I have a 50th aniversery coming up soon and wife has decided to actually Bless me with a new rifle. I have decided on the rifle manufacturer, action, and barrel length. NOW the question has come down to caliber. I have narrowed it down to these two:
1. 270 Win
2. 25-06
The rifle will be used for southern whitail deer which over the last 10 yrs my 100 = kills have averaged 120-125 lbs pre-field-dressed weight. No Giants I know but Gooooood eating size. Range of kills have been from 45-280 yds. I will be mounting a Zeiss conquest 3-9x40 scope. So scope is no question.

Please stay within these caliber choices. So lets Go Campfire folks help the Ole man out.

I would go with the 25-06 because it makes a good varmint rifle as well a a good deer rifle. Less recoil than a .270 and shoots flat.
It should be perfect for the size of animal you will be hunting.
I even met a elk hunter who used a 25-06 with Nosler Partitions.
His family has lived in Colorado for several generations.
He told me " If you put the bullet in the right spot, it doesn't matter what rifle caliber you use. If you don't put the bullet in the right spot it doesn't matter what rifle/bullet you use either."
whelennut

I have a .270 Win and a .25-06 Rem plus a .257 Roberts.
As I grow older, I'm liking the .25's more and more.

Can't argue with the above. To be frank the deer will not notice the difference. I would ask what else do you ever seeing yourself using this rifle for? Bigger .270 smaller 25-06. With Elk becoming more prevalent east of the Mississippi the .270 might be tempting as it is the min. legal caliber in my home state of KY for example. However you like to blast coyotes and groundhogs and wouldn't shoot an elk on a bet then the 25-06 might be best. Both are great rifles.

The 25-06 is just a .270 that took a week of from working out.

Ask Dober if you don't believe me.

They are so nearly the same in their performance on deer that I doubt you'd ever notice a difference in 50 years of hunting with both.

If factory ammo availability is a concern, go with the .270. If not, save your shoulder a tiny bit and go with the .25-06.

You have a GOOD woman there...no sence in getting rid of her now

If using factory ammo there seems to be more choices available in the .270 classic.

I had a 25-06 that was a death ray on southern size deer using a 120 Hornady hollow point interlock.

I think recoil is so mild in either it is practically a non issue.

.25-06

Ditto +1

25/06 is the perfect answer!

I'd find a rifle that you liked and then see which of the cals it came in. If it comes in both then you have a choice to make and I'll probably take a look at what I had as well.

Either one will do what you need done.

Dober

FWIW, didn't Gary Sitton do quite a bit of Texas hunting with a Dakota 10 in .25-06?

The .270 Winchester in a 130 grn will kill practically anything I was interested in shooting here in Texas. The 150 shoots through anything and the 25-06 is almost as good.

Not Gary, but I ran a #10 in 25/06 for a while as well. Long dreamed of a #10 in 7 Mashburn Super...

Dober

I would give the edge to the 25-06 with 100grn bullets (hornady or partition) in this situation.

I have owned both, I would go .25-06; although as others have said previously I do not think any bambi would know the difference. I have used the .25-06 on Mule deer, Whitetail, Caribou, pronghorn, axis deer and blackbuck.

I would agree with the above comment from Mr. Dobrenski; get one you like that fits you well then worry about .270 vs .25-06.

Over the years I have become a big fan of fit first other details thereafter. Enjoy the process of deciding. GRF

This is just such a no-brainer......

I flipped a coin and it said 270 Win 3x in a row...grin

Da SAMO knows......

I've killed deer with both and must say the 270 is a lightning bolt but your results may vary.

Either will work, but I'd go 270

1) Ammo is everywhere. Not that ammo for the 25-06 is that hard to find
2) You can shoot 100 to 160 gr boolits
3) You can load the 270 down if ya need reduced loads for kids or whatever
4) Grab some 150's and poke big elk at long or short range....270 will have more punch fer the larger game
5) The 270 is sexier
6) *****You can send me your empty brass*****

7)***** 270 PENETRATES LIKE A FINE STUD HORSE*****

Best part about a 270 Win is it's inherent luck factor.

That and it's deer lightning...grin

Ain't that the truth.....I carry one and deer are everywhere.....just point it in the general direction and they fall over!

25-06 with 100 grain Barnes VS 270 with 110 grain Barnes. Both about the same velocity. Drop to 80/85 grainers and you still have the same case capacity pushing them about the same. Both calibers will handle moose if you ever take that idea into your head. You can't lose either way.

