25/06 Pro's and Con's

[brent19]

Would like to hear everybodys opinion on this caliber that has one. Thought about buying one this year. Thanks

[wormy8378]

Brent man I love mine I have shot 3 deer with it using 115 gr. win. silver tips. 2 of the deer were between 180-210 yards never ran farther than 30 yards, shot one yote only about 40 yards. Only thing I see about it is I think 120 gr is the highest you can get. Recoil is not bad. I would recommend it.
Wormy

[cornbread]

Good flat shooting round for deer or pronghorn. I would not use it on anything larger.

[WhiteRubi]

I shot a deer that was 225 lbs field dressed a few years ago with a 25-06. It managed to get about 15 yards before it dropped dead.

To me, it's a great round for whitetail, pronghorn, and other medium sized game. It could also be used very effectively for coyote.

There are better dedicated rounds out there, but it all depends on what you want to do with it. If you ever plan to hunt mule deer and/or elk, you may consider a .270 or .300 win mag.

Unfortunately there is always a compromise if you want it to do more than one thing. ;)

[C.L.Button]

I looked very hard at this caliber. I really liked it but went just a tad bigger with a 7mm-08. Main reason was I already have a .243. ;)

[daking]

In my experience there are no good calibers, nor are there any bad calibers. CL gave you good advice he said that he went for the 7/08 because he has a 243.

His advice?

What he was really saying is "what do you have and what do you need?"

If you are looking for a groundhog gun, I'd have to say that you're a little over-gunned with the 25/06. Not that it won't work great, but there is a better light bullet selection in the 556 and 6 mm range. Do you need a deer rifle? There are better choices in the 27, 7mm and 308 categories. Do you want one rifle that will give you versitility? Then the 25/06 is a fine choice. Plenty fast. It has loads with bullets light enough to be effective whistle pig stoppers and heavy enough to anchor bambi. I wouldn't choose it for an elk gun or to hunt bears. It wouldn't be my first choice for a brush gun. There's a lot of stuff it doesn't do best, but there's also a whole lot of stuff that it does pretty daggone well.

If I had one knock on the 25/06 it would be that the old '06 case necked down to .25 is a whole lotta case for a small bullet. That's all in the realm of theory, though. Only an old rifle crank would even consider that.

If you're looking for a rifle for varmints, take a look at the sixes. If you're going to hunt deer and bigger, take a look at the 27's through 30's. If you're looking for something that will get most jobs around here done really well, you may have hit the jackpot. All that said, the most important feature of any rifle is confidence. Whatever you buy, shoot it enough so you automatically know what it's gonna do when you pull the trigger. Confidence is the best feature on any rifle and there's only one way to get it.

Let us know what you get. You're going to have to work really hard to make a mistake.

[C.L.Button]

Yah that's what I said. THANKS :D

[daking]

I didn't mean to put words in your mouth. I should have said "I think what CL may be saying". Bad form on my part.

[C.L.Button]

I didn't mean to put words in your mouth. I should have said "I think what CL may be saying". Bad form on my part.

No biggie Terry. I was laughing when I read it. I actually thought you put it better than me. I was running Mario's on English day. LMAO :D

[raktrakr]

Pros: good gun on deer sized game and varmints,a good youth gun,light on the shoulder
Cons: you'll get blasted by your friends for using a "wussy" gun

[thirtytwoteeth]

Brent19, check this out:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/why_25-06.htm

[C.L.Button]

Brent19, check this out:
http://www.chuckhawks.com/why_25-06.htm

That's great IF you reload and can build all those different loads. However if you buy factory ammo you are VERY limited with this caliber. ;)

[aceoky]

That's great IF you reload and can build all those different loads. However if you buy factory ammo you are VERY limited with this caliber. ;)

Not to mention, location is important to consider, while that article mentions elk hunting a 25/06 is NOT legal for Elk in KY (and other states as well, many states have a min. that it won't "make") something else to consider (in Ky it's a .277 MIN caliber for elk....270 cal and Larger IOW)....:)


Still it's a great round, especially in a 24" or longer tube......and with today's bullets and powders even better than it used to be (which IS saying a great deal IMO)

[C.L.Button]

Good point Ace. I don't think it is legal in Colorado either. I don't remember anything about downrange ballistics on this caliber ? It sounds to be a great Antelope cal but how much knock down power does it have at 300yds+? Compared to a 270, 7mm08, or 280 ? Multi got a chart ?

[aceoky]

how much knock down power does it have at 300yds+? Compared to a 270, 7mm08, or 280 ?

Pretty much "identical" to a 270 using 130 grain bullets......I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a 'lope @ 400 yards with one given proper conditions (knowing what was beyond, wind speed not too much (crosswind) etc.etc)

That is with using "good" bullets for the job..... :)

I don't have a chart in front of me, but I know what they'll do, and my wife "almost" ended up with one, but the 7mm-08 seemed a much better choice, legal for Elk "everywhere", able to use heavier bullets, and the 7mm bullets available, really "sealed the deal" for us.....(she is still considering a 25/06 barrel for her Encore though) :cool:

[C.L.Button]

I agree on the 7mm08 deal. That's also why I bought Katie one. She can hunt anything, anywhere in the lower 48. She uses 120gr or 140gr out past 400yds. ;) I'm still considering buying a 25-06 cause I got a spot in the safe for it. :D

[RDL270]

CL buy one..its death on pigs. LOL.

My son shoots one, as well as a friend of mine. I love the cartridge and would like to have one myself. Its on the list of calibers I'll buy.

[jeffb]

I bought a 25/06 for my son to use for deer, but now find that if I am hunting without him I grab it instead of my 270. Will handle any deer around here with good shot placement at distances most people can hope to hit what they are aiming at. I shoot the Winchester Silvertips and get groups better than I can get from the 270. It is a joy to shoot and I think you would enjoy it. Now that I am not a "young buck" I find that the lighter "wussie" calibers are much more enjoyable to handle and shoot than the big "he-man" magnums I used to think I needed.

[Turkin8or]

For many years my dad was a gun dealer, this gave me an outlet to always have a availability of "loaner" guns to try out. I have shot more calibers than I can list here, and I must say that the 25-06 is the best one I ever found for shooting whitetails. True, it is not an elk gun, but I don't shoot elk or elephants with it, just deer. I have a 7 mm mag and when I go for elk, I use that. Having both guns, I realize that the 7 is not necessary for deer. i have shot some with it, but it just kicks harder and doesn't kill them any more efficiently. The 25 seems to be the best balance of speed and power, and more importantly , it shoots dead nuts FLAT. I have shot several deer at over 300 yards with no hold over and they never went over 10 yds. using the Nosler partition 117 grain bullet. I have also killed three deer with it that weighed 190+ field dressed and they all dropped in their tracks.
So my thoughts are:if you want an elk gun, by an elk gun. But if you want a hard hitting, flat shooting gun for whitetails, try you a 25-06, you won't be disappointed!

[brent19]

Thnaks guys i really appreciate your responses!!!! Brent

[skeeter]

I use a Remington 25-06 For years and EVERYTHING that Ive shot at and HIT, it has gone DOWN . The only thing I cant say is how far I can reach out . Everthing that Ive got was at or less than 60yrds. I always use Winchester 115gr. Ballistic silvertips PS: I give this caliber three thimbs up

[EKUgrad]

I have used a .25-06 for almost 20 years now, and everything that I hit with it has died in short order. Several deer, groundhogs, and a couple of cattle running canines have felt its sting. I think that it is a fine gun and you will not be disappointed with it.