I never owned a 25cal so I bought a Browning A-bolt Medallion 25wssm. Fell in love w. it. Super light package and mine has been accurate as hell -- even w. a .52 barrel.

So now I have a 25-06 in the process. What do you like and dislike about the 25-06???

About the only thing "wrong" with the 25'06 (and the 270 Winchester, for that matter) is that it's not a 6.5'06.

quote:

Originally posted by BISCUT:
What do you dislike about the 25-06???

It's not a .257 Roberts.

I own 2 of them.

The 25-06 is a fast, flat shooter. I like it as a deer/antelope cartridge.

It’s a good predator round if the critter’s pelt means nothing to you and you don’t collect them.

It’s not a prairie dog gun, too much recoil for long strings of shots and too expensive to use on P dogs anyway.

Some people think it’s an elk round…. Not in my mind but what the H_ll do I know.

If you like muzzle blast, you’ll be happy.

The problem the 25-06 has is that it only does one thing well, it kills deer.

Poor BC's.

Lets see,
book BC's

Barnes TSX....100 gr. .370

Nosler 100 gr. BT .393
110 gr. accubond . 418

Hornady 117 sst .390
120 HP .394

Lets see, my go to load in my 257 Weatherby accumark is 100 gr nosler partitions. Book BC of the 100 gr. partition is .377. So I've chrono'd this load at an avg velocity of 3,650 fps. Zeroed at 300 yds,
1.5 at o yds
2.4" high at 100 yds
3.1 high at 200 yds.
0 at 300 yds.
7.6 low at 400
Not to shabby in my book,

GWB

PS: And despite the "inferior" BC, my 257 roy manages to kill stuff DRT.

quote:

About the only thing "wrong" with the 25'06 (and the 270 Winchester, for that matter) is that it's not a 6.5'06.

Like he said !!

Roger

I bought one for my wife 20 years ago and I have seen so much game shot with this rifle (up to and including elk) that if all I hunted was deer and antelope it would be the only rifle I would ever use.

it's freakin accurate.
it burns too much powder.

I won't argue about the accuracy, but too expenseive,

lets see,
7000 grains per pound
say 54 gr. per round
some waste
say 120 rounds per pound
$25 per pound
$.021 per round for powder

GWB

whats wrong with it? nothing .. can be loaded down to a 25-20, and with super powders, faster than "book" ... i have a 257 bob for my quarter bore, and a wssm is basically a short 25-06 to a reloader

what could be improved? make it a 7mm shooter, and have bigger bullets .. no, wait, that makes it a 280 or 7x64 ... i love my 7x64, too ... in fact, its easy to say i haven't found a round i really dislike, though some i like better

quote:

Originally posted by Geedubya:
Lets see,
book BC's

Barnes TSX....100 gr. .370

Nosler 100 gr. BT .393
110 gr. accubond . 418

Hornady 117 sst .390
120 HP .394

Don't forget the 115 Ballistic Tip with a BC of .453

No matter what cartridge you choose to discuss there will be those who love it and those who don't. Over the years I have found very few people who are "luke-warm" about Quarterbores.
That said, the 25/06 is one of my favorites. It is my go-to long range prairie dog cartridge. Just 2 weeks ago I took an Oceola turkey at just under 100yds; never touched the breast. I own 2 25/06's; a 257Roberts; a 250AI; and a 250 Savage. Needless to say I am not luke-warm about Quarterbores!
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

To me the 25-06 was a mighty fine answer, but there was no question. Yes, it exceeds velocity of the .257 Roberts, earth shattering amount--not to me. The price for this velocity increase was a substantial pressure increase as in more powder,blast and recoil. Enough so that it is right there with a .270 which begs the question, why not get a .270? Which also brings up why get the .257 Roberts, why not the 7x57? Then why the .270, why not it's daddy the 30-06? .300 Mags were also fine answers when certainly there was no question---big increase in powder,blast and recoil for a non earth shattering gain of velocity over the 30-06.
Answer as to why the .270? For one thing it was job security for Jack O'Connor--gave him something new and different to write about and help make him possibly rich and for sure famous.

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
To me the 25-06 was a mighty fine answer, but there was no question. Yes, it exceeds velocity of the .257 Roberts, earth shattering amount--not to me. The price for this velocity increase was a substantial pressure increase as in more powder,blast and recoil. Enough so that it is right there with a .270 which begs the question, why not get a .270? Which also brings up why get the .257 Roberts, why not the 7x57? Then why the .270, why not it's daddy the 30-06? .300 Mags were also fine answers when certainly there was no question---big increase in powder,blast and recoil for a non earth shattering gain of velocity over the 30-06.
Answer as to why the .270? For one thing it was job security for Jack O'Connor--gave him something new and different to write about and help make him possibly rich and for sure famous.

It all depends on what/where you hunt and what you already own. My 257 Roberts is great for Predators/Antelope/Deer. I have a 338 Federal for Deer/Elk. I even have a 308 to split the difference. Some people don't want one rifle to hunt everything or what they hunt doesn't require a broad range of killing power.

Carpetman,
so, for us mere mortals that shoot and enjoy numerous chamberings, what is the one surperlative chambering that you shoot?
GWB

The .25-06 is about as good on deer-sized game as any cartridge. I have both and like the .270 better, but that's irrelavent. Why the .25-06? In order to give us one more caliber in which to acquire a gun .

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:
Why the .25-06? In order to give us one more caliber in which to acquire a gun .

Well said Stonecreek but let me add......because it just plain works!

The reason I like the 25/06 (or the 257AI) is that it is "just right" for the kind of hunting I do.

