25-06 Suggestions

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Can't say as i've ever sold, or gotten rid of a gun. Don't think i'd ever go down in number of guns.

I'm a fan of used guns. About half my inventory is purchased used. If I find the right one, you can be sure that I will jump on a good used deal.
 
So ive decided my next bolt gun should be a 25-06. Previously as I've mapped out what i'd like my collection to look like I had liked the idea of my future 25-06 being a Ruger #1. Well turns out on Ruger's website they are no longer producing it in the 25-06 chambering. Oh well, plans change. So now i'm looking for suggestions on a nice bolt gun that comes in this caliber. I would prefer it to have a longer barrel than 22" and I would prefer to pay less than $1000 for the rifle. What say you? Friendly suggestions appreciated and welcomed.
I own a Ruger#1 in .25-'06 that I bought from a neighbor about 10 years ago.
It's the Varminter variation and with reloads it's very accurate.
I made several 1 shot kills on Maryland "beanfield" deer with the rifle.
Three shot groups are 1/2 MOA.
Keep looking, #1 IN .25-'06 will turn up sooner or later.
 
I purchased a Ruger Hawkeye in 25-06 and am very happy with it. It groups less than 1 inch at 100 yards and I am hitting water bottle size targets up to 300 yards consistently. It took out its first coyote at about 70 yards 2 months ago.
 
http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/p...6%22+Laminate"

This is exactly what I have in .243Win. I really like the overall shortness of it with no action taking up space. My one complaint is that it simply lifts the spent round instead of ejecting it with authority like the older ones do. I understand they changed them because of some problems with stuck cases. I never had any.

You could spend a significant amount of money on optics and accessories and still not breach the $1,000 mark. More money left to feed it.
 
I have an Argentine Mauser 98 based rifle with a 26" Shilen barrel on it in 25-06. It shoots like a dream!

A rebarrel is a good way to go if you can find some sort of base action you can live with.
I also have a 98 mauser 1909 Modelo argentino in 25-06. A real beauty of a gun and a super accurate shooter. The action is second to none, it is smooth as butter! I picked up the rifle with a nice tiger maple stock and absolutely beautiful bluing for $500 a couple months ago on Armslist with no scope. All of my bolt rifles are 98 mausers.
 
For a 25-06 I would have to have a 24" or better tube. That narrows it down a bit. Browning makes a nice looking 24" barreled rifle, but my A-Bolt is one crazy picky rifle it does not like anything from any factory, it will only group with one handload, and I have tried dang near everything. So I don't think I would put them on my A list.
Remington, I won't touch another new one but would consider a used pre April 2007 model, hard to find though.
TC makes a good looking gun too, but I have never owned or fired one and cannot vouch for them at all.
That leaves the Winchester 70 Featherweight as a shoe in. I have one in 308 and love it, best feel of any rifle I have ever held and it shoots great too, even with cheap factory ammo.
 
I can only add to what has been said with my own limited experiences.

My first and only factory 25-06 is of the Rem 700 BDL version sporting the factory 24" barrel. I picked it out of several the LGS had on the shelf back in the mid 80's. From the first rounds until now it has been simply amazing at how accurate it has stayed through the years shooting a variety of bullets, and weights, from most any manufacturer. If I could offer any one suggestion it would be to start off using RL-22 as your powder, I highly doubt you will be disappointed.

That said mine has changed stocks simply due tot he factory wood began to warp over time and I ran out of elevation in my scope to adjust for it. I considered simly going with the Remington wood again, but found a Fajen laminate for a good price and haven't looked back. I shot it for around 20yrs and passed it over to my daughter. She had already more or less taken it over anyway. She along with her oldest son have taken several very nice deer with it over the years. Here it is pictured with the oldest grandson and his first buck taken on the day after his 9th birthday,
PB280152.jpg

I had it out early last fall to check the zero on it and we had the target set at 250yds. We had been doing some load work ups on another rifle and had just finished cleaning this one. I fired one fouler and two for group with a stiff breeze. Due to it being zeroed for 200yds I didn't feel the need to mess with the scope one bit,
P4220201.jpg
I know that groups are not considered much in most cases unless they contain umteen shots. With this rifle however I have no need to waste barrel life or components to shoot 5 or more shots for group anymore. I know the loads it likes, and has shot so well for a LONG time, and the multi shot groups have been identical to this one time and time again if only having more holes. If it spreads them out, it simply means it is time for a cleaning, then it's right back to business as usual.

To be honest, I would suggest you might do as I did for my AI version. I picked up a donor action, then a stock, and barrel, and other items a piece at a time until I had exactly what I wanted. Then I had it all put together into a total package which up till now is still amazing me with the accuracy I get out of it with even the lowly bulk Rem bullets. It will easily throw the 120gr Rem CL's into 1" groups at 300yds, usually better if I do my part, with decent conditions. Depending on just how you go about it and what your exact wants are you might could stay at your listed number or possibly just a touch over, but you would have exactly what you wanted when your done in the exact configuration you chose.

