.25-06 … what next ?

[sauer]

Scenario …..
Custom BAT HR action done by Russel Gall in 25-06

Done and still doing its job but at somepoint a rebarrel will be on the cards ….
But Into what ?

As much as I love the caliber the bullet choice and often availability is limiting…. Especially for gongs plinking / match ammo.
It’s a hybrid gun … hunting mainly with plinking ( like to do more )

Obvious two choices are straight .284 ( good barrel life , 7mm components )
6.5x.284 ( barrel burner no factory ammo but what a round )

I would homeload but I’m not enthuastic about it & id prefer ability to go factory if I wanted but is not a deal breaker

Now … anyone using a short action Round in long action rifle say 6.5 creedmore ? Any issues ?

if it helps hunting is 99.8% roe with odd red


What would you go for and why ?

Paul

 

[JH83]

6.5x55? I changed a beloved 25-06 to this.

Lots of brass available, lots of factory ammo around, always a great shooter. Long action too.

If you want to hand load then with care performance can be excellent, in my 26” barrel I’m getting 3400fps with 100g Barnes, and 3000fps with 120g Sierra so in truth not far off a 25-06.

Dont discount the ol’ swede.

 

[n3al]

I presume being a BAT action you can change bolt head, so I would look at 6.5 PRC

 

[Ronin]

284 in Shehane or KmR form

So long as it will feed in your action

The inproved cartridges tend to feed better from singke stack mags (with ajusted feed lip) or BDl floorplate

Straight 284 isn’t to be sniffed at either

Or 30-06 /270 for the traditionalists Still killing thousands of deer in Scotland with contractors ,,,

 

[Mungo]

6.5PRC - ballistically almost identical to 6.5-284 but with factory ammo availability.

 

[sauer]

don't know if i can change Bolt face as its a a BAT ... don't think so its one of the 101 original HR actions before the brought out a different version i believe of the HR


so .... .25-06 bolt face is circa .470 =" ish PRC i believe is .540" magnum bolt face so not a "straight forward " swap ....
so that's one for Ronin id say ....in regards to easy done or best leave alone

yeah the swede ...... a feeling of going from one ...not obsolete... but one lesser used calibre to another ... to be perfectly honest if the .25-06 had half bullet choice and more copper options and availability than it does id stay .25 !!! after all got the tooling /dies etc but simply put getting a choice and then if see something i fancy, its a case of can't get it anyway!!!

6.5PRC ...basically same as .270 and id get factory if wanted
6.5x.284 no factory at all but seen one on reds at distance and wow! ......hammer and accuracy was again wow!
straight .284 ...id get but not throated competition tight ... not enthusiastic home loader but i do it... im not adding neck turning to brass prep ....

decision's decision's ..... i know im being a fanny and cant decide ! ....

part of me has scratched the custom itch and says sell it and just buy a factory rifle but being a true left hander as well and left handed action ...how often do you see them for sale?
Paul

 

[Mungo]

don't know if i can change Bolt face as its a a BAT ... don't think so its one of the 101 original HR actions before the brought out a different version i believe of the HR


so .... .25-06 bolt face is circa .470 =" ish PRC i believe is .540" magnum bolt face so not a "straight forward " swap ....
so that's one for Ronin id say ....in regards to easy done or best leave alone

yeah the swede ...... a feeling of going from one ...not obsolete... but one lesser used calibre to another ... to be perfectly honest if the .25-06 had half bullet choice and more copper options and availability than it does id stay .25 !!! after all got the tooling /dies etc but simply put getting a choice and then if see something i fancy, its a case of can't get it anyway!!!

6.5PRC ...basically same as .270 and id get factory if wanted
6.5x.284 no factory at all but seen one on reds at distance and wow! ......hammer and accuracy was again wow!
straight .284 ...id get but not throated competition tight ... not enthusiastic home loader but i do it... im not adding neck turning to brass prep ....

decision's decision's ..... i know im being a fanny and cant decide ! ....

part of me has scratched the custom itch and says sell it and just buy a factory rifle but being a true left hander as well and left handed action ...how often do you see them for sale?
Paul

No discernible difference in performance between 6.5PRC and 6.5-284, as far as I can tell. They shoot the same bullets at the same speed, give or take the random variation introduced by specific bullet/barrel/powder combinations.

 

[Stumpy2]

6.5 A -Square (6.5 mm – 06) But could be a bit harsh on roe…

7x64

 

[rem284]

I had a 25-06 that I got rebarrelled in 6.5-284. No regrets. I do home load though.

 

[Sakoodin1]

Get a straight .284, blooming love that round I do, I’ve had 6.5-284 and it was ok but didn’t do anything the .284 doesn’t with a heavier bullet. I’ve got a .260 ack,.25.06,.270.7mm rm they are all good! obviously the rem mag isnt an option for you. The .284 is easy to load for and is sweet in the shoulder no fire forming cases it’s just a good all rounder,I wish I had built one years ago. Just my thoughts tho

 

[bigyin]

I sold a .25-06 about 18 months ago and had 6.5x55 before that .
I bought a tikka .284 win and for my use (similar to yours) it ticks a lot more boxes .
You can get Lapua straight .284 brass now ,dies are easy to find and a tonne of different 7mm bullets ,I’ve never saw factory ammo for sale for it but it’s easy to load for anyway .

 

[DavyG]

Depends on your bolt face.
Magnum: 6.5 PRC
Standard: 6.5 Norma
DG

 

[Nkawu]

+1 for 7x64 for factory offerings, and 280 AI for hand loading.
I have a 30-06 that will be rebarrelled next to a 7x64.

 

[NullMac]

I would homeload but I’m not enthuastic about it & id prefer ability to go factory if I wanted but is not a deal breaker

Now … anyone using a short action Round in long action rifle say 6.5 creedmore ? Any issues ?

if it helps hunting is 99.8% roe with odd red

I have a 65CM. If you aren't going to reload I would be wary of it as factory is underloaded. Hornady stuff is well short of what it says on the box and IMO is not really adequate for Red Stag. Handloaded then it's ok, you can get a bit more over the numbers on the box and it would then be ideal. Great Roe round, obviously good match bullets available and for the occasional Red at realistic hill distances it will be fine.

If the bolt face is not an issue then 65PRC looks very popular. Is factory available with a choice now dunno?

Other exotics mentioned then you are into reloading. I would be looking at a straight 284. Nice balance of bullet weights, BC's and Recoil.

65CM and hand loading probably the most flexible choice ? The new 308

 

[scrumbag]

Another vote for 7x64

 

[Border]

30-06. Plenty of factory ammo available and more than accurate enough in a well built rifle.

 

[25 Sharps]

6.5 A -Square (6.5 mm – 06) But could be a bit harsh on roe…

7x64

7x64 is a really good shout, I was going to suggest .280 but the OP wants options on factory ammunition, the 7x64 will offer more in that department.

 

[kenbro]

Hi Sauer,
Here ya go……

 

[Sakoodin1]

30-06. Plenty of factory ammo available and more than accurate enough in a well built rifle.

That’s an itch I might scratch one day, they say now with modern powders you can daily make it shift with a blooming heavy bullet? You will know more than me ?

 

[Kalahari]

And, surprisingly, another vote for the 7 x 64!

David.