There's a vast difference between the .25-06 and .270 on deer. Trouble is, I've never been able to find it, even though it's obviously in there somewhere....

JOC tweeted me here and said get the .270WCF.

25-06, have both like the smaller caliber.

I'm with Rez Buck- 270 Win.

Go forth and make venison.

.270

257-06

The 270 is far more superior than the Puzzy5-06............just sayin'

Back in '98 I got a 270
bagged deer / elk every year with it
lost 1 at 300 yards

in '06 I got a 25 06
got deer / antelope every year with it
lost 1 running

270 best group half inch
25 06 best group third inch
reloads

last year got rid of 270 to get 204 AR
best group with it quarter inch

25 06 less recoil, flatter than 270
both'll kill any deer ever born

bottom line I like 25 06 better than 270 for deer / antelope

+1

If all you want to do is hunt deer with it, then the .25-06 is the answer. I live in the south, and the .25-06 works great. If you plan on hunting bigger stuff like elk out West, or think someday you might, then get a .270. The .270 is better if there's a chance you might hunt bigger stuff since it can throw heavier bullets. I wanted a .25-06 since forever, and now that I have one, and got a deer last year with it, I have grown extremely fond of it. Not to mention, it doesn't sound like you're getting any younger, and the .25-06 won't hit you quite as hard as a .270, which you may begin to appreciate.

And since your wife has stuck around for 50 years, and is getting you a dandy anniversary present, it would appear to me, as the old knight told Indiana Jones, "you chose...wisely!" when you made that decision 50 years ago!

For what its worth, If you're going to shoot bullets of 100grs or less, someone smarter' me will likely say 25-06, if you're gonna shoot bullets of 110grs or more, someone smarter' me might say 270...All else equal, shootin' 110gr TTSXs [or equivlent] no difference..BC maybe a smidgn better in 25, can push a smidgn faster in 27...in the same rifle, no difference in recoil. I've killed a whole bunch of venados with 270s and a couple of different 25s, ate every one of em' How many angels can dance on the head of a pin?

This sort of objective and intelligent analysis is completely out of place here. ..this place is the epicenter for irrational thought and choice based on pure, unadulterated emotion and hysteria....predicated on hunches,delusion, necromancy and other black magic........visions of animals wiped from the landscape at the bark of favorite cartridges...

270 Winchester

Run both calibers with the inteanded load you wish to shoot though a billistic calculator and decide by your self. You will always be happier deciding which gun you want for your purposes than buying the gun that somebody else want's or thinks you should have.
I have a 25-06 and my brother has a 270, they are so similar the differense is negligable.

If I see two identical rifles on the shelf at a gun shop, one in 270, one in 25-06, the 270 is just not cool in any way while the 25-06 seems just awesome.

Jackoff OC ruined the 270 for me, not because of him or his writings but because of his followers that are still ignorantly stroking his stiff...

I know a lot of intelligent shooters of the 270, but unfortunately there are just too many 270 shooters that absolutely love the round and call it the best ever; trouble is that they have no idea why. For that reason, I can't join the 270 camp. I know, I know, my loss.

Campfire Classic.......Read a lot of criticisms of the 270....this might be the most curious of them all......thinking the people who use it are somehow too dumb to understand why they like it......

I suppose it logically follows, that those choosing the 25/06 are erudite, sophisticated, and highly intelligent....cause they "know" why they like it.......

TFF!

EXACTLY!

I had the same dilema so I went with the 6.5-06

Jordan: No wonder we're in trouble......

I mean honestly does the cartridge just piss some people off or what!They can't invent enough ways to try to discredit it..... So they make stuff like that up.....

Neck a 30/06 case to 270,they all fall asleep and the IQ declines to shoe size......but Man Alive you neck it to 25 caliber they fall into a swoon...can't stand upright without oxygen...!

....too entertaining....

I have both but use the .270 more. Buy the 270 for you and get the 25.06 for your wife

(Sigh......)

When one resorts to name calling it is indicitive of a lack of a coherent argument.

It's the same reason that I refuse to shoot Partition bullets, and that some people dislike the .30-06! (now you're really hooked ) When people put blind faith in something simply because it's popular, I have a tough time getting excited about said item

This discussion has absolutely NOTHING to do with the capability of the cartridges in question, but simply how people feel inside when they think about the names "thirty odd-six" and "two seventy". It just doesn't have the same new-kid-on-the-block effect or Ferrarri appeal as the "TWENTY FIVE ODD SIX!"...

