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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17,101
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 17,101 |
I think the .25-06’s popularity (as much as it ever had) is fading.
It was touted as a high speed long range killer yet in 2023, bullet BC is king when it comes to long range. The .25-06’s traditional 1:10” twist kicks it’s ability to handle BC’s much above a .4 G1 right in the balls.
Lots of guys will whine that BC doesn’t matter at normal hunting ranges, but you bought a .25-06 to hunt at long range, right?
Hate to say it, I’ve had an A-Bolt II .25-06 since ‘96. Love the round! But in 2023, a 6mm Creed will do more with less, provided you’re actually hunting “long range”….. no I bought a 25-06 because it was a light recoiling round in a light rifle. If i am anticipating long range i Have a 28 nosler
Last edited by gitem_12; 04/24/23.
The government plans these shootings by targeting kids from kindergarten that the government thinks they can control with drugs until the appropriate time--DerbyDude
Whatever. Tell the oompa loompa's hey for me. [/quote]. LtPPowell
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,303
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,303 |
nothing wrong with any 25 Caliber cartridge they work fine all of them .
LIFE NRA , we vote Red up here, Norseman
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,418
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,418 |
I am a fan, since 1970. With Nosler Partitions I have taken Bull Moose and Elk many times. 30/06 brass used to be very available, all my handloads have a 30/06 headstamp. Hunter's don't know how effective this round is, imo If they try it, they stay with it.
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Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,808
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 10,808 |
I have plenty of .25-06 components, including factory ammo and brass. I blow it out to .25-06 AI these days.
A Ruger 77V in .25-06 was the first CF rifle I bought when I got back from SEA, early '70's. It was to be my be-all/end-all woodchuck rifle. It was, for a time. I had a fixed, 12X Redfield on it. I was disappointed at first that I could just barely get 1" accuracy with Sierra 100 grain boattail spitzers or the 90 grain Sierra BTHP's. It was still minute of woodchuck, but I thought a heavy barrel varmint rifle should do better. Finally I tried some 75 grain Sierra flat based HP's. Over healthy loads of 3031 or 4064 they shot the kind of groups I'd been looking for: around 5/8 to 3/4 all the time and (according to published data) at warp speed. Eventually it went down the road, leaving me only a 77V in .220 Swift with a 16X Leupold that was more accurate and a more rational varmint rifle. I still have that today. I've often wondered since if Ruger might have put a slower than 10" twist in those early 77V's and that's why the longer bullets didn't work as well for me.
I recently dug out my .25-06Ai after a long dormant spell. Something I've always liked about the quarter-bores. May take it to Missouri or up north this fall it I end up making those trips for some deer hunting.
Mathew 22: 37-39
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,962
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 2,962 |
I had a nice 25/06 built on a 1909 Argentine Mauser action. A very nice rifle and accurate but a might heavy to tote around. I rationalized that I have 250 Savage (2), 257 R, 257 Wby, 270 (2), 280 , 7X57 (3) so there was no logical reason to keep the 25/06. Now two years after selling the rifle, dies, and brass I'm thinking of getting one again. If I do it will be a single shot however just because I like single shot rifles. There is no method to the madness and no cure......than God ![smile smile](/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/default/smile.gif)
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Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,665
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Nov 2008
Posts: 8,665 |
I have plenty of .25-06 components, including factory ammo and brass. I blow it out to .25-06 AI these days.
A Ruger 77V in .25-06 was the first CF rifle I bought when I got back from SEA, early '70's. It was to be my be-all/end-all woodchuck rifle. It was, for a time. I had a fixed, 12X Redfield on it. I was disappointed at first that I could just barely get 1" accuracy with Sierra 100 grain boattail spitzers or the 90 grain Sierra BTHP's. It was still minute of woodchuck, but I thought a heavy barrel varmint rifle should do better. Finally I tried some 75 grain Sierra flat based HP's. Over healthy loads of 3031 or 4064 they shot the kind of groups I'd been looking for: around 5/8 to 3/4 all the time and (according to published data) at warp speed. Eventually it went down the road, leaving me only a 77V in .220 Swift with a 16X Leupold that was more accurate and a more rational varmint rifle. I still have that today. I've often wondered since if Ruger might have put a slower than 10" twist in those early 77V's and that's why the longer bullets didn't work as well for me.
I recently dug out my .25-06Ai after a long dormant spell. Something I've always liked about the quarter-bores. May take it to Missouri or up north this fall it I end up making those trips for some deer hunting. That’s because 77V had a 12 twist where standard was 10. 22 cals were 14.
Last edited by Swifty52; 04/25/23.
