Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Why not a 25-06

He like the BOB better.

Actually, I really like the .25-06 too, as well as the .257 Weatherby. Usually have a couple .25-06's in the safe, and have had as many as three, though right now am down to one, a custom rifle on a VZ-24 Mauser 98 action, with the metal work (including barrel) done by P.O. Ackley's shop, and the walnut stock made by an unknown German, in Germany, for a U.S. Air Force major who was stationed over there.

I have shot Butch's .25-06 considerably, in fact probably more than he has. It's a Remington 700 that he acquired for a project we're working on, and is the strangest-acting .25-06 and 700 I've ever encountered. Am hoping Butch can figure it out so we can continue.

Look at the Savage 11x and the Weatherby Vanguard.

Nothing wrong with a Ruger 77. If you can't find a lefty Hawkeye, get a long action and rebarrel it. I did this to the 77 below and got a superb shooter that was exactly what I wanted. 25-06 is a great caliber.
Bob

The 25-06 is a great cartridge. Get another and you will not regret it!

I've always thought the Browning 1885 in 25-06 with the 30" barrel would be a fun one.

Had one, traded it (for a .250-3000), and had to do another. Love my .250s and .257Rs, but had to have a .25/06 again. Have not regretted the decision.

I wasn't going to ask, but I have to. Why is it the strangest-acting?

It would group five shots into less than 3/4", and then a few minutes later, after it had cooled down, shoot the same load, under the same conditions, into well over 2".

The plan was for Butch to send me a typical, straight-from-the factory 700, and I'd work up as accurate a handload as possible, then shoot it enough to get a good baseline on accuracy. Butch would then turn it into a custom rifle, one change at a time, with me shooting the same load between changes to see what difference each change made. But I never could get it to shoot consistently, despite trying several different loads and three different scopes.

I've never encountered a 700 like that in over 40 years of shooting a pile of them, so it wasn't going to be a realistic comparison. It's back in Butch's corner now, because I didn't have time to fool around with it anymore.

That is odd.

Yeah, I thought so too, and started to suspect there was a problem in the barrel/receiver thread connection. Have seen that once in a while in other rifles, but didn't have time to, uh, screw with it. Which is why Butch has it again.

I have 6mm's and a 25-06. They are for different critters. I might take the 25-06 out for prairie dogs, but always will have one of my 6mm's there. The 25-06 with proper bullets is excellent for antelope and deer, IMO. But I use mine on Antelope more than anything else, which I think is perfect for the 25.
I've used the 6mm on antelope and it is good, but not as good as the 25-06, in my opinion.

E h 49 -

Why not a 25-06? Absolutely no reason as has been stated.

With the 300 WM (one of my long time favs) the 25-06 makes a great duo, covering varmints thru BIG game.

Good Luck in your search.

There are few groups of shooters that spread more hyperbole than .25-06 fans.

Elkhunter49,

If you liked the Older Ruger M77, you'll love the Hawkeye. They are not available in your darling 25-06, but a 270 would be at least as good, and a little better. That's my suggestion. Good luck!

Well I've decided I'm sticking with a 25-06. I'm headed back home to West Texas next week for Easter so I'll start my search there and see what the local dealers have to offer. I'd love to find something thats LH but that won't be likely. I love the looks of the Winchester model 70 select grade stocks. Maybe I can find one of them to shoulder and see how it fits. I bought a browning X-bolt a few years back on-line and the gun was fine but it never fit me right. Lessons Learned. Thanks for all the advise gentlemen. Later, Baker

I had a brand new Model 70 Winchester 30-06 and used it as a donor while I was in Colorado School of Trades Gunsmithing program.
We ordered a whole bunch of barrels to get a discount from Douglass.
I decided on a air gauged premium barrel
in 257 caliber. The barrel was cut and target crowned at 24.5".
The barreled action weighed 8.5 lbs
Total weight was 14 lbs. I shot an antelope a coyote and a few thousand prairie dogs with it.
Most ballistics for .243 are from 26" test barrels. Nobody carries those very much. If you chronograph a 22" .243 you will not be very impressed.
With 75 gr Hp you will be able to spot the bullet impact.
My first 25-06 was a FN Mauser with full length stock checkered at Ahlmans Inc.
It has a 19 inch barrel and when I loaded it with 785 W/W ball powder
and fired it late in the afternoon it was impressive.
I have a box of 125 gr. BARNES Originals I am going to try on deer this year.
You never forget your first love.
Buy the 25-06!

The only problem I have with my 25/06 is the barrel length. .24".I usually reach for something with a shorter tube.

I'm kinda confused. You bought a 257 barrel and then talk about a .243. What did you chamber the 257 for that went in you mod 70?