Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Am I missing something? (.25-06)

Some years back I figured out that most of my hunting was for mule deer & coyotes in fairly open country. My son had happily taken possession of my 6mm Rem, and I "needed" something similar.

Grabbed a .25-06 Rem 700 CDL, and wow, it's been quite a success with a string of mule deer & coyotes and now a pronghorn too. Ranges from 20 - 400+ yards using the 6x Leupold and a 300 yard zero. Here's a few photos from this year:





Coyote was shot at 420 yds according to the laser, with the 115 Ballistic Tip at a modest 3120 fps. Held on his nose as he faced away, uphill. Worked just fine.


Checking the ammo prior to this year's hunt:


Have run the 100 gr TSX @ 3340 fps (H4350)
The 115 Berger @ 3190 fps (Retumbo)
The 115 Nosler Ballistic Tip @ 3120 fps (Retumbo)

Messed with some others, but those have proven effective in the field and accurate at the target range. Really a nice, mild-kicking, flat shooting, lethal cartridge. If I'd already had a .270, I'm not sure I would have bothered, but I didn't so the .25-06 takes care of everything I need an under .30 cal rifle to accomplish.

Regards, Guy

One of the reasons I never wrapped my head around the 25/06.When it was introduced, I grabbed a 700 ADL;shot it a lot at woodchucks,and later hunted with the cartridge out west....about the same times I was also running the 257 Roberts in a couple of different rifles.

Moving to 25 caliber was a good thing in something burning less powder,kicking a bit less, and making less noise and for me that always came out "257 Roberts"....along the way I shot lots of varmints with all three....a 270 with 110-130 Sierra's always did a bang up job.We also played with the 90 gr Sierra's(not sure if they are made any longer)but they left nothing for photo ops on woodchucks.Ditto the 25/06 and Roberts with 75-100 gr bullets.The 75's in the Roberts and the 25/06 made chucks look like they had gone through meat grinders.Call it a wash.

I killed antelope and mule deer with all three(plus other stuff with the 270). Judging from effects on animals to about 400 yards,I could not see a difference between the Roberts and the 25/06...Oh it generally went a bit faster with the 117-120 gr bullets;beat a handloaded Roberts by about 150 fps with 100 gr bullets.But didn't seem to kill any better,and by the time you got to those 120 gr bullets you were back into 270 territory so what was the point?

There seemed little doubt the 270 was the superior tool;tougher jackets, more frontal area, and just generally more punch at distance...plus generally better penetration.


The kicker came for me when a pal and I shot back to back mule deer bucks with a 25/06 and 120 gr Partitions at about 250-300 yards down in New Mexico....both those recovered bullets had bases squished with lead cores squirted out and it seemed the jackets were thinner and more fragile;again not as much frontal area as similar 270/7mm bullets.I tracked enough 25/06 slugs through elk carcasses killed by others to know the bullets of the day killed them,but again, the 270 was just more thorough no matter what you looked for;bullet weight;expanded frontal area,penetration, etc...

I know what the tables say;and I know there are better bullets today,but that's true for the 270 as well.For me, despite trying, the magic of the 25/06 never appeared in sufficient quantity to justify keeping one around.If I want something like a 25/06 to tane down recoil a smidge,I'll load a 110 TTSX today in a 270,while still having the options of substantially heavier bullets,in case I think I need them.

So to try and answer what I think the OP is asking, "Would I drop a 270 to get a 25/06 for general BG hunting,expecting to see some magic?" Nope.

I had one once. The recoil wasn't all that different from my .30-06's.

Excellent points.

I agree with what you are saying. I think there is even more to it than that though. Here in the east we commonly take deer, bear , and even moose at short range, say, under 75 yards. I've hunted out west a few times and the shots are much longer generally speaking. A cartridge and bulet combo that is lights out at 200 yards may not perform well at 50. I'm wondering if that's why the .25's are so beloved out west compared to here in the east where they haven't made as big a splash?

How far are your shots on average?

You kind of hit exactly on what I'm asking. I had an offer to trade my Ruger M77 .270 for another guys Ruger 77 in .25-06. I've been contemplating making the trade but I've been uneasy about it. I appreciate and respect all the comments by posters on this thread and I can honestly say I'm still not ready to make the trade. I can't say it won't happen but it's not going to today.

Whole lot more variables than chambering on that proposed trade. Is your rifle a M77 (tang safety)?, does it have rifle sights?, does it have the red recoil pad?. Is it a 77MKII, zytel stock?, stainless? - etc.

How 'bout his 25-06?

I'm not tryin' to sway you one way or the other, just pointin' out some variables. Being the other guy's rifle is a 25-06, I'd be paying particular attention to the throat as well. If it saw a lot rounds, it's possible there's erosion.

Both are mk II's with walnut and in almost identical condition. He says he hasn't shot his a whole lot. Since he is not a handloader I believe him.

Enthusiastic as I am about my .25-06... If I already had a .270, I wouldn't switch.

Even Steven.

Yup.

I believe in the rugers the 25-06 comes with a pretty chunky barrel. Just something to consider.

The barrel is the same diameter as mine, just a smaller hole which makes it a quarter pound heavier.

Thank You.



That says ALOT.....from a guy (pun) who has used the 25-06.

This -- from a guy who lives OUT W and farther NORTH with LARGER game AND personal experience. (outside Mt.)

"That says ALOT.....from a guy (pun) who has used the 25-06."

Yeah, but since I've got a .25-06, I won't bother with a .270 either... They're just too close and serve about the same purposes as far as I'm concerned; .257" vs .277" = no big deal.

Regards, Guy

Guy -

I did NOT read you last post!!

Ruger 77 25-06's have that "heavy sporter" barrel contour that makes it great for varmints or off the bench but heavy to carry all day in the woods.

The 270's and 7mm mags. have the lighter contour making them carry like they should.

The have the same contour barrel that Ruger uses on their magnums. It is also 24" where the sporter barrels are 22".