25-06 opinions
- Thread starter Tjkiller
- Start date
2muchgun
New member
I personally would not take anything smaller than a 270 elk hunting. I certainly would not want to tote around a heavy barreled rifle either. JMO.
IMO, that rifle is more of a long range varminter that could also be used on the the occasional deer/antelope hunt, given the right set of circumstances.
As for a calling rifle, I prefer lighter rifles in most cases.....
IMO, that rifle is more of a long range varminter that could also be used on the the occasional deer/antelope hunt, given the right set of circumstances.
As for a calling rifle, I prefer lighter rifles in most cases.....
nastynatesfish
Active member
ive hunted with a guy that elk hunts with 06, never had to chase one any further than normal. he would just high neck shoot his cow and it was never more than 150 yds. he uses barnes bullets.
tripod3
New member
For some reason I have never been able to warm up to the 25. There are just too many other calibers that will cover it and more.
No doubt it will take an elk within limits but I would have to be desperate to choose it.
In most hunting situations a heavy barrel gets to be a drag real fast.
Even if this rifle were in my favorite all around caliber I would pass.
No doubt it will take an elk within limits but I would have to be desperate to choose it.
In most hunting situations a heavy barrel gets to be a drag real fast.
Even if this rifle were in my favorite all around caliber I would pass.
NdIndy
New member
Way too light for elk IMO. Great round up through deer though. I dropped 2 deer and 2 goats with that caliber last year, planning on more this year. I finally figured out that beating the crap out of my shoulder just to drop a deer wasn't the smartest thing in the world. And I lack confidence with the .243 so it's just about right.
For an all around'r I'd go 30-06 until that all around area was filled by big bears.
For an all around'r I'd go 30-06 until that all around area was filled by big bears.
joed
New member
Great caliber but light for elk. I also have a heavy barreled rifle and it has never hindered me. However, I wouldn't want to walk long distances carrying it.
If you want t a good rifle in a great cartridge this is it. Mine was the only rifle I owned for 25 years. Walloped bears with it and many deer. I mostly use it for varmint hunting though. The beauty of this cartridge is that it is a dual purpose cartridge that will take smaller game to deer size medium game with the right bullets.
If you want t a good rifle in a great cartridge this is it. Mine was the only rifle I owned for 25 years. Walloped bears with it and many deer. I mostly use it for varmint hunting though. The beauty of this cartridge is that it is a dual purpose cartridge that will take smaller game to deer size medium game with the right bullets.
Squeeze
New member
A good friend of mine, that hunts Roosevelt Elk, tells me his
group, almost exclusively hunts with 25-06 Rem. chambered
rifles. Shoot flat, and hit hard. They have a pile of pictures
of elk taken with the 25-06 Rem. Now with that said, the
25-06 Rem. even with a Barnes bullet, would not be my first
choice. For heavy northern whitetails, antelope, black bear,
and predators dispatched with no care for fur, this is a great
choice. I would take a 25-06 Rem. for elk, over a .308 Win.,
but not over a 30-06 Sprg.
I am not much for hauling heavy barreled rifles around the
field. Bench guns, or colony varmint guns, yes, but not
field guns.
Squeeze
BuckeyeSpecial
New member
Tjkiller:
I have loaded for the 25/06 for years, and while it may be "light" for elk, many hunters have had success with it as the lesser recoil allows them to be better shots with it then the heavier, dedicated elk rifles.
So, while a 338WM is an ideal elk rifle, the 25/06 in the right hands will do [use the Nosler 120 Partition or Barnes 120 copper bullet for elk], and it makes an excellent deer/pronghorn/coyote rifle.
I would suggest, however, you buy a model in a sporter or medium weight sporter barrel, NOT the bull barrel you are considering, make sure the barrel is also 24" in length to get the most out of the cartridge and to reduce some muzzle blast compared to a 22" barrel.
I have loaded for the 25/06 for years, and while it may be "light" for elk, many hunters have had success with it as the lesser recoil allows them to be better shots with it then the heavier, dedicated elk rifles.
So, while a 338WM is an ideal elk rifle, the 25/06 in the right hands will do [use the Nosler 120 Partition or Barnes 120 copper bullet for elk], and it makes an excellent deer/pronghorn/coyote rifle.
I would suggest, however, you buy a model in a sporter or medium weight sporter barrel, NOT the bull barrel you are considering, make sure the barrel is also 24" in length to get the most out of the cartridge and to reduce some muzzle blast compared to a 22" barrel.
theres folks around here that use nothing but the 25-06 or 257 weatherby for elk.it seems it would depend on the one pullin the trigger.theres some big elk here in orygun and they always fill their tags.thats like saying my 30-06 is too small for coastal elk,acording to the yuppies on cabelas site they say nothing under a 338.i throwing the [beeep] flag on this.if you dont trust your ability then get a bigger rifle,there is no set caliber for hunting.it seems to depend on what everyone on the internet agrees on,BS.
Last edited:
We can argue whether or not the .25-06 (or many other calibers) is too small for elk, etc., but I really believe it is all about the bullet. A Nosler partition or Barnes TSX is a game changer. No longer do we have to depend on a cup and core bullet that might/might not work. BTW, the .25-06 has been my favorite caliber for Tennessee deer for 30 years. Lately, the 7-08 is coming close to catching it.
NdIndy
New member
Originally Posted By: sage rattheres folks around here that use nothing but the 25-06 or 257 weatherby for elk.it seems it would depend on the one pullin the trigger.theres some big elk here in orygun and they always fill their tags.thats like saying my 30-06 is too small for coastal elk,acording to the yuppies on cabelas site they say nothing under a 338.i throwing the [beeep] flag on this.if you dont trust your ability then get a bigger rifle,there is no set caliber for hunting.it seems to depend on what everyone on the internet agrees on,BS.
Location does play a part. Friend of mine dropped a nice mountain mulie buck, fit between the ATV and bed of my truck. A couple days later I drop a plains does. He callsbs when I tell him the doe, which is average size for the area is twice his Buck. Until he sees it. The next year we pass on the mountains hunt and drop a bunch of meat each.
Other side, kills me when people say you need at minimum a 300 mag to drop a Texas deer, that look like a large dog. About the same size as our antelope, which I'm fairly confident I can drop with bad language.
The 25, which I like, with PREMIUM bullets, close range and a good shooter... ok. Personally the 270 range is a min for elk size game.
Location does play a part. Friend of mine dropped a nice mountain mulie buck, fit between the ATV and bed of my truck. A couple days later I drop a plains does. He callsbs when I tell him the doe, which is average size for the area is twice his Buck. Until he sees it. The next year we pass on the mountains hunt and drop a bunch of meat each.
Other side, kills me when people say you need at minimum a 300 mag to drop a Texas deer, that look like a large dog. About the same size as our antelope, which I'm fairly confident I can drop with bad language.
The 25, which I like, with PREMIUM bullets, close range and a good shooter... ok. Personally the 270 range is a min for elk size game.