.25-06 opinions
- Thread starter sharper
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sharper
Active Member
Good point
Bit of a minority sport the 25-06. Its nothing special really.
There are more modern/popular calibres that will give similar performance. If you compare loads on Nosler Load Data then you can achieve similar mv's with say 65CM (I am not a fanboy) but with better ability to retain velocity and a more attractive rifle in the second hand market?
Even the 308 will give higher mv at similar bullet weights to the 25-06. (~3200 fps 125gr vs 3150fps at 120gr) Even if you don't reload you can get a Sako factory round at 125gr.
Or a 270 with 110gr TTSX is capable of 3400fps. That's my habdload (probably a bit too fast). Think Sako supply this as a loaded round but at more sensible speeds.
Pays your money takes your choice
There are more modern/popular calibres that will give similar performance. If you compare loads on Nosler Load Data then you can achieve similar mv's with say 65CM (I am not a fanboy) but with better ability to retain velocity and a more attractive rifle in the second hand market?
Even the 308 will give higher mv at similar bullet weights to the 25-06. (~3200 fps 125gr vs 3150fps at 120gr) Even if you don't reload you can get a Sako factory round at 125gr.
Or a 270 with 110gr TTSX is capable of 3400fps. That's my habdload (probably a bit too fast). Think Sako supply this as a loaded round but at more sensible speeds.
Pays your money takes your choice
Given the dark cloud hanging over us , in the shape of a lead ban . How future proof is this chambering , what's the availability of lead free bullets , and will the standard twist rate be up to the job ?
Is it possible , that what is a little niche now will be borderline obsolete in the not to distant future?
It would be galling to order a rifle wait 6 months to a year , only to find it near impossible to feed .
Is it possible , that what is a little niche now will be borderline obsolete in the not to distant future?
It would be galling to order a rifle wait 6 months to a year , only to find it near impossible to feed .
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cooperjb1308
Well-Known Member
I love mine, it can be a bit hard on smaller deer but if you use a harder bullet it negates some of the damage, no more than a 243 I think really.
100grain federal copper works well on both fox and smaller deer and I am in the lucky position that my local agri shop has them in and no one else buys them so always in stock.
I had a 308 and realised I was shooting the 2506 more so sold it. Ammo can be a bit pricey when you do find it but it isn’t really a large volume of fire cartridge.
Good deals on the rifles as it is an out of favour cartridge but shares the same case as some proper good case relatives so a rebarrel is never out of the question.
100grain federal copper works well on both fox and smaller deer and I am in the lucky position that my local agri shop has them in and no one else buys them so always in stock.
I had a 308 and realised I was shooting the 2506 more so sold it. Ammo can be a bit pricey when you do find it but it isn’t really a large volume of fire cartridge.
Good deals on the rifles as it is an out of favour cartridge but shares the same case as some proper good case relatives so a rebarrel is never out of the question.
6pt-sika
Well-Known Member
I’ve done the gamut of 25’s . 250 Savage , 257 Bob , 25-06 and 257 Weatherby . All of them make pretty fair deer rifles . However of the four I’d pick the 25-06 first every time and most likely the Weatherby second . Both cartridges handloaded with a 110-120 grain polymer tipped bullets are pretty darn good .
th32
Well-Known Member
I have shot quite a few roes with it, mainly using 117gr Interlocks and never experienced a significant damage. Distances from 10 to 250m.
Worst terminal performance by far with soft bullets (SST) in fast cartridges (300WM, 243W) and short distances. Never tried them in my 25-06Rem
Worst terminal performance by far with soft bullets (SST) in fast cartridges (300WM, 243W) and short distances. Never tried them in my 25-06Rem
deeangeo
Well-Known Member
What's to say here! I've used my current .25-06 for 20 years... in the hills of the Highlands, Galloway, England - it does every species & sex in the UK.
It's not a popular cartridge... just not fashionable I guess. Ammunition is fine if you load your own.
I've found it just perfect! Reds (lots of them - stags/hinds), Roe, Fallow, Muntjac, CWD, feral goat & fox it's fast flat & accurate.. a .243 on steroids
It's not a popular cartridge... just not fashionable I guess. Ammunition is fine if you load your own.
I've found it just perfect! Reds (lots of them - stags/hinds), Roe, Fallow, Muntjac, CWD, feral goat & fox it's fast flat & accurate.. a .243 on steroids
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6pt-sika
Well-Known Member
FWIW , I’ve killed a veritable pile of deer with 165 SST’s in the 300 SAUM with the vast majority DRT ! Used the 95 SST in the 243 same results as well as the 123 SST in the 6.5 Grendel and 260 with excellent results , used the 129 SST in the 260 6.5-06 and 26 Nosler all pretty much with the same end result DRT . Now with that being says d I have a preference for Nosler BT’s and AccBonds however I have no problem whatsoever using SST’s !I have shot quite a few roes with it, mainly using 117gr Interlocks and never experienced a significant damage. Distances from 10 to 250m.
