25-06 best choice?

[JimKirk]

I have owned two different .25/06 rifles one was a Winchester Model 70 with 24" barrel .... the other is a Browning A-Bolt with a 22" barrel ...

The Win 70 would only safely go to about 2980/3000 fps with a 115 gr BT or 117 gr Sierra GK ...

The Browning even with the 22' barrel will run a 115 gr BT without pressure signs up to about 3080/3085 fps ... I can safely run a 110 gr Nosler Accubond up to 3200 fps ....

So what does this mean ... it means no two rifles are the same ... they don't yield the same accuracy or the same velocity ... and the same loads just don't work for all ....

I have seen this with other calibers also ...

 

[LRShooting]

I have one in a ruger m77. Very accurate, very flat shooting, mild recoil, it's really a great round. Usually very easy to find ammo for as well. Not many down falls. You can load it to shoot a very long way if you so choose.

The best?? No. The best for hunting in my opinion is a short mag variant. I personally have a 7mm SAUM, and I love it. More kick? Yes, but the energy, range and advantages of a short action make me pick that over my 25-06 any day. Not that other standard sized cases can't do the job like a 6.5 CM or 243, but they really just don't compare in energy or even ballistics really. Im shooting much higher bc bullets at higher velocities with tack driving accuracy and really have no limitations for any game I wish. My hunting style with deer drives towards the end of season is where a high energy cartridge really shines. It's intense and fast so a poor shot with a 6.5 CM might result in a lost deer, but a higher energy cartridge can mean you might even drop it still. Not bashing the 6.5, it's a great round and I love to shoot it.

But everything has its costs. For a mag round like that, cost is higher for ammo and your shoulder is gonna know it sooner

 

[Bill Schell]

Please help me understand all the hype of this short magnum mania. The laws of physics can't be changed no matter how it gets sold, so how does a "short mag" have less recoil than a long (old style) mag of the same caliber, rifle weight, and bullet velocity and weight? Or are folks just settling for a lower velocity to keep recoil down?

 

[VoodooMountain]

Amount of powder used is a factor in recoil, but yes the hype is what sells a lot of guns and products. It's not like we really need any more rifle calibers but to each their own