.22-250 vs. .25-06

[CmdrSlander]

Putting together a new long range rifle; I'm a fan of zippy (lots of powder, smaller bullet) calibers and I am trying to decide between .25-06 or .22-250, I will NOT be going after game with this so killing power is not a concern, cost of ammo however is. What should I go with?

 

[Michael R.]

22-250 has faster speed, but a lower ballistic coefficient. 25-06 has a slower speed but higher ballistic coefficient. Pick the rifle that fits you best.

 

[CmdrSlander]

@Michael R. Same rifle, different calibers, they both feel great.

To all: What is the average price difference for factory loads of both calibers?

Edit: Also, if .25-06 short or long action?

 

[rule303]

.22-250 ammo will be cheaper, and easier to come by. The .25-06 is really a reloaders cartridge. The .25-06 is a long action catridge, and can be a more effective long range than the centerfire .22's due to the higher BC. Why not split the difference and get a .243? They are rather boring, but make a great target/varmint/medium game rifle with common, relatively inexpensive ammo.

 

[joed]

I have a .22-250 and I think they're tops. That said, I have owned a VS .25-06 for almost 35 years now. I don't care what the .22-250 or .220 Swift can do the .25-06 will best it.

Bought mine in 77 when a group of us started varmint hunting in OH. Shooting 85 to 87 gr bullets at 3500 fps if I can see a ground hog, it's in mortal danger with this rifle in my hands. Want to go deer hunting? try 100 or 120 gr bullets and you've got an excellent deer cartridge.

Recently I've been experimenting with RL17 and the 85 gr bullets. I can break 3600 fps in the 06. I get 3700 fps from the .22-250 but I'd bet the .25 passes it on the way to the target. The 06 will not punish you during a day of shooting either. I've never been able to see the bullet hit but believe me I can tell a hit from a miss. Almost sounds like a slap when it connects, the .22 doesn't do that.

When I need long range this is the rifle. It's a long action which isn't politically correct anymore to hear people talk, I could care less, I bought this rifle for long range, and it will do that.

The .25-06 and .22-250 are hunting cartridges. As such they weren't meant for punching paper. Depends what you really want to use the gun for.

A word to the wise is don't use match bullets for varmint hunting, they will ricochet.
As much as I like the .22-250 I can't say enough about the .25-06. Everyone should own one.

 

[dubbleA]

1. What do you consider long range?
2. Factory ammo usually doesnt provide the accuracy needed.
3. 25-06 is a long action cartridge

True LR rifles/cartridges rely on high BC and often heavy for caliber bullets.
Fast twisted barrels are the norm.

Some common match/target pills...

.224 cal 75,77,80,90gr
.243 cal 105,107,115gr
.264 cal 130,139,140gr
.284 cal 168,180gr
.308 cal 155,168,175,185,190,200,208,220,240gr
.338 cal 250,300gr

 

[hardluk1]

You do know if building accurate compition rifle that fast is not accurate or atleast not for very long and good barrel are costly. Maybe your better off to go over to 6br forum and root around . Any of the short 6 or 6.5mm are better and cheaper to reload than the 22-250 and 25.06.
http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html

 

[redneck2]

Couple things. As asked before, what is "long range" in your world?

FWIW...I own a Rem 700 .22-250 and a custom .25-06 built on a Win Model 70 action, so I have no personal prejudice. If I wanted something to fill your criteria (at least what I think it is), I'd use my AR in .223.

It shoots slightly larger than dime size groups at 250 yards, is cheap to shoot with factory ammo, and the 1-9 twist throws 64 and 69 grain heavy for caliber bullets.

The .22-250 and .25-06 are gonna be pricey to shoot with any decent factory ammo (better than $1 per trigger pull) and not as accurate. Of your two calibers, the .25-06 would be "better" simply because the bullets are heavier and don't get pushed around by the wind as much.

