Not being too familiar with the caliber, my question concerns barrel length. I am a Savage believer and have great faith in the manufacturer. They list a 25-06 with a 22" barrel and I wonder about the length. Any opinions or responces would be appreciated. Thanks, smoker1

If I were getting a 25-06, I would want a longer barrel. The '06 case has a lot of powder in it, and I think it takes a longer barrel burn it all up. And, you get more MV with the longer barrel too.
Right after WW II, my Step Dad had a 25-06 AI built, with a 20" barrel and a manlicher stock. As a kid, standing about 25 yards off to the side of his shooting bench, about dusk, watching him shoot that beast was something to behold.. Fire flew out of the barrel at least 30 yards. The Aurora Borealis had nothing on that spectacle... My Step Dad was Native American, very dark skin. After each shot, I would look over at him grinning under his wide brimmed hat, and all I saw was his pearley whites from ear to ear..

Don

Don, the story was priceless!!! Now I forgot what you said about the barrel . I'm actually getting some info for my Son who is about to buy one. I like to touch base with all the experts here before getting serious. He has a .223 and just recently bought a 300 Win.Mag. which both perform better than expected. So you're thinkin 22" is a might short? smoker1

Sako/tikka also make their 25-06's between 20.5 and 22.5, I wouldnt worry about it.

I have a 25-06 with a 24" barrel and the muzzle blast is terrible. I find myself not shooting it because it's just not fun because of it. I would never own one again with less than a 26" tube. If you want a shorter barrel go with a 257 Roberts or a 250 Savage. The performance difference would be minimal and much more pleasant to shoot.

A good way to reduce blast is to use a faster powder, you will loose some FPS but it can be a lot more pleasant to shoot. When all else fails, try varget....

Very helpful info. I wasn't aware that Sako had a short barrel. Here's what I do know. Savage is by far the most accurate off the assembly line, out of the box rifle money can buy. I'm sure if the performance of the 22" barrel was not up to snuff they wouldn't market it. It just seemed SHORT....know what I mean? His purpose for this rifle will be mostly Deer and maybe Antelope. His varmint guns are a 22-250 and a .223. His only other gun is a 300 Win mag. Keep the words coming. I wish there was someone who did some paperwork from 100-300 yards. Thanks a whole bunch folks. My first rifle was a 340C in 1960...there's a few years . smoker1

Savage does, or at least did, make a 26" 25-06. I bought a new take off 26" fluted stainless barrel. It is a good shooter.

Yes on the faster powders. Mine does well with IMR4064 and 90 grain Sierras.

Thanks Jason. I wouldn't be expecting a tack driver for the money asked but just reasonable hunting groups. So 4064 seems to work with a 90 grain bullet. Isn't that weight the recommended bullet for deer/antelope? smoker1

The 90 grain Sierra's Jason mentions work very well in four 25 caliber rifles I have, a pair of 250 Savages, and two rifles in 257 Roberts. They are just plain accurate, and I love the bullet's exterior design, very aerodynamic.

A 25.06 with a 22" bbl.?
That reminds me of why the 6.5 Rem Mag died a quick death,yet was one of the best cartridges ever produced.Glad to see it's been reintroduced.
They originally brought it out in that butt ugly 600 mohawk 18" bbl thing or some such.

My browning a-bolt 25-06 has a 20 in. barrel, 22 w/ muzzle brake, and it shoots just fine.

