.25-06 /or/ .308 ????? Got a decision to make.

Hidalgo

Hidalgo

Well-known member
Help me out here guys............

The local shop has two slightly used Ruger Target Grey rifles for sale that they took in on trade for "lighter" rifles. (It amazes me as to why folks buy heavy barreled varmint rifles to use as a carry gun in East Tennessee. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif) I'm going to buy one of them. (wish I could afford them both) One is a .308, the other is a .25-06. I have ZERO knowledge of reloading these calibers and any problems there, and have no experience with the .25-06. I own a .308, but it hasn't been out of the safe in 5-6 years. (It was Dad's rifle, and that's the main reason it is just sitting there)

It definitely WON'T:
Deer hunt
Elk hunt

It definitely MIGHT:
Antelope hunt
Use it on a PD shoot
Coyote/Cougar/Bobcat hunt

Given the use that this rifle "might" see, which rifle would you guys who have experience in these calibers suggest? Pros & cons that you have found?
 
Quote:
Help me out here guys............

It definitely MIGHT:
Antelope hunt
Use it on a PD shoot
Coyote/Cougar/Bobcat hunt

Given the use that this rifle "might" see, which rifle would you guys who have experience in these calibers suggest? Pros & cons that you have found?



Either one although will work, would not be preferable for an extended session prairie dog shoot. It would just be uncomfortable as well as heat too quickly shooting over say 50 rounds in 5-15 minutes....not to mention very expensive.

If you save pelts then I would again think about a smaller caliber for the Bobcats.
 
Quote:
Either one although will work, would not be preferable for an extended session prairie dog shoot. It would just be uncomfortable as well as heat too quickly shooting over say 50 rounds in 5-15 minutes....not to mention very expensive.

If you save pelts then I would again think about a smaller caliber for the Bobcats.



Sorry I should have been more clear (ain't had enough coffee yet this morning /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif)..........

PD shooting would be just sporadic use on the "way out there" shots. I'd never consider it for an all-day-long caliber.

I'm not worried at all about pelt damage. Just want 'em dead.
 
Hidalgo,

The 25-06, certainly more versatile than the 308. If you had not found a reason to take your Dad's 308 out of the safe why would you take this Ruger 308 target out of the safe after signting in and possibly working up loads.

Hoggy
 
Last edited:
The 25-06 is a long action and then .308 is a short action. 25-06 will burn mor powder but would be a better choice on antelope, IMO. The .308 is a great woods gun for the east, it can be loaded light or heavy. The recoil is very manageable and its VERY easy to load for.
 
Quote:
Hidalgo,
If you had not found a reason to take your Dad's 308 out of the safe why would you take this Ruger 308 target out of the safe after signting in and possibly working up loads.

Hoggy



Hoggy, it's just a "Dad" thing I guess. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

His Ruger is one of the lightweight rifles, has a pretty rough trigger, and honestly I just can't bring myself to carry the rifle because of it's background. I love having it here, but like I said....it's just because it was Dad's gun. Kinda silly I know, but since he passed away I just have no desire to use it. It's not the caliber, just the feelings that it brings out.
 
I would buy the 25-06. But I would buy a 25-06 7 days a week. It is my favorite caliber. For an antelope hunt, sight it 4" high at 100, be about 6" high at 200, dead on at 300, Hold to the top of the back at 400. Hard on fur, knocks the snot out of deer (mule deer incluced) fairly easy to load for. Start out with IMR-4350 around 51 grains, and work up slow. If no luck there, try IMR 4831. Some folks like the hogden version of the same powder. On the 308, since you have one, and believe me I know, it was your dads and can understand that. I'm also sorry for your loss. But........ He would want it used, not sitting in the safe, where every time you see it you think of him. Kill something, then look in the sky and thank him for guiding the bullet straight. Think of him that way, with a dead critter on the ground. I'm sure he'd want it that way instead. Buy the 25-06.
 
Is there one of them you like better, wood nicer, metal nicer? I doubt if any Antelope, PD, Coyote, Cougar or Bobcat would know the difference. Ballistics are fairly close. You know the disadvantages and advantages of a heavy bbl gun so your not in the dark as to why they were traded in.

