Greetings,

The Gun Bug has bitten and I cant shake the urge. On the prowl for a new "shootin iron".

Have always been curious about a 25-06. Probably would be used for coyotes, varmits, Speed goats and deer in the West.
Bench shooting and paper punching. Have never shot one.
I have a .243 and 30.06 among others so its not a matter of "need".

I would like to here your opinions, pro's and con's of this caliber. And reloading is not an issue.

Thanks.

While I prefer the 257R loaded to 25-06 pressure I do have 2 25-06's I happen to use 85 and 115gr silver tips. Powders in the RL-22, 7828, MRP spped range. I would at least go with a 24" barrel.

The 25-06 will give you a range gain over your 243 and let you hit a little harder. The 243 will have less recoil and burn less powder.

I sure like mine. I have taken several deer with it and wouldn't be afraid to try bear or elk with the right premium bullet. It moves out right smartly and is also an excellent antelope cartridge.

I only shoot deer with mine normally 2-300 each year with the 25-06 as I also have a 243 300wsm and 270 but the 25-06 is the go to rifle.

Cons bullet selection but when you realise that all you need are 115gr BT's or CT Ballistic Tips them it is no longer a con

quote:

Originally posted by G.Hansen:
I had the same problem-saw it and had to have it. But now, the number of rifles you'll own will be out of balance and you'll need something in the .41's (maybe a .375 H&H) to return order to the universe. That's the way of it...

Plenty of archived information on the .25's if you use the search feature... and you'll LIKE what you find!!

Thanks,
you made me chuckle
i believe I am out of balance right now for even thinking about one.
I will do some search and reading on this.

All things 25 are the loves of my life. That said, the 25/06 is my GO-TO. I have two; a Savage 110fp for varmints and PD's and a Vanguard for deer and whatever else needs killing. There are those who find bullet choice a problem. It is not a problem for me. 100gr SMK's in the fp and 100gr Partitions in the Vanguard are the bulllets that my rifles told me they liked. Neither rifle has shot any bullet badly; the chosen were just better. The same with powders. I have tried RL19, RL22,IMR4350, but IMR4831 out shown them all. Once again none shot badly. My recommendation is "get one" and don't look back!
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

I think you'd love it! What's not to love? I have mostly loaded mine for big game but have used the Hornady 75gr HP's on coyotes wat out there and it hit 'em HARD! I've used 100gr up to 120's and on game there really isn't much difference. I've been using up mu Barnes 115gr XLC stash and will be going back to 120gr Hornady HP Interloks. They will when loaded well fly flat, don't drift much, and kill effectively when they land. You'll have a hard time recovering one.

I also love the .257 Roberts. Quarterbores rock! Nate

I was at a gun shop a few weeks back fondling a Vanguard 25-06 and a Tikka.
The dude behind the counter told me that I needed a 26" barrel in the 25-06 otherwise its not worth it.

what is the consenses on 25-06 barrel lenght?

Both my 25's have 26" barrels. With the shorter barrels you will get a little more muzzle flash and loose a foot or two in velocity. but thats about it.

While I am new to the quarterbore, I did take my first mulie with it this fall and was impressed with the upper shoulder penetration of the 117 Sierra loaded to Sierra's book max. The rifle is an older BDL with the 24" bbl. The rifle isn't a lightweight, 8 3/4lbs, so it is real pleasant to shoot. In fact I will say that if the rifle was about one pound lighter, it would be perfect for me!
I will be looking for a lighter quarterbore to haul around when a lot of hiking is planned, but I am sold on its performance on deer!

I think a 24" is long enough for the 25-06. 26" for the 257Wby

I have had one since 1973, my first ever centerfire rifle. Great cartridge for open country deer and antelope. I shoot mostly 100 grain ballistic tips with graet success, and i know several others that I hunt with that are real fans of that cartridge.

Pro's - Blaser R93 with a 25-06 Remington barrel (22.6" = 575mm barrel). Nice Boomer; add some 80 or 100 grain Barnes TTSX's and you're in "The Zone".

