257 vs 25

[Misguided]

Recently read some post about .257 and people shooting it out of the AF Texan platform. What's the difference besides .007?

Ammo for 257 readily available?

Been looking at picking up a long range 100+ 30 cal.......things ive read about the 257 in the texan platform has me considering it over a 30.

I'm pretty intrigued over it

 

[Airgun-Revisions]

.007 not .002

 

[Misguided]

.007 not .002

Fixed

 

[Hobbyman2007]

A high powered .257 is not a pellet caliber that’s for certain. Now with NSA and another few slug makers in the game it is easier than having to cast your own ammo. I have converted a few rifles to the slightly larger caliber with varying levels of success using home cast ammo in the 70 to 80 grain range. I have never shot a Texan but they do make huge power and if you want to stretch out way past two hundred , I think you’d be hard pressed to find something more suitable than the .257 caliber.

 

[6gun]

Recently read some post about .257 and people shooting it out of the AF Texan platform. What's the difference besides .007?

Ammo for 257 readily available?

Been looking at picking up a long range 100+ 30 cal.......things ive read about the 257 in the texan platform has me considering it over a 30.

I'm pretty intrigued over it

A friend has one and couldn't answer my question on it either. Is it like 38 special and 357 mag use a 358 diameter projectile?

I assumed it was to delineate itself from 25 cal as a high power slug shooter.

 

[wimpanzee]

i think the .257 barrels typically have a much higher twist rate to stabilize long spitzer type bullets.

 

[boscoebrea]

The .257 is a famous long-range caliber. I loved it 55 years ago. Many bullets are made for this caliber. I believe it is better than any .30 for long-range shooting. Please read up on it, educate yourself, and take your time. Also, yes,check out the barrels made for it. The twist rates you find have to also match the bullets and slugs you are using, plus the power your chosen rifle can push them.
I would break it down further: who can make a PCP for you in that caliber, how many satisfied people are using it and why, etc......Good luck

 

[Scotchmo]

Except for boutique or custom .257 airgun builds, there are only the Texan .257, and the Bulldog .257 that I know of.

There are no .257 pellets, so a .257 airgun will be a slug gun and have appropriate barrels for heavier slugs (.257 caliber in 70gr to 80gr).

Same thing for .30 vs .308:

.25 and .30, generally for pellets and maybe light slugs.

.257 and .308 for heavy slugs.

 

[Sleestak]

Recently read some post about .257 and people shooting it out of the AF Texan platform. What's the difference besides .007?

Ammo for 257 readily available?

Been looking at picking up a long range 100+ 30 cal.......things ive read about the 257 in the texan platform has me considering it over a 30.

I'm pretty intrigued over it

Personally I wouldn't choose a .257 as a daily driver when there are so many awesome .30 options available. Not many .257 guns are out there.. AF Texan, Benjamin Bulldog and the Alteros M24 and the ammunition is costly. So, it's kind of esoteric, a one trick pony and definate overkill for the vast majority of the shooting that we do as air gunners.

Not that it wouldn't fun to shoot but as boscoebrea says, ask some owners how much they use theirs. I don't have first hand experience with the projectile, but looked hard at it in the past and decided nah.

 

[Scotchmo]

Personally I wouldn't choose a .257 as a daily driver when there are so many awesome .30 options available. Not many .257 guns are out there.. AF Texan, Benjamin Bulldog and the Alteros M24 and the ammunition is costly. So, it's kind of esoteric, a one trick pony and definate overkill for the vast majority of the shooting that we do as air gunners.

Not that it wouldn't fun to shoot but as boscoebrea says, ask some owners how much they use theirs. I don't have first hand experience with the projectile, but looked hard at it in the past and decided nah.

.257 ammunition is not really “costly”. You won’t save much, if any, with a .30 when compared to a .257. Cost is somewhat proportional to projectile weight. In order to save, you’ll need to stick with light pellets, so a .177 or .22 might be better if cost is a main consideration.

$0.19 for NSA 75gr .257 slug
$0.16 for JSB 50gr .30 pellet

 

[Sleestak]

.257 ammunition is not really “costly”. You won’t save much, if any, with a .30 when compared to a .257. Cost is somewhat proportional to projectile weight. In order to save, you’ll need to stick with light pellets, so a .177 or .22 might be better if cost is a main consideration.

$0.19 for NSA 75gr .257 slug
$0.16 for JSB 50gr .30 pellet

TBF, I frequently send more expensive ammo than either of those mentioned, so probably wouldn't let ammo cost get in the way of a particular air gun type that I really want to shoot. So yeah a $3 difference between boxes of a 100 isn't significant to most people.

The relative lack of ammunition options and the upfront cost for a niche gun that I couldn't justify was probably the bigger reasons that I passed on the idea.

