Wanted new 25-06. Recomendations?

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Kachok

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I want a new long range gun, no there is nothing wrong with my 270 WSM but I have found it to be a bit much (understatement!) for these 120-180lbs South Alabama deer. I have been doing my homework and have decided on a 25-06, it seems that is the perfect super flat shooting caliber for deer sized game, for handloaders anyway. I love my Savage and Tikka rifles but they have one major flaw for that caliber, they both come with standard 22" barrels, all the hardcore 25-06 guys recomend a 24" as a minimum for that caliber if you plan to load them to their full potential. Several companies offer 24" tubes on their quarter bores, but I don't have experence with any of them except Remington (TWO bad experences!) TC seems to make a good value rifle, their Venture promises sub-MOA and a lifetime warrenty. Browning has a amazing hardwood stock on their X-Bolt......drool :D and Weatherby has the least expensive of the bunch with their Vanguard. Any imput on these rifles or other brands/models?
 
You might give Cooper Firearms of Montana a look. They can be had in single shots and repeaters, with finely figured walnut, synthetic and laminate stocks. Also your choice of barrel lengths 24" or 26" fluted and non fluted tubes in 25-06 Rem. Like a fine steak, you can order one just the way you want it.

http://www.cooperfirearms.com/our_rifles_new.php
 
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Ouch $3300 yikes. Don't get me wrong VERY nice looking rifles, but wow pricy. I was thinking of somthing in the $1000 and under range.
 
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Can't comment on rifles but the .25-06 is a great caliber, I've owned one for 34 years. You definately want a 24" barrel minimum though.

It's really a dual purpose cartridge shooting light to heavy bullets.
 
If you already own a standard length action rifle I would think that you could have your rifle rebarreled to 25-06 for well under $1000. That way you could have it set up just the way you want it. If you don't have a rifle you are willing to have rebarreled, a visit to a pawn shop could prove fruitfull and still keep you in the $1000 price range for rifle and new barrel.
 
No pawn shop gun for me, never had any luck with them, bought a used semi auto 22LR that decided to go FULL AUTO on a public shooting range, thank God nobody called the law me. Never looked at a used gun since.
I took carefull note of who the loyal 25-06 crowd is, one thing I noticed is that unlike the 30-06/270/308 loyalists the quarter bore guys mostly handload, and usualy have owned several other good rifle calibers. That speaks volumes to me.
 
I really enjoy my Ruger 77 in .25-06. It is very accurate and isn't picky with ammo (even Barnes).
 
I thought about a the 77 but the action turned me off, it was rough as sandpaper and clunky compared to my T3. Mabey I am just spoiled. It is possable that I held a defective 77 too.
 
Kachok said:
I thought about a the 77 but the action turned me off, it was rough as sandpaper and clunky compared to my T3. Mabey I am just spoiled. It is possable that I held a defective 77 too.
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Try a different one and see. Mine is older and very smooth.
 
The T/C Venture is a great rifle for the money. Have one in .270 and it is very accurate.

I do have a non-recommendation: Mossberg 4x4. I have one in 25-06 and can't get it to group. Tried 4 different loads and still getting sporadic groupings. Re-installed base, rings, scope and still a dud of a rifle.
 
Actually, well looking at Winchester rifles last night I noticed they have started offering the sporter in .25-06 which is a good thing. Were I looking for a .25-06 non heavy barrel rifle I'd look no further the the model 70.

When I first bought a .25-06 in the 1970's you had to load it yourself. The only other option was buying from a gunshop. That meant whatever they had in stock was what you could buy, and when they ran out the next batch was going to cost more. I was groundhog hunting with 120 gr Corelokt Remington ammo. Everytime that parasite reordered the price went up about $.50 on a box of ammo.

By the 4th week I had enough brass to make my own. I've never looked back.

But, the last couple years on visits to Wallyworld I've noticed they carry ammo for the 06 now. I guess this cartridge has gained in popularity which is a good thing. It's just to good of a cartridge to die out.
 
I've had my .25 since 1973 and it has always been a doozy for deer and antelope. I usually shoot Noslers out of it at about 3100fps and is very plesant to shoot.
 
