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7-08=best all around whitetail cartridge going, IMO.....

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But Cookies 'n Cream is WAAAY better! grin

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Originally Posted by stanimal
THAT sounds like a good setup - the cake under the ice cream!

I'm a bit surprised by the number of Kimber love happening here - for a while it seemed to be lots of bad press. I had the above mentioned 7-08 Montana and it was as close to perfection as I've owned in a factory rifle. Smooth, well finished, light, and extremely accurate with 140TSX's. I could have done anything with that rifle, but sold it due to my own weakness. I simply can't shoot the extreme lightweights as well from field positions so I went back to a bit heavier rifle. That combo (light, CRF, accurate, etc.) is tough to beat if it's your cup of tea.

Still can't argue with the 25-06 or 270 but I had to do the 6-06 to be different grin Pick what you like and go kill stuff!


The Kimber is flat-out, absolutely, the real deal in a hunting rifle. While they are more difficult to shoot from a bench for some because of the light weight, this does not IME translate to difficulty in field positions and hunting situations, and even on the bench I have had no problems once getting used to the rifle and learning the importance of controlling the muzzle jump.

I've got a couple 25-06's that I like, and the Kimber Montana 7-08 is a rifle I absolutely love - wouldn't trade it for both my 25-06's - but it's the rifle, much more than the cartridge, that makes this package. That said, I love the 7-08 - especially in the incredibly light recoiling Montana. With 120's, I think the 7-08 does most of what the 25-06 and 270 will do, in a package I like much better than anything I can put together or buy on a long action.

The 257 Bob in a Montana may be the ultimate trump card which answers the question originally posed, although I still am not sure I can like it any better than my 7-08.

I hope to try one of the Montana 257's, just to see if there's a combination with home-made ice cream and Mama's chocolate cake! There's no improving on her cake, but the home-made stuff might one-up the store bought...grin.

We'll see...

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No argument here. That was a great rifle and while I did struggle with it from sticks or prone that was MY shortcoming - not the rifle. I wasn't terrible with it - just more comfortable with a bit more weight. Oddly enough I shot it pretty well from the bench.

It did seem rather fashionable for a while around the fire to bash these rifles but my opinion was overwhelmingly positive on the Little Sky.



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Both are excellent deer cartridges. Obviously the .25-06 will shoot a bit flatter but you really have to reach out there for any real advantage.

A .270 Win is arguably the best deer-only cartridge available.


Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!

No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.

A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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I have experience with the 7mm-08 and .270 and love both. The 25-06 is no slouch either. My suggestion is to find any of these in a gun that you can shoot well and then scratch your name into it with a sharp nail in order to discourage ever thinking about selling it.

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Can always load a tipped 120 TSX Barnes in the 7MM-08 and have your 25-06 (almost) and 7MM all in one rifle. smile Of course, what fun is one rifle.
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7mm Remington Magnum...


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30.06....

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.308 Win...

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Originally Posted by Coyote_Hunter


A .270 Win is arguably the best deer-only cartridge available.


What else is there to say? wink




The 280 Remington is overbore.

The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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7-08!!! Did someone mention another cartridge? grin
Many years ago, I decided on 7x57's for Michigan, and I am not sorry for choosing that round. However, if the 7-08 was popular back then, I'd be shooting 7-08's today. The bullets available in 7mm are OUTDTANDING, beginning, and ending with Nosler Partitions. grin
Here endeth the Gospel for the day.... grin grin grin


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Don: Well,of course,there isn't anything much better for the East than a 7/08.....it's a 270 for moderate distances grin




The 280 Remington is overbore.

The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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Originally Posted by Brad
Originally Posted by BobinNH
Get a 30/06 Improved and you can hunt both places grin Why mess with anything else? The 25/06 and 7/08 are 270 WANNABES wink


That's EXACTLY the way I see it... unless, of course, you're talking a Kimber 84. Then, all bets are off... sometimes a particular rifle is more important than its chambering... the Kimber 84 Montana is one of those rare rifles.


For the dedicated rifleman who will practice the larger gun and cartridge may fill a niche and be ideal at some level. I mean the 25-06 here as the rifles chambered in it just have to be heavier.

When I selected a new rifle for my son, who while strong, just does not shoot much I picked a Kimber Classic in 7mm-08. Its been just perfect for him.

[Linked Image]

Sorry for the fuzzy pic. taken with his cell phone but there is his 4 pointer, the Kimber leaning on the tree and his pack. He shot it offhand at 60 yds. All in all the perfect rifle for him.

