Those of you that have experience with either one. I can't decide for sure which rifle that I would be better off with to deer hunt.

Both ....

7-08
short action means somewhat lighter/handier rifle
very effiecient/accurate cartridge/not overbore/less recoil
more bullet weights from 120-175 grs...easily can double for larger game such as elk...
I like the 7-08...have two.....

Which ever one you're more comfortable with. Likely the result of which one you've been practicing with.....

In North Carolina where bean field shots are long...the 25-06.

Doc

I'll take the 7mm-08 any day.

Actually I did. My go-to deer rifle is a 7mm-08.

I prefer short actions. The selection of 7mm bullets is better and more varied (and more weight). It is quite accurate, with minimal recoil.

The 25-06 just seems to be "too much" for a 25 caliber bullet. The only 25 caliber cartridge that I ever had a desire for was the 250 Savage. Never did get one, but if forced to buy a 25, it would be what I'd want.

7mm-08 would be my choice

Open country 25/06, tight country 7/08

Dober

I like them both a great deal. To take the short action argument a tad further, I will mention that it is rare to see a .25-06 with a barrel shorter than 22". Generally they have 24" barrels. To some that doesn't matter, but to others, a rifle with a 20" tube is more to their liking. If you like a shorter rifle, the 7mm-08 is the way to go. If a standard length rifle is what you want, you can go either way.

Be assured though, that either cartridge is a fine deer killer and you won't go wrong no matter which you choose.

How far do you shoot when hunting? What do you hunt in?
Both will drop deer farther then most can hit them. Both are accurate.
The 708 comes in short, light, handy rifles that fit well in thick stuff, and if you hunt from a tree they are easier to get around branches and leaves. The 25-06 will shoot flatter over a bean field, but gives up some bullet wgt to do so. The cartridge also needs a longer barrel to do its stuff and a long action to handle the extra 1/2" lenght.
Really IMO you can`t go wrong with either.

You picked two excellent cartridges well suited for deer size game. I bought my sister a 25.06 and watched her put down deer for the last three years with it. I love how accurate it is and how mild of recoil it has! I liked it so much I went and bought me one this year. Esox357.

My vote would be the 7-08. It's my favorite of the 308 based cartridges. The bullet selection for 7mm bore is excellent as well. Light recoil, but plenty of power for Deer, and for Elk too if you hunt them. Most who use it love the accuracy as well.

Why not get a .270 Win? It is everything the 25-06 is in open country, and equivalent to the 7-08 shooting 140-150 gr bullets.

That would be my first choice if I was choosing something in that range, hard to beat a 270.

Being a Grand Master looney, I have many guns in the 25-06 to 7-08 range. But when it came time to make the "one gun" choice for my son, the .270 was an easy call. There are absolutely no downsides to the .270 unless you HAVE to have a short action (but if the 25-06 is in the hunt, that argument must not apply.)

I was wondering how it was going to take for someone to suggest the .30-06 Improved (aka .270 Win.).
Use 130 gr bullets for bean fields.
Use 150 gr bullets in the woods.
And if recoil is a problem, slap a Sims LimberSaver recoil pad on it.

But there is nothing bad I can say about the .25-06 or the 7-08 either. I have all three.

I'll be taking my .25-06 with me deer hunting, as well as my back up rifle when I'm hunting elk this year.

25-06 ALL day EVERY day!!!

Both are really great rifles with the right loads. With the 7/08 with 42.0g of IMR 4895 with a 130g Speer BT, cold cocks a deer at 300 yards. Some bullets define a caliber, the 130g Speer BT is the ticket on deer with the 7/08.

IN the 25/06, with a 100g Speer BT with a over max (book) load of R#19 at 3475 fps, flattens deer at 400 yards.

No doubt that the 25/06 is much flatter shoot'en, if that is an issue.

My brother has used a 7mm-08 on over 50 whitetails. He loves the caliber and has used nothing but regular remington core-lokts. He has had outstanding success. He used to use a 30-06 but he never takes it anymore. I've used the 25-06 a good bit on deer and between the two of them I'd choose the 7mm-08. I'd also have to agree that if the .270 were in the mix I might well choose it over the 7mm-08.

