Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 308 or 25-06

The idea that a .308 is "much more accurate than the .25-06" is nonsense.

You need to compare specific rifles - some of each won't shoot for crap, others will be OK, still others of each will be exceptionally accurate. Tightest 3-shot group I've ever shot was .232" @ 100 using my .257 Roberts. Second best was .262" with my 7mm RM. I had a Remington .308 that shot exceptionally well but I've seen others that could never earn a spot in my safe because they shot so poorly with a variety of ammo types.

You also need to compare specific loads for the same reason - every rifle will have loads it prefers over others. My Ruger MKII .223 loves 40g BT and V-MAX bullets, but is twisted too slowly (1-12) for heavy for caliber bullets. No problem, I shoot the heavies out of my 1-8 twist AR. Last weekend I had my .308 AR at the range. I shot 150g Winchester Deerfield and accuracy was horrible - on the order of 3" at 100. Than I shot some 150g BT handloads and the group was under an inch, in spite of the wind.

While it may (or may not) be true that the .308 cartridge design lends itself to achieving accurate loads more easily than a .25-06, people don't shoot generalities - they shoot specific rifles with specific loads.

When you get down to this level of comparison, you're getting into a realm where something other than the chambering is going to influence how recoil is felt. I own and shoot both 25-06 and 308 WIN at whitetails. Both can be made to shoot very gently. However, at these levels, I would be more concerned with:

1) Weight of the rifle
2) Stock fit
3) Muzzle blast.
4) Powder choice

My choice would be 308. I would go with a 223/5.56mm in an AR for the 25 cal range. Both calibers will give you many options and the possibility of a better return investment.
MM879

Sounds like you already have the 25-06 with two stocks. If the compact stock fits your wife and daughter, no need to purchase a compact 308. I learned how to hunt using a 25-06, and would recommend it to new shooters if the stock fits them correctly.