Can I use a .25-06 for 1000 yard target shooting? I'm new to paper punching but I've joined a club and I'm really getting a taste for it. The only suitable rifle I have is a heavy barrelled .222. It does very well out to 300 yards, 400 on a still day, but there are quite a few shoots at Bisley and other ranges where the shooting is 600 yards and above which lets me out. My .308 is an m595 which I absolutely do not want to lose as a general stalking rifle, but its no target tool and I'm sure my FEO isn't going to let me have a second .308 just for the range. But I might have more justification for a .25-06. A long heavy barrelled varminter, probably a custom, would make an excellent vehicle based foxer and it would be ideal for the high seat munty shooting I do on my brother's farm. But would it be any good for 1000 yards? Does it carry enough weight to remain stable at that range, and can a hunting rifle ever make a useful long range target rifle or is it a compromise too far?
1000 yard range shooting with a .25-06
- Thread starter User00035
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EMcC
Well-Known Member
Me too. At one time I had 2 .308s and 2 .243s.
One can be heavy barrelled for high seat and range work and sporters for general sporting activities.
Fair enough. I guess I could put in for a second .308 then, but to be honest I quite fancy a serious .25-06 varminter and I wondered how it would cut the mustard at long range. I take your point about cost. You don't half rattle through the ammo especially on practice days.
bewsher500
Well-Known Member
surely unless you want to enter a specific competition you can use anything to shoot targets at 100yds
25-06 will do the job in the right hands as much as anything else
as for not being allowed another one in the same calibre I don't think there is any justification for the restriction.
a 308 in target form with a huge hubble telescope and weighing 15lbs is no stalking tool
get what you want
(as an aside i use the same case in .270 at the range, not a huge choice of bullets but 135gr SMK is just fine)
25-06 will do the job in the right hands as much as anything else
as for not being allowed another one in the same calibre I don't think there is any justification for the restriction.
a 308 in target form with a huge hubble telescope and weighing 15lbs is no stalking tool
get what you want
(as an aside i use the same case in .270 at the range, not a huge choice of bullets but 135gr SMK is just fine)
You may struggle to find a suitable Bullet for the 25-06 for Targets out to 1k yards. Berger have discontinued the 115 VLD Match Bullet. As far as i am aware that leaves only the 100 Grain Sierra Matchking. Not the most Barrel friendly Cartridge either if that is an issue to you.
Do not discount the 30-06 for 1k Target Shooting. German Salazar published his findings that showed it lost nothing to the 308 past 600 yards.
Yorkie.
Do not discount the 30-06 for 1k Target Shooting. German Salazar published his findings that showed it lost nothing to the 308 past 600 yards.
Yorkie.
Yes but they still make the 115gr Match Hunting VLD which i am reliably informed is the same bullet.
Ian.
Barkingsnake
Well-Known Member
I'd have thought a 25-06 would make a pretty good F-Class rifle for out to 1000 yards provided it gets the right fodder.
Check on the bullet weights for something sensible and make sure the rate of twist on anything you get is fast enough.
And whilst Berger might have discontinued some bullets for now there's a lot still lurking in the UK. I've just acquired 1000 "discontinued" 17 bullets...there were 2500 more kicking about.
Check on the bullet weights for something sensible and make sure the rate of twist on anything you get is fast enough.
And whilst Berger might have discontinued some bullets for now there's a lot still lurking in the UK. I've just acquired 1000 "discontinued" 17 bullets...there were 2500 more kicking about.
You are correct mate but i could not suggest the OP uses a Hunting VLD for Target Shooting even though they are the same. Silly i know but thats the Law for you. If your 25cal comes in an Orange Box you cant shoot targets but in a yellow box you can
.Yorkie.
Barkingsnake
Well-Known Member
I defy anyone to tell the difference between a match 20grain Berger 17 bullet and the Varmint variant. 10 out of 10 rabbits have no idea...only delta I can see is the part number on the box as the hole in the front and the tapered jacket look identical. However, what would I know!
Would it be a problem that it ends up in F-Class Open rather than F/TR?
In any case, proper Target Rifle is shot off the elbows using a .308/7.62 Target Rifle with iron sights.
Barkingsnake
Well-Known Member
Target Rifle is shot off the elbows using a .308/7.62 Target Rifle with iron sights.
Or .223/5.56 NATO
If you like, but my choice for 1000yds remains 7.62!
Barkingsnake
Well-Known Member
Try it as you might like it. I'm not convinced that you loose much except the thumping!
My personal choice was a 22BR loaded with Berger 80grain VLDs...TR boys at Bisley used to laugh at me until the saw what it could do.
I got caught out one day there (1000yards, horrid day) when I swapped to my Rem 700 308 (155Lapua SCENAR on top of AA2520), set the same windage (9 minutes) on as the 22BR and missed the target. Needed 16 minutes.
The thumping and the price of the new rifle I'd need.
You're right, though - there's more than one way to skin at cat.
There is nothing in the firearms act restricting the use of expanding ammunition or bullets for target shooting, however there use for target shooting can be restricted by virtue of conditions on ones FAC.
A shooter without an expanding ammunition condition can only buy non expanding ammo or bullets, a shooter who has an expanding ammunition condition can only use expanding ammo in the pursuit of deer fox vermin or AOLQ etc.
I shoot in the field as well as being a member of a rifle shooting club so i have an additional condition that says:
"The rifles and ammunition to which this certificate refers shal be used for target shooting only as a member of *********** rifle club on any ranges which have relevant funds in place ....blah blah blah......
Ian.
A shooter without an expanding ammunition condition can only buy non expanding ammo or bullets, a shooter who has an expanding ammunition condition can only use expanding ammo in the pursuit of deer fox vermin or AOLQ etc.
I shoot in the field as well as being a member of a rifle shooting club so i have an additional condition that says:
"The rifles and ammunition to which this certificate refers shal be used for target shooting only as a member of *********** rifle club on any ranges which have relevant funds in place ....blah blah blah......
Ian.
Jimbo 30 06
Well-Known Member
You are correct mate but i could not suggest the OP uses a Hunting VLD for Target Shooting even though they are the same. Silly i know but thats the Law for you. If your 25cal comes in an Orange Box you cant shoot targets but in a yellow box you can
Yorkie.
You could use them to zero to 1000yds still shooting paper
Jimbo
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