Rusty Gate
Well-Known Member
A curve ball but a very good one - 6.5-06!
Impressive range & ballistics
Impressive range & ballistics
.25-06 v 6.5
- Thread starter Joe Heast
- Start date
Only if you cut out, as you have, my point about higher pressures........the OP did ask about performance so not just about reloading components. Otherwise the OP could just do an internet search to check availability.
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richard griffith
Well-Known Member
As has been said 6.5 bullets are more readily available.I recently zeroed a 25.06 for a friend and compared to my 6.5 x47 the additional recoil from the former Calibre was quite noticeable.Both calibres you mention will do the job.
A 6.5 120 pro hunter bullet from a 6.5 -284 will perform exactly the same as a .257 launched from a 25-06 at similar velocities. Pressure doesn’t necessarily come into your example as the 25-06 runs at the same pressure as the creedmoor.
I load a .25 and 2 6.5s, the difference variety of bullets between the 2 is huge, bullet performance will be specific to the actual bullet and which 6.5 cartridge is selected but for pretty much any .257 deer bullet there will be a direct equivalent .264 but not the other way around as you’ll struggle above 120 grains.
6.5 gives you far, far more options, 130, 140, 150+ grain bullets are available.
The correct answer of course, is to get a 7 mm
No it’s the cartridge the 25-06 wishes it was....
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
Hmmm. Another case of each to their own methinks and in reloading terms nothing in it. If you look at reloading data there can be very little difference between them bullet weight for bullet weight but the 6.5x55 ( Yes I am a believer) offers the opportunity for much heavier bullets should you so wish. For interest Viht data shows:-
25-06 100 gns velocity range c.2,800-3250 fps; 120 gns 2,600-2,900 fps; Max bullet Weight 120 gns.
6.5x55 SE 108 gns .. .. .. c.2,600-3,150 .. ; 120 gns 2,400-3,000 fps Max bullet Weight 139 gns.
Of course these can each be “adjusted” by homeloading should you wish and Viht loading guidance is increasingly conservative now but the above is probably a fair comparison and confirms really there is little practical difference. Any or all of these will drop anything hit in the right place dead in their tracks. However and as mentioned above should you wish to go heavy, the 6.5 will shoot up to 156 gns whereas the 25-06 pretty much maxes out at 120 gns. From my own experience I can assure you that 120gns over a moderate load of N160 out of the 6.5x55 will drop anything you are likely to encounter this side of the pond.
Good luck with your choice.
25-06 100 gns velocity range c.2,800-3250 fps; 120 gns 2,600-2,900 fps; Max bullet Weight 120 gns.
6.5x55 SE 108 gns .. .. .. c.2,600-3,150 .. ; 120 gns 2,400-3,000 fps Max bullet Weight 139 gns.
Of course these can each be “adjusted” by homeloading should you wish and Viht loading guidance is increasingly conservative now but the above is probably a fair comparison and confirms really there is little practical difference. Any or all of these will drop anything hit in the right place dead in their tracks. However and as mentioned above should you wish to go heavy, the 6.5 will shoot up to 156 gns whereas the 25-06 pretty much maxes out at 120 gns. From my own experience I can assure you that 120gns over a moderate load of N160 out of the 6.5x55 will drop anything you are likely to encounter this side of the pond.
Good luck with your choice.
The 25-06 will beat the 6.5x55 for any given bullet weight as it has a higher powder capacity and a higher max operating pressure, simple factsHmmm. Another case of each to their own methinks and in reloading terms nothing in it. If you look at reloading data there can be very little difference between them bullet weight for bullet weight but the 6.5x55 ( Yes I am a believer) offers the opportunity for much heavier bullets should you so wish. For interest Viht data shows:-
25-06 100 gns velocity range c.2,800-3250 fps; 120 gns 2,600-2,900 fps; Max bullet Weight 120 gns.
6.5x55 SE 108 gns .. .. .. c.2,600-3,150 .. ; 120 gns 2,400-3,000 fps Max bullet Weight 139 gns.