 

[MachIVshooter]

The .25-06 is a fantastic cartridge, and one of my favorites. But it's also not a target round. It's principle use is long range medium game hunting, though it excels at varmint slaying and can be pushed into service as an elk rifle with heavy bullets and loads.

My next long range target and varmint gun is going to be a 28" barreled 6mm-06 AI. If it were only going to be long range target without the varmint killin', I'd go 6.5-06 AI for the higher B.C. bullets.

There really is not cheap way to play the accuracy game, and you'll quickly find that handloading is a necessity, so ammo cost tends to become less of a factor than it is with factory ammo.

Honestly, since you're not going to hunt, I'd suggest skipping both of those cartridges and buying a nice Savage or Remington in .308. Not my favorite round, but the factory rifles so chambered for precision shooting are real performers at a fairly economical price point.

 

[303tom]

The .25-06 is one of my fav`s, it will push a 85gr. bullet faster than a .22-250 will a 65gr. bullet.

 

[nathan]

My deer rifle is a .25 06, dime sized grps at 100 yds . The two are known barrel burners

 

[Txhillbilly]

My deer rifle is a .25 06, dime sized grps at 100 yds . The two are known barrel burners

That's why you buy a Savage and a few extra barrels!
The 25/06 is one of my favorite calibers.

If the OP doesn't reload,I'd suggest either start reloading or stick with a 223 for low cost ammo.Neither the 22-250 or 25/06 are cheap to shoot with factory ammo.

 

[2ndtimer]

If the OP doesn't reload,I'd suggest either start reloading or stick with a 223 for low cost ammo.Neither the 22-250 or 25/06 are cheap to shoot with factory ammo.

+ 1. If you are shooting 300 yards or less, and don't plan on reloading, the 223 is your best option. Ammo is much cheaper than the 22-250 or 25-06, recoil is less, and barrels last longer than either of the others (or the .243 for that matter.) For someone starting out, the .22 rimfire should be the first option, then the .223 Rem. (Unless we are talking big game hunting, different subject than paper punching or varminting)

 

[joed]

Barrel lfie on the 06? Well, owned mine for almost 35 years. Four years ago I bought a new Krieger for it, so it lasted 31 years. Of those 31 years it went hunting with me almost every weekend from May to Oct, it's been to Canada bear hunting and throw in some deer hunting. Plus range trips and that adds up.

I made one mistake with that rifle that I will never make again. Over the winter I would clean it and give it a once over with JB paste to remove copper. I got too carried away with abrasive cleaners. I bet I took years off the life of that barrel.

The .22-250 I can't estimate as I've never owned one long enough. Had 3 of them and just never kept them too long as the .25-06 could do more. I still have one left, a new 700 VS Stainless purchased last year.

Sure, the .223 is cheap to shoot, but you could use the same argument for selling a .22 rim fire.

And if the OP wants to reload for the .25-06 I'll be glad to help him on his way. I still have the original Lee Loader I purchased when I bought my rifle. It has been sitting with my stack of dies unused for about 25 years. I'll never use it as I have dies and press. It's a great way to start loading for a beginner.

Everyone should own a .25-06.

 

[helotaxi]

Of your two calibers, the .25-06 would be "better" simply because the bullets are heavier and don't get pushed around by the wind as much.

Bullet weight alone is essentially irrelevant with regard to wind drift. Velocity and ballistic coefficient are what matter. The 22-250 has the advantage on both.

Since the .25 cal cartridges are all almost exclusively hunting affairs, there aren't a wide selection of target bullets for the caliber. Berger makes 2 and only one is a long range bullet. Compare that to 10/8 in .224.

Neither is a target cartridge, but the .22.250 is most easily adapted to target shooting use. Factor in cheaper bullets, lower powder usage and less recoil, and the choice, to me at least, seems obvious.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Get both.

I started with the 25/06 and ended up with 3 of them and then switched over and picked up a 22/250. Both are great rounds for different things. The 25/06 can do a great job on the 500 yard varmints if the winds are steady while the 22/250 is great for powdering things inside 500 yards.