Funny,a few months ago I was choosing between these same rounds.There is a brand new 25-06 sitting in my safe waiting for Oct. 1st.

Nothing against the 7mm08,but I don't think there is a much better deer/antelope round than the 270 improved AKA 25-06.YMMV

Me, too! I saw this post when it first came out, and there were maybe only one or two responses at that time. I was thinking seriously about responding myself and asking why not reword the thread title to "270 VS 308" instead, both of which I have. I didn't though because I'll certainly admit that I want a 25-06, just because. I've had a couple of 7mm-08's in the past, too, but don't have them anymore.

If I didn't already have a 270, then I wouldn't buy a 25-06 in place of one. Likewise, the last rifle I bought was a Kimber 84M Montana a little over a year ago. At the time, I was considering either 308 or 7mm-08. The 308 was the easy winner of that particular decision.

I did buy both ... now there's two 7-08's in my safe. The 25-06 went away and a 280Rem took's its place.

Get a 30/06 Improved and you can hunt both places Why mess with anything else? The 25/06 and 7/08 are 270 WANNABES

they are both fine rifles and Id stand proud to use either one,Id probably choose the 7mm08 where walking in rugged country would play a part for the sake of handling the lighter rifle but where the the longer shot potential would exist I believe Id go the 25-06 which in my opinion is more of an open country long range rifle,either round is tuff to beat...........

7-08 is a fav of mine. 120's at 2900+ are pretty flat.

I have both. I like the 7-08.

I use the 7mm08 & would not hesitate to recommend it anyone. It just plain works on whitetails.

I had both, from rifles with 200 yard zeros shot at 400 yard targets, the 25-06 did not drop as much as expected and the 7-08 dropped more than expected from ballistic charts.

I hunted with a .25-06 for years. Sold it in a moment of madness.
I now have a .260 and .270 instead.
All are good. .264 splits the difference.

stumpy

find a rifle that you like... one that fits well, and handles easily... if, in your eyes, it looks totally cool then that's a bonus... purchase that rifle and either buy or load ammo for it to do what you want to do...

with components available today there is a lot of overlap in performance even between cartridges as unlike as the .22.250 and the .300 wby... getting hung up on cartridge selection when choosing a rifle is like selecting a woman to marry for the car she drives...

find the rifle that you really like and buy it...

fwiw, i've extensively shot both the 25-06 and the 7-08...
for myself, i'd choose the 25-06 if all else was equal...
when recommending a deer rifle cartridge for others, the 7-08 is usually on the very short list... immediately below the .308..... john w

Both are favorites of mine, but the truth is the 7-08 is far more versatile. The 25-06 is whipped cleanly at any range in kinetic energy and the difference in trajectory is minimal depending on bullets used. The 100gr in the 25-06 doesn't have a good B.C. for real long-range shooting, and while the trajectory is good because of high velocity, the energy falls off rather dramatically and it can't keep up with the 7-08 in that department.

If I lived in the west and were a dedicated antelope hunter, I might go with the 25-06 but it would be hard to beat the 7-08 for that purpose as well.

Check the manuals.

I knew I liked you 4 a reason Bob...<g>

Dober

That's EXACTLY the way I see it... unless, of course, you're talking a Kimber 84. Then, all bets are off... sometimes a particular rifle is more important than its chambering... the Kimber 84 Montana is one of those rare rifles.

Brad: Yes they are appealing little suckers I'm not a huge 7/08 fan,though I consider it good.If anything pulled me over to the cartridge(again, for about the 5th time ),it would be a Montana 84.

I'm with you... to me, the 7-08 is sort of like kissing your sister

If Kimber ever sees fit to offer one in 223 I'll be all over one.

Would love a 270 Win LA 84 too, but who knows if that'll ever happen! If it did, I think Kimber would rule the lightweight rifle world.

IMHO

"What "Dober" said.

I have both - my two favourite cartridges.

In thicker stuff - the 7mm-08.
Open country - 25-06.

Recoil is almost identical.

25-06 shoots further without worrying about trajectory.
7mm-08 shoots bigger bullets for bigger game.

Own 'em both - they are two GREAT rounds.

