Yesterday I went out looking at rifles and fell in love with the Ruger M77 Target model. I was looking for a .260 Rem but this model isn't offered in that chambering. I considered the .243 but from what I've read .243's are barrel burners and are much harder on barrels. So that leaves me considering the .25-06 for a longer range target gun. Recoil was a consideration but given the extra heft and weight of the target model I don't think it will be as bad, and from what I've seen of ballistics charts the .25-06 should be flatter shooting than the .308 I was initially considering. I do handload and I know there isn't as wide of a bullet selection in .25 caliber but there are some good ones out there.
My main question is, what is the typical barrel life of a .25-06? I also have a Remington 700 in .270, can the .25-06 do anything the .270 can't as far as ballistics and range?

I'm a big .25 caliber fan. I've used the .257 Weatherby, the .25-06 Remington, the .257 Roberts, the .257 Roberts AI, and the 25 WSSM. If you take care of your barrel by proper cleaning and not over-heating during a session the .25-06 will last several thousand rounds. The .25-06 is a better dual purpose varmint/big game cartridge than the .270 Winchester because it has lighter for caliber bullets available. As a varmint gun the .25-06 can push a 75 grain bullet to 3700+ fps compared to the 100 grain .277" bullet to 3400+ fps.

....By the way, I just handled the Ruger M77 Target model in .25-06 and thought it was a dandy as well.

That was my first centerfire purchace on my own I was 13. I bought a Ruger 77 in 1988 itserved me well on yotes, deer and hogs. I'm a gun whore by nature but that 25-06 seems to stick around in the safe even though the bolt is on the wrong side.

Ed

quote:

Originally posted by Buliwyf:
I'm a big .25 caliber fan. I've used the .257 Weatherby, the .25-06 Remington, the .257 Roberts, the .257 Roberts AI, and the 25 WSSM. If you take care of your barrel by proper cleaning and not over-heating during a session the .25-06 will last several thousand rounds. The .25-06 is a better dual purpose varmint/big game cartridge than the .270 Winchester because it has lighter for caliber bullets available. As a varmint gun the .25-06 can push a 75 grain bullet to 3700+ fps compared to the 100 grain .277" bullet to 3400+ fps.

+1.

25-06 is a better choice for you than a 270 IMO.

Try it, you'll like it.

I've got a 243, 25-06, and a 270. The 25-06 seems to have the best ballistics. Recoil falls in between the two. It's my new go to rifle for varmints, antelope, and deer.

For the informal target shooting that I think you have in mind, that 25-06 would do fine. Just not as many really high BC bullets available as in 6.5 (not too many available in .270 either). But, Berger does make a 115gr VLD in .257 with a .523 BC. That should take you as far as you want to go. As was stated earlier, as long as you don't get that barrel too hot, it should last you a while. Have fun!

John

Thanks I'm not looking for a dedicated bench rifle at this point, I just want something I can grab on the weekends and bust a few milk jugs from 500 yards. I shot my .270 this morning a few times and that thing is just too brutal for a target rifle. Its an older, lighter 700 ADL with a wooden butt plate and it just hurts when that thing goes off. I should install a limbsaver pad to help lessen the shock. As long as the .25-06 doesn't kick that hard I should be ok.

Sure, on the one hand a .25-06 will have somewhat reduced recoil compared to your .270. On the other hand, it is fairly similar in the full spectrum. You could consider simply investing in a proper recoil pad and some 'reduced loads'(aka managed recoil) for the .270. You might also want to consider something else a bit different, such as .257 Roberts, .250 Savage or .260 Rem.

The .243's reputation for eating barrels isn't really deserved. It isn't very overbore - 20% less so than the 25-06 and slightly less so than the .270 even.

But a low recoil target/varmint gun gets shot hot and shot often - by shooters running max loads who call it shot out when a 1/2 MOA barrel turns into a 1 MOA barrel.

I own both 243s and a 25-06. For just busting targets at 500 yards the 243 is much more fun. And a barrel eater, well it's less a barrel eater than a 25-06. The 243 has a much better selection of high bc match and hunting bullets, less appetite for powder, less recoil and alot less muzzle blast. My 243s get shot while the 25-06 stays in the safe. If the 25 had'nt been a gift from my father it would have been traded off years ago.

What kind of barrel life do you typically see on a .243? I've read they only average 1,000 to 1,500 rounds.

In any chambering , as a handloader , you have some control over barrel life. For example if you shoot really fast loads with light for caliber bullets , you will get more friction , more powder burning while going down the barrel.
That creats more heat. I like both the 25,06 and the .243 , But both are capable of otstanding accuacy.
And neither recoil much at all. If you pick a 25,06. (my preference) shoot bullets in the 115 and 120 class.
I would start with a 115 grain balistic tip, or mabye a 120 grain Sierra hollow point.
There are several 117s from siera and hornady. Also the 115 grain berger should all be capable of giving you great groups.
My personal 25,06 is a Custom, Built on a MK 10. It has a 26 inch douglas barrel and a laminated boyds thumb hole stock.
I could not get it to shoot with the really slow powders, like RL 22 and 25. But when I switched to RL-19 and IMR-4350, IT turned in much thighter groups.
I might recomend you try a boyds laminate stock for your .270. Mine is prety heavy and with a recoil pad , you should have little trouble shooting your .270.
...tj3006