A 120gr bullet at about 3000fps from a 25/06 is indistinguishable in the field (on deer) from a 130gr 270 bullet at about the same velocity. (Not faint praise!) But the advantage of the 25/06 is that the recoil is just light enough that I can watch the reaction of the deer to the hit. While the recoil from a 270 is certainly not objectionable, it does raise the muzzle just enough so that the hit cannot be seen...at least in my rifles.

geedubya---How would I know that? Which is the one superlative. I'm a mere mortal with a safe full myself.

Carpetman,
with a "safe full", I would think at least you could take a "shot at it".
Best
GWB

One more for the 6.5-06 imp just way too cool.

Geedubya--If I were going to have to limit it to just one (horrors)--my son in law probably summed it up as well as I've heard. He said people can brag on or knock any they want, but if they knock the 30-06 a big light on their forehead comes on that says idiot.

Carpetman,

Far be it from me to suggest that anyone should limit themselves to just one chambering. What I was addressing was the fact that in your post you seemed to take to task anyone that shot not only a 25-06, but also a 257 roberts, a 270, a 7 x 57, a 30-06 or any of the 300 mags. All of which I load for and shoot and with which I have taken numerous game animals and varmints. I enjoy each for its merits.

I've certainly no problem with the 30-06, or with the 338-06 or the 35 whelen (all three I load for an shoot) for that matter. Never took the time to do a 6.5-06 or 6-06, but the game ain't over yet. I reload for over 50 chamberings at present from 17 ackley hornet to 458 lott. When it comes to rifles, and different chamberings, I'm kinda like a drunk at closing time. There is something about many/most of them (rifles that is) that I can find appealing.
GWB

If you consider .45 and below a good BC, then by all means the 25-06 is it. But you can neck it up just a bit to 6.5mm and shoot 130 grain bullets almost as fast, and have a BC's over .55.

Or better yet, 140's just a bit slower, and a BC over .6. That's gonna be a big boost in energy at longer range.

The ONLY thing I don't like about the .25-06 is the
amount of powder it uses when one considers very
many shots at varmints.

That said, a 75gr bullet propelled at 3300fps is
easy on the shoulder and will easily bust p-dogs
out to 300yds. (Anyone who goes p-dog hunting
SHOULD use at least 2 rifles, if not 3 if they
care anything about barrel life.) And a 26"
barrel will not blow your eardrums away......
stand beside someone with an AR15, even with
hearing protection.

It is at the top of the ladder for deer and
antelope hunting with its flat trajectory.

Most do not have BR accuracy, but they are
very accurate. My Savage 112 gets 5/16" groups
with occasional one-holers for two shots and
that ain't too shabby.

With the right premium bullet, I wouldn't be
hesitant to take on an elk with it. If
ANYTHING in this country has greatly improved
the last 10 years, it is bullets, and some
of them make great "equalizers" for many of
the smaller bores.

There is absolutely nothing I regret about
my .25-06's, other than selling one when times
were rough in the '70's. It is a great
cartridge. (Just wish powder wasn't so
expensive!)

But then again you neck it up to .264 and you no longer have a 25-06.
Arguing about ballistics can be arduous. However, I would venture that most folks here shoot game at ranges and with such rifles that bc's to a large degree, are irrelevant.
GWB

Geedubya---I guess I expressed myself in a confusing manner. What I'm saying is that personally I do like the .257 Roberts better than 25-06. Nothing against the 25-06 fans--but for me I'd take the .270 over it. I also like 30-06 and would take it over any of the .300 mags. Wasn't taking anybody to task---felt like you were me. What do I know? The ones I wouldn't buy (except a real good deal)seem to be selling pretty good. Then again there are teams besides the Dallas Cowboys to root for? Why would anyone do that?

Carpteman1
No problem there guy.
No harm, no foul, and no "deleted expletives" were flung during the discussion.
Welcome to the forum, and best to you and yours this holiday season.
GWB

Geedubya---Thanks for the welcome. Actually I been around since 2003. I needed to enter my password and it would not accept what I thought to be my password. I clicked on "forgot password" and it let me know that nobody had that EMAIL address I listed. I had changed ISP's several years ago and no longer have the EMAIL address I registered with. They could not send a password to my new email address??? Even Saaed. So I started over.

Carpetman1,

Same thing happened to me. I had been mostly lurking and posting now and then. I think I first found out about the forum around 1999 or 2000. Don't even remember my handle from back then its been so long.
GWB

Because it has killed 13 mule deer bucks, 3 antelope, 1 bull elk and too many rockchucks to even begin to think about counting all with 1 shot using Hornady 100 SP with 57gr,/H4831 at distances of 75 to over 250 yards.

Geedubya--I started off at the now shut down Shooters back in 1998 and have been here since I think 2003.

carpetman1,
Lots of good guys and good information here. I've met and hunted with a number of guys here I've met on the forum. Due to my conservative proclivities, I've got to where I have very little interest in TV. I find that reading on the internet and posting on forums such as this, 24hour, Texaspredatorposse, etc. is an enjoyable way to pass time.
Looking forward to readiing your posts.
GWB

I appreciate the responses guys. I'm getitng one but wanted to see what your thoughts were. I have lots of other cals and really have found the 30-06AI and 270win are my go to's.!!

One can never have enough rifles!!!!

better yet.. why not a 25-06 one of the best whitetail rounds, around,, beside my .260 rem. the 270 , 280 & 30-06 are boat anchers when it comes to white tail. to much gun..

Never designed to handle a 145gr. bullet. roger

Bartche, What makes 145 magical?

quote:

Originally posted by bartsche:
Never designed to handle a 145gr. bullet. roger

That's right. Let's see..... a 145gr bullet in
.257 caliber. Nope......it's a rifle, not a
missile launcher.