I'll go with johnw on this one. Pick the rifle that fits you. Then choose the caliber. 7-08 gives you a heavier bullet and a shorter rifle, .25-06 gives you a flatter trajectory. One is a .308 class, the other a low .30-06 class. If you reload, pick whichever you like. If you don't, pick the one that you can find ammo for in your neck of the woods. In all honesty, the deer will never know the difference if you do your part.

-Mb (who would pick the .25 just because he likes quarter inch bullets)

This is like asking whether Cookies and Cream (25-06) or Mint Chocolate Chip (7-08) is better...and getting the answer that it's really Moo-linium Crunch (270).

I can't argue with any of you, but I ain't complaining about a bowl of any of the above...grin.

I can't add much to the analysis, except to point out that the Montana in 7-08 has a piece of my Mom's chocolate cake under the ice cream.

DJ

THAT sounds like a good setup - the cake under the ice cream!

I'm a bit surprised by the number of Kimber love happening here - for a while it seemed to be lots of bad press. I had the above mentioned 7-08 Montana and it was as close to perfection as I've owned in a factory rifle. Smooth, well finished, light, and extremely accurate with 140TSX's. I could have done anything with that rifle, but sold it due to my own weakness. I simply can't shoot the extreme lightweights as well from field positions so I went back to a bit heavier rifle. That combo (light, CRF, accurate, etc.) is tough to beat if it's your cup of tea.

Still can't argue with the 25-06 or 270 but I had to do the 6-06 to be different Pick what you like and go kill stuff!

7-08=best all around whitetail cartridge going, IMO.....

But Cookies 'n Cream is WAAAY better!

The Kimber is flat-out, absolutely, the real deal in a hunting rifle. While they are more difficult to shoot from a bench for some because of the light weight, this does not IME translate to difficulty in field positions and hunting situations, and even on the bench I have had no problems once getting used to the rifle and learning the importance of controlling the muzzle jump.

I've got a couple 25-06's that I like, and the Kimber Montana 7-08 is a rifle I absolutely love - wouldn't trade it for both my 25-06's - but it's the rifle, much more than the cartridge, that makes this package. That said, I love the 7-08 - especially in the incredibly light recoiling Montana. With 120's, I think the 7-08 does most of what the 25-06 and 270 will do, in a package I like much better than anything I can put together or buy on a long action.

The 257 Bob in a Montana may be the ultimate trump card which answers the question originally posed, although I still am not sure I can like it any better than my 7-08.

I hope to try one of the Montana 257's, just to see if there's a combination with home-made ice cream and Mama's chocolate cake! There's no improving on her cake, but the home-made stuff might one-up the store bought...grin.

We'll see...

DJ

No argument here. That was a great rifle and while I did struggle with it from sticks or prone that was MY shortcoming - not the rifle. I wasn't terrible with it - just more comfortable with a bit more weight. Oddly enough I shot it pretty well from the bench.

It did seem rather fashionable for a while around the fire to bash these rifles but my opinion was overwhelmingly positive on the Little Sky.

Both are excellent deer cartridges. Obviously the .25-06 will shoot a bit flatter but you really have to reach out there for any real advantage.

A .270 Win is arguably the best deer-only cartridge available.

I have experience with the 7mm-08 and .270 and love both. The 25-06 is no slouch either. My suggestion is to find any of these in a gun that you can shoot well and then scratch your name into it with a sharp nail in order to discourage ever thinking about selling it.

Can always load a tipped 120 TSX Barnes in the 7MM-08 and have your 25-06 (almost) and 7MM all in one rifle. Of course, what fun is one rifle.
dan

7mm Remington Magnum...

30.06....

.308 Win...

What else is there to say?

7-08!!! Did someone mention another cartridge?
Many years ago, I decided on 7x57's for Michigan, and I am not sorry for choosing that round. However, if the 7-08 was popular back then, I'd be shooting 7-08's today. The bullets available in 7mm are OUTDTANDING, beginning, and ending with Nosler Partitions.
Here endeth the Gospel for the day....

Don: Well,of course,there isn't anything much better for the East than a 7/08.....it's a 270 for moderate distances

For the dedicated rifleman who will practice the larger gun and cartridge may fill a niche and be ideal at some level. I mean the 25-06 here as the rifles chambered in it just have to be heavier.

