Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles why the 25-06 is a great HUNTING cartridge

A 25-06 is hard to beat. I’ve been wanting to try the 100 grain Barnes in mine.

My wife bought me a 700 BDL Varmint Special in 25-06 year before last. Finally got it scoped with a period correct 6x18 Redfield recently and got my dies, brass and bullets. Ready to shoot. Not many around in the heavy barrels.

Must say I am a big fan of 1885’s. They certainly are not lighweight.

I have a Vanguard S2 in 25-06 that I got for something on the heavier side for predator calling. It shoots 115grn NBT with H4831 and RL22 at around 3/4 inch give or take........probably averages around .80. It will shoot 100grn SGK about the same with RL17, H4831 and RL22. But it will absolutely shoot ragged holes with Barnes 80 and 100grn TTSX bullets, which worked out great since we are going lead free in CA this July. I push the 80's to 3,660fps with 55.5 of RL17, the 100's are doing 3,200 with 54.5 of RL22. I really like the rifle, it is very light and carries well. I am really considering getting a 700CDL, they are beautiful rifles.
https://imgur.com/IDLEpCG
https://imgur.com/IKeqqkT

A friend of mine and his son each made one shot kills on 3 goats with his .22-250. You also know him.

I feel like I have to go to confession after reading this thread. My 30-06 knows I'm reading this heresy.

My first centerfire was a Rem 700 ADL 25-06. I bought it at a GEMCO department store in Houston in 1974 for $104. Loaded it with shells that I made with one of those Lee hand tool loader kits.
Shot quite a few deer with it and some coyotes and PDs. Son shot a couple antelope. Friend shot antelope, mule deer and whitetails with it.
I’ll never sell it, but I don’t shoot it much these days..
Great cartridge.

Y'all are killing me!
I bought a Ruger 77 back in '83.....shot it on paper for years...it would put any 100 gn factory load in 3/4" at 200 yds. if I fed it 120's groups opened up to about 3" at 200. Like a fool it went on down the road a few years ago...wish I had it back as it was the first center fire rifle I bought....I know, I am a dumb a**.

New 2 99's thanks. What is the secret to this forum and posting pics like 99% of other forums. What am I missing?

My 25-06 went down the road....onward and upward










...more upward

I know a man who retired from Remington a decade or more ago. He was a big wheel, and obviously had done well financially. He built a lodge for himself and his friends on a wonderful piece of mule deer ground in SE Montana to hunt annually. As a retirement gift, the company offered him anything he wanted from the custom shop. He requested a stainless 700 chambered in 25-06 in a synthetic stock, and subsequently used it exclusive to kill a nice buck most every fall, and the occasional bull elk. He swore he never needed anything more.

I made a Mauser in 25-06 for an old friend of mine about 17 years ago. Bob Ellis was his name. When he was sick and dying, he gave it back to me. He and I hunted together many times, and this light weight 25-06 was his favorite rifle. The old man was a terrific shot and killed a lot of deer and antelope with the rifle.
After he gave it back to me I used it myself on several hunts, always remember Bob, and the wonderful man and friend he was.
The barrel; on this rifle is only .465" at the muzzle and the gun is very light. I should remember what it weighs, but I can't recall exactly, but I can say it is just a bit over 7 pounds loaded, with the scope and sling on it. And it will fire the best load using 115 grain Barnes TXS and AA 3100 powder into a "Micky-Mouse Head" at 100 yards. He never killed an elk with it, and I have not either, but I would not hesitate to do it.

I’ve sold and traded many rifles. 25-06 never been one of them. The 25-06 was the first rifle my dad wanted to give me but ammo was hard to find in our area back in the 70’s. Settled for a 30-06. I later purchased my own 25-06. It will probably be the last rifle I’ll sell but only if I have to. Love how it shoots!

About 20 years ago , maybe 25 I had a 700 barreled up with a 26" #5 in .25-06... It has taken prairie dogs through mule deer.. Never had a shot at an elk when I was carrying it.. It is one of my three favorite calibers... I shot several .257 Wea. For my needs the .25-06 does it all with less pressure, and it is super easy to reload..

I have a new to me Savage in the 25/06 and bought some factory Barnes' ammo with the 100 gr. I hope to see how it does on WT's next year. I have shot plain ol' Rem CL 120 gr ammo on deer since 1980 when I bought my 1st one, a Ruger 77. Of the dozens of deer I have killed with those CL's, 85-90% fell right where they were shot and I rarely shoot high shoulder. Couldn't ask for anything more. But after shooting the TTSX 130 gr out of a 270 this past year, I want to try them out of a 25.

Unfortunately, I had to sell it several years back during a financial crisis at the house. I then bought a Marlin xl7 in the 25 about 9 years ago and I have nothing but good things to say about it. The 20 or so deer I have killed with it with the CL's have all been 1 shot kills/0 misses. This past fall the LGS had a Savage in the 25/06 and at $215 I couldn't pass it up. Those 2 will probably satisfy my love for the 25/06 which is my favorite cartridge until I can find an old tang safety in the caliber that I an afford. I never plan on being without a 25 until I die...hopefully I will be able to. Awesome deer cartridge. As someone else has said on this thread, it out kills other cartridges that are larger and faster IME.

I've had a stainless Remington 700 in 25-06 for 14 years now that I had the barrel fluted and bolt spiral fluted, it's a very well balanced rifle and probably one of the most versatile cartridges for Australian conditions , bar sambar on up.
I have shot literally a truck load of goats,pigs,ect with this rifle using 100g nosler ballistic tips and 110g accubonds and have been extremely satisfied with the performance of this quaterbore.

So who makes a good 25-06 these days. For me it would need a 24-26 inch barrel. Longish LOP, a great trigger. Any suggestions.

I all ways thought the most effective load I've used in my M70 push feed was the 120 gr Corelokt handloaded to around 3000 fps. Used to do that easy with Fed 215's and surplus H-870 in WW or RP brass. 120 gr Sierra HPBT's were fine on broad side shots but came apart on bone real easy. Need to get back to these old favorites again , won't bring back my youth but man do they let the memories flow. MB