I use a 25-06 rifle with 100gr bullets. This was recommended to me by several gunsmiths / suppliers over a 270 / 6.5x55 etc. Earlier this week, I was stalking with someone who uses a 270 with 110gr bullets. I might be missing something, but as both cartridges are based on the same case and both are firing almost the same weight bullet, is there any real difference between the two? If this is the case, then what is the advantage of the 25-06, unless you wish to use smaller bullets and have to re-zero for different quarries? I am not planning to change anything, just interested.
IMHO, the 25-06 is a more pleasant round to shoot leading, potentially, ceteris paribus, to increased accuracy. The round if properly loaded can produce very swift kills on medium sized deer out to probably 250yds or so, after that I think the 270 is a more humane killer with appropriate ammunition. The same goes for the Bob, but to an even greater reduction in distance, to probably 175yds.
the 270 can also handle higher bullet weights, of course, frequently using 130g'ers, and thus if your game is 80% 'large' deer, then it's probably a more appropriate cartridge choice.
at 'normal' stalking distances and with proper bullets for small to medium game, I'd say the quarter bore is an excellent choice over the 270win.
the 270 can also handle higher bullet weights, of course, frequently using 130g'ers, and thus if your game is 80% 'large' deer, then it's probably a more appropriate cartridge choice.
at 'normal' stalking distances and with proper bullets for small to medium game, I'd say the quarter bore is an excellent choice over the 270win.
flyingfisherman
Well-Known Member
theres always a ballistic overlap with similar cartridges. for instance .243 to .260 to 7mm08 to .308 and .25-06 to .270 to .30-06. In broad brush terms theres not a massive amount of difference between similar calibres. Most of the decision making when choosing a calibre is personal preference, recommendation from a friend or what your friendly gun shop wants to sell you.
IMO its more about availability of reloading components or ammo primarily, with a secondary thought to range of bullets. both .25 and .270 bullets are both limited on whats available which can reduce your options. But to counter this, a barrel is rifled and has a twist rate. this rate of twist in your barrel can be more of a limiting factor on what it will shoot well than bullet weight choice of the manufacturer.
you've answered your own question regarding the .25-06. unless you want to shoot smaller bullets really quickly, then your limited by the 120gn bullet thing (if thats limited..). First rifle i used a lot was my old mans .25-06. it was a great calibre, both for foxing with 75gn (if i remember rightly?) and roe with a bit heavier. to be fair the meat damage on roe was pretty bad. i cant remember the specifics of speed vs weight but it used to kill extremely well.
IMO its more about availability of reloading components or ammo primarily, with a secondary thought to range of bullets. both .25 and .270 bullets are both limited on whats available which can reduce your options. But to counter this, a barrel is rifled and has a twist rate. this rate of twist in your barrel can be more of a limiting factor on what it will shoot well than bullet weight choice of the manufacturer.
you've answered your own question regarding the .25-06. unless you want to shoot smaller bullets really quickly, then your limited by the 120gn bullet thing (if thats limited..). First rifle i used a lot was my old mans .25-06. it was a great calibre, both for foxing with 75gn (if i remember rightly?) and roe with a bit heavier. to be fair the meat damage on roe was pretty bad. i cant remember the specifics of speed vs weight but it used to kill extremely well.
Last edited:
I shoot a .257 Roberts and a .250 Savage.
100 grains is the upper limit for the .250 Savage, not just from velocity, but in terms of the lighter bullets, like the 87 grain, shooting so well.
120 gr bullets in the .257 shoot like 180s in a .30-06 - not a bad thing. There are some really good 120-gr .25-caliber bullets, and those have been used effectively on big deer and American elk from the .257 Rob and the .25-06, at the right range and in the right hands.
I mostly shoot the 117-gr bullets in my .257, but a friend shoots the 115-gr Partition in his .25-06 A-Bolt II, with great accuracy and quick kills on deer. My next experiment will probably be the 110-gr Accubond. But the Hornady 117s, from RN to SST, meat and potatoes in my .257.
100 grains is the upper limit for the .250 Savage, not just from velocity, but in terms of the lighter bullets, like the 87 grain, shooting so well.
120 gr bullets in the .257 shoot like 180s in a .30-06 - not a bad thing. There are some really good 120-gr .25-caliber bullets, and those have been used effectively on big deer and American elk from the .257 Rob and the .25-06, at the right range and in the right hands.
I mostly shoot the 117-gr bullets in my .257, but a friend shoots the 115-gr Partition in his .25-06 A-Bolt II, with great accuracy and quick kills on deer. My next experiment will probably be the 110-gr Accubond. But the Hornady 117s, from RN to SST, meat and potatoes in my .257.
bewsher500
Well-Known Member
I personally do not see the benefit of the 25-06 over the 270
if all bullets were available to both (which they are not in this country)
anything around 100-130gr in both calibres is delivered around the 3100-3200fps mark
(with the exception of the heavier .25's which lose MV in a major way the same way the 150+ .270's do...drops from 3100-2800 are not uncommon)
but equally I do not see the .270 or 25-06 as cartridges with great flexibility
The .270 certainly has a very narrow range of realistic bullet weights
100gr offers no more benefits over 130gr than the 150gr does in either energy or velocity. trajectory advantage is next to nothing
both good cartridges if you can get the consumables but most of the necked down "ought six" cases have limitations beyond the original
overbore design is one (50-60gr of charge going down almost a 20% smaller hole from the original)
choose one weight that works and stick to it
at any range they will be deadly
I have shot foxes and crows with 130gr SP .270, works just as well as it does on a 20 stone highland stag
if all bullets were available to both (which they are not in this country)
anything around 100-130gr in both calibres is delivered around the 3100-3200fps mark
(with the exception of the heavier .25's which lose MV in a major way the same way the 150+ .270's do...drops from 3100-2800 are not uncommon)
but equally I do not see the .270 or 25-06 as cartridges with great flexibility
The .270 certainly has a very narrow range of realistic bullet weights
100gr offers no more benefits over 130gr than the 150gr does in either energy or velocity. trajectory advantage is next to nothing
both good cartridges if you can get the consumables but most of the necked down "ought six" cases have limitations beyond the original
overbore design is one (50-60gr of charge going down almost a 20% smaller hole from the original)
choose one weight that works and stick to it
at any range they will be deadly
I have shot foxes and crows with 130gr SP .270, works just as well as it does on a 20 stone highland stag
Last edited:
Not as simple as bullet weight alone.....The bullets may behave differently depending on their construction and calibre. For a given weight bullet the 25/06 bullet will have a greater sectional density than the 270 bullet due to the reduced bore diameter which means that with equivalent bullet construction that the 25/06 should penetrate more readily. However you have to also factor in bullet construction and there is a fair chance that your colleague may have been using the 110g TTSX bullet in the 270 which being a monometal bullet will probably outpenetrate any conventional cup and core bullet from a 25/06
Similar threads