Con's - Yeah, I'd prefer a 24" tube but Blaser doesn't make one, so I give up a coupla fps - WTFO? Can't think of any other than a hunting weight barrel heats up real quick with rapid 5 shots groups when load testing.

do you hand load.? this is a great cartage to hand load for. I do not own one, but i load for a couple of buddies of mine. usually the 117 sierra spbt. one of my buddies that has a 25-06 shot my .260 Remington 2 year ago and now he is trying to buy it.

quote:

Originally posted by mrbofus:
Greetings,

The Gun Bug has bitten and I cant shake the urge. On the prowl for a new "shootin iron".

Have always been curious about a 25-06. Probably would be used for coyotes, varmits, Speed goats and deer in the West.
Bench shooting and paper punching. Have never shot one.
I have a .243 and 30.06 among others so its not a matter of "need".

I would like to here your opinions, pro's and con's of this caliber. And reloading is not an issue.

Thanks.

Recoil and report is about the same as a 7mm Rem Mag (and 30-06 in the same bullet weight class). The 25-06 is flat shooting, accurate in a good gun and barrel. I have no complains about.

The 3rd, 4th, and 5th deer I ever shot were slain with a .25-06 (back when it was still a wildcat). That gun had a 26" #3 contour Douglas barrel. I don't believe I ever have been without at least one .25-06 since then.

My current favorite one is a Ruger No. 1-V. I would like it even better if was a No. 1-S with a 26" barrel, but it has an early Ruger med-heavy 24" barrel (somewhat lighter profile than today's No. 1-V). Still works fine, though.

I used to prefer it with 130 grain bullets, but haven't been able to get those very easily for the last 30 years or so.

Thanks again for all the input.

2 more questions
1) most all the 25-06's I look at have 22-24" barrels. Any regular off the shelf gun manufacturer make the 25-06 in a 26" barrel.

and

2) Is it possible and achievable to load a 30-06 with say 120-130 gr bullets and achieve close to or equal results providing accuracy can be obtained?

Off hand I don't know of a 26" factory. Heck most factory even barrel the 257Wby and 264 at 24" or less.

Sure you can get the same velocity with a light 30-06 that you get from a heavy 25-06. You have a major apple and orange.

Remember a 25-06 max pressure 65,000 the 30-06 is 60,000 so you would need to load them to the same pressure (no big deal). Actually QL says I can get 100 fps more from a 125 06 than a 115 25-06 loaded to the same pressure.

Point blank ranges are within 5yds the 06 will be 1"+ lower at 400yds 3" at 500yds and more at longer range as the higher BC of the 115 kicks in. Major issue I see is the 115gr 257 bullet is normally heavier construction than the 125gr 308. You are comparing a big game 257 bullet with a varmint or plinking bullet in the 306.

Same weight bullets you can normally get a higher velocity with a larger bore all else equal.

My OPINION is worth zero--obviously I am clueless. This is very obvious by the degree of popularity of the 25-06. Remington could see it; else they wouldn't have adopted the wildcat back in late 60's. To me, maybe it was a fine answer, but there was no question. What will the 25-06 do that a .270 wont do better? (I'm not Jack O'Connor and I have no .270) Recoil is about identical, but the 25-06 seems more blasty to me. No gain there. Then you say the same about a .270 compared to a 30-06 and you already have a 30-06. You don't need a 25-06. You need a .223 or a .222. The deer rifles of choice for folks in the know. (Where's Kabluey?)

quote:

Originally posted by ramrod340:
Off hand I don't know of a 26" factory. Heck most factory even barrel the 257Wby and 264 at 24" or less.

Major issue I see is the 115gr 257 bullet is normally heavier construction than the 125gr 308. You are comparing a big game 257 bullet with a varmint or plinking bullet in the 306.

Very good points,
Thank you.
So the 26" must not be "that" critical in the 25-06 or it would be more available, right?

quote:

Originally posted by carpetman1:
My OPINION is worth zero
you already have a 30-06. You don't need a 25-06. You need a .223 or a .222. The deer rifles of choice for folks in the know. (Where's Kabluey?)

Hey now, your opinion is worth something,
If I didnt want "opinions" I would not have asked the question.

