[tackleberry45]

I am very new to this. Just got a Mossy 590 for turkey. As a general pupose first time rifle is .25-06 a good start to take North American game. Nothing fancy , I just want a starting point and then build from there.

[Ridgerunner665]

As good as any...better than most.

I always had good luck with Hornady ammo...(117 grain BTSP bullets)

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

Yes it surely is a good caliber choice, except that you might arguably want to go a tad bigger (like .270 win) IF:
-you are going to go after Elk/ Moose or larger first, or
-you are going to after Elk/Moose or larger eventually, AND this is your one and only rifle to cover the bases (i.e. you won't ever have a budget to get a second rifle with scope, etc.)

Having said that, .25-06 will work well for elk & moose with proper bullet selection. In fact, it's arguably one of the best if not the best "Just one" caliber for all hunting needs. It's a jack-of-all-trades; master-of-none kind of cartridge. It really depends on how many total rifles you think you'll end up with - if the answer is one, there's probably nothing better as an "only" cartridge for both hunting and long range varminting.

It's an excellent very long range cartridge as well, provided your rifle and you are accurate.

[Shawnee]

+1 for the .25/06 if it is to be a "one and only" rifle.

I couldn't tell it any better than "Sauce" and "Ridgerunner" did.

:cool:

[Loyalist Dave]

Just a start? I know several hunters who started with one, and never went any farther. Shoots flat, known to be accurate in factory barrels and factory ammo, hits hard, recoil isn't bad.

LD

[tackleberry45]

Thanks to all of the above. I will expand eventually but this is my first baby step into this. I have doen some online research and there is a very wide breadth of ammo selection for this rifle. Any suggestions ont he actual rifle itself to start with?? From a cost perspective I was thinking Savage.

[interlock]

I THINK THAT ALL NEW RIFLES ARE GOOD. remmy, ruger, savage, cz, howa, browning, miruko (m bolt- a real dark horse).

maybe a little used 2nd hand one might be a good bet. 25-06 is a great calibre and whilst not setting the great calibre debate going again might i suggest you look at .270win and 7mm08 rem.

interlock

[Shawnee]

If you're thinking this rifle might be "one of two" I would suggest you make the first rifle a .243, and later when you're ready to hunt something larger than deer, get either a .270 or a 7mm/08.

The .243 is a fantastic deer cartridge and also a superb "varmint" cartridge. It has the advantage of being low recoil too, and that really helps for accurate shooting. It is not really a good choice for elk though.

The .270 (or 7mm/08) picks up where the .243 leaves off and you could use the .270 (or 7mm/08) for anything on the continent. Both of these calibers are great. You are more likely to find short, easy-to-carry-quick-to-use rifles (like the Remington Model Seven) in the 7mm/08. Both of these have good bullet choices and both are more of the "medium" recoil range.

Good Luck !

:cool:

[NCsmitty]

tackleberry45, the 25-06 kills deer like lightning with good bullet selection and will double nicely for varmints should you choose.
All the info that's been offered here is solid and the optional cartridges mentioned all shoot pretty close to each other.
It will boil down to what feels right in you hands, should you have a chance to shoulder a few different brands. You'll know what feels comfortable, what feels right.

NCsmitty

[MCgunner]

.25-06, .270, .280, take your pick. For game bigger than deer, I'd tend to the .280 Remington for the 7mm bullets, but it can be done with the .25-06 and a good shooter.


I always had good luck with Hornady ammo...(117 grain BTSP bullets)

The 117 grain Interlock, from experience, would be high on my list for elk hunting. It's a heckuva penetrator.

[JimKirk]

Do you reload yet? If so check out the 120gr Hornady HP for Deer. I know it's a HP but it is made for medium to large game ...shoots very very well in my 25/06 Browning ABolt...drops deer real fast!
Jimmy K

[Pokyman]

I have had a 25-06 for more than 20 yrs. Super cartridge. My experience with the cartridge on big game (deer and elk) shows that what bullets you use is very important. I started using the 100 gr. bullets. Worked well after 250 yards. Closer than that you would have severely blood shot meat on entry and the bullet sometimes would not survive to reach the lungs. I remember one mule deer killed with 100 gr. speer bullet that I killed at ~50 yds. Entry wound on the rib cage left a hole that was about the size of your fist. Bullet exploded on a rib and not even the shrapnel reached the lungs. Shock must have killed the critter. Heart was the consistency of jelly.
Went to 117 and 120 gr. bullets. Problem solved. Never did shoot through an elk, but always shot through mule deer (Hornady 117gr., remington corelokt 120 gr.)
If you plan on deer sized animals it is a super choice. For bigger game, it will do the job but would not be my first choice. I would opt for a larger caliber.