Great words folks, thanks for the info. I just new Savage wouldn't jepordize it's reputation for accuracy by doing something as basic as a too short barrel. smoker1

Smoker1, Just my 2 cents worth..........The SAVAGE with the 22" barrel will perform beatifully using GOD'S CHOSEN CHAMBERING, the 25-06! My personal preference for the barrel would have been longer......24" or 26" but I KNOW from experience that the 22" tube will do just fine and the accuracy of the SAVAGE'S is not to be questioned. Sako and Tikka's have a 22 7/8" barrel. I've owned all manner of 25-06's and even built one utilizing a 28" barrel. The 25-06 has a distinct report! So does a 22-250 but neither ever hindered me from shooting them. If you would stoke some brass with 49 grains of IMR 4350 or 53.1 grains of H4831sc behind either the 117 Sierra SpBT or the 120 Hornady, you would have all the load you needed for whitetails out to 300 if that's your limit! Wanta speed up a little projectile? Go to 49.7 grains of VARGET and the 75 grain VMAX! I have one of the SAVAGE/Stevens 200's in 25-06 that will keep that 75VMAX load under 1/2 inch and the two loads with the 117's in the 3/4" area, day after day, range trip after range trip and whitetail hunt after whitetail hunt! I bought that rifle when they first came out from a buddy who runs a local shop just to test it for him(and myself). He has a 3 shot target @100 yards in his store to attest to the accuracy of the Stevens's........it measures .171". Don't be scared of the 22" barrel. And for the folks who talk about the Roberts(and I love that little quarter bore too!) and the 250-3000..........they are not the 25-06!! GHD(pastor at the church of GHD and the 25-06!)

quote:

The 25-06 has a distinct report! So does a 22-250

My Brother used to shoot a .25-06, and i used
to shoot a .22-250.The .22-250 was louder than the .25-06
The Loud CRACK! of the .22-250 is intense..
The .25-06 was still loud, but a mellower "boom".

I'm relaying all this info to my Son. I own a 25-06 and have for many years....just a wonderful cartridge!!! I've been using 52.5 IMR 4350 with a 100 grain Sierra spbt. Doesen't take much convincing after a couple of one shot kills on Whitetail's to make you want to own one.

the last .25-06 i worked with was a remington with a 24" barrel. this was a VERY accurate shooter and quite effective on prairie dogs

25-06's are "quite effective" on a lot of things!! I'm sure with 75 grain VMAXS they would be just downright DEVASTATING on prairie dogs!(Only prarie dogs I ever shot with my 25-06's were using 120 grain Hornady HP...........they were devastaing and acrobatically splendid!!) 87 grain, VMAXS, 85 grain Nosler BT's can send GROUNDHOGS airborn! Possibly the best ever varmint bullet ever developed for the 25 calibers is not available anymore as a component, still available in a factory load, if I could buy 5000 of them tonight for reloading I would, the 90 grain P.E.P. Winchester!(Positive Expanding Point!!)They offer the 120 grain PEP in a factory load also. For sheer all around usefulness in a 25-06, the 100 grain SPEER HP would serve one well! The B.C. sucks but the DEVASTATION rendered on the recieving end of "an airmail invitation home" is pretty darn convincing! I like a 25-06!! Charlie (GHD).....pastor at the church of GHD and the 25-06!

I gave this one the earache at 180 yards with a rest from a fence post yesterday. 100 grain Hornady spire point and a health dose of RL-22. 24" stainless remington 700. I think this load gets me about 3320 fps. Use the same load on white tails. If someone is hunting deer and smaller animals, it is hard to go wrong with the 25-06. I have a ruger no. 1 in this caliber and am still fooling with loads. Have only killed one groundhog with it. Used a 75 grain V-Max. must say that load takes things to another level as far as destruction inside of 200 yards.

My 25/06 is a Savage 110fp with 24" varmint barrel. It Loves 100gr bullets. If yours is to be a hunting rifle the 22" barrel will be as good as any and better than most,however, if you intend to shoot PD's you'll need more barrel.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!!!!

My 25-06 is a winchester 70 sporter with a 24" barrel I snatched up after the factory closed. My 1st reloads with a max load of rl22 and a 117 grain hornady interlock boattail was .37" with a cheap simmons 4x12 scope. The other day I popped a prairie dog just short of 300 yards. Anyway I think a 24 inch barrel is just right for a 25-06 and a savage is a good choice for out of the box accuracy. I plan on getting a savage 204 of some sort in the future.

quote:

Originally posted by SWD:
I have a 25-06 with a 24" barrel and the muzzle blast is terrible. I find myself not shooting it because it's just not fun because of it. I would never own one again with less than a 26" tube. If you want a shorter barrel go with a 257 Roberts or a 250 Savage. The performance difference would be minimal and much more pleasant to shoot.