I have a Rem 700 VLS 243 heavy barrel varmiter that ends up mostly a safe queen simply because at 11 pounds it's to heavy to pack in the woods. Ah if I was to do it over again. I'd bet you'd be happy with either one of them. Better yet take one home and put the other on lay-a-way then you get both.
 
I have both calibers and the 25-06 is absolutely the way to go hands down, no question. Since you already have a 308 that should be an easy decision. Reloading is easy and there is usually a good selection of bullets or ammo available at most sports stores.
 
I have both calibers as well. I have several different .25-06's, but custom and factory. The .25-06 would be my first choice BY FAR. Very versatile for the cross-over between big-game/varmint/predator.
 
I would have to say that I would choose the 25-06 but the more I think about it.

I understand the thing about your "Dads rifle" so for sake of argument I would choose the 308.

A 308 is about like a 22lr. everyone has to have at least one.

The other thing is the 308 will probably be more accurate with factory rounds, for that just in case situation or that lack of wanting to reload at the time.


Hope this helps ya, oh and good luck!

kapac
 
I would choose the 308, one: don't own one but have dies, brass and bullets on hand (I think I have a problem). two: Very versatile, light thru heavy bullets available, I already load for 30 cal. three: Factory choices are great. Four: carries more energy at distance, not really an issue for your described uses.
 
Well, the store was open today (getting close to Christmas /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif) and I went up there to have another look.

I bought the .25-06. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

When I was paying for the rifle I told the owner that I was torn between the two rifles, and he (of course) said that I should buy them both. I (of course) told him that the wife would notice such a gaping hole in our checking account. Then he said, "Tell you what, you're such a nice guy and a great customer, and I really want to get that .308 out of the store, I'll let you put it on lay-a-way for $25 down, and you can pay for it any way you want to....I don't care if it takes 6 months." /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif

WELL..........you guys KNOW what I did then......... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif
 
LOL! That guy's good! I think you will really like the .25-06. There is little you can't do with that caliber on the North American continent.
 
Hidalgo,

Now you have two 308's that won't leave the gun safe. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

Hoggy
 
Last edited:
Quote:
Hidalgo,

Now you have two 308's that won't leave the gun safe. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif





Ha Ha that's for sure, once you get the 25 up and runnin' you'll forget you put the other one on lay a way.
Don't get me wrong, I like the 308 but the 25 smokes it for getting out there fast and furious. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
Quote:
Quote:
Hidalgo,

Now you have two 308's that won't leave the gun safe. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif





Ha Ha that's for sure, once you get the 25 up and runnin' you'll forget you put the other one on lay a way.
Don't get me wrong, I like the 308 but the 25 smokes it for getting out there fast and furious. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif



DITTO

I have them both, and I use them for totally different
situations. The 308 Win is an outstanding brush country
deer rifle, and the 25-06 Rem is my long distance something
is going to die rifle...With extreme prejudice I might add.
If I didn't do 10-200 yard brush country whitetail hunting,
the 308's would be gathering dust.

Last winter for ballistic "penetration" testing, I loaded
up some 85 gr. NBTs, for the 25-06 Rem, and went to work
exterminating a herd of rabbits, living under a brush
pile in my meadow. They were killing my shrubs! Anyway,
pretty much if the bullet got anywhere near the rabbit,
red mist was in the snow. One lost it's head, and one
was cut completely in two(Pulled that shot /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif) The
penetration test was a total failure...These silly bullet
just explode on contact/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif To continue the "excessive
damage" testing, /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif a feral cat moved in to feed on the
carcasses. He heard me cranking open the dining room
window, for the shot, and ran off about 100 yards, and
looked back. Yup, Curiosity, and a 85 gr. bullet, killed
the cat...It was a going away shot, with the body
lengthwise. A major portion of ol'Tom was painted on the trees. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

I love my 25-06 Rem. And Hidalgo, you would appreciate this
particular 25-06 Rem. It is a Stainless/Laminate Tikka
M695, wearing a Nikon Monarch. She is very pretty, and
very deadly accurate.

Glad to hear you were able to secure both of these rifles,
but I am skeptical that the 308 Win will see much use.

Squeeze
 
Back
Top