[kmrcstintn]

nice choice!!! only quam if used as a 'dual purpose' launcher (varmint & big game) is which choice is primary & selecting optics to match; here's my input from a thread dealing w/ .25 centerfire calibers:

http://www.quarterbore.com/library/articles/2506.html

http://quarterbore.com/library/articles/varminting.html

my humble setup: Savage 111G in .25-06 ('hunter' taper barrel) w/ Simmons Master Series Pro Hunter (quite a mouthful) 6 - 21 x 44 riflescope; initally purchased as a 'varminter' starter project; do not YET handload for it, but have a stash of Hornady 75gr V-Max heads for handloads;

factory 'varmint' load selected: Winchester 90gr PXP (Positive Expansion Point) -- a pre-ballisitc tip fast expansion bullet; shoots sub-2 MOA @ 200 yards when I really concentrate on trigger squeeze & breathing control;

alternate 'bigger than varmint' load selected (for whitetail): Remington 100gr CoreLokt pointed softpoint; shoots sub-1 MOA to slightly over 1 MOA @ 100 yards; point of impact is virtually the same for the two loads, so all I have to do is 'windage' correction for each selected load;

only drawback in using this setup for 'dual purpose' is the higher mangification range of the scope (6x mag power is a bit high for shots on deer 50 yards & closer); recoil is pleasant; steady eye relief on the Simmons scope is a nice feature; can't wait to develop my own loads, but I have a good stash of the Winchester PXP's to hold me for another hunting season

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

If you're thinking this rifle might be "one of two" I would suggest you make the first rifle a .243, and later when you're ready to hunt something larger than deer, get either a .270 or a 7mm/08.

I will second that!

[Sunray]

"...there is a very wide breadth of ammo selection..." It may not be readily available in Tampa though. That's usually not a big deal. Your local gun shop can get it for you. Mind you, you'll have to try a box of as many brands and bullet weights as you can to find the ammo whatever rifle you buy shoots best.

[armoredman]

I can say I just moved into a 25-06, and what a rifle! Throw in the vZ-58, and I have all bases covered I am interested in. :)

[Shawnee]

"I know several hunters who started with one, and never went any farther."


I know a couple guys like that too. The .25/06 is one of only two or three calibers that truly span the entire range between varmints and elk.

:cool:

[interlock]

25 cal ish deer rifle
the equation that we need to look at is not "what do i like best" it is "what do i want to achieve" the answer might be "to buy a rifle to efficiently kill a deer at reasonable ranges(200yds-) within the parameters of the recoil "comfortz0one"" so you need to look at how that is to be achieved. "i need to deliver a bullet to the animal that is capable of killing the animal at a speed that will allow it to work so we might look at a hunting bullet between 100-150 gr. "i want to deliver 130 gr bullet at 2800+ fps (muzzle vel) (for example)

then choose a round that gives that performance midway through it's possible bullet wieghts, that way you are more likely to get the twist rate right, or at least, close enough.

if you choose a rifle and want to shoot the heaviest bullets from it ie a .243 win and you wish to shoot 100-105 gr bullets that removes a degree of flexibility and gives a margin of error with bullet wieghts. I have a ruger that does not stabalise 105's very well at all and is just passable with 100s but excellant with 80s.

Where as my 7mm08 shoots rounds fromm 100 gr to 175 gr so 120-130-145 are well within that range and it shoots them well. I currently shoot 120 gr bullets through it. it has a really short barrell and lighter bullets mean faster powder which means better efficiency in this rifle.

Finally choose your rifle based on the bullet you want to shoot, the rifles twist rate barrel length and what you like.