Frankly, I think it's a cult thing. The .270 is so ingrained with the O'Connor cult, and has been ballyhoo'ed for so long, that there is no range of emotions concerning the .270 and O'Connor...you either hate both or you love both. Those who love the .270 are so ardent in their defense of it, and those who hate it are so ardent in their disdain for it, that it's almost impossible to have an intelligent civilized discussion about it one way or another.

Both sides forget that we are dealing with a continuum here. There are areas of overlap between the .25-06 and the .270, and between the .270 and the 7mm's and .30-06. The truth of it is: it doesn't really matter. You put a decent bullet from any of them into the right place and things tip over. But we get our ego's involved..'somebody dissed my favorite cartridge..harumph harumph" or "there somebody goes again defending that it-ain't-all-that cartridge" and we get spontaneous combustion of a white-hot debate. There may be some transference going on here as well..it may be that .270 detractors don't really care about the .270 so much as they just don't/didn't like O'Connor, or like O'Connor's fervent advocacy of the .270.

Humans love to compete. We do it everywhere and in everything..sports, business, politics, war. It's not surprising that it carries over to discussons/arguments over cartridges in general, and our favorites in particular.

But there's no reason to get worked up over it, or to engender animus. Like I said..it doesn't really matter. There is no holy grail here, no ultimate truth. We're all right..we're all wrong. The point is to come together on here, to meet up on the net with our friends, and talk about things we like. Of course personalities will clash once in a while, and we have those we prefer and those who annoy us, because it's a community, even if only a cyber one. But I don't think I'd get all jacked up over anything said on here. In the ultimate scheme of things, it don't matter a dribble. You have to keep a sense of humor and stay philosophical about things or you're gonna die too young. This ain't life and death stuff, guys.

25-06 ALL day EVERYDAY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Come on Mark, don't be so mediocre, pick one or the other for Pete's sake.

I have had a 25-06 for years and have killed scores, probably over a hundred deer and antelope with it. I never had any use for a .270 as my dad used to guide elk hunting up the Gallatin in the 1940's and saw nothing but poor performance with a .270 and as a result I have had little to no use for one. That was until I actually got a nice pre-64 model 70 and started hunting with it.

My 25-06 hasn't left the safe since I got the .270. It with 130 grain Ballistic Silvertips cannot be beat by anything the 25-06 can throw out there...

All I know is one of the Montana 84L's in 25/06 would be very nice. But then again so would a .270...

How's that 4 waffling.

Dober

What brother Popapi said...

Like I said..they are all on a continuum! It's just a matter of degree...

Dober, I thought about that before.

How about 25-06 Montana and a wood stocked 270.

i've got both... never could like the 270 but i've tried. love the quarter bores though! can't know why though just personal preference.

Vitriolics aside it depends on what you want....if the primary focus is deer,antelope,and maybe an elk once in awhile,I doubt it matters....

I've used the 25/06 and found it to be not much more than a noisier 257 Roberts,(that comes in heavier rifles with clubby barrels,at least in most factory offerings)which is to say it kills well but no better than a handloaded Roberts....I have failed to notice the magic.

As a general purpose BG cartridge for here and abroad it does not hang with the 270 and that cartridges ability to handle bullets from 130 to 160 grains.Palaver about JOC is irrelevent;he's been gone 30+ years yet the cartridge continues to be used on tens of thousands of BG animals annually,worldwide.

It would not have lasted if it did not work so well,and the 25/06 simply can't compete on that basis.

Aaaahhh.....now you don't see that very much....160gn grain bullets in .270?

That Partition bullet is wonderful and makes the .270 more interesting, even if I like the .25/06 better.

John

Never owned or felt the need for a 25 06 because I have a 270!

My opinion is that whatever a 25 06 will do on deer the 270 can do just a bit better. If it really matters can be argued around the campfire for years with no clear winner!

AGW: The 160 NPT does penetrate a long way......

Have not used it myself but have seen the results on elk....and know of one brown bear snuffed by a friend with it.Much ignored by 270 users, but a good bullet.

Since deer are your quarry, get the 25-06. So far in this thread we have established that both will do a great job on deer so get the lesser recoiling of the two. You sound like your hunts will be fairly local so ammunition availability should not be an issue. I've never shot a deer with a 25-06 but have had equal success and experience with a 243 and a 270 and since the 25-06 falls between the two, there is no doubt in my mind that it will surely get the job done well. If it wasn't for these internet squabbles about this kind of stuff, there wouldn't be much use for the forums. These "discussions" are always filled with nit picking, extreme thought process, and some answers that seem to get those with thin skin's panties in a wad. As long as you are shooting what works for you, why on earth would anyone get bent out of shape over your choice????? Enjoy the new rifle.

