Originally Posted By: BuckeyeSpecialjoed:
Its good you retrieved your 700. My Ruger 25/06 was my first centerfire rifle.
No argument there from me; the 700 has tons of fans, smiths, and parts. I also shoot a custom rem. Mod 7 in 22/250 with a Douglas barrel and it is a LOT of rifle.
I hang on to all my guns purchased as new, they have been with me through thick and thin, and a new barrel keeps em' at home.
Yes, I'm glad I kept that 700, it was my first centerfire rifle too. When I bought it new there were a lot of caliber choices, the .25-06 was the only long action available. I think it was sold more for silhouette shooting which was popular at the time. A few years later they only offered the 06 in sporter weight barreled rifles. You just don't see a anyone offering the cartridge in a heavy barrel configuration anymore.
I bought mine because at the time a group of us started varmint hunting. One friend had the same rifle. When he told me about it I kind of pictured a .25 caliber cartridge similar to a .22 rf. Once he showed me the rifle and I opened the bolt I was in awe of how big the cartridge must have been.
The .25-06 was a great choice for varmint hunting. I never saw anything shoot as far as it did and hit with that amount of energy. I've used it for deer hunting and even took it on a bear hunt in Canada. But I really use it for varmint hunting.
I believe you're right about guns purchased new. I have 2 others bought new that I wouldn't part with. One is a Winchester 70 Stealth in .308, one of the most accurate I've ever owned out of the box. The second is another 700, an SPS VS Stainless in .22-250. Don't think I could part with any of them.
If I could keep only one it would be my first, the .25-06.