Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .25-06 users.....

Thinking buying or having built a .25-06.

Always heard good things about the cartridge, just never owned/used one.

I would be hunting deer and hogs with it.

I would appreciate any good or bad info about the rounds performance on game and any favorite loads.

Thanks in advance,

SCHOOLCRAFT

My long time favorite.

The good..

A good shooting, fast 100gr BT or other quality bullet drops deer size game and hogs like a used rubber. I have been using the 110 gr Accubonds over 54gr of IMR 4831 in a Rem Varmint Special for last 5-6 years. That rifle loves that load, its running around 3280fps on avg. It was my go to rifle for culling and CWD testing, etc. I have an AI build in progress now,but dont plan on ever not having a plain, vanilla 25-06. I have never run the 120 Partitions, but thats plenty bullet to get the job done on a little bigger game. It kills just as good as many others out there. The Weatherby is out there, but just have never had much desire for one.

The bad...

Cant think of anything!

I Run 120 Partitions and they kill hogs and Deer with boring regularity.

Gentle recoil, good bullet selection and flat shooting. The 25-06 is my favorite Long Action cartridge.

JM

Have a 257 weatherby, use the 120 partitions. Have shot 3 elk and several deer.

worst thing i can thing of is one will heat a barrel up fast! but for normal hunting not an issue

Used a 25-06 for the last five years hunting whitetail's. Used 100 gr. Rem. CL, 115 Winchester BT, 120 gr. Rem. CL. All worked equally well, took about 20 or so deer with it. 100# does to 230# bucks.

My son has shot a ton of stuff with a 25-06. No recoil, very flat shooting, rolls elk on down well. Still not sure why I don't have one.

Lotss of stuff dies down this way by way of the 25-06, mainly of the big, brown, and elky variety. Heckuva cartridge...

IMO it's the perfect deer/coyote cartridge, leaning more toward the deer end of things. It'll work on bigger game, too, but I have bigger guns for bigger game

I've had a few .my one now is a Savage axes 117 federal preamum group at 3/4 inch at 100 yards off the bench love this one

I can't speak to hogs, but the .25-06 is a lethal deer slayer. It is easy to load for and shoots a variety of powders and bullets well. I have one that I bought years ago from a fellow member here and have had a blast toting it around.

I have a youth stock that came off a Remington M700 in .270 that was my son's and now he is up to the regular size stock but I have that stock, so I have been thinking of a .25-06 for my daughter. Anyone had any luck loading the .25-06 down a bit for a new hunter? Maybe a 100 gr. bullet at 2700 or so?

Rebarrel the NULA

Duckster, a 100 grainer at 3200 still has very negligible recoil. I'm betting she would shoot it just fine.

I have a 257 Roberts in a Remington M700 Classic. I never thought that it may be built on a long action and therefore fit into the youth stock? I know my handloads for that rifle with the 100 gr. Hornady at about 3000 fps don't kick much, but she is just a slightly built 9 year old and I don't want her to develop a flinch. Will start with .22 LR, then .22 mag first.

Oh God....here we go.....

Yes you can load them down to 257 Roberts or 250 savage go with 75 gr bullets they are great killers with these down loads

I've taken many whitetails and hogs using the 117gr Hornady SST with good results. Hunt with confidence!

About '04 I came to the realization that mostly I hunt mule deer and coyotes. Bought a .25-06 rifle...

Since then a half dozen mule deer as well as coyotes have fallen to it. There is no real downside. Easy to shoot. Easy to produce accurate loads. Very lethal, none of my deer even took a step after being hit.

I shot a few with the 100 gr Barnes loaded to 3340 fps w/H4350. Shot the rest with the 115 Berger VLD loaded to over 3100 fps with Retumbo. Good accuracy and flat shooting.

Sighted-in at 300 yards, held on hair and still killed a mulie at 400 yards instantly.

Also killed one at 25 yards. It will work near or far on deer sized game.

Go for it! Guy

You guys are making me want to get a 25-06....Sombeesh!!!

I only hunt deer with mine and it works great with 110 gr Accubonds.

What???? I didn't say it. I was thinking it....but I didn't say it.

Love the 100grs out of my Howa.

Here's some .25-06 kills:

125 yards, 100 gr Barnes TSX:


25 yard buck, 100 gr Barnes TSX:


The other side of this coyote was badly torn up. 115 Berger at about 160 yards as I recall:


115 gr Berger at about 230 yards, the only one that has taken two shots, because I spined it, looking down from above on the first shot:


It's a good cartridge for an open country deer hunter. I was surprised when several guys told me they happily used their .25-06 rifles on elk.

