Would like comments on the 25-06

[qajaq59]

I've been thinking about selling off one of my 30-30s, the Marlin 336, and getting a 25-06 instead. Consequently I'd like to hear your comments on the 25-06.
I assume they'd be great for prairie dogs and wood chucks, but how about deer or hogs?

 

[Olympus]

Most of your old timer hunters will give lots of praise for the quarterbores as deer rifles. Most of these older hunters have used mid to smaller calibers on deer for many years and have had great success. That being said, I'm far from an old timer, but I have a .25-06. It's absolutely a great round in my opinion. You'll find a lot of people that like to hunt with the .243. If you think that is a little small then a .25-06 would be a great step up.

 

[oldgold]

I've been thinking about selling off one of my 30-30s

Why sell? Just keep buying.

25-06 is one of my favorites. After our first prairie dog hunts the need for something bigger was appparent. I got a 25-06 and my buddy found a .257 Roberts. Both worked well out on the windy prairie except he used less powder to get the same velocity !

With a 120 grain partition bullet I can't imagine a hog the 25 couldn't stop. Same thing with deer.My buddy shot a deer running away in the right rear haunch and the bullet went clear through and came out the left front. Deer was DRT.

Hope this helps,,,,,,goldy

 

[woof]

I have a Savage 99 in .250/3000 that my grandfather bought in the late '20s. it has taken a whole herd of deer in its time. That said, if I were buying a rifle in that caliber range today it would be a .260 Rem.

 

[skinewmexico]

Shot my last muley at 413 yards with a 25-06. Love it.

 

[Dr. Tad Hussein Winslow]

It's muy bueno for deer and hogs, absolutely.

But I just recently sold off a rifle in .25-06 and eliminated the caliber from my collection. Great caliber, but too similar to others that I'm definitely going to keep (.243, .270, 6.5x55). .25-06 seems to be a perfect jack of all trades / "just-one" rifle, as it covers so many bases. But when you have a lot of rifles, then it just doesn't seem to do ONE thing really well. For long-range varmints or hunting, it's a .243 with unnecessary recoil. For hunting, it's a .270 or 6.5x55 with a little less bullet weight and more barrel burn. So, it had to go as a caliber. If I lived in the plains of New Mexico, Colo., etc., where there are buttloads of prairie pronghorns, which you might shoot at up to 400 yards from a good rest, then the .25-06 is about perfect for that kind of hunting. But I don't.

 

[NCsmitty]

Great caliber, but 270 Win would be a better overall choice IMO.
90gr. HP at 3500fps makes a great varmint load. 150gr. would be good for elk.

NCsmitty

 

[qajaq59]

I hadn't even thought about a .270. Hmm, keep talking and I'll keep learning.
I've always been a 30 caliber guy. with everything from the 30-30 up to the .300WM. Just never went to any of the smaller calibers.

 

[Water-Man]

If you're going to look at .270, you should also look at 7mm-08.

 

[homers]

And if you're going to look at the 7mm-08, then I suggest going old school 7x57

Back on topic, the 25-06 is a great choice and a classic.

 

[woof]

You have three good options between .25 and .30: .260 Rem (6.5-08), 7mm-08 and .270. The latter is great but why not get a shorter action rifle for one of the .308 based rounds?

 

[jaholder1971]

My B-I-L has one.

Heap big medicine for whitetail, muley and antelope. Hogs should drop DRT with heavy bullets. It's a little light for elk but it's worked, but not my first choice for the larger game.

 

[surjimmy]

Have heard alot of good things on them, so much that my next rifle will be one or the 257 roberts. Ran into a father and son this past weekend on our youth hunt, that's what the young man had. My 11yr old son was using a Howa 243, never again will I doubt the lighter cal. he brought down a 260lb Buck with 80gr. power point. Only went 50yards.(Sorry for getting off post, I'm just so proud. It was his first deer hunt)

 

[qajaq59]

.(Sorry for getting off post, I'm just so proud. It was his first deer hunt)

Any time your 11 year old gets a nice buck. feel free to brag. Off post or on.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The .25-06 is my primary hunting rifle. Unsurpassed as a varmint cartridge and potent enough for Elk at reasonable ranges, it truly shines when taking deer and speed goats at extended ranges. And it's light recoil promotes marksmanship.

And if you're going to look at the 7mm-08, then I suggest going old school 7x57

There's always the .280 Rem.