Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 25/06 potential as a longer range rifle

I had a fella hunting a few years ago that is a very good gunsmith that builds longer range varmint rifles in Texas.

I talked me into building a longer range rifle for coyotes and such while predator calling. He asked me to provide a couple things and he would do the work for me as a gift for the great hunting he had in Africa with me.

I had a SS Ruger 77 action in the proper length available, and he asked me to provide the stock and the scope. He would build and assemble the rest. He did not work with Ruger actions much, but agreed to use it for this project.

So I have this Beautiful rifle with a Montana 26" SS barrel, Accurate innovations laminated stock, Timney trigger, I added a 4.5-14 Leupold scope with the taperd multiple crosshairs, I forget what they called that scope now as I type this.

He had it for about 5 months to assemble and develop the loads. He sent me targets at 300 yards which all three holes could be covered with a quarter. Impressive to say the least.

So when I got it back from him I tinkered with it and put it in my gun vault. I'm a bow hunter 99% of the time. So this rifle although amazing just never got used. When I go hunting with a rifle I grab my 25 year old magic death wand ........ my 30/06

Now I watched a video last week of a fella shooting red water filled milk jugs and bowling pins at 800 yards with a 25/06. Wow impressive! And I have a tack driver of a 25/06 here too at my finger tips to use!

What would I need to do this? Likely a different scope that provides enough magnification to see that well at a 1/2 mile. And then the proper loads with likely a 115 grain berger bullet?

Who has a 25/06 that has shot long like this? what bullets and scope? I have the ability to shoot as far as I want here to practice or try stuff out. I just have this fascination right now with 800 yard jug busting.

I've shot to 1000 with a .25-06, though I was using the 100gr MK and Burris FFII Tactical 3-9x40 scope. I would choose the 115 VLD and one of a few different scopes, depending on budget, if I were getting one set up today.

Here is a sample of how my 25 06 shoots the Berger 115s. Fifty grains of IMR 4350 and it really works well. Also 100 gr Match Kings with that same powder charge.

My scope is a Ziess 3-9X50 with the Z600 plex. I really like it.

Good luck.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbth...1/Barrel_and_action_cleaning#Post8123321

Here is a little more.

http://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbthreads/ubbthreads.php/topics/7971196/all/25_06_with_115_Bergers

Well it seems that a 500 yard expectation is reasonable, and from your examples a 700 yard range would be easily possible. With the Bergers and a 26" tube I'm feeling pretty good about the potential now.

So what scope in the $1000 range would match this application. I always lean leupold because I trust them. However this 25/06 is not going to be packed and beat about like my 30/06 which has been a Loaner in Africa for much of it's 25 year life.

I'm half way thinking to just send Leupold the 4.5-14 back and have them put in the CDS knob so with the laser I can just dial a distance and not even count clicks.

That would work. If you want a new scope I would go Viper PST or Sightron S3 in that price range.

My rifle really liked 53gr of IMR4350 with the 100MK and a max charge of R17 with the 115 VLD. While the 115 VLD is probably your best option, a coyote taken at 942 yards can attest that the 100MK is no slouch.

If you have Leupold install a turret, I'd go with the M1 over the CDS, especially for your application. It will be MUCH nicer when you get into the second revolution of the turret.

After you've got the turret, get comfortable with its use, load up some Bergers, and pop some jugs!

I agree, Vortex Viper PST in the $1000 range.

I built a 25-06 this past year using a Rem. 700 XCR. In stock form, it shot lousy. Mine now has the action and firing pin reworked, a Jewell trigger, Krieger barrel, muzzle brake, B&C stock, 20 MOA scope mount and a Leupold VX3 6.5-20X50 scope with the Varmint hunter reticle. I run Lapua 30-06 brass resized and neck turned with 115 gr. Berger VLD hunting bullets, H4831SC powder and Federal primers. I am guessing the Vortx scope would be a good choice for the dollar, or pick up a used NightForce in 8-32 or 12-42. You defenitely need for the scope to have an adjustment for parallex. I have shot mine to 600 so far with the 6.5 to 20 scope and that works well. Farther out you would probably find a higher magnification helpful. If you live and use your rifle when mirage is a problem, the higher magnifications become unuseable. Finding what your rifle prefers for a powder charge weight and seating depth will be a must to get long range performance. A big issue at these ranges will be the wind factor. A rifle may shoot lights out, but knowing how to read the wind will be very important. It is amazing what wind will do, especially when you are talking 800 yards. I can fully understand your fascination with the exploding milk jug. As a young man, I shot a 30-30 through a steel antifreeze can filled with water. It simply drilled a nice round hole throgh the can. A friend of mine shot the same type container full of water and it blew every seam out of the can. I was impressed. Bought me a .243 just as soon as I could afford it! Here is a picture of my 25-06:

I'm one of those people that likes to keep things simple so my rifle is just a plain vanilla M52 Cooper and the Ziess scope. I was out at the gong range this morning and had no trouble at all hitting very near the center of the 700 yd gong even with a fairly stiff crosswind. And shooting the Sierra 100gr MK propelled with 51.5 AA4350. 115 gr Bergers are not to be found here and I have a bunch of the MKs so go shoot what I have. The Bergers sure work better but the trajectory is very near the same.

Shooting anything is better than shooting nothing.

Have fun. I would bet your 25 06 will punch 1000 yd targets and not even take a deep breath.

JJHACK,

There is a guy a few hours from where you live who uses a .25-06 Ack. He run 115 Bergers. He showed me antlers from some of his 600+ yard kills on Montana mule deer. By the way he uses a Leupold 4 1/2-14X. You should be O.K. as far as glass goes.

Don't feel the need to go crazy on the magnification. I've connected on 1500 yard steel with 9x glass. My most dedicated long range gun wears a 3.5-21 power scope, and I almost never use higher than 15 power on it when shooting long.

My wife sometimes goes to steel shoots with me, targets typically range out to 1200 yards or so. Of all my scopes, she prefers a fixed 10x for this.

The caliber SUCKS!!

So does TOURETTES!

You done went and ruined my day....

Five at 1000 with H-4831 and 115 VLD's:

Nice job Aalf! I love my 25-06.

I often use target turrets on a 6x42 Leupold. I don't count clicks, I just read the scale on the turret and twist to the spot I want.

Consider Retumbo with the 115 VLD's. With that 26" barrel, some good velocity is certainly possible, along with excellent accuracy.

Yes, I like the old 4.5-14x Leupold, and had the M1 turrets put on mine for a long-range hunting rifle.

Regards, Guy

And Great Shooting AALF, I never tried my .25-06 at 1000. Impressive!