The majority of 25-06 owners love 'em.. And it's an especially well-suited round for an AI..

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Antelope%20hunt/DSC02306-1.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Stevesjavilina.jpg[/img]

[img]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v133/Sells/Thanksgivinghunt08001.jpg[/img]


Any questions?

Those 700 CDL's sure are good looking rifles!

GuyM, nice rifle!!! The local emporium had the same rifle on the wall, NIB, a special order from someone who then passed on it. It languished on the wall. The proprietor sold it to me for $630. I still have not scoped it. It has the new Remington trigger. My concern is that it will be so effective on game in Virginia that I will have no need for anything else... I have acquired the Talley ltwt rings... just pondering which scope... I am thinking of shooting 120 grain Nosler Partitions and 120 grain Swift A-frames on everything... which for me would be white tails, perhaps a black bear, perhaps a hog, perhaps a coyote... I believe I will settle on a Leupold 6x36.

Mine is the 6x42, it works well. I have an older 6x36 on a .30-06 that my son has really enjoyed hunting with the past couple of years.

Yeah, I had to make an effort to dust off some other hunting rifles and use them after picking up the .25-06 700 CDL...

Thanks for the compliments guys, it's been a good rifle.

Prairie Dog Shooter - you really do hunt everything with yours! Cool.

GuyM, what sling is that you are using? I am thinking of using a black Uncle Mike's mountain sling... but am open-minded.

It's a Turner sling, widely used by competitors in NRA Highpower match shooting:

http://turnersling.com/

I consider it a very important part of my rifle for accurate shooting.

Regards, Guy

I am guessing the National Match Service Rifle All Weather Synthetic Biothane Sling in Olive Drab?

Interesting...

Mine is just an ol' beat up leather one. Got it about 15 years ago and move it from rifle to rifle occasionally, including shooting some matches using it. I'm a sling shooter nut case, no doubt.

Having spent 20 years in the Army you would think I would know how to use a bloody military sling, but in my defense I was a tanker and not infantry. Thanks GuyM for the recommendation...

Curious though, wouldn't slinging up and pulling it in tight disturb my zero, what with the torque it puts on my CDL stock?

25-06 is perfect for deer and hogs. I shoot nothing but 100grn TSX's anymore.

Not if you zero it using the sling...

But yeah, the CDL stock is thin, and a little flexy. I keep that in mind when shooting the CDL for sure and don't apply as much sling tension to that particular rifle . Two other rifles of mine, a .308 and a .300 WSM have much sturdier, thicker stocks that don't flex much. They work out better with the sling.

I was USMC, they pretty well beat sling use into us, and it took with me. Some tankers explained to me that they called us grunts "crunchies" which puzzled me until they told me it's from the popping sounds of helmets under the tank treads. Danged tankers anyway...

Guy

GuyM, thanks, I would think that a laminated stock, like the LSS, would be much more rigid with the sling?... and I am looking for an excuse to pick up an LSS...

Well there's your excuse - and PM sent on sling use.

Now, back to our .25-06 thread...

GuyM, I ran into Marines in Somalia... they used to freak me out the way they wrapped themselves up from head to toe in their ponchos, like mummies, and slept in the dirt... first time I saw a row of them it made me think of a bunch of body bags... Our infantry grunts are a little more civilized -- they would at least use a pad and perhaps a makeshift pillow...

Anyway, these leathernecks were artillerymen, and sleeping on the beach, and eating MREs all day long. We invited them to use our chow hall which was an outdoor affair with a couple MKT set up and an E7 cook who was a trading fiend -- this guy could get anything... the Marines ate us out of house and home, and referred to us as "Army Dogs"...

I never fully appreciated Armor until I saw a tank pull up to a line of frozen grunts at Hohenfels... when the TC opened his hatch, you could see the waves of heat pour up and out into the frozen air... the grunts were jealous beyond belief...

and yes, we sing songs about "crunch! crunch! crunch! goes the sound, grunts in my sprocket going round and round..."

Sorry for the thread hijack, lads!! Back to the 25-06 discussion...

Anyone shooting an A-frame bullet by any chance?

I think ballisticly{energy wise}it's close to the 7mm08.That could make it a little more than a deer and hog cartridge.