Its not a matter or "need". As I stated the GUN BUG HAS BITTEN.
I have a .204 and a 300 WM with a few others inbetween so NO I dont really "need" anything else.
My other justification is that I still have a few empty slots in the gun safe.......

Thanks for your input.

quote:

Originally posted by mrbofus:
Very good points,
Thank you.
So the 26" must not be "that" critical in the 25-06 or it would be more available, right?

The barrel lengths manufacturers offer are generally just whatever their standard is rather than what is best for the cartridge the gun is chambered for. If I were building a .25-06, I'd probably build it with a 26" or even a 28" barrel, but I wouldn't let a shorter barrel stop me from buying a factory rifle that I liked.

There are a few guns chambered for .25-06 with 26" barrels. Savage makes one, and so does Ruger. I don't know about Remington or Winchester.

Mr bofus--I guess I should apply your logic--need has nothing to do with it. I shoot airguns and the 5mm .20 cal is my favorite. To me the best of both worlds between the .22's and the .177's. For that reason I do think I'd like a .204, but having .222 and .223 can't justify it's need. I guess I should just get one and to be honest if the CZ didn't have the backwards safety issue, I'd probably already have one. What town in Idaho?

Longer barrels means higher velos all other things being equal...I like 26" - 28" bbls and almost all my rifles sport 26" tubes...

A 26" 257 Roberts will have very close to the same velocity, bullet for bullet, as a 24" 25-06...discounting the differences in barrel constriction...

I LIKE 25-06'S...I've had 4 - 25-06's and all but the last had 26" bbls, the last is a Sav Axis which is so screwed up and flexible at the grip I could move the cross hairs 4-6" just by gripping. I also have/had several 250 Sav and Sav AI and also think the 257 Roberts is excellent also.

The "best" and most accurate 25-06 I had was a Rem Sendero...I had 4 loads for it. The 75 VM, 100 gr Horn SP and Nosler and the 120 gr Horn...all loads were bugholers for 5 shots minimum and everyone chronoed above published velos, but every load would go 20 reloads per case minimum with Redding Bushing FL dies that fit the chamber perfectly.

BUT...the 25-06 is no better or worse than any other cal from 6mm to 7mm...just depends on your personal bias.

Shoot 75 gr VM's at max velo, get the barrel hot and your barrel life goes to heck on the express elevator. Shoot 100-120 gr's up near the top and keep the barrel cool and it will last several lifetimes.

100-120 gr bullets are my choices for varmints through Elk, but that doesn't mean it is an Elk gun per se...it means I know how to shoot and more importantly, WHEN to shoot and when NOT TO. That also means I don't use it often for Elk as I have larger calibers for that size animal.

It will kill ANYTHING you point it at using the correct bullet, within reasonable ranges, placing the bullet where it will kill quickly...screw up and you have a mess on your hands...no different than any other rifle.

Way in the bad old days when I used to chrono any rifle/pistol a person cared to be chrono'ed at the range, I ran into lots of problems with variations in barrel length, reloading and printed ballistics. Almost came to blows with a guy and his 24" 264 WM...all the published data at that time was totally bogus and the velocity numbers in many cases, came from a Universal receiver and a 30" bbl...his favorite reload chrono'ed some 250fs less than what the manual AND Winchester claimed...his "magnum" was basically a 6.5-06...that didn't set too well with him.

A combination of 24" bbl and his reload, Madison Ave lies and the BS coming from the gun rags had him believing things not true and total disappointment when his bubble was burst.

I NEED GUNS...the more the merrier...doesn't matter the caliber, I cover the whole caliber range almost...and the only excuses I need for doing a new one is "the Sun came up", "I'm hungry", "it's today", "I woke up", "I'm still breathing"..."let's do something I don't have"..."just because".

Luck

All my rancher friends in Wyoming use the 25-06 on everything including elk and Moose..They never complain..They kill a lot of game every year with it..I have only shot Mule deer with it but I have killed a number of elk with the 250-3000 without complaint, even a few with the 25-35 when I was a kid and it did them in as well...

Bottom line is good bullet placement and the use of good bullets.

