Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles .260 VS 25-06 HELP!!!

Caught between a .260 & a 25-06 for my Encore. I have a 30-06 (regular tapered barrel)with 165 grn Sierra Game Kings and it's too much for my body (150 lbs wet) The ballistics are pretty equal. Any thoughts on 24 " barrel vs 26"? Bull barrel vs medium heavy? I love my daughters .260 Browning micro hunter. I would shoot a 120 grn ballistic tip Federal in the .260 & 117 grn in the 25-06. Thanks in advance for any info.

What are you hunting and where? How long is your expected shooting range? Just winging it I would go for the 260Rem.



Steve99

If I were deciding between a 260 and something in its class, I would opt for a 6.5-284. Brass is readily available too.

Between the two you mention i'd go with the 25-06 but with lighter bullets i.e. 100gr TSX's. i think federal and PMC are loading them.

I can like the 6.5-284 as well.

Paul

I really like the versatility of the 25-06, but I am not as familiar with the 260.

The 25-06 hammers varmints and deer alike, it kind of strikes me as a 243 & 270 combo. It does much of what both those great calibers do well.

DJ

I have 2 260's and one 25-06. If you dont reload, go with the 25-06. Factory ammo can be tricky to find for the 260. Most of the Mart's sell some kind of 25-06 ammo.

Just from reading your post it sounds to me like you want the 260 more. Just need some confirmation. I would say get the 260. You have the 30-06 if you ever feel you need something more, but if you have shot the 260 and really liked it alot, then get it. Its something you will be willing to work hard with.

As Hawk' mentioned, the 260 is a reloader's cartridge. It has never gained the popularity needed for common availability. If that is not a problem for you, I would heartily reccomend the 260. It is capable of driving 120's to nearly the same velocity as the 25-06, while often times using 2 to 4 inches less barrel. I have no problem getting 2950 fps from my 22 inch Ruger 77.

While I have not really used it as such, the 260 makes a viable varmint round when loaded with 85 to 100 gr bullets.

As noted, there is a lot of overlap between the two cartridges in the 100-120 gr bullet weights. If you think you might want to use heavier bullets, the 260s go to 140-160 grs. That's where they are substantially different. If you just want to use 100-120 gr bullets, either is great. To use heavier bullets, choose the 260. Also as noted, I think you will get more out of the 260 if you handload. If you don't, the .25-06 might be a better choice.

I'm hunting deer in Mississippi & do have a few 400 yard shots but most are 150 & closer. The big bucks are 170 to 200 lbs. I don't varmit hunt. I also can order any ammo I need within a few days, but I usually get 5 or 6 boxes when I order.

Were I forced to shoot Factory fodder,the 308 would get the nod,because it boasts the most R&D and is the most refined.

Factory loads in both the 25-06 and 250,are goodly sized boots in the respective chambering's nuts..............

I have been looking into getting a 25-06 for some time now. In your case I would suggest the 25-06 for those longer shots you talked about. It can ust handle alot of the those inbetween shots. I have a 30-06 and a 270 and now I want a 25-06.

The only hang up I have with the 25-06 is the fact that most companies chamber the caliber in a rifle model that is often to heavy. On the the other hand, Tikka makes a Light gun but they choose to chamer the round with a 22 and half inch barrel. I am a firm believer that the 25-06 needs a least a 24 inch barrel to burn the all the powder to get everything out of the gun. Browning does make a nice Stalker gun that weights about 7 lbs.

The only reason I really haven't bought the 25-06 is the fact that I guess I keep holding out for a Remington Ti or Kimber 8400 Montana 25-06. Kimber is starting a long action gun. I hope they chamber the 25-06. If not, I guess I'll just have to get the 270 WSM.

Good luck on your purchase. Mike

I have a Weatherby Mark V blue synthetic (24 inch barrel) in .270 and the same gun in 30-06. To my shoulder there is a real noticeable differnce in the recoil of the guns shooting a 130 grain bullet out of the 270 and 165 grain bullets out of the 30-06. The .270 feels a tad bit heavier, I guess just more metal in the barrel. If I was not a reloader I would buy the 25-06 and move on. The .260 is a great gun and if you need or want a shorter barreled gun the .260 would be the way to go, I would not want a 25-06 in a barrel that was shorter than 24 inches. I knocked the P... out of a coyote yesterday while deer hunting with my .270, I must be getting pretty good velocity (don't know) out of the Weatherby....One day I will own a Weatherby in 25-06, but this year I need to focus on getting something that works pretty good in a shorter rifle. JimmyP

IMHO, the .260 Rem. is an oustanding cartridge, and has the added advantage of being short-action (which I like).

HOWEVER, the cartridge is not nearly as popular with ammo makers as the .25-06 cartridge. Now you might handload, which makes this point moot, but the .25-06 has a lot more ammo choices on the average shelf than the .260 Rem.

Soooo, since you're talking about an Encore, and short-action is not an issue here, I (reluctantly) have to recommend the .25-06, although it kills me to go against the excellent .260 Rem. caliber...