Of course these can each be “adjusted” by homeloading should you wish and Viht loading guidance is increasingly conservative now but the above is probably a fair comparison and confirms really there is little practical difference. Any or all of these will drop anything hit in the right place dead in their tracks. However and as mentioned above should you wish to go heavy, the 6.5 will shoot up to 156 gns whereas the 25-06 pretty much maxes out at 120 gns. From my own experience I can assure you that 120gns over a moderate load of N160 out of the 6.5x55 will drop anything you are likely to encounter this side of the pond.
Good luck with your choice.
Weight added by a long action vs short is rubbish, you’d never notice the difference on your back.
my lightest rifle is a rem 700 in 25-06 in mcmillan edge stock. Knocks out 117gr game kings at 2950 and I bought it for the hill. It will get loaded for copper when I get the time and likely hard to beat with mono bullets.
Also have a 6.5CiM and 7mm. 25-06 is a great deer round.
my lightest rifle is a rem 700 in 25-06 in mcmillan edge stock. Knocks out 117gr game kings at 2950 and I bought it for the hill. It will get loaded for copper when I get the time and likely hard to beat with mono bullets.
Also have a 6.5CiM and 7mm. 25-06 is a great deer round.
All interesting points, I must admit my original question was a little open ended,
after shooting over the years I have come to the conclusion that anything that started as a .30-06 can’t be a bad thing, the only downside to the .30-06..... I’m my opinion..... it’s abit heavy for muntjac and roe, I know some people disagree but meat damage and all.
Hence wanting a .25-06, as I’ve looked about most things are available so it shouldn’t be too bad to load for.
As I mentioned, I mainly want it for the smaller species, although it has been pointed out that it’ll knock reds down, it seems a happy compromise to me,
Thanks
after shooting over the years I have come to the conclusion that anything that started as a .30-06 can’t be a bad thing, the only downside to the .30-06..... I’m my opinion..... it’s abit heavy for muntjac and roe, I know some people disagree but meat damage and all.
Hence wanting a .25-06, as I’ve looked about most things are available so it shouldn’t be too bad to load for.
As I mentioned, I mainly want it for the smaller species, although it has been pointed out that it’ll knock reds down, it seems a happy compromise to me,
Thanks
Far more gun than you need for roe or muntjac, you seem to want something smaller but stick with the same cartridge. So you may as well just stick with same cartridge!
My choice for roe and muntjac is my 25-45 which comes in a shade under 1800 ft-lb with a 100 gr bullet. I don’t intend to use the .280 I have just bought for roe at all, in terms of ballistics the creedmoor (or swede loaded to equivalent pressure, I have both) will match the .280 for drop over distance but only deliver around half the power, which is still plenty to cleanly kill a roe. The .280 is still carrying the same energy at 4-500 yards as my 25-45 is at the muzzle!
So are you asking about bullet availability or cartridge? And if the latter which 6.5 as there are lots out there?
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@Joe Heast, I may be reading too much in to your posts but they suggest that you have a 30-06 but want something which will do less meat damage to smaller species?
If that's the case, maybe the 25-06 isn't the answer. I haven't used one but do have a .270. Loaded with lighter bullets, particularly if of a light construction, it is quite destructive. I may be wrong, but I put that down to the combination of speed and power which is 'too much' for lightly constructed bullets if you're not willing to put up with some damage. Tough, heavier bullets far better from it.
Might you be better doing some mild handholds for your 30-06 using 165-180gr bullets? they would be less likely to smash things. Alternatively, the 6.5 with a heavier bullet might also be what you're after. A .243 with 100gr soft points and sitting at around the legal limit (about 2,850 fps if memory serves) might also work.
Meat damage seems quite subjective and seems to vary wildly with shot placement, range, bullet etc so it's maybe not the easiest thing to control but a rule of thumb appear to be that light and fast is not the way to reduce it.
If that's the case, maybe the 25-06 isn't the answer. I haven't used one but do have a .270. Loaded with lighter bullets, particularly if of a light construction, it is quite destructive. I may be wrong, but I put that down to the combination of speed and power which is 'too much' for lightly constructed bullets if you're not willing to put up with some damage. Tough, heavier bullets far better from it.
