.25-06 vs .270

[dpaterson]

Evening all,

I currently use a Styer .243 and have done for a long time. I have always enjoyed using it but with a new interest in reds on the hill, I feel that it is probably time for a change and for a bit more punch too.

I would like to stay sub .30 cal if possible as I will continue to shoot roe, fallow and the occasional fox and muntjac with whatever new calibre I settle on, so no need for anything too big.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on .25-06 and .270 and which you think would be best suited to being an "all round" rifle for UK deer.

Thanks in advance!

 

[palmer_mike]

.308 lol.

 

[enfieldspares]

Hello. The .270 is a good hill cartridge but then again users of the .25-06 also say that it is too. Personally I'd future proof your stalking by asking what is available in non-lead factory ammunition in the calibres you are exploring AND if the twist speed of what you purchase today will accommodate those non-lead cartridges if on Forestry Commission leases.

Personally as an all around rifle the boring .308 Winchester is as good as it gets. It's not exciting and maybe doesn't have same ability to start a conversation that 7x64 or .30-06 does. Or .280 Remington. But it is more than good enough. We used nothing else but a .308 Winchester and 150 grain bullets to shoot foxes on our shoot in the 1990s.

 

[enfieldspares]

.308 LOL.

+1. What he says!

 

[Malxwal]

.308 lol.

Slow and heavy, flattens roe with less mess than a 243.

 

[Kalahari]

Heavyish 7 x 64. (Bullet not rifle)

David.

 

[Whitebeard]

Evening all,

I currently use a Styer .243 and have done for a long time. I have always enjoyed using it but with a new interest in reds on the hill, I feel that it is probably time for a change and for a bit more punch too.

I would like to stay sub .30 cal if possible as I will continue to shoot roe, fallow and the occasional fox and muntjac with whatever new calibre I settle on, so no need for anything too big.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on .25-06 and .270 and which you think would be best suited to being an "all round" rifle for UK deer.

Thanks in advance!

Whatever calibre your new chosen rifle is chambered in would have some bearing on what you buy, 6.5x55 is very popular but for me i would go for a minimum of 270, any of the 7mm would also be excellent, including 280 Rem if you like the '06 case

Ian.

 

[deeangeo]

There's always going to be lots of differing views on this, but my .25-06 has never failed me.
I've used .243, .270 & .308, the .243 was good, but the .25-06 has been the best.
Using the 110 gn Nosler AB I've taken big stags and lots of hinds, roe, CWD & fallow, feral goat, fox, no problem at all.

 

[John Gryphon]

Not that it matters in the UK but the .270 Winchester is the minimum calibre for hunting Sambar deer in Australia,that says something.

 

[stubear]

.270 is also the recommended minimum for boar as well, should you ever want to shoot them.

.25-06 is a great caliber, light recoiling, flat shooting and hard hitting. I'd love to have one one day myself!

But as an all rounder it's got to be another vote for .308 from me.

Easy to get everywhere, loads of grain weights available, easy to reload for and loads of data out there on it.

The other good all rounder is 6.5x55.

 

[David T]

Use 150grn in 270 for open hill reds and 117grn in 25.06 for lowland roe. Both suppressed. No complaints on either and both are great to shoot.

 

[Dexter]

Where does 270 or 308 appear in the OP? Guys, please try to answer the question. Some of you could be politicians?
For what it's worth, when you see videos of pro stalkers shooting reds on the hills they are often using a 25-06 which must say something. 25-06 is what I use on everything and have no complaints at all. It's accurate, flat, low recoil, hit's hard and with 115grain Nosler Partitions drops most stuff on the spot. What's not to like?

 

[deeangeo]

Where does 270 or 308 appear in the OP? Guys, please try to answer the question. Some of you could be politicians?
For what it's worth, when you see videos of pro stalkers shooting reds on the hills they are often using a 25-06 which must say something. 25-06 is what I use on everything and have no complaints at all. It's accurate, flat, low recoil, hit's hard and with 115grain Nosler Partitions drops most stuff on the spot. What's not to like?

.270 is mentioned in the OP, also saying he'd like to stay Sub .30 cal.

 

[Mungo]

If you're planning on shooting a lot of roe, then .308 is probably your best bet. .25-06 is good, but can be very hard to find ammo for.

But the actual, practical differences in field performance between them are so marginal that it really makes no difference. I would base the decision on what rifle I could get and what ammo was readily available.

 

[A Guy Out West]

Anything the 25/06 can do, the .270 can do better.

 

[Druid]

I have both and to be honest if you already have a .243 then the .25-06 is just an incremental stop on the way to .30.
If I was you I'd go for a .30. Or maybe a .270 easy source of components/ammo, larger bullet weights, suitable for boar, doesn't need the long barrel that a .25 does.

 

[Border]

Of the two choices I would also pick the 270w.
Bullet choice from 90-160 grs, plenty of factory ammo available.
Unfashionable cartridge means good secondhand deals may arise.
Moderator tames the often quoted harsh muzzle blast/recoil.

 

[sikamalc]

I have used and still have both calibres for over 30 years.
Both will do the job on Red Deer or any species in this country and I have also used both calibres in Africa too. The only down side is bullet weight limitation. But I fail to see what real difference this makes, as I load all my own and keep the same bullet weight throughout and never had any real issues.

For the 25.06 to me it is a very good round on red hinds in the winter, shooting 100g bullet it is flat and fast. My 270 I use 150g bullets and again many clients use this rifle and it very rarely lets anyone down.

Despite all the arguments about this calibre and that bullet weight it is all about bullet placement and being comfortable with your rifle.

By the way I also now have a 308

 

[243 fallow]

There is a good choice of bullets and components for 2506, ranging from 75grn-120grn, I'm sure that covers all the bases required in the U.K., there isn't really many more bullets to chose from with the 270 only that they are heavier. When I had a 270 I found a lot of places didn't have 270 in stock and if they did it was ever only 130grn. Most places stock 243-308 ammo as it's popular. 30 cal does have a large selection of bullets for the homeloader. If you sway towards a 270 get one with a proper barrel on it, they need a 24ins barrel to get the desired velocities unlike the 20ins ones which won't get anywhere near stated velocities.

 

[ironmatt]

.270 for me