25-06 vs whitetail
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Kachok
Member
25-06 has plenty of punch for deer out to any range the avarge shooter can accuratly place it. If a 115gr Ballistic Tip or 117gr SGK does not put them streight down.....you missed. Think of it as a 243 on steroids.
Pros
The 25-06 is famous for crazy high speeds and lazer flat trajectory with it's lighter bullets
Enough gun for any deer that walks, and with 120 Partitions some would even use it for elk.
Versitle varmint/deer caliber
Moderate recoil
Reputation for good accuracy
Cons
Have to handload to reach it's full potnetial, just one of those calibers that handloaders far surpass factory loadings.
Factory 115gr have no ballistic advantage over their more common 130gr 270 win rival.
Pros
The 25-06 is famous for crazy high speeds and lazer flat trajectory with it's lighter bullets
Enough gun for any deer that walks, and with 120 Partitions some would even use it for elk.
Versitle varmint/deer caliber
Moderate recoil
Reputation for good accuracy
Cons
Have to handload to reach it's full potnetial, just one of those calibers that handloaders far surpass factory loadings.
Factory 115gr have no ballistic advantage over their more common 130gr 270 win rival.
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One more question off subject but about how much money would a decent reloading set run me? I have three rifles that use a .308 Cal bullet ; 308, 30-06, 300 winny so ive been thinking it may be beneficial to start reloading as well as just having another hobby. Thank you again I really appreciate all the help!
Kachok
Member
Reloading sets can be had for pretty cheap, depending on what you are looking for, I reload only 400 or so rounds a year so I don't need a turret press or anything like that, my kit cost me $120 plus about $35 a die. Recoil is very managable even in light rilfes, expect it to kick a little less then your avarage 308. The one thing I really don't like about the 257 cal is that nobody makes ultra high BC bullets for them, factory 1:10 twist barrels won't stabalize much over 120gr, as versitle as a 25-06 is a 1:8 Twist .264 cal makes it look like a one trick pony.
Wow I've never looked into the price before but I admit that's quite a bit less than I expected. I was thinking upwards of 500-600. I don't need anything fancy either. So basically I need to make sure the twist rate is 1 in 10"? Thanks again, you've been more than helpful.
Kachok
Member
Not a problem, BTW nearly all 257 cals are 1:10, I have never seen one in any other twist rate, not like the 7mms or 30 cals that change company by company. I don't care what any magnum junkie says the quarter bore makes for a fantastic deer round, if you roll your own might I recomend you get a box of 115gr ballistic tips, I use them in every caliber I reload for, perfect performance on deer sized game, never had to track one yet.
I have a Lee single stage works fine for low volume loading. As Kachok said there realy arnt any super high bc bullets offered for the .25s, but the standard hunting offering are pretty decent. I personaly prefer the 6.5 and 7mm diameter bullets, but I also like handloading the high BC target bullets.
Kachok
Member
Heck I like high BC hunting bullets, if there were ever a time I needed maximum energy and minimum wind drift it is when my hunt is on the line. I cannot wait to get those new 140gr BTs for my 6.5x55 they have a .509BC gatta step up to Burger VLDs to get much better then that.
Lol was "Burger" a miss type? Or the expected out come of an animal hit with one? Ive used them in a .300 and in my 7mm and its an apt description of the results...course at less then 100yds anything shy of a solids likely to have that result.
Yeah I just checked Winchester and kimber websites for twist rate. You're right both are 1 in 10. Either m70 featherweight or kimber 84L classic select. Love my m70's! And i agree with 7mm bullets, my favorite and current rifle i use in the stand is a Browning BAR in 7-08 but my buddy needs a new rifle and i plan in giving him a deal on it and that's why i figure ill try a new caliber, 25-06. But like I said I better wait a year or two before I pick one up since I'm already getting the kimber in 338 federal. Girlfriend will ground me if I come home with 2 rifles instead of the promised 1! Maybe if i sell a few first it'll be okay lol. Well thanks again guys, its way past my bedtime!
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BigN
Member
25-06 vs whitetail is not much of a contest
Youll have to wait till Kachok comes back to find out how the 115s perform, as ive never owned a .25-06. But I can tell you the Balistic tip is a Nosler bullet line, one of the first popular tipped hunting bullets. The SST was hornadys answer to the Balistic tip lol. So infact you are already likely familiar with them. If you shot them in your 7-08 the tips were red lol
Personaly ive had better luck with the noslers, and have a load for the balistic tips in every rifle i own. The 70grns are goto for my 6x47.