Might you be better doing some mild handholds for your 30-06 using 165-180gr bullets? they would be less likely to smash things. Alternatively, the 6.5 with a heavier bullet might also be what you're after. A .243 with 100gr soft points and sitting at around the legal limit (about 2,850 fps if memory serves) might also work.
Meat damage seems quite subjective and seems to vary wildly with shot placement, range, bullet etc so it's maybe not the easiest thing to control but a rule of thumb appear to be that light and fast is not the way to reduce it.
I see the confusion, no I don’t own a .30-06, I’ve shot one many times and loved it, much the same with the .25-06, hence wanting a .25-06.
The only reason I mentioned meat damage was regarding using a .30-06, ie being far too excessive, not owing one.
I understand that heavy bullet will do less meat damage (subjectively) than a light bullet travelling considerable faster.
I’ll try to be clearer with my posts
I was asking about availability, experience and I guess personal opinion regarding reloading originally,
as the thread continues it has become quite interesting to read views and opinions regarding different suggestions.
Thanks
Foxyboy43
Well-Known Member
Indeed - 65.8gms H2O against 57.9gms H2O in favour of the 25. But is it really that straightforward I wonder?
Again from Viht guide and using a 120gns bullet:-
25-06 the max of 47.7gns N160 gives 2858 fps and max of 51.4gns N560 gives 2963 fps.
6.5x55 SE the max of 47.4gns N160 gives 2867 fps and the max 51.2 gns N560 gives 3005 fps.
Sooo - in those two examples and as stated in my original response (without reloading “tweaking”) on this like for like basis there is really nothing in it from what I can see. Of course you can push these acknowledged to be conservative maximums as far as you think is safe in each and perhaps an obvious advantage will emerge - should you so wish and at your own risk, but again for deerstalking in the UK if you are getting 20gns bullet weight, c.600 ft lbs and c.500 fps above the minimum bullet weight, power and velocity requirements already just why would you want to bother spending more money in powder and early barrel wear? In any event and as I said initially - each to their own.
Indeed - 65.8gms H2O against 57.9gms H2O in favour of the 25. But is it really that straightforward I wonder?
Again from Viht guide and using a 120gns bullet:-
25-06 the max of 47.7gns N160 gives 2858 fps and max of 51.4gns N560 gives 2963 fps.
6.5x55 SE the max of 47.4gns N160 gives 2867 fps and the max 51.2 gns N560 gives 3005 fps.
Sooo - in those two examples and as stated in my original response (without reloading “tweaking”) on this like for like basis there is really nothing in it from what I can see. Of course you can push these acknowledged to be conservative maximums as far as you think is safe in each and perhaps an obvious advantage will emerge - should you so wish and at your own risk, but again for deerstalking in the UK if you are getting 20gns bullet weight, c.600 ft lbs and c.500 fps above the minimum bullet weight, power and velocity requirements already just why would you want to bother spending more money in powder and early barrel wear? In any event and as I said initially - each to their own.
Stop using viht data as a reference, you are ignoring the fact they are using a 23” barrel for the 25 and 26.5” for the swede so not a fair comparison.
Nosler and Sierra both show around 100 FPS increase with the 25-06 for a 120 bullet. I wasn’t arguing whether that’s worth it, just the fact the bigger case with a higher pressure limit will shoot bullets faster, and yes, it is that straight forward
baguio
Well-Known Member
I have re-loaded my 25-06 for many years and never had a problem getting components. Not sure what bullets people want that they can't get but I can get what I need and you can see for yourself what's available on line. I have used mine on everything from munties to lowland reds with no issues at all. It is my go to rifle and I love it. Very accurate and plenty of power.
If you want one, go for it. You will not be disappointed.
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jon2
Well-Known Member
I agree entirely and that is exactly what I’m using in my .25-06 due to the terms of the contract.
I also think the same and possibly more so about the .270 win making a resurgence. Much more factory ammo available for it and that 110 ttsx load is hard to beat.
Thank you for you response, I greatly appreciate it,
do you have a preferred “blend”? for want of a better term, for the smaller species v lowland reds?
Thanks
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