I've been waffling over this same issue for years. Since I always keep a .270 around I never can quite justify the purchase of a .25-06 in my mind. Still the temptation is always there and it may get the best of me someday.

One more perspective, FWIW: I have both, like both, and have used both quite extensively on Texas deer. I can see no difference in performance between a 257, 120gr and a similarly constructed 277, 130gr bullet launched at about the same velocity.

I have a slight preference for the 25/06 because, at least in my 25/06, the recoil is just enough lighter that I can see the bullet impact and watch the deer's reaction to the shot.

A buddy of mine here in Montana started handloading the 85-grain TSX bullets designed for the 6.8 SPC in his .270 Winchester, because he's so recoil sensitive. He says the same thing: Now he can watch the bullets hit the deer!

Just the opposite of Paul. I'll take the 270.
With the 90 gr Sierra HP it is a heck of varmint round and going up to the 160 Partition takes care of much bigger stuff.

270. Just seems like an awful big case to shoot 100 grain pills. Don't see how that is better than the same case with 130 or 140 grain pill.

Yeha, that .270 is a heck of a lot bigger than the 25/06 for 100's...

Dober

Yep, putting light bullets in the .270 would probably offend the Gods of Gack.

Oddly, though, my friend who used the 85 TSX's from his .270 on several deer last fall liked the results just fine--even if the deer didn't.

I just happen to know of a few lopes/deer that received flight 90 Sierra HP out of our .270's..they didn't likey it

Dober

I'm thinking a 110gr TTSX in the .270 would be completely sick on deer and pronghorn.

25-06's kick noticeably less than 270's.

They are such a pleasure to shoot well. No deer will ever tell the difference - but you will - get the 25-06.

My FILs kinda like this. Way back when, he went to get a Remmy 740 or 742 or whatever in 270. When he got to the shop all they had was a 280 so he got it.

Awhile later he changes to the Partition "after losing too many deer".

And now, he HATES the 270 and he'll poke fun of others in camp for running one (as if there's a difference between the two on deer with 130s/140s.) And if you're not shooting Nosler Partitions, well, you just don't know anything about hunting/shooting. So he keeps on making 150 yard shots on our average size TX deer with his mighty 280 and 140 NPTs.

I picked up a mtn rifle in 280 from a guy here at the fire last year. I like it but I mentioned I was thinking about rebarreling it to 25-06 and my FIL just kinda rolled his eyes and shook his head.

So, I'm thinking about either rebarreling it, or getting a Kimber MT in 25-06, and running 100-117 Horns or SGKs just to piss him off.

Combine the two and get a .257 weatherby mag

Oh, oh, oh... I have to choose between the two = .270

Thanks Campfirers:

Imput was great and wife and I enjoyed the read.

Choice made, ordered, and received. (Great price and service from Hunters Outlet, Inc. in MN0 via Gun Brokers.)

The 25-06 won out.

Gun is a beauty, stainless, laminate stock, 24 in. barrel, and left handed.

Will mount scope as soon as it arives.

Will give next years report of harvest.

Thanks all who replied.

270 Win.

BLRNut,

As the old knight said, "You have chosen wisely!"

You're really gonna love this cartridge! Potent, long reach, mild recoil, versatile.

Have fun with it, buddy!

BLRNut- fun figuring this stuff out isn't it? Congrats on your new rig. Hope it is a honey.

You, sir have made a fine choice!

Except for the fact when I started using one about 27 years ago, I'd never heard of JOC. I used it because it's what my dad had in the cabinet and it flattened every deer I shot with it. I heard of JOC long after that and after the 270 had proven itself with me as a top notch cartridge on it's own merits.

Well.......classifieds are free......when you come to your senses and decide to trade into a .270



(grin)


Enjoy your new rifle, 25-06 is a fine choice!!!

Shooting Hornady through a lefty Browning .25-06. The buck in my avatar didn't like it at all. Have shot a lot pigs and coyotes as well with the same result. No need for anything else.

Laughable!

If the 270 didn't work it would be long gone by now despite JOC

If JOC had shot the 7x57 enough instead of handing it off to Eleanor, you'd have never heard of the .270....

Yea, but in the never ending search for flatter trajectory and more power, lots of people back then turned from the 7X57 to the 25/20.