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I just can't believe I am adding to this already long thread. But to the point, I have all the rounds that have been listed herein from the 25's to the 30cals including the Bob. I reload, hunt everything from Moose to pine squirels. I can't really find fault with any of the my guns or the rounds fired in them. But the man asked which - 25/06 or 7/08? My answer is this: 1. do you reload? If so, what other cals do you reload for? Maybe you can do some sharing like powder or brass, yes brass. (I use only Lapua brass in my 3/08 parent case guns and re-form them to the cal I need) - (I do the same with all my 30/06 based rounds too). 2. If you like the 25/06 and want it with a longer barrel for the full potential of that round, but don't want a overly long gun, get a Ruger #1. Mine shoots in the low 3's all day long with handloads (so don't let anyone tell you a Ruger won't shoot - I'd have to call BS big time). 3. MONEY, how much do you want to spend? Will this gun be for deer only?, deer and elk, or deer and yotes?

As for my choice, I match the gun, not so much the round, to the hunting situation. I have killed everything from yotes to moose to black bear with a 7/08. I have killed untold numbers of field varmits, deer, pigs and a black bear with the 25/06. My 25/06 is a #5.5 barrel, 26in and it's set up to be shot from a rest or sticks or at least leaning on a tree. But she will but you lights out at 500yds and I have taken game with her at that range. My 7/08 two years ago took a mule deer at 700yds and it's a #3 barrel at 24 inchs. I used it last night in fact to kill a frickn coon in my barn at 15ft. The 7/08 is ment to carry and is made to handle the bad weather. (SHORT PAUSE TO BREATH) Look man here's what it comes down to, they are both great cals, they both come is some fine rifles, they both can be had easly. If you are going to shoot deer size and down, 25/06 if that's what you want. If deer size and up is the game, I'd go with the 7/08. In any case, reload, shoot more, drink lots of beer, and enjoy life.

Doug


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Originally Posted by MIKE HUNT
7mm Remington Magnum...


My first choice back in 1982 when I got my first centerfire rifle. Likely the last one I'll part with.

Used 160g bullets until a year ago when I used 140g North Fork bullets. Pretty happy with that combo but like the 120g TTSX at zippy velocity as well. Don't think I'll go back to 160's.


Coyote Hunter - NRA Patriot Life, NRA Whittington Center Life, GOA, DAD - and I VOTE!

No, I'm not a Ruger bigot - just an unabashed fan of their revolvers, M77's and #1's.

A good .30-06 is a 99% solution.
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Originally Posted by hornet7722
If you are going to shoot deer size and down, 25/06 if that's what you want. If deer size and up is the game, I'd go with the 7/08.
Doug


I agree with the last half of Doug's statement, but I would also pick the 7mm-08 for deer size and down....especially if you reload. But even if you don't reload there are several factory 120Grn loads currently offered including Cor-Bon 120 Barns tripple shock, Nosler 120 Ballistic Tip, and Remington 120 HP.

If you reload, last time I checked availibility of 7MM bullets, a couple of years ago, there were 17 bullets availabe from Barns, Hornady, Speer, Sierra, and Nosler in the 100-120 Grn range many of which are suited for varmits. (There are probably more now) My 7mm-08 varmint load is the Sierra 100 Grn HP on top of a healthy load of RE15.

As many others have mentioned in this thread, when it comes to larger game, the 7mm-08 has the upper hand due to availability of heaver fodder. Most factory 7mm-08 ammmo uses 139-150 grain bullets, but again, if you reload there are 75+ different 7mm bullets available in weights from 130-180 Grn. I use 145Grn Speer Hot-Cor's on top of IMR4350 for open area hunting and Hornady 154 Grn RN on top of H414 for woods hunting.

Check out the Remington Ballistic comparison web site to compare the 25-06 against the 7mm-08. http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/ Do a comparison of the 120 Grn bullets in both calibers and you will see that there isn't much difference at all between the 25-06 and the 7mm-08. Then, just for grins, compare some of the lighter weight 25-06 loads to the heavier weight 7mm-08 loads. Granted, these are comparisons of Remington ammo only, but it will give you a good feel for the similarities / differences between the two cartridges.

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Thanks for all of the replies. Have a .270 and a .243 now, just wanted something in between. After reading all of these cases, might have to buy 2 more rifles instead of 1.


Keep on doing what you are doing and you will keep on getting what you are getting.

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I have got the best of both worlds, Browning A-bolt in 25 wssm, same ballistics as a 25-06 and a short action, in a very light handling rifle.

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DKA: If you have a 270 and a 243 you most assuredly don't "need" another thing...if "want" is the issue,well that is a different matter ....we have all been there. smile

Of the two, I'd pick the 7/08 simply because I like 7mm's for deer better,the rifles are shorter,lighter and most 25/06's come with 24" barrels. I want no part of that stuff in the wooded east; and in the west most deer are killed inside 300 yards, where there is little difference between the cartridges.

In the end, you don't need to buy ANY rifles if you have a 270 and a 243.




The 280 Remington is overbore.

The 7 Rem Mag is over bore.
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