Swifty
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Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,442
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: May 2014
Posts: 10,442 |
I have a “before the bowling pin finish” 700 ADL 25-06 that has been hunted a bit. Mostly pronghorns but also whitetail. It is accurate with most loads I’ve tried. I have a like new 700 Classic in 25-06. It’s a little more choosy on bullets and loads but with the correct recipe it’s accurate too. It could be it isn’t broke in yet and I don’t believe I’ve glass bedded it yet. When I was young, one of my brother’s shot his 25-06’s every year for whatever he could get tags for. He had a boat paddle 77 and a 700. He complained a bit regarding bullet selection, but dropped quite a few deer, pronghorns, crows, coyotes, and other varmints with his. Much later he bought a 700 35 Whelen and that became his go to elk and deer rifle.
Last edited by Bugger; 04/25/23.
I prefer classic. Semper Fi I used to run with the hare. Now I'm envious of the tortoise and I do my own stunts but rarely intentionally
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Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,379
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 1,379 |
A Kimber Montana in 25-06 is a sweet little package that packs quite a sting. It is perfect for all types of deer, especially in the mountains.
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,226
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 5,226 |
A Kimber Montana in 25-06 is a sweet little package that packs quite a sting. It is perfect for all types of deer, especially in the mountains. I’m a Kimber fan and there are only a couple I can think of at this point that I would add to my collection that I don’t already have. A 257 Robert’s MT is one of them.
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,740 Likes: 14
Campfire Savant
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Campfire Savant
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 151,740 Likes: 14 |
Reloading makes the 25-06 very avaliable! I reload for mine and have never had a problem finding ammo for it. Yep, got plenty, like the 115 ballistic tip. This is a 25 Niedner, made by Iver Henriksen, Husqvarna action. It’s a perfect deer rifle. We shoot every Aoudad we see. They rate right up there with feral pigs. ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/cJjJYqxd/8-E6-CD32-F-15-CF-4-D02-B09-A-E76-C50-AB0-D8-A.jpg) ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/BnJWhmYH/265-F4296-3-AF4-4-B84-AE24-2280-FA49-F787.jpg)
Last edited by hanco; 04/27/23.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,572 Likes: 6
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 11,572 Likes: 6 |
I've always wished for a faster twisted 25-.06 , that's easily enough built. but like a 135 137 grain match King bullet or something I think would be a pretty decent combo
Last edited by ldholton; 04/27/23.
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Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,214
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 32,214 |
If you can find it, the Hornady American Whitetail 117 grain factory load shoots good groups in both of my rifles. The 90 grain PP HP load is also accurate and while a friend thinks that it is a great bullet for shooting whitetails, I think that it is a little too fragile for my peace of mind. I have loaded a few hundred rounds of 25-06 ammo, but I don't shoot it very often and could get by just fine with the American Whitetail load.
I was a dyed in the wool 257 Roberts guy before I bought my first 25-06, the Marlin XL7 that I bought from member Moses on this site in 04/12. Despite having no direct experience with the 25-06, I had read that the 25-06 needed at least a 24" barrel to work, but after shooting the Marlin a bit, I found that a 22" barrel works quite well too.
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 817
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 817 |
I think the .25-06’s popularity (as much as it ever had) is fading.
It was touted as a high speed long range killer yet in 2023, bullet BC is king when it comes to long range. The .25-06’s traditional 1:10” twist kicks it’s ability to handle BC’s much above a .4 G1 right in the balls.
Lots of guys will whine that BC doesn’t matter at normal hunting ranges, but you bought a .25-06 to hunt at long range, right?
Hate to say it, I’ve had an A-Bolt II .25-06 since ‘96. Love the round! But in 2023, a 6mm Creed will do more with less, provided you’re actually hunting “long range”….. Yeah maybe but back when the 25-06 was brought out 4-500 yds was considered long range and 300 was getting out there. The definition of what long range in the hunting field is what changed. The 25-06 still does a fine job at what it was made to do. You want to shoot 500 + there is no arguing that high bc for bucking the wind and flattening the trajectory is the way to go. Around here the stores get a supply of 25-06 ammo when the ammo manufactures make a run of it and announce its availibility to distributors. People learn slowly but they do eventually change. Guys who buy 25-06 ammo 1 or 2 boxes at a time haven't learned yet that fellow buyers of 25-06 ammo no longer play by those rules and buy the whole case or what's left of it when they see it. OP KC you been on here long enough to know this. Load your own or buy by the case because that 1 or 2 boxes at a time shid don"t work no more no matter how many people piss about it. Lots a times the truth is painfull if you don't learn from it..mb I think most people lack the skill in shooting long range to take advantage of the 25-06 in the first place! You can't overcome wind drift or trajectory simply by going to a different cartridge, that takes a lot of improved skill in shooting! Few seem to understand that! Actually, thats not at least completely true.