Don't tell Bob.

Ohhhhhh, after reading all this; here goes. 25-06!
But wait! Damn it! I like the .270 Win too! CRAP!!!!
What do I have to do now!? Buy a 7-08? OHHHH' I'm getting a headache. This is bad, real bad!

Ingwe: That Russ Leonard 7x57 was not his first....he had one stocked by (IIRC) Adolph Minar....used it and a 30/06 for most of his hunting for a few years before he got his second 270 to replace the original M54 he had.He really seems to have liked the 7x57,30/06,and 270 equally well....

If either of these two subject cartridges is a "cult" cartridge,it's the 25/06;on here.

In travel, I see lots of 270's in use in camps here and out west,up north....I see few 25/06's....it's a good cartridge,but I see few people carrying one.In any rationale evaluation, it is not the BG cartridge the 270 has proven itself to be....worldwide.

BobinNH; you're right of course about the 270. I'm back to reality now. I do like the 25-06, but you see a lot more 270's in camps.

Sadddddd.....soooooooooooo saddddd....

Everyone is delusional....


Except me!

Or maybe he just recognized the 7x57 as a woman's gun, put his man card back in his wallet and moved on to bigger and better things.

I think the opposite. When a boys grows into man, he starts to rationalize his ideas. The 7mm Mauser is an example of refined taste and acceptance for the phrase, "enough is enough".

I used my first 7x57 in a Winchester Ingwe 70 when released about '82 or so. I then went into magnum fever with gusto, until about the mid 90's I started to think about all the cartridges I had used and how they performed overall, rather than in single incidences, which is a failure of a phobia.

The cartridges that hit the top of my list were the .30/06, which I was still using and the 7x57 for which a vacancy could be filled when an old English Gentleman who was a retired Mining engineer who worked in 22 countries, but mostly in Africa.

He had a few rifles to sell and I bought 2 Rigby's off him, a double and the .275 Rigby which I still have, although I grew week a few months back and offered it for sale.

The 7mm Mauser may not make you feel too hairy chested when in over confident and vocal company, but you will never hang your head in shame when using it simply because it works and will continue to work on any game as long as you are a hunter.

John

The 270 is great cartridge, why esle would everyone be comparing others to it!!

We seem to hear things like...
25-06 vs 270
7mm mag vs 270
30-06 vs 270
7mm-08 vs 270
280 vs 270
7x57 vs 270
etc...

All the time, so I guess you could say the 270 is the standard by which others are measured.

If it is the closest door down the hallway, then no-one will notice any difference between it and the comparison unless the difference is really just the bullet performance which is the way I see it.

I 140gn TSX in both cartridges will do the same thing on game and you won't know which one you fired.

This is the reason I continually recommend finding a rifle you like and then select the cartridge as a secondary feature. Having said that, I have known people who build a complete rifle arounn a single bullet based on the "want" within their gut feel.

Doesn't work either. Never saw one of them stick with that rifle or bullet after completion. One mate even had the bullet engraved in "gold" on the action. Shame the barrel twist was guessed wrong. Oh Well, it's only money.

John

You say the deer weigh 120-125 lbs.
The answer is obvious 25-06. If you go elk hunting load a 115 gr. Nosler partition and you are good to go!

EXACTAMUNDO!

I have the same feelings for the .270, but it started back in high school. Every idiot that ever claimed to make a 700 yard shot, one shot kill on a running deer happened to do it with a .270. Their .270 shot so much flatter than a Remmington or Winchester .270 that they didnt even have to hold high at 500 yards. An average idiot becomes a superhero by having a relative that owns a .270.

I have guns in .25-06, .280, .30-06. I did finally buy a .270, so I could tear it apart and have a custom built on the action... but it wont stay a .270.

To make a long ramble a little longer, I would go with the .25-06, its a fun little round and pretty versatile. If bigger game was in my future, I would move up to the .280 or .30-06.

First off congratulations on Your anniversary, I love the 270 WCF, but the 25/06 will do what Your after w/ a little less recoil. A nice little 100 TTSX @3000/3100 fps. would be about perfect and recoil next to nothin'

Gunner

I know you said to stay within the two chamberings mentioned, but for deer only, you'd not be disappointed with a 257Roberts.

You don't see many used ones F/S. There's a reason for that.

.

+1

Well, 85 years old is pretty retro cool for the 270WCF. With new powders and premium bullets, its probably good for another 85 years.

