7-08 or 25-06

[roc1]

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Which is the best choice 7-08 or a 25-06? I have a 7-08 Ruger Hawkeye and am considering a Remington 25-06 ? I have read that the 7-08 is still better than the 25-06.Is the Remington more accurate than the Ruger overall? I know it depends on the rifle and the shooter but just wanted some other ideas.
Thanks
roc1

 

[dakotasin]

i have both guns and both chamberings in both guns. i like the 7-08 in a remington 700, but assuming this is a deer-whacking question, neither will do anything the other can't at whatever range.

my remingtons are more accurate than my rugers, for whatever that is worth.

 

[pmec]

roc1, You said that you have read that the 7-08 is better. Better for what? If you're talking about North American game, it is better. If you're talking varmints, I may disagree. You can get a pretty hefty bullet for a 7-08 but not so with a 25-06.

I guess the bottom line is do you like a 30-06 necked down to a 25 or a .308 necked down to a 7mm. For the game in my area, I'll go with the 7-08.

 

[WYcoyote]

For whitetails in fairly thick cover I'd pick the 7mm-08, and for open country mule deer and antelope the 25-06.
But I'll bet you could swap them and the animals would never know the difference.
Both are good, practical choices IMHO.

 

[roc1]

Thanks for replies. I was considering getting the Remmy as I do not have one anymore.I thought about the 7-08 but already have the Ruger Hawkeye. I do not have a 25-06 but thought it might be good.I also thought the Remmy might be more accurate in the 7-08 than the Ruger if I went that route.Just trying to decide.
Thanks
roc1

 

[W.E.G.]

I think they are both ODDBALL cartridges, and sufficiently similar in terminal effect to 7.62 NATO, that I can't understand why anybody would buy that caliber unless they just wanted to get something different because it is different.

The 25-06 shoots a little bit flatter than the 7.62.
Not enough to matter, if you know the trajectory of you load - and ALL loads have trajectories to learn.

The 7mm-08 kicks a little bit less than the 7.62.
If you are recoil-sensitive, I think none of the above is going to suit you.

Sell the seven-08 and get a three-08.

 

[TimM]

For Eastern whitetails the 7-08 with a 140 gr bullet is my favorite caliber. I have been using one for over twenty years now.

For more open country the 25-06 might be a better choice but you might also consider the 25WSSM (which I own and think is one of the greatest cartridges to ever be produced, IMO).

But everyone has an opinion, just look at the above post (oddball?). I think you would be happy with either choice.

 

[Geno]

I have owned both, and really appreciate each. Either can be used on anything from varmint, to distant targets, and/or large game. You may experience difficulty locating quality, factory-loaded ammunition for the .25-06 Rem. The real question goes to what and where you intend to hunt.

Geno

 

[R.Clem]

My .02.
I have both in Remington and a .308 in Winchester.
The only real difference is the bullet selection when you talk .25-06 or 7m-08. The 7mm has a better ballistic coefficient then the .25, but not the .308. The .308 can handle heavier bullets than the 7mm. There is a large powder difference between the .25 and the 08's. The .25 will do the job on most medium sized game, but if you are going after elk or bear, I don't believe it to be a good choice. I have taken both elk and bear with the 08's out to 200 yards, one kills just as well as the other, but when the heaviest bullet for the .25 is 125 grain, that would make it a poor choice no matter how fast you can push the bullet.
The rifle I shoot the most with smokeless powder is my 7mm-08, purely a personal thing.

Ray

 

[chains1240]

When I bought my only deer rifle I was thinking 7-08 or 25-06. I ended up buying a .308. Ammo availability, ammo cost, and having one rifle for coyote, deer, and maybe someday elk. The .308 just won for me. I can get 150 grain soft points for $13 a box and my Howa shoots them really well.

 

[Brian Williams]

Forget getting another gun, start handloading if you are not already and develop a load that the Ruger will really shoot at. I have a Win Compact Classic Mod 70 and with my handloads and poor eyes, it shoots just over an inch from a rest. Now with that accuracy I should be shooting enough that I could be keeping all my shots sitting, kneeling and standing with a support under 150 yards inside of 4 inches, But I do not shoot this gun enough to be able to do that right now.

 

[Rokman]

I have an old Rem. ADL 700 in .25-06 and it is a stone-cold deer killer. It is very accurate and is mild in recoil to me. Use RL19, RL 22 or IMR 4831 with a ballistic tip and good things happen. With that being said, I would like to add a 7mm08 to my collection one of thes days.

 

[paintballdude902]

either is fine i like the 7mm08

 

[roc1]

I do reload all my rifles. I already have a 22-250, two 308, 7-08, 243 and 30-06.
I just thought about something else . i do not need any more rifles just love them that is all.I have a bunch of handguns and load for them as well I just love to shoot.I can get a Remmy 700 in either caliber for $350 just was kinda kicking it around. I would be better off just saving my money.
Thanks for help
roc1

 

[Peter M. Eick]

I own both 7/08 and 25/06 rifles. I have BDL's in both and a ruger #1 in the 25/06.

For ease of carry reasons and a slightly heavier bullet weight I hunt with the 7/08 BDL and target shoot or plink with the 25/06's.

Ballistically they are similar but I find the 25/06 are more fun to shoot which is why I have two of them.

 

[jerkface11]

The cartridges are similar enough that you should consider which rifle you like better.

 

[sig220mw]

More range with the 25-06 and if you handload you have a bullet choice which helps with down range performance and penetration.

I have known several people that have 25's and they swear by them.