Looking back, I should probably have gone the 257 Weatherby over the 25/06 and should have gotten another swift over the 22/250. Once you commit to reloading, why not go more toward the max!

 

[joed]

Ballistics tables are great tools. However, I don't think they tell the whole story or leave something out.

After I bought my .25 for a few years I lamented that I didn't buy a .22-250 instead. I quick look at the tables back then showed the .224 55 gr bullet dropped less and resisted wind better then the .257 87 gr bullet. Looked good on paper till I actually started shooting the 2 cartridges together.

Didn't take long for me to figure out the .25 did better on far targets then the .22-250. And that's why I got rid of the .22-250. I just recently got another because of an area I shoot where the .25 is a bit much with houses and animals in the distance. When it comes to long range varmint shooting my first choice is the .25-06.

I have a few other rifles for different uses, and they are dedicated to those uses. What I like about the .25-06 is the versatility. I can load light bullets and hunt ground hogs or I can load heavier bullets and use the same gun for deer hunting. You won't do that with a .223 or .22-250. I know some states allow the use of the .22 cartridges for deer but that to me is pushing a cartridge beyond what it was meant to do.

 

[helotaxi]

The only thing that the ballistic tables leave out is the shooter Physics is rather unyielding.

I'm not sold on either of the cartridges, personally. I'm a BIG fan of the .243, though. The nice thing about the .243 is that the ammo makers recognize its dual role capabilities and I can find ammo anywhere that sells ammo, should I need some. At my local Wal-mart, which is certainly not the best stocked, I can get factory .243 loads from 55gn Ballistic Silvertips to 100gn power-points. That pretty much covers the range from varmints (and the 55 and 58gn .243 bullets are hammers from a .243 and can be pushed faster than a similar weight bullet from a .22-250) to deer (elk for some and NM allows .243 for oryx as well).

As a long range target shooting round, the .243 greatly eclipses either of the 2 in question. Berger makes just as many different 6mm target bullets as .224 target bullets and as a range, the .243 bullets are more efficient on average and can be pushed faster than their .223 counterparts by available cartridges.

 

[gamestalker]

My personal choice would be the .243 win. because it is easy ammo to come by, produces decent ballistics, and it's not an uncomfortable round to shoot.

The 25-06 is also a good flat cartridge, but it is not as easy to find ammo for and will produce a bit more recoil than will the .243.

The 22-250 is both a super fast round, and doesn't do all that well at extended distances, low B.C. in comparison.

 

[Maple_City_Woodsman]

22-250 will be much cheaper to shoot.

Look into Privi Partisan - very effective and reasonably priced.

 

[joed]

Actually while looking up ammo the other night I noticed Privi Partisan also loads for the .25-06. I probably would not buy their ammo though.

When I first bought my .25 you had to buy ammo from a gunshop. Didn't take me long to notice that every time they reordered the price went up. I then bought the Lee Loader and started loading my own.

Five years ago while in Walmart I noticed they also carry .25-06 ammo now. For a cartridge that I didn't expect to last it has become more popular then it was. I hope it does not catch on as a target round, I have no interest in super heavy bullets in a 1:7" twist at 2600 fps.

The .25-06 is at its best in the fields hunting varmints to deer. Elk is stretching it a little, but I have no doubt a good shot with a good bullet would put an Elk on the ground.

 

[Eb1]

Elk is stretching it a little,

I don't know if you have elk in Ohio, or if your just lucky enought and go on guided hunts, and have shot elk with a .25-06, and had bad experiences. But my neighbor is from AZ, and has hunted elk for a long, long time. He used a .22-250, and never lost an elk. I like either cartridge, and I own a .25-06, but I would not call it marginal on elk.

I would not call the .22-250 marginal on elk unless you are shooting them at over 250 yards. Most elk hunters I know, and I know a few are archery hunters, but go to the rifle when the season is late, and they need to put meat on the table.
They just let the elk get within 100 yards, and put them down. Most use 30-30s, .25-06, .270 or .22-250. Same good old hunting calibers we have always had. Of course the .30-06 is in there also.