"270 Winchester...The Best Hunting Cartridge In the Whole World"

Now that's laughable!!!

For the world, it just might be the 7x57, right ingwe??

But for me it will always be the .30-06 (or something ending in '06'. ;))

just playin' with ya, Bob.

Negative, Ghostrider!! The .30-06 is the benchmark against which all other cartridges are compared!!!

In truth, the .270 is a fine cartridge, and as has been stated, it has endured and remained one of the top 5 cartridges used by American hunters because it does work, and it works very well! And many of today's younger shooters probably never even heard of or read O'Connor. But one thing is certain: .270 fans are both defensive and aggressive in defense of their favorite.

close your eyes and take your pick , you won't go wrong with either. Better yet buy one of each

Almost there already...only 2 I'm lacking is the .270 and 7x57.

Just like the rest of the rifle loonies out there.

Get a 7x57 and you really don't need the 270...................or 06

AkMtnHntr,
Oh, I have more than that, and even some duplication in those I mentioned. I was just referring to the listed calibers. I have a bunch more than those.

MagMarc,
I've been kicking around adding a 270 to the portfolio. A 7x57 would be harder to do for a lefty, unless as a Ruger #1 or a custom proposition.

As for not needing a .30-06?? That's blasphemy, brother!!!

.25-06

Either one will work just fine, but hunting southern whitetails myself, I would have to go with the 25/06.

I like both equally, but currently use a 270 for much of my deer and antelope hunting.

Delgue: I know... I put it there to stir the pot!

For my first post on the campfire, I am going to throw my hat in the ring on this one. I am not a ballistics expert, or expert on anything else for that matter. But I have owned, shot, and killed several whitetails with these 2 calibers for the last 30 years. For the most part, I have shot 120 gr. Core-lokts in the little 25 and 130 gr. Core-lokts out of the M77 ultra lite so it is almost comparing the same size bullets. I have had MOST of the deer drop in their tracks with the 25/06 while MOST of the deer shot with the 270 ran a ways. I am sure that there have been some with different experiences-but these are mine with the same type of bullet just a little difference in size/weight. So my favorite is the .25/06-it is a fine little deer cartridge.

Both will work, though I have a few, just not a big quarter bore fan, get the .270.

A lot of good observations above.

If shooting factory ammo, the 25:06 is optimum with 120 grain bullets and generally they go somewhat faster than the optimum bullet in the .270, which is 130 grains. So, a little flatter shooting with the 25:06 and a little more bullet mass with the .270. Either is great for the deer shooting you are doing.


If you reload, the following may help. The .270 nicely can be loaded up to a 140 or even 150 grain bullet (somewhat farther from optimum as weight goes up) and also down to 120 or 110 grains with decent results. No experience lower than that.

The 25:06 can very nicely be loaded down to 110 or 100 grains (and maybe less) for other shooting purposes, but somewhat less optimum overall as weight goes down.

I have never loaded the 25:06 heavier than the 119/120 grain bullet, so have no experience from which to opine. But, 130 grain might work OK.

Hope this helps with your decision.

The truth is, either one will do nicely. If elk or heavier game is a possibility, then the .270 is the better choice. If it's gonna be pretty much just a deer/antelope gun, then the .25-06 is a fine choice.

The best thing is, this is a win/win situation! No matter which one is chosen, it will work just fine, as would a .243, 257 Bob, .260, 7x57, or whatever.

This angel-pin thread is still going?

Yepper, the only thing that would make it better is to see how many of the people had actually used both....

Dober

Like our friend Royce once said, "the only diff tween the 25/06 and the .270 is that the 25 took an extra week off at the gym"...


Dober

I know Cactus Jack thought the .25/06 was a dandy seal and sea lion rifle. My how times have changed.

Guilty!And I am sorta puzzled by the vision of deer running off willy nilly after taking a properly placed slug from either.....but must admit I am less than enamored by 25/06's,so ain't exactly objective on the subject either.....

Dober...are you trying to tell me we should actually use this stuff before we voice an opinion and pontificate about it...?

My post count is going to schitt now.....

For what you use it for I would go 25-06.

I held off from trying the .25-06 for years. I had used a friend's .25-06 to take one deer and helped clean a number he shot with the rifle and was definitely under-impressed. It killed well enough, but seemed to expand just a bit too much and thus lacked the penetration from all angles that I like.

What I wasn't thinking about was that he was using 100 grain bullets at maximum velosity.