Just got a Rughr No. 1 AH. I loaded 20 rounds with the same formula as joshf303. good looking load. #1 SIL, a former co-worker, and one of my doctors have been telling me for years how they do a number on deer and the doc adds elk to the list. Old bones need a bit less recoil, so here we go. jack

i really do need to get my 2506 up and running...

There is no bad to the 25-06. Buy.


Travis

Go ahead School,re-barrel,less recoil and it will kill everything your gonna hunt........win-win situation!!! LOL....

Winchester is making M70 Sporters in .25-06 now... you can get a LH Ruger Hawkeye in .25-06...

I think that would the one to get, rather than the featherwieght,i just don't think that you get the full potenial out of a 22" barrel

The 84L Montana would be nice in 25-06! Great round.

Been wanting to do a faux Sporter Deluxe in .25-06 for deer and antelope to match my 7mm

Maybe not, but I'm getting 3312fps average with 100gr bullets from my 22.5" T3, which is plenty fast enough for me.

My son and I both shoot the 25-06 by HOWA.....great caliber and brand ....nothing bad about a 25-06.....NOTHING!!!!

Well i'd say you're getting "full potenial" out of a 22" barell.....so much for my theory.

The "full potential" for a hunter is how it does on game. I hunted for many years with a M77 25/06 with outstanding results. I bought a Marlin early last year because I wanted a lighter weight rifle in the caliber. The deer I killed this year with it didn't know the difference as it dropped in its tracks. Sometimes I think we make too much out of velocity for normal hunting ranges and conditions.

Bought a Rem 700 BDL 25-06 years ago (40 to be exact) for use as a varmint/deer rifle and it worked really well. A few years later I sold it to my brother who still has it and loves the rifle. After a few years of not having one, I bought another. I've taken several deer with the newer one and IMHO, with a premium 117 or 120 grain bullet, it makes a nice large game rifle. My newer Rem is a bit heavy and I hope to replace it someday with a lighter model, but I will always have a 25-06 in my humble collection.

+1 Me too-you a smart dude.

The only reason I don't have a .25-06 (yet) is I have a .257 Roberts in which I run +P loads. The Roberts is easily my favorite rifle and I suspect you'll enjoy a .25-06 for the same reasons - enough rifle for most everything and light recoil.

Like most of you, I have more than one rifle. There is just something about the 25-06 that makes me want to hunt with it. My Kimber Montana 270 WSM for example, will out perform it ballistically but I just like what the 25-06 with my accubonds do to a whitetail.

I just stumbled into this thread AFTER ordering my first .25-06 last week. Now I'm really getting fired up! I've already to the brass, dies and bullets en route. Now I just have to pretend to be patient.

My brother has a .25-06. I've watched him shoot a bunch of critters with it. It bellers a little louder than my .243 and as far as I can tell that's about it.

Wow great thread, I plan to take my 25-06 on my next trip to the range it's been to long, I just love the soft shooting 25-06!
You guys have some great info here too.

Great thread but please post your load data.

This has been a good topic sure has got me thinking about buying one what would be safe max range for deer/antelope?

The "limits" will be with the individual shooter more than the cartridge, 500yds for lope and deer would still be reasonable.

In the past a guy could buy the 120 gr Remington Corelokt in bulk. I used alot of them in my M70 Winchester PF they work well,these days you can only get them in factory ammo. 25-06 sure works well on antelope and in antelope country for coyotes and deer as well. Magnum Man

As per always,boolits matter more than headstamps. When boolits were not as good,the 25-06 was a better choice...simply because case capacity hedges a bet,if/when forced to sling Ping Pong Ball B.C.'s. Sadly,there has been some great leaps in projectile performance and their aerodynamics,but not in .257". That is a shame,because I've shot more .257" than anyone else I've known,seen or heard of. Given the current state of projectiles available over the counter,I'd do something different than .257" in both a build or an over the counter rifle.

I'm always loathe to go long action,as a means of simply replicating short action performance and I'd not go L/A .257" unless it were either a 25-06AI or 257Wby. In S/A it's 25-284 all the way for me,if only because I've suffered both a Bob and a Better Bob.

That being said,the "lowly" 243Win brings much to the table and replete with a trite case length that does many COAL favors in regards to nice bullets and OEM throats/mags. Very easy to arrange a .500+ BC at 3000fps+ and that culmination wrought with very modest recoil and miserly propellant appetite,is assuredly not a bad thing. The 115 Berger in .257" is about the best mainstream pitch offered and it's a sub .470 G1 BC,though their 105 .243" wears a .532 BC,if only for conversation.