Shooting pellets is underrated anyway

 

[boscoebrea]

Where's the "thing";it is a speciality caliber,it used for certain "things";I like special "things",butt those special "things" need to serve a function that I want to use it for.
My thoughts also go for all the other "things" some of you guys come up with.

 

[Scotchmo]

Recently read some post about .257 and people shooting it out of the AF Texan platform. What's the difference besides .007?

Ammo for 257 readily available?

Been looking at picking up a long range 100+ 30 cal.......things ive read about the 257 in the texan platform has me considering it over a 30.

I'm pretty intrigued over it

If shooting Airguns at 100+ yards (even 200+ yds) .257 is a good option. .308 better than .30 for that purpose.

 

[Rob_in_NC]

I have a tricked out Condor with a Nobel valve in .257. It's a shooter, but at least for me...it lost appeal quickly. I'd wanted a .257 for years and had built up another one that I sold. I took this one in a trade with the idea of doing long range shooting. I still dont think I've taken it out to 100 yards. I've got it dialed in at 65 and that's where it's stayed for me.

To be honest, it just gets old airing it up every few shots just to chase a group at 100+ yards. I'd rather chase groups at 100 and under with pellets and shoot rather than fill.

I keep saying one day I'll get a tether system and maybe I will....one day.

 

[shambozzie]

Stretch it out Rob. 100+ is where the fun begins. Check out this photo. Some guy shot a .104 @ 100 yds with the Arsenal 257420 70 slugs. The Bulldog m257 is a nice option around 140/150 fpe. Definitely fall in the fungus category.

 

[Sleestak]

I have a tricked out Condor with a Nobel valve in .257. It's a shooter, but at least for me...it lost appeal quickly. I'd wanted a .257 for years and had built up another one that I sold. I took this one in a trade with the idea of doing long range shooting. I still dont think I've taken it out to 100 yards. I've got it dialed in at 65 and that's where it's stayed for me.

To be honest, it just gets old airing it up every few shots just to chase a group at 100+ yards. I'd rather chase groups at 100 and under with pellets and shoot rather than fill.

I keep saying one day I'll get a tether system and maybe I will....one day.

It'd be cool to hear of more people using it for doing long distance shooting& do follow the topics in the sub-forum

IMHO a .25 should easily be fine out to 100yds and beyond if willing to put the time in, so feel like I'd probably need to go a bit out of my way to find a place to properly shoot & get the most out of a .257 purchase...not to mention the time.

Being seriously down the rabbit hole in calibers & BBs already, getting one at the moment would bring deminishing joy returns on my $ & time. Retirement is on the horizon tho, so not saying never though.

 

[357cal]

I have had a.25 caliber Avenger modified 100 fpe and both .257 and the .308 AirForce Texan full-length barrel. The .257 in my opinion is far greater than a 25 caliber for hunting or just plinking. The .308, in my opinion is that much more enjoyably even though they share the same valve. For all around use the 308 is one of the best calibers in the Texan line, long distance and power wise and room to improve each. If you will be hunting with it, just remember to have the fpe to humanly take out that animal. My .308 has gone though some changes, 330 fpe dialed back to 310fpe for acracy with 150 gr at 965 fps, just to show there is room for more than stock numbers when and if you want more from the same pcp. Below video was just from 100 yards and will be stretching it out soon just zeroed the new scope. The Texan line is hard to beat no matter what caliber you get.

 

[Sleestak]

I have had a.25 caliber Avenger modified 100 fpe and both .257 and the .308 AirForce Texan full-length barrel. The .257 in my opinion is far greater than a 25 caliber for hunting or just plinking. The .308, in my opinion is that much more enjoyably even though they share the same valve. For all around use the 308 is one of the best calibers in the Texan line, long distance and power wise and room to improve each. If you will be hunting with it, just remember to have the fpe to humanly take out that animal.

A changable barrel system to include .257 by someone like Skout and the like would probably go far in having it catch on

Maybe w the advent of ELR rounds they're good w plain old .25? I'm pretty stoked about some of those products...it's a great time to be alive.

 

[MrP]

Recently read some post about .257 and people shooting it out of the AF Texan platform. What's the difference besides .007?

Ammo for 257 readily available?

Been looking at picking up a long range 100+ 30 cal.......things ive read about the 257 in the texan platform has me considering it over a 30.

I'm pretty intrigued over it

As far as I know the main benefit is the availability of molds to cast certain weight and shaped projectiles like the 257-420, 85 grain spitzer and a couple of others.

It's not that there's anything magical about that difference in diameter, I believe it's more about the availability of molds and barrels to match, and some long distance shooters in the past settling on the caliber because of it.

 

[Scotchmo]

A changable barrel system to include .257 by someone like Skout and the like would probably go far in having it catch on

Maybe w the advent of ELR rounds they're good w plain old .25? I'm pretty stoked about some of those products...it's a great time to be alive.

I have a Skout Epoch .30 and like it, but it does not have the juice for most .257 slugs.