I talked with his father, and he said that mostly the out of state hunters bring the magnums to kill the elks while the locals use your basic hunting calibers, and he would say the .30-06 as being the #1 choice.

To give a reply to the OP. Some of the post regarding a good .223 would be a good choice. A heavy barreled .223 from Savage would be a good target rifle. It is what they are made for. Some weigh around 12 lbs, and don't move when you shoot them, and have long flat forarms. They have heavy bull barrels to keep the barrel from creeping when shooting long strings for competition or fun.

Of the two, .22-250 or .25-06 for for punching paper. It doesn't really matter. You will still have to find what bullet the gun likes be it factory or hand loading recipes. If you go .25-06 I'd not get a barrel shorter than 24".

I don't know what your definition of long range is, but mine is over 500 yards/meters. If I were building a rifle for purely this single purpose it would be in a 6.5 caliber personally.

 

[joed]

Eb1, we don't have Elk in OH last I checked but you never know. But we aren't allowed to hunt with rifles in this state for anything other then varmint, something that has intrigued me for a long time. The northern part of the state is somewhat populated but the southern part is desolate.

I'm not saying the .25-06 isn't capable of taking an Elk but I wouldn't want to long of a shot. But I have no doubt the .25 will bring down an Elk.

 

[Eb1]

joed, look into the 6.5 Creedmore or some other cartridge created for bench rest shooting. Here is a website loaded full of information for you to do research.

http://www.6mmbr.com/index.html

If you roll your own then you have a plethora of calibers that are not the norm for you to build on, and will give you better results for what you are wanting to accomplish. I think you owe it to yourself to open up your options, and IMO will be pleased with what you find. As mentioned the .25-06 and .22-250 are great hunting cartridges, and are very accurate. But not really marketed as bench rest calibers.

I have seen many shooting in "F" class using the 6XC, and the groups at 600 meters look like a .50 cal hole. It is a funky looking cartridges, but they shoot long and really buck the wind. I have seen people shoot them at 1000 meters, and it is amazing at the accuracy they get.

Have you looked into the Tubb 2000 space guns? These guns are capable of being adjusted to fit you to the 'T'. Meaning your arm reach, your check height, etc. allowing you to have the exact same hold each shot. http://www.davidtubb.com/tubb-2000-spec-tac-lr-rifles
Yeah... The gun is very expensive, but can be built on a budget build for half the cost.
A good bolt gun in the BR calibers should give you the results you so desire also. If you are building the rifle for "long" range shooting a Savage action with a custom barrel, a good stock with proper bedding in a BR caliber is a good choice, and would probably be the way I'd go instead of a Tubb 2000 because you could have a superb rifle for around $1800 to $2000 after the bedding, trigger and glass.

The 6XC is built on the .22-250 case. http://www.6mmbr.com/6XC.html

Here is a picture of the round.


I am not trying to say the two choices you have mentioned are not good rounds, but giving you some research to do, and steering you towards better suited calibers and chamberings for you to accomplish your goals. I am not a BR shooter, but by shooting HP competition I have seen some of these type rifles shooting off the line, and they are amazing. Truly amazing at the accuracy they give. Even in heavy crosswinds. Leave your options open until you do some more research.

You will not be off in cost although I do not know what your budget is, but by getting into the 'real' long range calibers and guns you could be saving yourself some headaches, and save some money in the long run.

 

[helotaxi]

Problem with going to one of the exotic calibers is the cost of components. Brass is uncommon and pricey. The dies are proprietary and pricey. Same with barrels. The Creedmoor is an exception in the pricey area, but the rest hold true for it as well. Until someone is a top level competitor the benefits of going through that trouble and expense is marginal, to be generous. Something relatively simple like a .260 would be a much more simple choice, but until you're at very long range it still provides barely any benefit over the .243 and factory ammo is rare for the .260.