When I selected a new rifle for my son, who while strong, just does not shoot much I picked a Kimber Classic in 7mm-08. Its been just perfect for him.



Sorry for the fuzzy pic. taken with his cell phone but there is his 4 pointer, the Kimber leaning on the tree and his pack. He shot it offhand at 60 yds. All in all the perfect rifle for him.

I just can't believe I am adding to this already long thread. But to the point, I have all the rounds that have been listed herein from the 25's to the 30cals including the Bob. I reload, hunt everything from Moose to pine squirels. I can't really find fault with any of the my guns or the rounds fired in them. But the man asked which - 25/06 or 7/08? My answer is this: 1. do you reload? If so, what other cals do you reload for? Maybe you can do some sharing like powder or brass, yes brass. (I use only Lapua brass in my 3/08 parent case guns and re-form them to the cal I need) - (I do the same with all my 30/06 based rounds too). 2. If you like the 25/06 and want it with a longer barrel for the full potential of that round, but don't want a overly long gun, get a Ruger #1. Mine shoots in the low 3's all day long with handloads (so don't let anyone tell you a Ruger won't shoot - I'd have to call BS big time). 3. MONEY, how much do you want to spend? Will this gun be for deer only?, deer and elk, or deer and yotes?

As for my choice, I match the gun, not so much the round, to the hunting situation. I have killed everything from yotes to moose to black bear with a 7/08. I have killed untold numbers of field varmits, deer, pigs and a black bear with the 25/06. My 25/06 is a #5.5 barrel, 26in and it's set up to be shot from a rest or sticks or at least leaning on a tree. But she will but you lights out at 500yds and I have taken game with her at that range. My 7/08 two years ago took a mule deer at 700yds and it's a #3 barrel at 24 inchs. I used it last night in fact to kill a frickn coon in my barn at 15ft. The 7/08 is ment to carry and is made to handle the bad weather. (SHORT PAUSE TO BREATH) Look man here's what it comes down to, they are both great cals, they both come is some fine rifles, they both can be had easly. If you are going to shoot deer size and down, 25/06 if that's what you want. If deer size and up is the game, I'd go with the 7/08. In any case, reload, shoot more, drink lots of beer, and enjoy life.

Doug

My first choice back in 1982 when I got my first centerfire rifle. Likely the last one I'll part with.

Used 160g bullets until a year ago when I used 140g North Fork bullets. Pretty happy with that combo but like the 120g TTSX at zippy velocity as well. Don't think I'll go back to 160's.

I agree with the last half of Doug's statement, but I would also pick the 7mm-08 for deer size and down....especially if you reload. But even if you don't reload there are several factory 120Grn loads currently offered including Cor-Bon 120 Barns tripple shock, Nosler 120 Ballistic Tip, and Remington 120 HP.

If you reload, last time I checked availibility of 7MM bullets, a couple of years ago, there were 17 bullets availabe from Barns, Hornady, Speer, Sierra, and Nosler in the 100-120 Grn range many of which are suited for varmits. (There are probably more now) My 7mm-08 varmint load is the Sierra 100 Grn HP on top of a healthy load of RE15.

As many others have mentioned in this thread, when it comes to larger game, the 7mm-08 has the upper hand due to availability of heaver fodder. Most factory 7mm-08 ammmo uses 139-150 grain bullets, but again, if you reload there are 75+ different 7mm bullets available in weights from 130-180 Grn. I use 145Grn Speer Hot-Cor's on top of IMR4350 for open area hunting and Hornady 154 Grn RN on top of H414 for woods hunting.

Check out the Remington Ballistic comparison web site to compare the 25-06 against the 7mm-08. http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/ Do a comparison of the 120 Grn bullets in both calibers and you will see that there isn't much difference at all between the 25-06 and the 7mm-08. Then, just for grins, compare some of the lighter weight 25-06 loads to the heavier weight 7mm-08 loads. Granted, these are comparisons of Remington ammo only, but it will give you a good feel for the similarities / differences between the two cartridges.

firstshot
------------------------------
Make your first shot count!