Worst terminal performance by far with soft bullets (SST) in fast cartridges (300WM, 243W) and short distances. Never tried them in my 25-06Rem
DRT?
sharper
Active Member
Very good point
baguio
Well-Known Member
I bought a Sako 85 in 25-06 as my first centre fire rifle quite a few years ago now. It's been my go to rifle ever since taking big numbers of munties, roe, fallow and lowland reds. It's not bad on foxes either. I've never felt under gunned. Low recoil, flat shooting and very accurate. It certainly does everything that I need in a rifle.
It will shoot 100 grain lead free bullets no problem too!
It will shoot 100 grain lead free bullets no problem too!
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sharper
Active Member
It’s a Sako 85 that I will be hopefully going for so that’s good to hear
I’m not shy to recoil but can you speak for how it compares to a .308 ? I’v shot a .308 and I honestly didn’t find it bad at all...no where near as sharp as what some people had said !I have had quite a few 25's over the years, and trying to comparing them to other calibers in a like for like scenario is not a fair assessment.
My favourite load was Rel 19 120gn bullet at around 3150fps.
If you tried the 135gn VLD @ around 2950, the likes of the creed or the 308 wont even be on the same pitch..
Great caliber with more than enough grunt then you will ever possibly need, if you reload there is a plethora of cases you can use, neck up, neck down etc
Sweet shooting, never had an inaccurate one and never shot one out.
My favourite load was Rel 19 120gn bullet at around 3150fps.
If you tried the 135gn VLD @ around 2950, the likes of the creed or the 308 wont even be on the same pitch..
Great caliber with more than enough grunt then you will ever possibly need, if you reload there is a plethora of cases you can use, neck up, neck down etc
Sweet shooting, never had an inaccurate one and never shot one out.
long_range_rob
Well-Known Member
I’m using Hornady Superformance GMX 95gn works well and “lead free”
325wsm
Well-Known Member
I have had 25cals for at least 30 years and find the calibre suitable for a wide range of quarry. I had different makes of 25-06 and personally found the Remington to be the nicest shooting rifle of them all BUT being forced to shoot left handed (I lost my right eye in an accident) I found a problem with quick second shots as the bolt on my righthanded rifles often left me with a bloody nose.
I like trying different cals and chose to see how the 25WSSM shot. I find it marginally better than the 25-06 and best of all the short throw never reaches my nose when taking a quick 2nd shot. I load my own ammo but never to absolute max velocity so it isn't a barrel burner and does shoot accurately more easily than the 25-06 AND with seemingly less recoil.
The only other comment worth passing on is have a think about the 325WSM. I bought a Montana Rifleman barrelled action from the US and after many years use find it the best rifle I have ever had. It is fairly easy to load good, pretty accurate ammo and will normally hold around 1" on all bullet weights from 110gr up to 220gr - and 220 is more than enough for a grizzly ! Best of all with my own porting the recoil is so low you can see the bullet strike whatever the velocity or bullet weight which is fantastic for long range fox shots in case a 2nd is needed quickly.
If you can visit Lincolnshire come and have a go with the 25WSSM and the 325WSM for yourself.
I like trying different cals and chose to see how the 25WSSM shot. I find it marginally better than the 25-06 and best of all the short throw never reaches my nose when taking a quick 2nd shot. I load my own ammo but never to absolute max velocity so it isn't a barrel burner and does shoot accurately more easily than the 25-06 AND with seemingly less recoil.
The only other comment worth passing on is have a think about the 325WSM. I bought a Montana Rifleman barrelled action from the US and after many years use find it the best rifle I have ever had. It is fairly easy to load good, pretty accurate ammo and will normally hold around 1" on all bullet weights from 110gr up to 220gr - and 220 is more than enough for a grizzly ! Best of all with my own porting the recoil is so low you can see the bullet strike whatever the velocity or bullet weight which is fantastic for long range fox shots in case a 2nd is needed quickly.
If you can visit Lincolnshire come and have a go with the 25WSSM and the 325WSM for yourself.
baguio
Well-Known Member
My 25-06 recoils a lot less than my 308 did but then I was pushing a much lighter bullet. I got rid of the 308 as I never really got on with it. Unlikely to ever get rid of the 25-06 though.It’s a Sako 85 that I will be hopefully going for so that’s good to hear