For cursory extrapolation,here's a smattering of wares that'll mebbe lend an inkling to how my Quarterbore LOVE has waned,due simply to boolits. L to R: .257" 80TTSX,.257" 100TSX,.257" 100XLC,.243" 105 'Max,.284" 162 'Max.




Think boolits first. With an extry .473" L/A laying about,the 280AI is tough to trump and again...simply due to boolits.


Hint.

My pair of 25-06ais have been gathering dust once I figured out I could shoot a .5 BC 105 out of my 243ai with just 48gr of powder. The 105s are wicked..

But some still like pissing up a rope, befuddles me.

I just picked up a 84L Montana that's getting the Ackley treatment.
I look at it as a flat-line rifle with 100 grain Swifts taking the lead.

Calvin
What twist and length barrel are you running?

8 twist, 24" Pacnor 3 Groove.

It's a very basic blueprint. SA 700, PN Barrel in above mentioned length and twist, contoured in Mountain Rifle. McM Edge stock in Mountain Rifle. Bedded by yours truly. Rifle Basix trigger, Talley Lwts, and 6x42 with fine reticle. I need to toss it in the mail for the Cerecoat, as I was fighting rust on the CM action all season.

Shoots 105 amax at .75 and the 105 Scenar at sub .5.

the 270 used to be my favorite cartridge

i got rid of it to fund my 1st ar

now ive got a tack driving winchester 25 06 and i don't miss the 270 at all

the 25 06 is faster with less recoil

it'll kill deer and antelope quite nicely

a 117 grain hunting bullet should take care of hogs too

I have a 25-06 that now collects dust. Very nice shooting rifle and plenty flat shooting out to 300 yards. My 243 wssm outperforms it now though simply due to the high BC bullets available in 6mm, that and it's chambered in an AR that shoots .2" groups.

I didn't hunt with the 105 amax this season, but the boys knocked down a handful with the 105 scenar from a variety of ranges. Based on what I saw, I'd not hesitate to use the 105 scenar on any deer/black bear hunt. The scenar penetrated, exited, and straight up wrecked [bleep] in the process.

Yeah Berger recommends the 8 twist also on their website.
I watched a video on the longrange forum,a girl shot a cow elk with the 105 berger in 243 @ 684yds. one shot,dead elk,pretty impressive!

105 Scenar exit pic that I snapped as I was hacking one up on the mountain.

I'd say it did it's job!

Interesting Calvin.

Calvin,

What did it do the the innards? Was it like a straight drill though the inside similar to a tsx or was it more akin to a ballistic tip in wound profile with some wide tissue destruction?

Lots of fine deer cartridges in the .25 to .28 range - the best shoot flat (ballistic efficiency) and are tidy (powder efficiency). Seem to keep finding that the .25:06 is at its overall best with bullet near 120 grs. Lighter = faster, but normally not better performance on game.

The fellows who like the old .243 usually will horn in on these threads to try to convince about their favorite, but it is getting past its peak at 100 grains, even with the better bullets. Something in physics tells the story about 120 grains vs, 100 at generally same velocity. Story continues upward.

For deer and similar, 25:06 has been my first choice for 30 years.

On that particular deer, it smashed through a shoulder and exited through rib. It wrecked tissue, but didn't have the NBT, SGK, or SST explosiveness I've seen. I'd put it somewhere between a NBT and a TSX.

So not alot of meat wasted

Interesting. I'm going to have to run some through a couple of hogs and see how they work. I like the VLD's, but I often find myself shooting at pigs running away after the first one rolls. The scenar might just be the ticket.

Not too much. As I said, not in the same league as the NBT or SST. I was surprised how well the bullet behaved on all the deer it plowed into.

I'd be curious how they hold up on hogs. Do me a favor and PM me if you think about it once you've run a few through a hog.

I can do that. I'll be chasing some here at the end of the month. If I can get my hands on some scenars and a load worked up with them before then I'll let you know how it goes.

Thanks!

Calvin

My Rem 700 has a 9 1/8 twist how do you think the 105 scenar would fly in that?

It should.

Thanks Calvin gonna have to give them a try

Glass bed and free float and you will have no issues.

Your "grasp" of Physics rates an HBO Comedy Special. Weight means less than dick,especially when IMAGINING that it does in a "whopping" diameter difference of .014" and feigning 20grs of mass as an "advantage".