Thanks for all of the replies. Have a .270 and a .243 now, just wanted something in between. After reading all of these cases, might have to buy 2 more rifles instead of 1.

I have got the best of both worlds, Browning A-bolt in 25 wssm, same ballistics as a 25-06 and a short action, in a very light handling rifle.

DKA: If you have a 270 and a 243 you most assuredly don't "need" another thing...if "want" is the issue,well that is a different matter ....we have all been there.

Of the two, I'd pick the 7/08 simply because I like 7mm's for deer better,the rifles are shorter,lighter and most 25/06's come with 24" barrels. I want no part of that stuff in the wooded east; and in the west most deer are killed inside 300 yards, where there is little difference between the cartridges.

In the end, you don't need to buy ANY rifles if you have a 270 and a 243.

Hornet, being a former 7/08 shooter, out of curiousity I'd like to hear what bullet you used on the long shot Mulie, and details of shot.

Using a custom rifle? What scope....turrets?

You made a great shot no doubt. Thanks.

65BR, that was a very unusual shot indeed. Fact is I have made three shots on mule deer with that gun, a 7/08 (not AI) at over 500 yards. Here are the spec's on the gun: Stiller Tac30 action, Broughton 5C barrel #3 tapper, MCM hunters edge stock, rifle basix LV1 trigger, talley rings and bases, Leupold VXIII LR 4.5x14x40 SF, Lapua brass (308 necked down), 175gr SMK. The shot was made from a seated position using a shooting stick of my own design and build. We watched that buck for about 3 hours and could not get closer to him (my fault - I don't get around very well antymore) So we set up my seat and my sticks and waited for him to come out of hiding. HE DID AND I DID AND HE TASTED REAL GOOD TOO.

Hmmmm, just sold all my 7/08's, save a safe queen VLS unfired, but do have a Stiller 'Predator' which is awaiting a 6BR barrel, Bartlein blank, 8 twist, longest deer kill for me was a 6BR/105 amax, lasered 400 yds, stumbled 20 yds after punched both lungs, Kepplinger 8 ounce trigger on a Ruger #1, 6-24 mil dot 4200 scope helped.

SO you are using 175s, longer distances goes well w/heavier slugs often. Do you 'click turrets' to get dead on at I assum distances checked w/RF?

Congrats on those deer steaks! Fine shooting deserves to have some good venison to follow!

Unfortutely be in MI for a funeral in a couple of days, Warren.

Warren, sorry for your loss! What part of the crappy state of Michigan are you comming to? Stay away from Grand Rapids, bamo man is comming this week. After he's gone we are going to wash the streets with soap and water to clean away the stink and ink.

I love Ruger #1's and have three. Had four but in a moment of need I sold my 1B in 257 roberts (ya I know, I'm a jerk) I still have a 1A in 270, a 1V in 22PPC and a 1V in 6mm Rem.

So who did your work? How's it group? More details please? Maybe we should start a new thread?. Thanks, now you got me all excited!!
Doug

Pac-Nor did work, bedded forend directly w/glass bedding epoxy- I know most say do something else.....but the gunsmith had reports of a 308 he did and IIRC, sounds crazy, said the owner claimed like inch groups at 500 yds/or meters, maybe larger but not much, it sounded almost too good.....well, I told him do whatever he did to his, to mine. Bottom line, it worked, good barrel and trigger.....falling blocks can do well. Used a TC contender 1 pc base reversed on gun, made by Burris so windage adj. was in front vs rear. Sure a good bolt done right will best it, but the gun shot .498 at 330 yds for one 3 shot group, and ANY gun in my book to do that ONCE must be either REALLY lucky-gun and shooter, or a good shooting gun, a coincidentally properly flinching shooter-ha....yes luck involved......gun however seemed to do give take half MOA when I did my part.

Doug thanks, and Warren, MI is the town I am coming to Thurs. near Detroit. Do you know Grasshopper in MI? He frequents CF.

I know exactly where Warren is. Lived in Detorit for most of my younger days. Nope can't say that I know Grasshopper, at least by the handle.

Doug

Doug, might look him up on the singleshot forum and holler at him. My cousins are itchin to go deer hunting, just got back and the temps are right, fallen. Wish I could have stayed.....and done some hunting....