Performance was much like that of the .270 using cup-and-core 130 grain bullets. It killed well (very well in fact), but sometimes didn't fully penetrate on angled shots or shots into the shoulders.....even on 125 pound whitetails. I had long since gone to 150 grain bullets in the .270 to obtain the performance I wanted.

I had used a .250-3000 for years and loved it. I always used 100 grain bullets as the heavier 120 grain slugs just didn't give enough velosity for flat trajectory.......so 100 grain bullets in the .25-06 seemed "right". Guess my brain just shut down for a while and I never thought about the larger case capasity of the .25-06......and so I ignored the .25-06 for years.

Then I obtained a nice Ruger 77 in .25-06 in a trade. I intended to trade it on something else, but decided to kill a few deer first. When I strted working up loads, lo and behold, the 120 grain loads weren't all that slow after all so I loaded up a batch.

What a difference!! With the heavier 120 grain bullet, the .25-06 became a killing machine and penetrated easily as well as the .270 with 150 grain bullets. In fact, the performance is almost identicle and I'd rate that loading as BETTER than the typical 130 grain loaded .270 for most uses.

If I was going to go after elk, I'd probably prefer a heavier rifle (just me....as it would work well), but for your use against deer (and smaller hogs even) the .25-06 will be near perfect as it shoots flat, penetrates well and does this with minimal recoil. If the .270 is the "perfect" sheep/mule deer rifle (and many consider it so) then the .25-06 is the "perfect" small deer rifle.

I have 3 rifles chambered for .257 caliber cartridges and 3 rifles chambered for .277 caliber cartridges and as I grow older I am liking the .25's more and more.
My .25's really shine with 100 & 120 grain Partitions.

I'm in this camp. Never had any attraction to quarter bore anythings, though occassionally I do think the little 250 Savage might be fun (but wouldn't have one as long as I have the 243/260/7mm-08 options in similar packages). Just me...

I prefer the 270 enough to have actually just swapped a 25-06 barrel for a 270 barrel for an upcoming project. The new owner of the 25-06 barrel was happy, and I'll be happier with the 270, so everybody wins.



So true. I'm always amazed at guys that will say that every deer they killed with a certain cartridge always fell over in it's tracks, while every deer they shot with a very similar cartridge runs off, with no blood trail, and they need GPS tracking to find them a mile away, so the one is clearly superior to the other, when both have long and proven records. That would pretty much be the case with these two.

I hunt with a .270 Win, and I love it, it's a great, smooth firing gun. However, the 25-06 is also a good caliber. It's good for deer and also some smaller game, and even some bigger game. They are both great deer guns, and like everybody says, a 25-06 is a .270 that missed a week of workout, and it'll save your shoulder a bit. I know this really doesn't help you a whole lot, but this is my view on both guns.

Either choice would make little difference to a properly punched deer, but I vote for the 25-06 just because I purely love the 25s. Too bad you limited it to just one of the 25s, though... there ARE other good choices.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned is that the 270 is usually available in a lighter rifle, and it gets along with a 22" barrel better. I've owned both for years,also a 25 WSM, a Roberts, and a 270-308 and could never see any difference in the effect of any of them, even with longer shots.

Tikka T3 with 22.5" barrel in .25-06 is light enough and does pretty well with a "short" barrel- 3312fps average with 100gr bullets

Sometimes I think the differences we perceive between cartridges is really "bullets";and while I never had any difficultes with either the 257 Roberts(which I ran giving velocities within 100-150 fps of the 25/06 with anything from 100-120 gr)the 25/06, or the 270,what I did notice is that 270 bullets just tended to be more ruggedly constructed, expanded to wider fontal areas, and in general penetrated deeper.

After watching a 117 gr Sierra from a 25/06 fail to get very far on a long angling shot on a big mule deer,in fact coming completely unglued after about 6-7" of penetration,where I knew a 130 270 would have made it into the chest;and seeing the best 25 bullet we had back then,the 120 Partition, ground up pretty badly on a couple of other bucks, it was apparent to me that it lacked the punch of the 270,and would not penetrate as well even with things like the 130 gr Speer from the 270,which would pretty reliably make very nasty exit holes from reasonable angles.We won't mention what you get from other stuff like a 130 Bitterroot,Swift Aframe, Barnes, and stuff like that in the 270.

I watched a pal drive a 130 gr Partition from a 270 almost end to end on a big Colorado buck at about 300 yards and send him cascading down slope....I never saw a 25 caliber come close with the bullets available back then,

Over the years and having observed plenty of results I just relegated the 25's to the status of fun guns,and while I love them,the 270 just struck me as a better mouse trap on the big northern deer I mostly chased around.It just tossed more flack,made bigger wounds,penetrated better......and I could only carry one rifle at a time.....