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Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,063 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Feb 2007
Posts: 4,063 Likes: 1 |
Have a XTR FWT 25-06.Going to shoot it soon. ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/ncfTC9vg/DSC02980.jpg)
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,303
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,303 |
I've always wished for a faster twisted 25-.06 , that's easily enough built. but like a 135 137 grain match King bullet or something I think would be a pretty decent combo i have a 257 Creedmoor ,2 - 257 Roberts , 1- 257 Weatherby mag all with 8 twist Brux barrels all shoot very good , but i prefer 103 gr. Hammer bullet to hunt with.
LIFE NRA , we vote Red up here, Norseman
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Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 102
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Oct 2017
Posts: 102 |
I agree! My 257 Ackley went on a Rocky Mountain Bighorn hunt here in Arizona and downed a beautiful 178 B&C ram that completed my Grand Slam. The rifle was built on a pre-war model 70 action, stocked in nice but not a fancy piece of English by a friend and puts the 117 Hornady into small groups.The rifle is as accurate as the shooter can fire it! For some reason it has put on some weight as I have aged, and will be making a trip to the gunsmith gym for some trimming. After that it will continue hunting anything I can draw a tag for here in Arizona.
Last edited by Desertranger; 05/25/23.
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Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,131
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2004
Posts: 3,131 |
Have a XTR FWT 25-06.Going to shoot it soon. ![[Linked Image from i.postimg.cc]](https://i.postimg.cc/ncfTC9vg/DSC02980.jpg) NICE RIFLE
If you find yourself in a hole....quit digging
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Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 15,557 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2008
Posts: 15,557 Likes: 3 |
KC, if you decide to start loading for your 25:06 I have some brand new brass to send you and maybe a nice set of dies as well. Just let me know.
Having used the cartridge happily for about 50 years on all the same game animals many others here have noted, and having more than one, I had never thought about someone's earlier comment that it is "fading" in popularity. I can't figure how more or less popularity could change such a fine shooter.
As for the comments about "long range" deficiencies with a 120 grain .257 bullet at a normal top velocity, it always has appeared that such effectiveness in the field will vary much more with the shooter than with the diameter/weight of a bullet between .25 and .28.
The idea of taking a particular long range shot is calculated differently by different hunters, and some exercise limits for themselves - for good reasons. There are many excellent mid-weight cartridges.
NRA Member - Life, Benefactor, Patron
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Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 283
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: Aug 2019
Posts: 283 |
My wife and I own (5) 25-06s: one Dakota Classic Deluxe, and four Ruger Express rifles, built in the early 90s, which were never catalogued by Ruger, but 6-8 were none-the-less made.
We have hunted Colorado & Wyoming for Pronghorn for many years, and have taken a bit over 60 Antelope between us. We used to get (6) tags a year, a buck and two doe tags each, but those days are sadly over. One is lucky to get one tag every 2 or 3 years now. We have used a 25-06 for about 80% of those, and a 280 Rem. for the rest. We have found the 25-06 to be ideal for this animal, and I have taken deer with it as well. We have two lady friends in Colorado who have taken Elk with their 25-06s. It is a great cartridge! My cartridge choice for Elk however, is a bit bigger, but I cannot argue with their success. My wife and I have both used only Winchester 115 gr. Ballistic Silvertips.
We have never had to shoot long range at any of the Pronghorns we have taken, unless one considers under 400 yards long range. Of those Antelope, only six have been shot over 300 yards, with the longest shot at 361 yards. I don’t even know how far out my 25-06’s effective range is, but I suspect it is much farther than I have used it for. I therefore don’t need a cartridge that can shoot out to 1,000 yards, and I suspect no one else does either, but it seems many want to attempt that feat these days. Just a modicum of hunting skills will get you within decent shooting range of Pronghorns and Deer, and you may find that the 25-06 is your huckleberry, as we have. YMMV.
Last edited by surefire7; 05/26/23. Reason: Additional info
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Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,313 Likes: 9
Campfire Kahuna
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Campfire Kahuna
Joined: May 2011
Posts: 56,313 Likes: 9 |
The only deer I've killed with a 25/06 was shot with a Nosler Ballistic tip, in the front shoulder. That has a tendency to cure a lad of wanting to shoot deer with a 25/06. Nowadays I shoot Barnes tsx and ttsx and should be more confident. But old ideas die hard.
_______________________________________________________ An 8 dollar driveway boy living in a T-111 shack
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