Good luck, either way it's hard to be a good shooting 25-06 any way you slice it.
 
25-06

Mine was on a Mauser 98, inside a nickel at 250 yrds. 87 gr HP and a case full of 4831 left several very small pieces of a land turtle at 250 yrds. Iliked the round very much. The rifle was stolen from truck. Miss it.
 
I had a Weatherby Vanguard VGX in .25-06. That was back in the day they still shipped with factory targets. The three-shot target formed a tiny little three leaf clover. It shot about the same with handloads. I sold it when I enrolled in doctoral school. So, there you go, proof-positive, just cuz I got me a PhD, doesn't mean I too very smart. After all, I sold one of my most accurate ever rifles. Man I wish I had that rifle back. :banghead: Without question, if I do replace it, it will be either an M70 Ultimate Shadow or a Weatherby Vanguard 2 with synthetic stock.

Geno
 
Its the perfect allaround caliber. It is the best for deer and antelope. Now i ve shot a raccoon at 15 yrds away using 100 gr Nosler Ballisctic Tip. It blew the other half of the body and all the entrails. It was like a mini grenade.
 
nathan:

Thanks for rubbing it in. :D I kick myself for selling my "quarter bore". :eek: Anyone who have never fired a .25-06 Rem is missing out. So much power, so little recoil. :banghead:

Geno
 
I've owned several 25-06 rifles and the best choice for a barrel is a slim 24 inch barrel something like a featherweight Model 70 Winchester pre 64 contour. My current rifle has a Winchester Model 70 featherweight contour with a 24 inch length. If I were looking for a new rifle I would buy the new Model 70 Winchester featherweight and if the only choice is a 22 inch barrel I would accept the shorter barrel. The recoil on a 25-06 is mild and a rifle with recoil pad and scope that weighs 8 pounds is a joy to shoot.
 
Ive got a #1 and a sps rem. Niether are made anymore though. If i was looking for another id look seriously at the model 70s and a cdl remington. A super grade winchester would be a real keeper if you can find one and its within your buget.
 
2506s.jpg

Find a Ruger #1. They are great in 25/06 and easy to shoot. My plan is to rebarrel mine up to at least a 26 or 28" barrel someday. Why not get it as least as long as my 25/06 Sendero.
 
I bought my first .25-06 after a motorcycle accident left me in bad shape for the upcoming deer season, (1980). I was shooting a 7mm Mag at the time and I knew that wasn't going to cut it. Boy, was the .25 a surprise. I still have and it isn't going anywhere. Right now I'm about a month away from getting my new .25. 721 Rem action, Douglas barrel, thumbhole stock piller bedded and Timney trigger from the gunsmith. Make a good choice because you'll probably end having it a loooong time! Good Luck.
 
Mine is a K98 action, even with a few waffenamps surviving, and I love it. Has an awesome 24" inch barrel.

Before I got the Mauser, I looked long and hard, held a bunch of rifles, and did way too much research. I was trying to stay less than $1K. In order were:
Winchester Model 70
Savage 111 and several more
Browning A bolt
Remington 700
Tikka

I wanted to really like the Tikka, but , well I don't know.

Good Luck.

Jcinnb
 
Back in the 1990s i lived in West Texas. The venerated calibers by most were the .270 and 3006 which of course stems from the old timer's love of the calibers. I really wanted to have one but a friend of mine convinced me on the .2506. And i never regretted it.

Maybe someday i need a 7 RM just to have one in the magnum line.
 
Gentleman, your help and suggestions have all been greatly appreciated, and i've thoroughly enjoyed reading your thoughts, experiences and suggestions.

Had I been able to find a nice used Ruger #1 i'd have probably gone that way. As it was I got a great deal on a Weatherby Vanguard S2 and have it topped with a Nikon Prostaff in a 4X12 with the BDC reticle. Right now it loves the 110 grain accubonds, and the 100 grain Barnes TSX's shooting both in MOA in factory ammunition. Once I get the barrel broken in with factory stuff i'll start to find it's pet load. A prospect i'm greatly interested in working at. I think i'll probably try and develop a 100 grain load from there and see how good the handloads are.

If anyone has some favorite 100 grain handloads they'd care to share i'm more than happy to hear experiences. I expect to start with IMR 4831 and maybe some reloader 22 to see what it likes. :)

again, thank you all guys. feel free to post favorite pet loads. I love to learn from others experiences.
 
By the way I love the Weatherby. Action, trigger, and barrel are all excellent. The stock is a little cheap which should be expected considering the entry cost of the rifle. Has anyone who owns a weatherby vanguard S2 gone to an aftermarket stock? What have your experiences been?
 
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