I do not want a 25 Sharps and I'm thinking the 257 Ocelot is bested by the Raptor.  The man behind the 257 Raptor I think is really on to a better option for hunting use.

Right now, the 7mm Raptor seems to be the main one with availability and some 'press'.  Any "real world" user reports on this one would be appreciated.  Especially against feral hogs!

TIA,
Sid

I haven’t heard of any in the wild. I have a 25-223ar and 25x68, so I follow quarter-bores.

I don’t see how the Raptor is better than the Ocelot other than the fireforming aspect. It’s an extremely efficient cartridge (basically a shortened 25 TCU) even in short barrels.

Not being familiar with those two .257 cartridges you named I did some research. I don't see any advantage over the 25-223. I was getting just over 3,000 fps with Sierra 90gr bullets from a 20" barrel. This beats a normal 250 Savage from the Savage 99 rifle which is a tried/true deer & antelope combo in So.Dakota. We have a number of old timers who swear by the 250 Savage with the Sierra 90gr bullet.

What I'd love to see is an AR15 receiver that's 1/2" longer in the magwell. Combine with a cartridge midway in diameter between the .223 and .308, shortened up a bit in .257. Idea is to get 300 fps more velocity and/or launch the heavier .25's faster. All in a package the size and weight of an average rifle size AR, without the weight and size of the 308 receiver and bolt carrier.

Is the LWRC SIX8 close to what you're looking for?

Yes, but what do you do for magazines?  If someone would make a steel magazine to allow longer overall lengths, wildcatters would jump on the Six8 DI receiver bandwagon.

At one time, there were three companies besides LWRC making receiver sets available.  Unfortunately, no one made magazines that really made sense to me.  

A few people windowed some standard 6.8SPC magazines but, used standard AR-15 uppers so, the gains were pretty small and super-specialized.