Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Tikka T3 - 25-06 or 7mm-08 ??

I've been kicking around the idea of picking up a new and lighter deer rifle so the Tikka seems like a decent value.

I've got a Winchester Extreme Weather in 300 WSM, Remington 700 in 30-06 (put a Holland laminated stock on it so it is HEAVY), and various Marlin 336 (356, 35, 30-30) so I know I don't need another.

Anyway, I wish they offered the stainless T3 in 260 but they do not so now I'm torn between the 25-06 and 7mm-08. I'd go with the 25-06 but I've read a lot about how the 25-06 is limited in a 22" barrel and some have said the muzzle blast is fierce using a short barrel on the 25-06.

Any opinions on the 25-06 vs the 7mm-08 in the Tikka T3?

By the way, I reload so ammo availability/selection is not an issue.

Thanks,
Mike

Buy one of each. That way you will get the right one.

I like the way you think but I don't think my wife will.

7-08 I say. Light recoil, short action, higher BC, 120's to match your 25-06 and can go 140's for bigger stuff.

You can get a 260 from SAS

Oh come what is the worst the wife could do

This is usually true, however the OP wants a T3 and they all use the same action length...so same weight...but that extra weight will help in the recoil department.

I'd go 7-08...the 25 cal is a bit of an odd ball to me. I think if you're going to go long action you ought to put at least the .277 on that shell. The 7-08 has tons of flexibility if you hand load. A 120gr approximates the 243 in recoil, but hits harder. Any, 150-160 will take elk, moose, etc. Some do it all with a solid 140 like the AB or partition.

Last time I checked they only had the ss fluted with wood stock which is a few hundred more than the synthetic ss.

By the way, I'd be all over that 260 that you are selling but I'd need to sell off a few rifle first to raise the funds for it.

My go-to rifle is a 25-06 with 23 inch barrel. (22 3/4" muzzle to breech face)

It is pure fun to shoot, and as versatile a rifle as a guy could ask for.
I actually load 2 different bullets for varmints and deer, but feel little need to change loads if I'm hunting.

I have used the 75 vmax very successfully on multiple deer, and also used the 100 hornady on all sorts of stuff.

I bought and used a 7-08 back when it was first introduced but was seriously underwhelmed with it's velocity and bullet selection. Bullet selection has vastly improved since then.

I don't believe that you'd suffer much from a 22" barreled 25-06. I think you'd quickly gain a new favorite rifle.

he has a blued fluted barrel with synthetic stock you may want to check into

I'm getting 3160fps with the 110NAB and RL22 out of my Tikka 25-06 so I don't feel I'm losing much due to barrel length. Lightweight, accurate, great handling rifle that is very flat shooting with that load.

I also found a light load that is just as accurate when I was working up with that same bullet/powder combo. It's running 2840fps which is basically 257Roberts velocity. Almost no recoil on that load. Oh, and it's prints exactly 1/2 inch lower than the hot load at 100yds so I can switch out loads without adjusting my scope.

For a handloader I think the 7mm-08 offers more.

7mm-08.

Three bulls, three shots, farthest was 346 yards.

A bunch of deer, none needed a followup.

T3 Lite stainless, btw.


P

Another vote for the 7mm-08. I love mine, and the ability to use heavier bullets is a real bonus. 3000+ fps with 120gr bullets is nothing to sneeze at, either!

Yep.

There is nothing, in my opinion, that you can do with a 25-06 that you can't do with a 7mm-08. I doubt, again my opinion, that the reverse is true.

I think he also had the light stainless and the lite with the adjustable cheek piece in .260 . I would definately give Whittakers a call .

Amazing so many lauding the merits of the 7mm08 yet most would not even consider owning a 7mmx57mm. Yes I own both.

The 25-06 is a very versatile chambering. Quite capable of varmints to big deer. It gives up very little to the 7mm08.

Given those two choices in a T3 I'd split the difference and go 6.5 x 55, it uses all of the action length and leaves lots of latitude for bullet seating. It will push 140's the same speed as the 7-08 and 120's aren't far behind that weight in the 25-06.

I've taken more deer with my Rem 700 25-06 but, bullet selection and especially bullet weights in 7mm-08 cal are more plentiful. I personally have more confidence in hunting bigger critters (like elk) with my Tikka T3 7mm-08 and it is lighter more pleasant to carry. That said, I probably won't be without a 25-06 in my meager collection of hunting rifles.