If i was buying my model 7 again, i would n't. I would buy a 700 with a 24 inch barrel. this would allow me to make better use of heavier bullets and slower powders.

In my opinion the rifle is a "delivery platform" to allow you to deliver the bullet you want, where you want to and fast enough.

7mm08, 260 rem are both great rounds. 6.5 x 55 is a classic round as well. 7 x 57 mauser is another great.

i hope this explanation of my logic in round selection helps (but i doubt it)

interlock
__________________
overkill is fine; underkill, however, is not good.

Remember that you are an Englishman, and have consequently won first prize in the lottery of life.

[MCgunner]

If i was buying my model 7 again, i would n't. I would buy a 700 with a 24 inch barrel. this would allow me to make better use of heavier bullets and slower powders.

My son-in-law's heavy fluted SPS Varmint 26" barrel in .308 Winchester shoots 200 fps faster than my 20" M7 with the same load. I'd rather have the light, compact rifle, myself. To each his own. His gun weighs a ton. I wouldn't wanna tote it in rough country, be alright around here shooting from a stand.

[interlock]

McGunner,
What is that load and what powder does it burn?

interlock

[JackOfAllTradesMasterAtNone]

Shawnee in Post #8 pretty much summed it up.

My youngest boy wanted to upgrade from his .243win this winter. We researched some, and the step to 25-06 just didn't provide what we were looking for as far as a diverse role in a cartridge. Heavier bullet selection for larger game is nil. .25cal selection is slim when compaired to the .243 and .270win. Walk in to your local sports shop, do they regularly stock 25-06 cartridges? .270? 7mm-08? (another fine round)

The boy settled on .270win as his next step. Recoil will be about the same with any of the three. .270win, is the 30-06 of the sub .30 cartridges.

-Steve

[1911shooter]

The 25-06 is a fantastic caliber for a starting point. the .257 bore is a great size. the only better .25 caliber is the .257 weatherby mag i have a few of each and they will handle anything you care to hunt in the lower 48. and with the right bullet, even elk moose and yes black bears. I'm sure i will take crap for it but i said it and believe whole hartedly in my statements on the 25-06.

[Fliptop05]

I use factory Winchester 120 grain or 90 grain Positive Expansion Point ammo in my 25-06 (so I can shoot well AND create my base of once fired factory cases.
You can go online and get that ammo for 25$ a box. Buy a case.
Then, when your ready to reload, you'll have 200 "fire formed" cases to work with. And in the process you will drop any deer dead in his tracks.

You always hear stories of deer that were not found or had to be tracked for long periods. NOT WITH THOSE ROUNDS.

My 8 pointer went down so hard, his butt flew over his head (He was chasing Mrs. Deer when I lined up on him) and turned his around 180 degrees.

When you want to reload, you can use 115 grain Berger projectiles and drop elk with them at ranges you cant believe.
I have spent many hours researching the 25-06 and the Berger projectiles and it is a LEATHAL combination.
I got mine as budsgunshop.com and paid 942 for it (plus a fee to ship to an FFL holder locally).

My motto?

FIND WHAT YOU LIKE IN LIFE AND RELOAD FOR IT.

[Fliptop05]

My Remington Sendero 25-06 shoots 1" groups at 300 yards with factory ammo and a Barska 6.5 to 20 x 50mm scope (I paid 68 dollars for that scope by the way).
Factory Winchester 120 grain Positive Expansion Point cartridges.

OUT OF THE BOX.

[Shawnee]

Fliptop... I don't doubt your Sendero shoots that well because my neighbor has one in .25/06 too.
But the Sendero - without a scope and sling - weighs 8.5lbs.

That's great for varminting (as the Remington website says) but, Man, that is way heavy for deer hunting unless someone is just going to sit in a blind all day. Maybe that's what the OP intends to do, but if he ever expects to do some good old "stalk" hunting he'll think that Sendero weighs a ton in an hour.:eek:

:cool:

[ldyates]

Tikka T3 light
25-06
Hornady 117gr SST

This was my first season using this setup and I could not be happier. I put a nice Leupold Scope on it and it is dead on accurate.

Video - http://www.me.com/gallery/#100035

PS..... The first shot is mine... the 2nd was a kid that was with me using my rifle.