I've got a Rem 700 Sendero in .25-06, very heavy barrel that is either 24" or even 26", I forget. It's a good, not necessarily great, shooter. It has the HS Precision stock, and it's only flaw is that it's so heavy it's better suited to varminting or such where you don't have to carrry it around. I just bought a used Weatherby Vanguard Sub-MOA model in .25-06, though, and if it shoots as well as these guns are supposed to, I may sell the Sendero.
 
get you a Stevens 200 long action... rebarrel it with your choice of 25-06 barrel and replace the stock... you will have a great shooting 25-06 for way under 1000 too... if you don't add in good optics....
 
My Rem 700 XHR in .25-06 is a reliable <1 MOA shooter out to 300 yds. Doesn't rust either. I use 90 gr SGKs for 'yotes, 100gr SMKs for target work, 100 gr Barnes TSX for general hunting. For me, IMR 4831 is my powder of choice.

FH
 
I have a Ruger M77 .25-06 which has had four boxes of rounds put through it since new in 2002. It has a Weaver 6X scope and a nice leather sling. I would gladly sell it or trade for a larger caliber rifle.

I bought it thinking I would be out in Eastern NM huting pronghorn. I never made it. It is a bit light for our local elk and mule deer here in central north NM.

It is in excellent shape.

No one here wants a .25-06 for the reasons I mentioned.

I actually logged on today to explore the feasibility of reboring or rebarelling to .270 Winchester. Ammo availabiliy is another real issue here and much other than .270 Winchester, .30-06, 7mm Magnum and .300 Win Mag is just not available in these parts.

PM me if you want to discuss this.
 
Mine is a Remington 700 VS in .25-06 that I've had since 1978, I wouldn't part with it. I'm no longer a big Remington fan but I wouldn't pass one up either. I shoot mainly 85 to 87 gr bullets through mine but have shot lots of others up to 120 gr. All shot great.

I'd sooner have a Winchester 70 in .25-06 then any Remington, they are just made better.

I've used mine to hunt just about everything except the really big animals. I wouldn't feel out of place hunting anything up to Elk with it. Heck, I took it up to Canada on a bear hunt and never felt out of place.

It's a great cartridge and my favorite of all the rifles I own.
 
I, too owned a vintage Reminton 700 VS in .375 H&H. It was an outstanding rifle. THe Ruger M77 is an adequate rifle in .25-06 but not a vintage Remington or Winchester.

As for elk. well, as you know, Rocky Montain bull elk are rather large fellows and a 120 grain bullet needs to be placed flawlessly to be effective. Effective is defined to mean I do not have to spend the next ten hours hiking a blood trail over 11,000 foot passes in the snow. I am too old for that! Hence the .375 H&H, my preferred elk rifle until I sold it. Now I am thinking of an RPG or just mining my alfalfa pastue with remote control- OK, bad joke

The Boone and Crocket record elk was taken with a .30-40 Krag. He was a better shot than me!

If I could afford .25-06 ammo and find it more readily then I might have become more proficient with it. It is a cartridge with remarkable ballistics. But, the .270 Winchester is the most affordable and available ammo in these parts which is why I am interested in refitting.
 
+1 for the Model 70 Sporter. I have a 22-250 Model 70 that is a fine rifle. I do own several Remington 700s in varmint calibers and I like the rifles fine. However, they do not have the quality "feel" of the 70's. The 70's actions are smoother and just feel more sturdy. Thus, my recommendation.

If a Tikka were available in the 24" barrel length, that would be my recommendation. My 25-06 is an old stainless laminate Tikka that has a 24" barrel. Unfortunately, that rifle is no longer offered by Tikka. My Tikkas and Sakos are the most accurate guns I own and have a better quality "feel" than anything else I own other than my Weatherby Mark V deluxe. I have read great things about the Vanguards, but my only experience with Weatherby is the Mark V. Good luck.

Update: I just checked and my Tikka barrel is only 22 7/16. That being said, it is dead nuts accurate
 
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I can't believe the Tikka doesn't come in a 24" barrel. I wouldn't own an 06 in anything shorter then 24".

Sad part is now I'm thinking of a model 70 sporter and I need another .25-06 like a hole in the head.
 
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