I would like to call on the expertise and knowledge of fellow board members.

I have my eyes on a really neat rifle in 25-06- trouble is, it has a 19 inch barrel, which I don't get...I thought the 25-06 needs a 24 inch barrel to get the performance one should out of the caliber (according to what I have read).

Any ideas on the performance of the caliber in a 19 inch barrel- it will have reduced velocity and performance - but to what extent?

I like the rifle itself- workmanship, etc. and would use it to play around with at the range and whitetails- max shot 200 yards when hunting pastures, but most much closer- tree stands in the woods.

Any input or ideas would be appreciated.

Thank you

Well 200 yards and less, it would not make much of a difference at all.

You'd lose probably close to 200 fps going to a 19" barrel though.

A 19" barrel on a 25-06 seems quite out of place to me, but that's just my opinion. If I were going to have that short of a barrel in a quarter-bore, I'd opt for something like a 250 Savage.

To get the most out of the 25-06, a 24 or even a 26" barrel is what I'd recommend. But if the gun is a bargain and you don't mind a bit of muzzle blast, it will certainly suffice for the 200 yard shooting you mentioned.

19" 25-06? Sounds like a Sako carbine. I would only do it if you are a collector or you just want the rifle. IMO, the 25-06 likes 24-26 inch barrels. Anything less, you might as well have a 257 Bob or 250 Sav. Lou

Tell us more about the rifle.

My wife used a 18" barreled Rem Mod 7 in 243 quite a bit.

She shot deer and antelope from 250 to 350 yards with no problems.

That little rifle was very accurate.

What Bobby Tomek and Dr. Lou said!! Although the 25-06 is in my opinion "GOD's Chosen Caliber" a 19" barrel would serve no rel purpose other than being an ear-splitting rifle that does not bear out the real attributes of the chambering!! The 257 Roberts or the 250 Savage could come close to approximating the performance of a "super short barreled" 25-06 without the recoil or the noise and performance would not suffer greatly at the 200 yard ranges you will be using the rifle in. The rifle would be pretty much a definitely "one of a kind" as the chambering was made for the longer barrels and slow burning powders. If today's powders had been available way back when the 25-06 was first thought of it would be even more popular that it is today. GHD (Pastor at the Church of GHD and the 25-06) PS:The 243 is not in the same category as the 25-06's!

it would be like having a 257 roberts i ain't heard no bad about that.
might have some muzzle blast,you could probably fix that with powder selection and bullet weight.

Yes you all are correct, a Sako Carbine- a neat little rifle. I was told by the seller that it would mimic 257 Roberts performance, which is fine- but I would not be too wild about a big loud muzzle blast- bummer, I otherwise really like the rifle......

Thank you all very much!

If you had a 24" barrel would you load it 4 grains short of powder? Same difference. Will it kill? Hell yes. It's a high powered rifle. Just short of full potential.

I think folks get too concerned about short barrels. There's something to be said for the handling characteristics of a carbine and carbines have been chambered for just about every cartridge conceivable.

Yes the .25-06 would be better in a 24" barrel, so what? The .250 Savage has been killing deer and varmints for almost a century now and a short barreled .25-06 will still out perform a 24" .250-3000 and then some.

Have at it. It's a fine way to put venison in the freezer and coyote pelts in the bag for the fur traders.

19 inch barrel on a 25-06.....silly,....just plain silly.

If you like it get it. The 25/06, imo, is one of the best. As for the short barrel, the velocity will go down the decibels will go up and it will still drop them in their tracks.

quote:

I would not be too wild about a big loud muzzle blast

Sako is a fine rifle but, IMHO, that thing would give you a whole new perspective on muzzle BLAST! I mean, like painful.

quote:

Originally posted by Jim C. <><:

quote:

I would not be too wild about a big loud muzzle blast

Sako is a fine rifle but, IMHO, that thing would give you a whole new perspective on muzzle BLAST! I mean, like painful.

Agree... my 25-06 was OK in a 24" barrel, mate had one in a 22" and blast was noticeably worse...

I shudder to contemplate the blast from a 19" barrel...

The only reason I'd buy that rifle would be for the action and stock as the base for a great project rifle.

quote:

Agree... my 25-06 was OK in a 24" barrel, mate had one in a 22" and blast was noticeably worse...

I shudder to contemplate the blast from a 19" barrel...

The only reason I'd buy that rifle would be for the action and stock as the base for a great project rifle.

I agree as well.

Thanks to all for the great information.

Keep the ear plugs handy!