A 25 cal target rifle?

[kombi1976]

Here I must state I have NO idea about target shooting.
NRA Palma match shooting holds little interest for me though.
But I would like to get into a something like F Class.
I should say that I'd like to try something different from 6mm or 6.5mm.
Both are fine cals but I'd like to use a 25 cal round, preferably 257 Ackley.
Is this a good idea or would I be better getting something like 25/284?
I want to stay away from ther WSSMs & WSMs though as they have a magnum bolt face.
Further, who makes a good .25 cal match bullet?
Sierra makes a 100gn MatchKing but I was given the impression that for smaller cals you should be aiming for a fairly hefty bullet to ensure a reasonable length and ballistic coefficient.
Berger make a few VLD bullets but they tend to be super expensive.
I won't be doing any of this for a couple of years yet but I want to get some idea of what I'm aiming for.
Has anyone got any recommendations?

[Lone Star]

Long range .257" match bullets are, as you found, tough to find.  Custom bullets like the Bergers are doubtless great bullets, but not cheap.  That is the price you pay for using an odd-ball caliber.

That said, there are some good hunting bullets which will come reasonable close to the match bullets.  The 100- to 120-grain weights are the place to start.  The Sierra 100 HPBT MK looks good, but I have not tried it.  I have personally had the best luck out to 600 yards in my Weatherbys with the Nosler 115 Ballistic Tip (BC=0.453) and the Hornady 120 HP (BC=0.394).

[kombi1976]

I presume you're using .257 Wby Mag then, Lone Star?

[nomosendero]

125 Grain Wildcat ULD for 25-06 or larger case capacity, BC up around .575 according to drop, will verify soon. But I can say now, these other bullets are not close. BTW, these are hunting bullets & the cost is less than Accubonds, not bad.

[vernonp]

Bergers are the cheapest of the custom bullets and I have had good success with them. Brunos has the Berger 110 gr match for 21.19 per 100 or the 115 gr. VLD for 23.65. The Sierras are a little less expensive, the 117 SBT is 18.02 and the 120 HPBT is 18.52. Remember you do not have to have the big overbore case to shoot well at long range. In fact the opposite is true. A new world record was just shot at 1000 yds with a 6BR. It is a tiny case. I would not go larger than the 257 Roberts Improved. It is always fun building a new rifle. Good shooting and have fun.------vernonp

[RaySendero]

Sierra show a BC for their:

.257 100 gr. Matchking between .376 and .386

.264 142 gr. Matchking between .575 and .580

BIG DIFFERENCE!

Usually when building a custom LR target rifle you;

first pick the bullet,

then pick a case that has enough powder capacity to keep the bullet super-sonic to the max range you plan to shoot,

and only then build a rifle to shoot it accurately.



If other bullet manuf. have this much difference between their .257 and .264 diam bullets I can see why the .264 is so popular for target shooting.

[nomosendero]

Sierra show a BC for their:

.257 100 gr. Matchking between .376 and .386

.264 142 gr. Matchking between .575 and .580

BIG DIFFERENCE!

Usually when building a custom LR target rifle you;

first pick the bullet,

then pick a case that has enough powder capacity to keep the bullet super-sonic to the max range you plan to shoot,

and only then build a rifle to shoot it accurately.



If other bullet manuf. have this much difference between their .257 and .264 diam bullets I can see why the .264 is so popular for target shooting.

The 125Wildcat runs about .585BC. I mentioned that because the subject was 25 cal. bullets.
 
However, concerning other calibers, I know of some 6.5 bullets coming out that will be great, the 6.5 is one of the best choices for a target rifle.

The problem I see with the 257RobAI is a lack of cap. for bullets 125 & over, it could work with a 1-8 twist barrel for the 125. A more conventional twist would handle the 115Berger. The very best rounds that I know of to get that balance of a small powder cap. but yet propel good BC bullets good enough for 1,000
yard shooting is the 6mmbr & the improved versions & 6XC & the 6-250. The 6mmbr can be competitive at 1,000yards with 30gr. of powder. I don't know anything else that can do that.