In fairness however,what did/do matter is projectile integrity,it's aero form and it's launch speed. Those key things,control what happens downrange upon victims. Interestingly enough the "old and lowly" 243Win even beyond it's "peak",brings more downrange "Ooomph" to the table than the 25-06. That despite it being a .445"-ish shorter hull,being of less projectile diameter and of less weight. Physics not so "surprisingly" crushes alotta Myths,Wives Tales and Stoner notions. Due those simplistic constants...the 243Win can/will recoil less,fly flatter,slip the wind better,yield higher impact velocity,reduce action/rifle length/weight and for those enthralled with yet another moot designator arrive with more "energy". As an aside,due the shorter/squatter powder column,she'll routinely realize more svelte ES/SD values as well,which do not hurt connect percentages.

Feel free to cite the .257" projectile(s) that most horn you up for killing and I'll be happy to discuss 'em at length and in the firsthand. Cheer up,noone wants to see a .257" A-Max or Scenar,more than I.

As things stand Today,the Scenar is easily the most robust VLD in .243" for threading Cheerios.

Hint.

Aside from the fact that you know NOTHING about my grasp of physics, it seems that you don't know how to reply without using ad hominem attacks in trying to belittle another. Beyond that, your oddball text conveys mostly nonsense apparently designed to bamboozle others into thinking you have some superior knowledge. If you do, you should learn how to use it. Must be rough and irritating being married to a .243.

Watch out folks here comes SlickeyStickey the know all of the gun and shooting world has arrived from bannishment again.
Welcome back BigStick, Knew ya couldnt be nice for more than 1 post. Freakin laffin at a maroon


Swifty

Dumbphuck,I find it more than a whole bunch entertaining,that you couldn't cite a single [bleep] boolit to bolster your "knowledge","experience" or "findings"...yet you are more than "comfy" to burn bandwidth extolling your total lack of Physics comprehension and Peabraintitude. Sugar,none of them things needed reiteration and were/are WELL beyond obvious upon your first feigned utterance of "insight".

Ignorance IS bliss and you are assuredly blisseder than most.

Wow!




Swifty,

That you couldn't pour pizz outta a [bleep] boot,is hardly "secreted".

Exceedingly good call as per always,to refrain Ballistics.

Laffin'!

There is an 84L Montana 25-06 down my way. Might just buy it. Always wanted a 25.....

Boxer: Life teaches us that only the most ignorant, weak, defensive and shameless resort to such filthy language and derogation. To the politely discriminate, often there is a big difference between what one CAN state and what one CHOOSES to state , just as there is a big difference between having a worthwhile discussion and draining a sewer. Why would one cast even a tiny pearl before the vulgar,vapid and ill-intentioned? You now get zero attention.

Melvin24 - that sounds like a fine rifle. If you buy it, let me know. I will send you some excellent bullets to try.

I'd simply forgo the 25-06 a far as punching the barrel. Go a smidge larger dia. I'd still order the brass and then run it though the die w/expander mandrel. Select a scenar and stuff the case full of 7828 and load me a 6.5-06 cartridge.

With B.C.'s of .6+ and launch speeds of 3000+ what's not to like?

I love my .25-06, but I have a .270 that's going to go this route... just have to get in touch with the gunsmith for the .264 tube.

I have had one for too many years. I do not like run of the mill cup and core bullets. I have never failed to recover a deer shot with one, I have had several instances of total jacket/core separation. Maybe 20 years ago I started with the Barnes X bullet. 100 grain bullet over 4831. Somewhat less than a max load for my M70. 3000 fps at the muzzle. Extremely accurate and "numbs them"

I seldom get to carry the rifle anymore. My wife claimed it so I got her a M7 CDL in the 7-08. Now my youngest son has claimed it. It is never in the safe come deer season.

No experience hog hunting with it. Just big bodied Northern Whitetails. It does not get out of the safe to go bear hunting.

I have one 6.5-06 now and another one will be here at the end of the month.
The smith I use has a 3-4 week turn around time if you supply the parts.
He also has the ability to get barrels pretty fast from Mike Rock.

KKKKunt,

Life states simply,that a dumbphuck spinning her wheels for 30yrs will still remain well shy of attaining her first clue. Congratulations?

Your version of "Physics" is [bleep] hilarious,as is every other delusion you proffer. It seems you are more than a wee bit comfy talking out your ass,undoubtedly due to the decades of practice you've amassed.

Bless your heart.