[Fliptop05]

I can post the target for you if you like.
If you want to call me a liar, please have the courtesy to spell it out in bold print.

As for the weight, I'm 6'2 and the size fits me PERFECTLY. Even the palm swell is perfect.

[Fliptop05]

Shawnee,
Please have the courtesy to call me a liar in so many words if that is your intent.
I have the target and measured it myself after I shot it. But if you live in the Houston area, I will be glad to go to the range with you (you buy the coffee of course) and demonstrate this ability to you.

[Shawnee]

Fliptop...

I wrote: "I don't doubt your Sendero shoots that well because my neighbor has one in .25/06 too."

So I am perplexed that you choose to interpret that to be anywhere near "calling you a liar".

And, for better or for worse, there are many around THR who will assure you that I rarely mince words.

Stand down, Amigo. ;)

:cool:

[Fliptop05]

I think it was the "I doubt your Sendero shoots that well" that gave me the impression you were "Mincing words" - as you put it.
If you can direct me as to how to post the 300 yard target I shot I can post it.

I scanned it to show my chuckin buddy in MA., just as an envy creating tool, but I measured the holes at 1" apart (3 shots, all 1" apart with a radius of 1" from COI).
If thats not a 1" group I'm sueing my elementary scholl teacher (living relatives?) for not teaching me advanced ruler analysis.

I want aware I was "Standing Up", I just dont thionk its right to tell a 49 year old man what you THINK his gun does...is all.

[Shawnee]

Fliptop...

Here it is for the THIRD time - in print even a 49-year-old should be able to read...

"I don't doubt your Sendero shoots that well because my neighbor has one in .25/06 too."


:cool:

[Scratchy]

I scored this model 700 .25-06 for $25 at a garage sale this year. The previous owner had spilled cleaning fluid on it and ruined the bluing and the finish on the Redfield 3x9. Took it home and the insides look new. I have shot 4 rounds through it to check it out but need to go to the range and see how she shoots.http://i401.photobucket.com/albums/pp91/Scratchy200/DSCN1388.jpg

[Fliptop05]

My Mistake, I apologize.


Hey nice gun.
$25? WOW, you can have it glass bedded, floated, cryogenic treated, and STILL make money on it if you sell it.

I suggest rying the Winchester 90 grain Positive Expansion Point ammo and the 120 grain version of the same load (120s hit slightly to the right of the 90s in my gun but same height - go figure).

You can get the X-Mark pro trigger installed, I HIGHLY recommend that trigger - it breaks like glass and can be adjusted down to 2.5 lbs of pull readily by yourself. I have the instructions if you need them, and did it on my gun already.

[Fliptop05]

You can put a new barrel on it in a 30" Kreiger and get 3650 from the Berger 115 grain VLD projectiles. One blogger posted an 1100 yard wood chuck kill with that round out of that barrel.

I would run several patches of Accuracy Restorer through it, to get to the bottom of the bore, inspect the throat, then try some factory ammo (Winchester PEP rounds go off at 25 a box in Sports Authority). If it dont shoot well, get it rebarrelled and make it a top shelf deer/varmint getter.
good luck

[Fliptop05]

Some light sanding and lindseed oil should bring that stock RIGHT back.

[Big Bill]

Every other long gun that I have will go before my Ruger M77 Mark II in .25-06 (and my Winchester Model 94 - pre 1964 - of course).

[kmrcstintn]

I suggest rying the Winchester 90 grain Positive Expansion Point ammo and the 120 grain version of the same load (120s hit slightly to the right of the 90s in my gun but same height - go figure).


+1 on the Winchester 90gr PXP's...under 2" @ 200 yards off a bench & sandbag from my Savage 111; you might want to try Remington 100gr CoreLokts as a light deer load; my rifle puts the Remingtons @ 100 yards to virtually the same POI as the Winchesters do @ 200 yards; the only thing I need to do is slight LEFT-RIGHT adjustments for windage

as far as the trigger...find a good competent gunsmith that performs trigger enhancements on Remmy 700's; I had my late model 700 SPS smoothed and set @ 3.5# and it breaks faster than my unintentional tendency to jerk the trigger