I know the playing field has changed a bit with todays more modern bullets, but the same advantage accrues to the 270 as well...

If I get a hankering to shoot 25 caliber-weight bullets because normal 270 recoil causes me to get light-headed, I can drop back today to the 110 TTSX,drive them 3200-3300 fps,and likely outdo anything the 25's will provide with more frontal area to boot.

I still love the Roberts best of all 25's

Sounds like somebody needs to send ol' Bob some 100gr TSX/TTSX's so he can see just what the .25's are capable of

I've seen that bullet penetrate stem to stern on our large-bodied AB deer, when started out at about 3300fps, and I've never yet recovered one Animals tend to fall on their legs when hit, too. I've had a couple animals run a few feet, but that's the exception, not the rule. Did I mention that I like to hit bone?

The first WT I ever shot with the 25/06 was with a Sierra 117 gr. Spitzer and that was the crappiest job I have ever had a bullet do on a deer. I immediately stopped loading them and tried a 120 gr. Core-lokt and shot quite a few WT's before I had one take a step after I shot it. So if the 117 didn't perform well on the WT I would never expect it to on a Mulie. IMO they are too thin walled to hold together and penetrate as they should. But I also will tell you I am no expert. I just know my experiences.

I don't mind the recoil on my 270 at all,its that hellacius muzzle blast.How does the 25-06 weigh in on that score

Less hellacius

Jordan,
Did you shoot your moose eerrr whitetail last fall with your 25 cal?

BLRNut

Congratulations to you both on your 50th anniversary.

One of my sons kills deer with a .270 and another kills them with a 25-06 so I stepped up a notch and built a 6.5X55.

Jim

Hey Scott,

Which one???

I shot a couple whitetails last fall, but the big one (as well as a smaller one) was shot with the .280 and a 130gr GS Custom HV. I got my MD buck with the .25-06 and 100gr TTSX.

Jordan you got me when it comes to the TTSX and I don't doubt they work well....but I am unlikely to be lugging a 25 cal for my deer hunting....BTDT....I have too many 270 and 7mm bullets and rifles to get through yet..

I have, howoever, seen the Barnes work a time or two....

Jordan,
Surely you jest - big, Canadian whitetail/md cannot be taken with a 130gr., much less a 100gr.

I was just ribbin' ya, Bob

But for the record I typically save the .280 and 7Mag for the heavy stuff, and use the wimpy .25 on our "wimpy" AB deer I wanted to get some blood on the virgin .280 last fall, which is why I used it on those deer.

Ssshhhh!! Don't say that so loud, or my .25-06 might get its feelers hurt... *grin*

I guess I'll have to stop deer hunting since my .25-06 is my dedicated deer rifle. And I don't just use it for dinks, either.

Bob You are giving me a headache.
How can the 25-06 be to small when other people on this forum are saying that a .223 is a good deer rifle?
I'm so confused.
whelennut

Thanks goodness you now have a short/fat 7 for the "big" stuff.

Yeah, the long/skinny 7, the .280, the .25-06, and others would have just bounced off anything larger! Now that I've got a 7 shorty on the way I can finally start hunting game larger than our puny deer...

You better make sure you bring your fat 7 when you come or you'll go home empty-handed with nothing but empty shells in your pockets.

Whelennut: I'm not saying it's too small....just that I like a 270 or 280 better after trying them both....that's all.

They all work fine.....I have gotten to the point that I just have narrowed things down a lot when it comes to rifle cartridges.

Me too Bob.

Raybass: Playing with new cartridges is fun but I would rather spend my range time working on "myself" than another cartridge.

Within broad parameters I have a hard time telling the difference on game anymore......everything I hunt with "kills" well.

I really just don't have the time anymore and the only game species I get to hunt are deer, hogs and elk (when I get to go). The only rig I really miss is the Whelen, it was accurate and dependable. I'll get another, it'll be a Remington KS I bet.

Your signature line speaks volumes.....

If I don't slay a lunker with the 257Roy one of these years I'll be convinced the stinkin' thing is jinxed.

Bring it with you and we'll see if we can't cure that problem

Always amazing how threads about very similar cartridges go on longer than any others. This one's almost a month old and over 150 posts, yet the odds are that most hunters could go a lifetime with either round and never tell the difference.