My sentiments exactly.

quote:

Originally posted by DMB:

quote:

Originally posted by SWD:
I have a 25-06 with a 24" barrel and the muzzle blast is terrible. I find myself not shooting it because it's just not fun because of it. I would never own one again with less than a 26" tube. If you want a shorter barrel go with a 257 Roberts or a 250 Savage. The performance difference would be minimal and much more pleasant to shoot.

My sentiments exactly.

I have both and agree completely. I still love the little Roberts but the boys and wife have laid claim to it. Animals can't tell the difference.
My .25-06 has a 24" and I'd be willing to go 2" longer, but not shorter. Especially with heavier bullets. My best load so far was using a Hornady 117gr SST & H4831sc.

Amazing, the 270 and 30-06 are std. 22 inch rifles and now the 25-06 is not? The 25-06 is fine with a 22 inch barrel..Its just that you are now talking to varmint hunters, not big game hunters..but I like long tubes also and don't have many short barrel guns, but lets keep the facts straight...The 25 cal is not overbore for an 06 case...

After reading your response Ray I was wondering what you were saying at first; now I see what you meant.

I don't think the muzzle blast is so terrible. Most muzzle breaks will cause worse, a short barreled pistol will cause damage. But from a performance side, If it has a long case a longer barrel seems more fitting. I have a 7mm RM with a 26" and wouldn't change it, and a .338WM with a 22" and think highly of it.

But as alluded to, for varminting and long range chores, you'll get more from it with less muzzle blast with a longer tube. Nate

Mine has a 26 inch barrel is it a black matte Sendaro from the pre-stainless fluted days.

I bedded it in Bisonite and put a Shlen trigger and new springs in, and it shoots .25-.38 five shot inch groups at 100, and .48-.65 200 yard groups.

I kind of like it!

The only thing I have ever shot with it is prairie dogs, pronghorn antelope does, and a little forkie mule deer.

Never had anything other than one shot kill with it.

I have shot a .25-06 since I was a kid shooting my Dads. When I re-barreled my Ruger M77V I went with a 26 inch barrel. It is perfect. It burns the powder well and upped the velocity a bit. The .25-06 was not meant to be a brush gun caliber. By putting a short barrel on it you are defeating the intentions and handicapping the cartridges performance IMO.

In my experiences with the 25-06 I found that a 24-26" bbl gives optimium velocity and acceptable muzzle blast.

Provided I were building a 25-06 primarily for hunt in mixed cover I would go with a 24"; for antelope and open terrain I would chose 26."
Longer or shorter will work just fine, it's just my personal taste. Lou

my brothers one has a 22" barrel and it gives a decent muzzle blast! I had a remington 700 which had a 24" barrel and the muzzle blast was alot less, plus it shot tiny groups! If it were mine id want atleast a 24, maybe a 26

Use a 25wssm 9mm Winchester M70.

Here,s a question about the 25/06 ... Has anyone used one as a fur rifle where pelt damage is a bad thing , if so what load did you use ... Are there any fmj s or solids that work well ,, and how well does it take to being slowed down ..... The 25/06 is available in a Ruger target varmit platform ..... I think the caliber would work ok on caribou with a Sirroco ,TSX Accu bond ect ..and it sould be a wolf,s worst nightmare ....... . But I don,t want to blow a fox up if one comes it to the call .... Thanks for the info ????

I am up to four 25-06 rifles and planning another one, now that Cooper makes it in their repeater.

It's a lot like the 375 quote for Africa. It's too big for 90% of all varminting and too small for 10% of all hunting.

