Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Which 24" SS rifle in .25-06? Ruger, Remington or Browning?

I'm in the market for pronghorn/mule deer rifle in .25-06. Since I live in Western Washington, I'd like that rifle to have a stainless steel barreled action. You've got to trust me on this....stainless is just a lot easier around here.

Anyway, I want a 24" sporter weight barrel, as well. It seems the only standard production rifles I can find in this chambering that have SS 24" barrels are the Ruger Hawkeye All-Weather, the Remington SPS and XCR and the Browning X-Bolt.

I'm inclined to drop the XCR from the list as I don't see what it really offers over the SPS for the additional $300. I could use that money to have the SPS' trigger worked, lugs lapped, action trued and stock bedded. Ditto the Ruger.

While the Browning is more expensive than the other two, perhaps it is worth it?

I plan on loading 110gr Accubombs, 115gr and 120gr Partitions and perhaps the 100gr Ballistic Tip for speed goats. Might even try Fusion 120gr factory ammo, as well. This rifle will not be used for varmints...just pronghorn, mule deer and whitetails in hay fields.

Anyway, which would be the best bet? I'm resigned to the fact I'll probably have to spend a bit of money with a 'smith for any of these rifles. Considering that, which would you choose? Any I've left out?

I'd toss the Browning off the list because I prefer rifles I can unload the chamber with the safety on, yes I know muzzle control and my brain are the ultimate safeties however that is my preference.

Mike

I'd definately go with the Remington.

Thanks, swamp. If you don't mind, which one...and why?

I'd most definately go T3

Dober

If I did that I'd get a .260. I want my .25-06 to have a 24" tube (or longer).

The T3 will have plenty of tube. I'd not get hung up on 24", although there was a time when I really thought that extra 1.5" or so would do something for me. Then, after a bunch experience I found out how truly little it meant.

Fast tubes, slow tubes, fast lots of powders, slow lots of powders and so on. You get my drift...

Don't think that they make the T3 in a 260 either so I'd still go 25/06 and I would even if they did make the 260.

Best of luck to ya.

Dober

Thanks, Dober. For me, the 24" tube is more of a balance thing for shooting on the prairie and for heping out with a bit larger scope (Zeiss Conquest 4.5-14x44) than normal...not so much to do with gaining extra velocity. I just like the way a long action rifle feels with a 24" tube.

Hell, either a .260 or a .25-06 can make shots a heckuva lot farther than I can.

Get the Rem. The cheapest ugly $350 Model 700 will group better than the BIG dollar pretty rifles. You'll have to do the trigger, bed it, and tinker around with bullet/powder combinations, but it WILL be a shooter. I wouldn't do anything to the action. The Browning will be a shooter too. I'm just a Rem guy....

Roger

I'm with Mark- T3

The new X-Bolt has a Bolt unlock button that allows you to cycle rounds thru without taking the safety off.

I've got a new Hunter in 7MM WSM and it shoots pretty good. So far avg. .810 with Federal 140 Gr. Nosler BT's and .929 with Winchester 160 Gr. Accubonds.

I really like the new stock design, much better than the abolt in my opinion. I bought a lighter trigger spring and installed it for about 8 bucks. It now has a little over a 2 lb. pull.

With the X-Bolt you'll get a 24" tube.

All in all it's a nice rifle, I'm satisfied.

Gotcha about the balance thingy, makes sense to me.
Then I'd go 700 so I could give it a Jewell...grin
Best of luck to ya.

Dober

Kimber in the Classic Stainless, but they catalog those in 7mm-08, .243 and .308. I love the wood and stainless combination.

I like that combo, too. If Weatherby offered the Vanguard Sporter Stainless in .25-06 or if Remington offered the CDL SF in .25-06, I'd have it narrowed to two rifles pretty easily. And if Winchester offered the M70 Featherweight in .25-06, SS with a 24" barrel, this discussion would be over!

I have a Rem sps stainless and neighbor has the Ruger Hawkeye stainless.

Both of these rifles shoot extremely well, with 1/2" groups at 100 or smaller being the normal.

The Rem has the advantage of having an adjustable trigger.

We shoot R#19, Win Brass, Win primer, with the 100g Speer BT and I am getting 1 1/2" at 300 yards with mine...hot load at 3475 fps.

R#25 with the Win mag primer with the 100's also gets extreme accuracy with 3500 fps velocity on the 100's.

Goats are easy to kill, spend some time on a ballistics program and tape a drop and wind chart to the side of your stock.

Good luck!

Johnmoses where did you get the spring for your x-bolt trigger I like mine the way it is but a bit lighter would make it perfect.

The only Remington that you asked about was the SPS. I'd get it because it's really accurate right out of the box. Scope it and you're done.

It's also lighter, stronger, & better looking than the other choices.

go with the 700 xcr

You know, if you want something really festive, Browning did a special run of White Gold Grade 6 A-Bolts with a 24" stainless steel octagon barrel. A distributor still catalogs them, but I don't know if they will ever get more. Just .30-06 and .300 Win Mag are left, I'm on a waiting list if they ever get another .280 in.
Look like this, it's not in the Browning catalog:
http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=134176043

Me to all day long, can't bet it.