I have shot as many deer through a standard Sako factory barrel 22 7/8" IIRC

as I have though the 26" Bartlien 5r that now is fitted the only difference is the numbers on the crono the deer didn't seem to notice.

i love quarters .. my fav is a 257bob my wife bought me 20 some years ago...

first question...

are you a reloader?
if yes, get it, and load it down to 257bob.. and have low recoil

if not? get a 270

quote:

Originally posted by jeffeosso:
i love quarters .. my fav is a 257bob my wife bought me 20 some years ago...

first question...

are you a reloader?
if yes, get it, and load it down to 257bob.. and have low recoil

if not? get a 270

I personally dont reload but my good friend and hunting partners loads for me.

I just aquired a 7mm-08 so the 270 is a whole 'nother debate.

About 6 months ago I passed on a 257bob. Kinda wished I hadnt now.

I have a 25'06, 3 257 Roberts, & a 250 Savage.. I love the Roberts but if I didn't reload I'd just own a 25'06.

quote:

Originally posted by FOOBAR:


I NEED GUNS...the more the merrier...doesn't matter the caliber, I cover the whole caliber range almost...and the only excuses I need for doing a new one is "the Sun came up", "I'm hungry", "it's today", "I woke up", "I'm still breathing"..."let's do something I don't have"..."just because".
Luck

You ARE truly one of us, aren't you?

That same list explains why my wife used to almost live at the Biltmore Fashion Square here in Scottsdale...and matches size for size with my own gun addiction. I'll add one more..."I'm Bored; think I'll go somewhere and buy a gun."

BTW, my wife no longer lives at the Biltmore. Now, it's "fancy" horses and the stables. You want a spouse with a hobby which will cost you your shorts and everything else.....try getting her interested in horses.

After further review,
The 25-06 is quickly moving up the "want" list.
Although my shooting partner just purchased a weatherby .257 and I am sure i will be shooting it this weekend. (might confuse me even more)

Thanks again for the input. I value your opinions.

I have three 25-06's and a 257Wby. The 25-06's are great for thickets--enough power with the right bullet and muzzle blast not so bad that it runs the deer out of the area. I use the 257Wby for open fields and longer shots---the muzzle blast is much louder that the 25-06's.

OK,
So exploring options in my price range and looking for at least a 24" barrel this is what I found in no particular order.

Ruger M77 Hawkeye 24"
Winchester Model 70 24"
Remington 700 SPS 24"
Weatherby Vanguard 24"
Thompson Center Venture 24"
Browning X Bolt 24"

and Savage long Rang Hunter model 111 with 26".

I personally havent been a fan of Ruger.
Havent looked at Winchester or Brownings for a few years
Have owned Remingtons and Vanguards
and am intriged with the Thompson Venture

Alot is personal preference,I realize this, but anyone care to share your experiences with any/all above mentioned rifles?

I've had a Rem 700 Sendero, Win 70 and currently 3 Thompson Encores. The Remington and Winchester shot great, the Encores took a little loading effort to find loads they liked. I had much better results with 100gr bullets in all of them over heavier bullets. The Remington had a 26" barrel and everything else has been 24". Unless you are shooting long range over fields, the 24" will work very well. I use the Encores because their short overall length makes them very handy in small ground blinds in thickets and are very easy to shoot right or left handed as needed.

This is a little off topic, but I would like to thank you guys for mentoning the T/C Venture.

Somehow it had previously escaped my attention that the Venture even exists. So, I went to the T/C home site and looked at it. I think I've got to have one of those, or maybe more than one. Possibly not in .25-06, but they are made in enough different cartridges that something else might be worth owning too, or instead.

What is the .30 T/C? Anyone know?

I found very early on that the 25-06 is one of the most underrated cartridges out there!
It gives 'magnum' performance in a standard bottleneck case, and is superbly accurate way out yonder!
I have 3 25-06 rifles, and they're all very accurate, moreso than some of my dedicated target cartridges/rifles, in fact!

It also kills animals far bigger than it should, according to 'paper ballistics'. All 3 of my rifles shoot superbly with the Nosler 110gr Accubond, and that's all they get fed!

I made/tested my own loads using RE25, it is far superior to any other powder giving me 100-200fps more velocity with normal pressures, and yes, I do have a "Pressure Trace II" system to test my loads.