Thinking of a 25-06

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Lange

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Hello all,

I am currently deciding on a possible new gun I have a .223 700 VTR already and thinking of another rifle. Thinking a 25-06 might be a nice combo cartridge. I don't really have anything in the lighter category as a hunting rifle for big game and my .308 is more of a target gun. With the expense of guns I really like to get something that has multiple uses, affordable economical and to shoot. Not the guy to spend good coin on a gun and not really use it.

It seems 25-06 still has factory ammo under 1$ a round with PPU and such. Figure that can get me started. I do plan to reload hopefully not too long but don't yet. I know 25-06 isn't available in the sense as .270 win another great caliber but 25-06 seems to be a better choice for a combo varminter.

I plan also to do some target shooting and plinking with it though nothing extreme precision or such. I know 25-06 isn't really a round for that. I live out west where I'd mainly hunt antelope and mule deer.

Varmint wise is it good in the wind and such? Be good for a nice alternate to .223?

Rifle I'm considering is a 700 CDL I think combines weight with ballistics and performance well plus just being a really nice looking gun. Be good to pack around then shoot off the bench some I'd say.

Thanks all
 
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The 25-06 is a great caliber. My daughter has a CDL and loves it. She picked the caliber after shooting my BDL. A good 115-117 grain bullet is where the 25-06 shines. Reloaders can choose from 75-120 grain bullets. We shoot a lot of 85 grain Nosler bullets, (3550 fps) for deer, coyote, and hogs. I mostly shoot the 115 grain Berger (3100 fps) and 117 Sierra spbt for long range playing. I took a antelope at 212 yards with the 115 Berger with good results. Exited with a quarter sized hole, he went maybe 30 yards, and was dead on his feet, and went down. My 40X shoots tiny groups at 100, and can hang with most long range calibers until you get out past 600. If the wind isn't too switchy, I have no problem taking it out to 1000. Bugs the crap out of the 338 and 300 men when a 25-06 out shoots them.
 
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My sendero in 25-06 is my favorite and my go to. I don't load but luckily it loves the 117's. Had two others in 700 bdl and ruger varmint, wish I still had them both. Luckily a friend has the bdl, working on getting it back.
 
The .25-06 was developed as a varmint cartridge, but its too much of a good thing... too much recoil and muzzle blast and expense for high round counts when compared to the .22s. If you're a pelt hunter you won't like it as you can cut a coyote in half, but on the flip side you can really reach out and touch them. It's probably about perfect for antelope. I no longer use mine for deer as I don't get exit wounds. I've never lost one, but I like a good blood trail. I've never tried the copper solids in it, however.
 
I pondered on a 25-06 after reading a lot of good things about it. Finally came across one on sale and it has become my favorite caliber. The first time out with that rifle I got a coyote so the love affair began. It flat knocks the crap out of coyotes. We use 75, 85 and 100 grain bullets (all hand loads). The 100 grain Nosler Ballistic tips leaves a mark on them but man it lays them out flat!

The CDL would be a great choice. If you do much varmint shooting you will want a heavier barrel but even it will heat up pretty quick. The Ruger M77 Mark II has a magnum contour barrel which is a good compromise.

I say go for it and have fun. Save your brass and start reloading. Its easy to reload for, you can also use 30-06 and 270 brass to resize and load.
 
Since your from Wyoming, a 25-06 would be just the thing for long distance shooting. It shines over the 243 in that it will handle the fine 115 to 120 grain slugs for deer or antelope, and yet the lighter slugs do a great job on varmints. The 270 is the same case, but uses heavier slugs which usually preclude it from varmints. The 25-06 also loses very little to the 257 Weatherby, but is a whole lot cheaper to shoot and easier to find brass.

If you were further east, I'd also recommend a 257 Roberts. It doesn't throw slugs as fast, but it is an excellent round with less recoil. Great for tight wood lots.
 
I have shot a 25-06 for close to 20 years now. I like it a lot, but I have never felt that the velocity was worth a long action.

To me, the 243 will do close enough to the same thing that if I had to pick it would be the 243 or similar.
 
I say just do it and don't look back. I've had 3 of them and killed everything from ground squirrels to elk with them and they worked just fine.
 
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I don't have a 06 but I have been thinking about one for a few years, not many of them around in my neck of the woods, I don't have a 257 Roberts and a 250-3000 and I can tell you the quarter bores are great, have used them quite a bit over the years.
 
I have a sender in 25-06 and love the gun and it will be one of my last guns to go. My brother keeps pestering me to sell it to him or let him have it to shoot. I keep telling him it is just fine in the safe for now. Just pull the trigger and get one.
 
Originally Posted By: Tom in WII no longer use mine for deer as I don't get exit wounds. I've never lost one, but I like a good blood trail. I've never tried the copper solids in it, however.

Try Barnes 100 gr. TTSX bullets. It makes a mess right through deer, even on marginal hits. I have a Tikka M-695, in 25-06 Rem., launching 100 gr. TTSX bullets at WI whitetails. The last one, I made a mess of. Range started at 180 yards. Just as I pressed the shot, it launched after a hot doe. "GUT SHOT"... I got one follow up, at a severe angle down from my ridge top box blind. Good placement right to left, but low due to severe down angle shot. Took out front shoulder low, and rib bone fragments took out one lung. I had a few hundred yard track, but recovered the buck. I am convinced the high energy damage of the .25 cal. Barnes bullet, out of the 25-06, helped me recover this buck.



