, but the brass is built a little thicker to start with in the case-head area.

Good luck with the project.

 

[Guy Miner]

Consider leaving the .25-06 as standard. Still gets you 3350 - 3400 fps with a 100 grain bullet, and there are some great 100 grain bullets avail now, that will withstand that velocity.

The .300 RUM is one heck of a cartridge. It won't handle the heavy bullets that a .338 will, but it is one heck of a cartridge. A 200 grain Nosler Partition at 3200 fps is hard to ignore...

FWIW, Guy

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I"ll go with 7mmfan. You need a 26" on the 25-06AI to see any real significant gains. It will be on the heels of the 257 WM. Barrel life will be a little more, but not much. Like Guy said, 3350-3400fps is achievable in the standard 25-06 and 24"bbl. With a 26" tube and AI version 3600fps would be easily achievable. The winchester 25-06 brass is pretty tough, tough enough to withstand some pretty hot loads. I've ran the 115g up to 3400fps and 100g up to 3525fps. Though not recomended, I wanted to see what my 25-06 and 24" could really do when loaded to its MAX.

The 338 WM I wouldn't think woudl be that hard to find in a LH rifle. Its a great cartridge, load it with the 225g AB and you'll have a great lightweight pack rifle for deer/elk/moose/bear out to 600 yards.

 

[skeeter]

Thanks for the reply and info. Gives me food for thought.

Rem 2506 I have yet to find a 338wm in LH gun that isn't a Browning Stalker or Savage Synthetic - new or used!! (sure these are the only 2 manufacturer's currently chambering the 338wm in LH rifle). It boils down to 325wsm or RUM for available off the shelf stuff. Unless I go single shot. #1, encore, etc

My elk hunting partner is a Browning lover and wants to buy a 325wsm. He suggests I do the same. I think the 300RUM is the better choice between the 2 personally. Then again I actually know guys who have it where as I know nobody who has the 325!!



Thanks again

 

[Eagle Eye]

My elk hunting partner is a Browning lover and wants to buy a 325wsm. He suggests I do the same. I think the 300RUM is the better choice between the 2 personally.

I agree with you...I'd stay far away from the 325....the word is it is doomed to go the way of the dino, along with some other WSM's. Regardless of how good some may think it is.....if the 300 RUM won't do the job, then I'd go to a 338 WM.

Good hunting Skeeter.

 

[Jeff Olsen]

My elk hunting partner is a Browning lover and wants to buy a 325wsm. He suggests I do the same. I think the 300RUM is the better choice between the 2 personally.

I agree with you...I'd stay far away from the 325....the word is it is doomed to go the way of the dino, along with some other WSM's. Regardless of how good some may think it is.....if the 300 RUM won't do the job, then I'd go to a 338 WM.

I have to make my pitch for 325 WSM- in a specific rifle, or two. First rifle: Browning BLR with a 22" barrel and pistol-grip stock. I have one. Shoots to 1.25 MOA, compact, handy, and a very fast repeater. If you think about what it can do- be BOTH a world-class timber elk rifle, a lever gun, AND a perfectly fine 400-yard elk caliber, then it's suddenly a very interesting caliber. Because of the package it's in. A BLR in 338 would be a cumbersome rifle.

Second rifle. One of the new Remington Model 7's with the stainless fluted barrel and camo stock, in 325 WSM. They don't make it, offering only 300 WSM. Too bad. A Model 7 in 325 WSM would be a great rifle, again because of the compact package with good power and reasonable recoil.

But in a full-sized rifle, it's hard to argue for the 325, other than for the novelty of it. Just buy a 338 WM and be done with it! If nothing else, the 325 WSM fails to come close to the original published velocity specs, in my experience.

So I bought 5 bags of brass! Let it fail.

-jeff

 

[Powerstroke]

I'm really suprised remingtonman didn't get a .300RUM plug in there.

The RUM is one heck of a round ! Loaded correctly I wouldn't shy away from anything in N. America with it.

My hunting budy.....( when we rifle hunt ) has used a 25-06 for years on deer AND elk with great success.