|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 17,281 Likes: 3
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 17,281 Likes: 3 |
Take a look at the Vanguard. Weatherby Vanguard g
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,750
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,750 |
I would go Weatherby Vanguard Reimington Ruger
In that order. It's mostly a personal preferance thing. I could never warm up to the Browing design.
GB
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 566
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2009
Posts: 566 |
Seattlesetters, of the rifles you are interested in, I would buy the browning. I had a 25-06 in rem 700 sps, and browning A-bolt stainless, now have 25-06 in Kimber 8400 classic. I was a Remington only man for several years, but, I like the X-bolt much better than the current Remingtons or Rugers.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 18,081
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2001
Posts: 18,081 |
I'd toss the Browning off the list because I prefer rifles I can unload the chamber with the safety on, yes I know muzzle control and my brain are the ultimate safeties however that is my preference.
Mike The new X-Bolt has a Bolt unlock button that allows you to cycle rounds thru without taking the safety off. I've got a new Hunter in 7MM WSM and it shoots pretty good. So far avg. .810 with Federal 140 Gr. Nosler BT's and .929 with Winchester 160 Gr. Accubonds. I really like the new stock design, much better than the abolt in my opinion. I bought a lighter trigger spring and installed it for about 8 bucks. It now has a little over a 2 lb. pull. With the X-Bolt you'll get a 24" tube. All in all it's a nice rifle, I'm satisfied. Thanks for that Info John Moses I have not seen one yet! Been on a shotgun kick lately! Mike
God, Family, and Country. NRA Endowment Member
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,262
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,262 |
I would go Weatherby Vanguard Reimington Ruger
In that order. It's mostly a personal preferance thing. I could never warm up to the Browing design.
GB I wish. The Vanguard is not an option. It is not offered in .25-06 (SS). If it was, the search would be over.
What could be a sadder way to end a life than to die having never hunted with great dogs, good friends and your family?
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 18,508
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 18,508 |
Johnmoses where did you get the spring for your x-bolt trigger I like mine the way it is but a bit lighter would make it perfect. Ernie the gunsmith Sells 'em for $6.95. The trigger is already good on X-bolt's. This will make 'em better. It's made by Pault Fireams Specialties. Best, Dee
|
|
|
|
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 32,044 |
Remington 700 BDL . One of the older versions if you can find one.
A Doe walks out of the woods today and says, that is the last time I'm going to do that for Two Bucks.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,262
Campfire Regular
|
OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,262 |
LotK - What does the XCR offer for the extra $400 over the SPS? I've been trying to figure that out.
What could be a sadder way to end a life than to die having never hunted with great dogs, good friends and your family?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,064
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2005
Posts: 6,064 |
If you can stomach the crappy metal finish of the 700 SPS stainless, I'd go that direction. Matter of fact I did, but I personally despise it's porous, gravel beaded like finish. It was bought sight unseen. (lesson learned)
If you're truly looking for/wanting a "sporter" weight rifle, be aware that every Ruger M77 (in 25-06) that I've ever seen has had a mag countour barrel on it. Can't say I've personally seen or laid hands on the newer H'eye model in 25-06, but I'd be surprised if Ruger changed gears and put sporter barrels on them. Just FWIW/FYI...
If you're stuck on Rem & SS be aware they also made 25-06s in the BDL SS model w/ the nicer satin stainless finish & synthetic stock, though they're rare and hard to find used.
IMHO, the 700 XCR is simply not worth the extra $300-350 for their proprietary metal finish.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,259 Likes: 1
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Apr 2005
Posts: 7,259 Likes: 1 |
I have several Rem 700 BDL SS rifles and sold another here, a .30-06 to replace it with an XCR. They all really shoot well right out of the box, and they shoot all the factory and military ammo well. I don't have to worry about a pet load for them. Definitely look for an older BDL over the SPS.
A hunting companion has a Browning A-Bolt II SS in .25-06 with a 22 inch barrel. He loads it for accuracy, not the max velocity and has settled on a single 120-gr Nosler Partition load that shoots under .75 inch 5 shot groups every day, any day. He might give up a little velocity, but he wanted a stainless rifle that was easy to handle in the woods and in treestands overlooking grain fields. The deer don't notice that the bullets start out at "only" 2,900 fps.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,499
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 5,499 |
Had a Rem Classic 25-06, Ruger 25-06 and now own a Browning 25-06. The Rem just would not shoot, so it is now a 280AI.
The Ruger, like someone said, had the magnum contour barrel. It felt way too muzzle heavy, just did not balance well. Plus, shooting max loads, the velocity just barely hit 3000 fps. To me, there was no point lugging around a 9 pound rifle that shoots like a 257 Roberts.
The Browning has been the best of the bunch. It is light enough, pretty dang accurate and didnt need a bunch of tinkering to make it shoot. This gun hit max velocity well below max loads.
There is no way to coexist no matter how many bumper stickers there are on Subaru bumpers!
|
|
|
|
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,881
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 18,881 |
You can't run fast enough to give me a Browning A-Bolt or anything like it. Too many instances with field break downs, especially in really wet, rough conditions. Apparently it doesn't take much rust or corrosion to put them out of bussiness. I would prefer the Ruger. I've had less trouble with mine and the very similar Winchester M70 than any of the other choices. I use Remingtons. They are not my first choice for rough going, but I've never had a serious reliability issue with them either. E
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 18,508
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 18,508 |
Not had any of the problems you mention with mine. They have been in some rough weather too.