Oh OP, get the 25-06 Rem, great cartridge for deer and predators, unless you collect fur....It is NOT fur friendly.

Squeeze
 
Every goat and deer I've taken in the last several years has been with the 25, last few years nothing but the ttsx bullet. I decided the heavier recoil of my other rifles wasn't needed for the smaller animals. The 25 is a sweetheart to shoot, the ttsx drops animals faster than any other bullet I've used, and that's been a new 'premium' bullet every season.

I don't know about smaller critters but I've had 25 caliber entry and 25 caliber exits on every animal. In between the 2, wow.
 
Originally Posted By: ninehorsesThe 25-06 is a great caliber. My daughter has a CDL and loves it. She picked the caliber after shooting my BDL. A good 115-117 grain bullet is where the 25-06 shines. Reloaders can choose from 75-120 grain bullets. We shoot a lot of 85 grain Nosler bullets, (3550 fps) for deer, coyote, and hogs. I mostly shoot the 115 grain Berger (3100 fps) and 117 Sierra spbt for long range playing. I took a antelope at 212 yards with the 115 Berger with good results. Exited with a quarter sized hole, he went maybe 30 yards, and was dead on his feet, and went down. My 40X shoots tiny groups at 100, and can hang with most long range calibers until you get out past 600. If the wind isn't too switchy, I have no problem taking it out to 1000. Bugs the crap out of the 338 and 300 men when a 25-06 out shoots them.

Great info thanks. Thats interesting the type of long range shooting you do with your .25, a lot of people say that its not a good caliber for that etc... Maybe its just all the crazed 6.5 fans and such being downers haha your honestly first person i've heard shooting a 25-06 like that sounds awsome. Def helps with my question of target shooting in different applications with it Rec shooting etc...

Originally Posted By: Tom in WIThe .25-06 was developed as a varmint cartridge, but its too much of a good thing... too much recoil and muzzle blast and expense for high round counts when compared to the .22s. If you're a pelt hunter you won't like it as you can cut a coyote in half, but on the flip side you can really reach out and touch them. It's probably about perfect for antelope. I no longer use mine for deer as I don't get exit wounds. I've never lost one, but I like a good blood trail. I've never tried the copper solids in it, however.

I likely wont be using it for any high volume Varmint shooting, just maybe a little to moderate amount on the side to my .223 to experiment with and such as a alternative. Yeah i've also read that its real flat shooting one of the flattest baring magnums seems like a real great deal in that respect. One thing i've read is it flies like a 22-250 which sounds awsome with a much larger case and a larger bullet! Thanks for the information

Originally Posted By: BOWLSEYEI pondered on a 25-06 after reading a lot of good things about it. Finally came across one on sale and it has become my favorite caliber. The first time out with that rifle I got a coyote so the love affair began. It flat knocks the crap out of coyotes. We use 75, 85 and 100 grain bullets (all hand loads). The 100 grain Nosler Ballistic tips leaves a mark on them but man it lays them out flat!

The CDL would be a great choice. If you do much varmint shooting you will want a heavier barrel but even it will heat up pretty quick. The Ruger M77 Mark II has a magnum contour barrel which is a good compromise.

I say go for it and have fun. Save your brass and start reloading. Its easy to reload for, you can also use 30-06 and 270 brass to resize and load.

Nice sounds like we have been in a similar boat. Ruger seems like been a great 25-06 for a lot of folks however seems they've been discontinued in a new rifle now. I love my 700's but I always like to consider different guns and such weigh gun vs gun instead of just a make...

I have considered the 700 LR which is similar to what your describing and its cheaper than the CDL but weighs more and I don't think I need the heavy barrel compared to a sporter for my purposes. Plus i'm thinking of a collectors keeper in this chambering to last a long time maybe hand down and the CDL seems to fit that...Just watch my rounds let it cool should be okay..

Thanks alot for the info and suggestion.

Originally Posted By: bigdog2
Since your from Wyoming, a 25-06 would be just the thing for long distance shooting. It shines over the 243 in that it will handle the fine 115 to 120 grain slugs for deer or antelope, and yet the lighter slugs do a great job on varmints. The 270 is the same case, but uses heavier slugs which usually preclude it from varmints. The 25-06 also loses very little to the 257 Weatherby, but is a whole lot cheaper to shoot and easier to find brass.

If you were further east, I'd also recommend a 257 Roberts. It doesn't throw slugs as fast, but it is an excellent round with less recoil. Great for tight wood lots.


Gotcha i've studied the .257 WBY as well and while a awsome caliber not likely worth it to me. I like to shoot stuff a decent amount im not a once a year warrior so something reasonable in cost and material to shoot does matter. Not that I have to have a .223 like caliber in conservation that way but finding a good balance...

Appreciate the info thats good stuff.