Personaly ive had better luck with the noslers, and have a load for the balistic tips in every rifle i own. The 70grns are goto for my 6x47.
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Yeah I used them 3 years ago in my 30-06 ,they had green tips, I think that's Nosler? 180 grainers I believe. They were hand loaded by a friend of a friend and both deer I shot that year with those loads didn't take a single step! A little more meat was ruined but that's okay because if it were a nice buck I'd rather have a DRT than a little extra meat. I could have put my fist in the exit wound if the second deer that year. Thanks again loonwulf, you've been knowledgeable on a few threads of mine. Time for me to catch some z's
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The .25-06 has been my favorite cartridge for 34 years now. Really a versatile cartridge for anything up to Elk. I've used mine mostly for ground hogs with the light bullets but have hunted deer and bear with it.
Recoil is not bad and it is a very flat shooting cartridge.
Recoil is not bad and it is a very flat shooting cartridge.
Zeke/PA
Member
My .25-'06 is a Ruger#1 Varminter that I acquired from a neighbor a few years back.
Since then, I have made several one shot kills on Beanfield Whitetails at 250+ yards, reloads of course.
Since then, I have made several one shot kills on Beanfield Whitetails at 250+ yards, reloads of course.
Kachok is right about bullets and the .257 bore. If there is one problem with the .25-06 it is the fact that there are very few high bc bullets available. Berger I believe makes a nice 115 gr bullet and Sierra produces a 90 gr with a bc of .388, these are the best.
The .25-06 is a hunting cartridge which I'm thankful for. I've enjoyed shooting mine for 34 years now.
The .25-06 is a hunting cartridge which I'm thankful for. I've enjoyed shooting mine for 34 years now.
I really like my .25-06. Very accurate and mild recoil. My old 100 grain Barnes dry film coated X-bullets are almost gone and I have to figure out what I want to load now. I am leaning to the 110 Accubonds (.418 BC) but may consider Barnes TTSX (.357) or Hornady ETip (.409).
Kachok
Member
When I say ballistic tip I am talking about the Nosler/CT, SSTs have worked for me as well, but I have used Nosler with fantastic sucess for so long it is hard to change my mainstay load. As far as the penatration I would say that through and through performance is to be expected, I don't currently hunt with a 25-06 but I have a few friends that do, and nobody has reported any issue with BT penatration. I use 120gr BTs in my 6.5 which is very similar to the speed and SD of a 115gr 25-06 and I have yet to recover a bullet, exit wounds are usualy golfball sized.
Old Dog Man
Member
25/06 bullets
Another vote for the 110gr Noz. Accubond, had used Ballistic tip before the AB came out both work very well. Even on Elk. Al
Another vote for the 110gr Noz. Accubond, had used Ballistic tip before the AB came out both work very well. Even on Elk. Al
Kachok
Member
Sure Accubonds are a great bullet, no debate on that here, I load them myself just in case elk migrate to south Alabama 
(only in my dreams) For deer though I perfer BTs higher energy transfer, moderate delayed fragmentation through the vitals and they cost half as much as the Accubonds. If someone was looking for solid elk level penatration the AB and Partition are a step above the rest that is for sure.
Moral of the story Nosler makes some superb bullets, best in the buisness IMHO. Just get the one designed for the game you are going after.
(only in my dreams) For deer though I perfer BTs higher energy transfer, moderate delayed fragmentation through the vitals and they cost half as much as the Accubonds. If someone was looking for solid elk level penatration the AB and Partition are a step above the rest that is for sure.Moral of the story Nosler makes some superb bullets, best in the buisness IMHO. Just get the one designed for the game you are going after.
Sounds like ill be buying a bag of 115 Nosler BT! I already know I want a m70 or kimber in 25-06 but I'm curious, what rifles do you guys use the 25-06 in? Like I've said in other posts I have 3 m70's and every one of them is more than i could ask for as far as accuracy and function. The only thing is I wish I could find one with a extra nice piece of wood. I've been thinking of buying a high quality wood blank and having someone shape it into an exact replica of the m70 stock then dropping my supergrade action and barrel in. That may cost a little more than I want to spend though.
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