I have used it on a lot of things, and it's wonderful. Long case life, within 250 fps of the Weatherby and all of mine are sub-moa rifles. Two are sub-half/moa rifles, and one is a 1/4 inch gun.

In my opinion, the 25/06 is NOT a varmint cartridge! Shoot one in a prairie dog town for a few hours and you'll see what i'm talking about.
A 25/06 is more at home killing Elk or Deer with proper bullets.
How much killing does a 10oz prairie dog require?
Stepchild

.. We don,t have [ gophers ] here . Varmits are actually most of the time fur or food .... but different terminal results are desired .........

For fur , ie Fox ,Coyote , Lynx , Wolf, Wolverine ,you definitely DONT want to Blow any thing up ... If you shoot 10 rounds in a day your really in the fur .......A sptz BT solid or fmj at a moderate velocity that sails thru without making a big hole is what alot of guys here prefer ....... If a guy is a Native Alaskan on the coast ,he can hunt seals and sea otter , sea lion also ... With seals the target is the top of their head ,the goal is to remove it and their brains after they fill their lungs with air . Pretty tricky when you consider they are bobbing around in the waves , and so are you in your skiff , same with Sea Otter . 220 Swift and 22-250 are the predominate rounds for that job ........ Nice thing about the 25 06 is it will also work on deer and Caribou with the right bullet . ., Wolves follow the caribou herds so it is a good round , but with the right load ..., I myself am also going to try the 260 Rem ......

quote:

Originally posted by 17rem:

quote:

The 25-06 has a distinct report! So does a 22-250

My Brother used to shoot a .25-06, and i used
to shoot a .22-250.The .22-250 was louder than the .25-06
The Loud CRACK! of the .22-250 is intense..
The .25-06 was still loud, but a mellower "boom".

I know this thread is about the 25-06, but I just wanted to say that the intense CRACK of my 22-250 is THE main reason it sits in the safe with little use. The thing is horrible accurate too.. Three shots into a 1/4" group at 100 yards.
But, I prefer less noise, so the 222, and others get the nod.
Don

Regardless of the noise and report of the 25-06 and the 22-250.............it's been established here that THEY ARE DISTINCT........the authority they deliver to intended targets is WITHOUT QUESTION!! GHD......Pastor at the Church of GHD and the 25-06! Head Elder is named 22-250!! Head Deacon is named .222 and other deacons are .222MAG, .223 and 220 Swift!

quote:

Originally posted by groundhog devastation:
Regardless of the noise and report of the 25-06 and the 22-250.............it's been established here that THEY ARE DISTINCT........the authority they deliver to intended targets is WITHOUT QUESTION!! GHD......Pastor at the Church of GHD and the 25-06! Head Elder is named 22-250!! Head Deacon is named .222 and other deacons are .222MAG, .223 and 220 Swift!

I HAVE HAD TWO 25-06 ONE LIGHT BARREL ONE HEAVY HEAVY BARREL WORKED WELL ON LAST MORNING OF P DOG SHOOT 300+ YDS.GOOD DEER ANTALOPE COYOTE RIFLE IMR 4831 WORKS WELL IN MINE

I have a savage 110 chambered in 25-06 with a 22" barrel and it will drive tacks (I did glass bed the action). I do wish it had a 24" barrel.....I'd like to have the extra velocity.

quote:

Originally posted by bkm:
I have a savage 110 chambered in 25-06 with a 22" barrel and it will drive tacks (I did glass bed the action). I do wish it had a 24" barrel.....I'd like to have the extra velocity.

When I went looking for a 25-06 recently, the fact that the Savage only had a 22" barrel turned me away from that rifle, which I initially wanted. I ended up buying a Weatherby Vanguard with a Walnut stock. It has a 24" barrel.
The Vanguard isn't light weight by a stretch, weighing in a 7 3/4 pounds with no scope on top. The test target that came with the rifle is impressive though.
Now I must get some dies and do some loading.

Don