I'm with ya' on the running though, the Rugers I've shot, (only 3), were about as accurate as a sling shot.
I'm sure they make some accurate rifles. I just haven't run into one yet.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 29,383
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: Sep 2004
Posts: 29,383 |
You can't run fast enough to give me a Browning A-Bolt or anything like it. Too many instances with field break downs, especially in really wet, rough conditions. Apparently it doesn't take much rust or corrosion to put them out of bussiness. I would prefer the Ruger. I've had less trouble with mine and the very similar Winchester M70 than any of the other choices Not my first,second or third choice in Rifles either but I know of no one that has had problem one with a Browning Bolt gun. Your mentor JB also likes Brownings . Do you have personal experiences with brownings?
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,750
Campfire Tracker
|
Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 5,750 |
I followed the link to the Weatherby site. I see now that the 25-06 is not offered in stainless. That being the case, I would go with the Rem. Stainless SPS. I currently own 5 Remington rifles that have been produed in the last 3 years. All of them are shooters right out of the box. The SPS is ugly--no question about it. But I have a 30-06 right now, that if I told you how good it shoots--unmodified--in its factory stock--you might question my truthfulness. So I'll put it like this; all 5 of my Remington standard production rifles will shoot less than 1" at 100 yards with my handloads (thats all I shoot). The thing about the 06 is the fact that though the outside of the action is not smooth--the bolt glinds like its on butter. The barrel does not foul badly and cleans up with min. effort. You can still get a stainless SPS for under 6 bills if you look around. The 700 is a great action to build on latter if you desire, and drop in upgrades are much more common and varied for the Remington than for the other two rifles you mentioned. I can't remember exactly, but I think that the bottom metal on the X-Bolt was plactic when they first came out. Maybe someone can correct me if I am wrong. Plastic bottom metal (an oximoron) is a deal killer for me. I have my flame suit on for all you Tika lovers. GB I would go Weatherby Vanguard Reimington Ruger
In that order. It's mostly a personal preferance thing. I could never warm up to the Browing design.
GB I wish. The Vanguard is not an option. It is not offered in .25-06 (SS). If it was, the search would be over. [/quote]
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,585
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,585 |
If you can stomach the crappy metal finish of the 700 SPS stainless, I'd go that direction. Matter of fact I did, but I personally despise it's porous, gravel beaded like finish. It was bought sight unseen. (lesson learned)
If you're truly looking for/wanting a "sporter" weight rifle, be aware that every Ruger M77 I've ever seen has had a mag countour barrel on it. Can't say I've personally seen or laid hands on the newer H'eye model in 25-06, but I'd be surprised if Ruger changed gears and put sporter barrels on them. Just FWIW/FYI... My thoughts exactly, I bought a 700 SPS Youth rifle in .243 Winchester and it absolutely has the worst factory finish I've ever seen on a rifle. 30m in wet conditions last year and it started to rust. Since it shot very well with the factory tube, I've sent it off to Walter Birdsong to have it coated in BlackT. I also totally agree with you on the M77 in .25-06. I am a fan of the M77, but the .25-06 uses a magnum contour barrel and it's extremely heavy.
|
|
|
|
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,892 Likes: 12
Campfire 'Bwana
|
Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,892 Likes: 12 |
I am a fan of the M77, but the .25-06 uses a magnum contour barrel and it's extremely heavy. That actually sparks my interest. Ruger's website says 8 1/4 pounds.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,622 Likes: 4
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 15,622 Likes: 4 |
I'm in the market for pronghorn/mule deer rifle in .25-06. Since I live in Western Washington, I'd like that rifle to have a stainless steel barreled action. You've got to trust me on this....stainless is just a lot easier around here.
Anyway, I want a 24" sporter weight barrel, as well. It seems the only standard production rifles I can find in this chambering that have SS 24" barrels are the Ruger Hawkeye All-Weather, the Remington SPS and XCR and the Browning X-Bolt. Mark, when i was looking for a .25 caliber rifle, i knew which rifle that i wanted... i had been shooting the m 70 classic featherwieghts for some years, and they are what i want a rifle to be... at least the new haven rifles with the winchester trigger are... my problem was that the m70 classic featherweight was never made in 25-06 and the .257 bobs are mostly selling for way too much money... i had a model 70 fwt in 30-06 in the cabinet, and it never performed like i wanted it to... i ordered a barrel and shipped the rifle off to have it rebarrelled and tweaked... i expect to have exactly the rifle that i want in my hands pretty soon... i guess what i'm saying is that you've probly got a rifle that you wished was a .25 cal.... and it can be, if you want...
"Chances Will Be Taken"
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,585
Campfire Regular
|
Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2002
Posts: 1,585 |
That actually sparks my interest. Ruger's website says 8 1/4 pounds.
I would say it's every bit of that, I have the same rifle in .300 Win Mag and scoped (plus a 1" decelerator) it's a 9lb 6oz rifle.
|
|
|
|
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 18,508
Campfire Ranger
|
Campfire Ranger
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 18,508 |
Hi Geo. Boy,
The Bottom metal on Browning X-Bolt's is Metal. The only thing Polymer is the clip.
Best,
Dee
|
|
|
|
558 members (1minute, 160user, 1234, 219 Wasp, 222Sako, 257 roberts, 62 invisible),
2,513
guests, and
1,197
robots. |
Key:
Admin,
Global Mod,
Mod
|
|
Forums81
Topics1,193,788
Posts18,515,974
Members74,017
|
Most Online11,491 Jul 7th, 2023
|
|
|
|