Also to the last two posters thats some interesting experiences there...seems like its a great deer killer!

I'll post back if I get it. Thanks!
 
Quote:Rifle I'm considering is a 700 CDL I think combines weight with ballistics and performance well plus just being a really nice looking gun. Be good to pack around then shoot off the bench some I'd say.


I got a 25-06 in CDL about 3 years ago. I love it. Took two pronghorn in Wyoming and a coyote triple the next day. The longest pronghorn was 350 and the 3 coyotes were 200.

Killed several deer, coyotes and hogs with it since. I am shooting hand loads using the 100 grain speer btsp. I have been getting pass thrus andI have not had anything run more than 20 yards.
 
The CDL is an excellent choice. You wouldn't need to look any further than that. Some will disagree but I prefer the 24" barrels on the 25-06. Since becoming a 25-06 loony I've worked with 22", 24" & 26" length barrels and for me the fit and all around balance of the CDL is perfect. We've been working with a Stainless Tikka 25-06 for a light carry rifle and finally got it dialed in and just took a couple of coyotes with it. Looking to lighten it up some more with a fixed 6x scope now that I have the load figured out. Running 75 grains through it. The CDL seems to like 100 & 85 grain Nosler BTs.
 
Originally Posted By: Yellowhammer Quote:Rifle I'm considering is a 700 CDL I think combines weight with ballistics and performance well plus just being a really nice looking gun. Be good to pack around then shoot off the bench some I'd say.


I got a 25-06 in CDL about 3 years ago. I love it. Took two pronghorn in Wyoming and a coyote triple the next day. The longest pronghorn was 350 and the 3 coyotes were 200.

Killed several deer, coyotes and hogs with it since. I am shooting hand loads using the 100 grain speer btsp. I have been getting pass thrus andI have not had anything run more than 20 yards.

Nice thanks for sharing! Sounds like a real good deal then. Is it accurate and a good shooter? Also yay your experience was in Wyoming haha that's great to know!

Originally Posted By: BOWLSEYE
The CDL is an excellent choice. You wouldn't need to look any further than that. Some will disagree but I prefer the 24" barrels on the 25-06. Since becoming a 25-06 loony I've worked with 22", 24" & 26" length barrels and for me the fit and all around balance of the CDL is perfect. We've been working with a Stainless Tikka 25-06 for a light carry rifle and finally got it dialed in and just took a couple of coyotes with it. Looking to lighten it up some more with a fixed 6x scope now that I have the load figured out. Running 75 grains through it. The CDL seems to like 100 & 85 grain Nosler BTs.


I've been curious about barrel length in 25-06 myself. Your information helps with that. I've heard 26 gains a little but is not a deal breaker. 22" is a significant loss which I perfer to get barrel lengths with good ballistics and most of the full performance of the cartridge. Hiwever, doesn't have to be every tiny bit to sacrifice weight and having a heavy bulky gun so the 24" seems spot on in that regard. I have a heavier target type gun already so I'm looking for a lighter handling gun lol but still have most of the potential of ballistics. I'll keep the Noslers in mind they seem like they make great bullets, and a top consideration in .25 cal I'll probably get a Nosler handload book at some point.

Hope the Tikka works out they are a great rifle too. I'm excited waiting on selling one of my guns then I can order one. I'm pretty much set now. Can't wait to begin hand loading for it as well down the road but few boxes of PPU should get me started to sight in and build a little brass. Thanks again!!

Thanks all!
 
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My 25-06 dropped 100 fps going from 26" down to 22" with 57 grains of RL22. I like the way the rifle handles and carries much better now. But I would prolly only have gone down to 24" if I had it to do over.
 
Mine is a 24 inch barrel.

These were from the Wyoming trip.

wyomingtriple_zpsb5351e10.jpg


mypronghornbuck_zps4438b55e.jpg


This was the first group after getting sighted in. This is out of the box accuracy. Nothing has been done to it.

2506groupdime_zps7lungptr.jpg
 
Big .25-06 fan here, have been for 38 years, it's a great cartridge. My rifle is a 700 VS in .25-06 that I bought new in 1978. I've owned it for so long now that I had to replace the barrel 5 years ago. It is a spectacular hard hitting varmint cartridge that works well for varmint to deer. I haven't shot elk with mine but I have no doubt it will put an elk down with no problem. Maybe some day I'll have a chance to go Elk hunting with this rifle.

The cartridge shoots 75 gr to 120 gr bullets. I've used them all for various hunting. For groundhog hunting it's hard to beat the 75 gr to 90 gr bullets. I tried the 75 gr for 2 years but gave them up for the 85 to 90 gr as the 75 gr just seemed to run out of steam past 300 yards. With the 85 to 90 bullets if I could see a groundhog it was in mortal danger.

The 100 gr is a good all around bullet. It works for varmint and deer, I've shot a lot of the Nosler 100 gr BT bullets. Over the years I took a good number of deer with this rifle and bullet.

I even took the rifle Black Bear hunting in Canada. Used a 120 gr Nosler Partition for this.

I prefer a 24" barrel, it just seems to handle a little better than a 26". At 22" it seems to give up more velocity then I would like to lose.
 


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