I have a original Ti long action stock and a stainless 700 .30-06 action. Looking to build a deer/antelope gun. I am leaning 25-06, but am open to suggestions. I believe the stock is channeled for a #1 contour. I already have a 1st gen Ti in .270
Or a 240 Weatherby Mag. If you're opposed to belted cases then go 6mm/06.
Go with a KS contour. It's a Remington taper that is kind of between a mountain rifle contour (which your Ti has) and a sporter (which measures .66 at the muzzle).
KS will measure .6 at the muzzle vice .56'ish for the mountain rifle contour. You'll only need to open the barrel channel up a RCH.
The 25-06 is a great platform. Mine shoots everything well.
I would add if you're going to buy an aftermarket barrel and you hunt in cold weather/low altitude you might consider an 8- or 8.5-twist barrel. Bullets aren't getting shorter, and the standard twist for a 25 cal barrel is a 10-twist. Berger's twist calculator recommends an 8.5 twist barrel if hunting at 0 degrees F at sea level for the 115 Berger. If Nosler ever comes out with a .257 Long Range Accubond it will probably also be a long bullet. Berger's twist calculator recommends an 8.5-twist for the Nosler 110 Accubond also, under the same conditions.
If you add about 45 degrees and 4500 ft elevation, the 10-twist is fine for the 115 Berger and 110 Accubond. Maybe an unrealistic consideration considering all the deer and antelope killed with a 25-06.
Mine is a 10-twist. If I ever end up hunting Whitetail in Saskatchewan I'll use 100 grain Partitions. The 10-twist has no problems stabilizing the shorty Partition.
Hard to improve on a 270 and a 30-06 if you're in a KISS mentality.
What measurable gain do you see by going to a different caliber?
The factory of the future will have only two employees, a man and a dog. The man will be there to feed the dog. The dog will be there to keep the man from touching the equipment. � WARREN G. BENNIS
Load some 130 ttsxs in the 30-06 and go kill antelope and deer.
Edit: Missed the part about the 30-06 being just an action. Since you already have a 270, sell the other stuff, load up a bunch of 130s or just buy some Federal Blue Box factory loads, and go kill stuff.
At the risk of losing my rifle loony card Id say sell the 30-06 and use it to buy other gear. I may also lose my man card for suggesting you run the 270 . Really your 270 covers all the 25-06 and 30-06 would do
Here is a one minute video of my hunting buddy shooting an antelope at 75 yards.
Earlier I shot one at 50 yards with a custom 7mmRM that I practiced and practiced out to 500 yards.
Over the years I have wasted too much ammo shooting at running antelope. I give up. Practice out to long range. Shoot at close range. Don't shoot when they are running.
There is nothing noble in being superior to your fellow man; true nobility is being superior to your former self. -Ernest Hemingway The man who makes no mistakes does not usually make anything.-- Edward John Phelps
I throw some gas on the fire. I'd build a 6.5x55. Awesome bullets, and that cartridge just wants to shoot accurately. I was dusting rocks at 1000 yesterday with mine and 123 Scenars. Never been a fan of 25's. Slim pickings for real bullets in that caliber.
By "real bullets" you mean what, exactly? Match bullets? Plenty of hunting bullets are available in 25, which is the OP's purpose in building the rifle.
My personal experience with the 25-06 showed me they are finicky to load for, and the bullets suck ass.
If I were building a lope/deer gun, I would think "wind." Shooting a bullets with wind bucking ability would be top of the list. 6mm's, 6.5's and 7mm's would be on my radar.