Thoughts on .25-06?
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Outlawkyote
New member
I never cared for the 243 very much but I love my 2506's. Most will argue that there isnt much difference between them but my experience has proven different. The 2506 is the "big boy" in the varmint lineup
Urimaginaryfrnd
New member
I had a 25-06 for a while and it only liked the lighter weight bullets so I got rid of it. I have always had really good luck reloading .308 and not as good luck loading 30-06. One that I have been wanting to buy is the 7mm08 which if you hand load really has a lot of options and is a very nice caliber. I will say that I bought a Tikka T3 stainless composite recently and boy is it a nice shooting rifle. I would rather have a 25-06 than a .243 but I'd rather have a 7mm08 than either of those. Check out the balistics on each before you decide.
TNcrittergitter
New member
the 7mm08 is a 7 mm bullet (.284) loaded in a .308 case that has been necked down. I have a Savage in m14 classic, and it is by far one of my favorite guns to shoot. not too particular about what you feed it, and seems to like that little orange dot I put on the paper quite well.
My 2506 is a bit more finicky when it comes to loading. I have yet to find the sweet spot for it, granted it's only been to the range a few times and I haven't dedicated a whole lot of time to load development yet. It has shown some potential, but the 7-08 seemed to like many of the combinations I fed it.
the advantage in my opinion to the 7-08 is the ability to load some heavier bullets for larger game, and load down for some smaller stuff. with the 25-06 you are a bit limited on the upper end of bullet weights.
My 2506 is a bit more finicky when it comes to loading. I have yet to find the sweet spot for it, granted it's only been to the range a few times and I haven't dedicated a whole lot of time to load development yet. It has shown some potential, but the 7-08 seemed to like many of the combinations I fed it.
the advantage in my opinion to the 7-08 is the ability to load some heavier bullets for larger game, and load down for some smaller stuff. with the 25-06 you are a bit limited on the upper end of bullet weights.
firstcoueswas80
New member
I had a 25-06 that I loaded 75 Vmax for. It worked well and I kille a couple of dogs. I sold the gun and kind of regret it, as it was a good rifle.
It will kill the snot out of coyotes. IF you happen to get a cat or fox in, chances are it is going to be nasty!
It will kill the snot out of coyotes. IF you happen to get a cat or fox in, chances are it is going to be nasty!
sebastian slim
New member
Stomper,
What caliber rifles do you have now?
Do you reload?
I've also been thinking about getting a .25/06. I currently have a .270 Tikka T3 Lite. It's nice for deer hunting, but kicks pretty hard at the range. I don't reload.
I don't know if the .25/06 is to close to what have. Or if I should drop to a .243 or .223, for target shooting?
What caliber rifles do you have now?
Do you reload?
I've also been thinking about getting a .25/06. I currently have a .270 Tikka T3 Lite. It's nice for deer hunting, but kicks pretty hard at the range. I don't reload.
I don't know if the .25/06 is to close to what have. Or if I should drop to a .243 or .223, for target shooting?
Last edited:
champ198
Active member
I have a Rem 700 ADL in 25-06 and i love the gun...still workin on findin the pet load for it but factory ammo it loves everything i have fed it...around a 3/4 group almost all the time at 100 and if i do my part it will cut holes at 100.......i killed a deer with it this year with some 120gr Fusions and it put a massive hurt on the deer was really impressed with the gun and the caliber so far...workin on some 75gr Vmaxs with it now jsut have to get soem decent weather so i can go shoot
Squeeze
New member
The 25-06 is a much better big game rifle than the 243 Win.
It is a great long range rifle for medium game, and predators.
There have been some improvements in the bullet selection.
For game, I prefer the 100 gr. Barnes TSX. It hits like the
Hammer of Thor, and has great weight retention. For predators,
the 85 gr. Nosler BT is just plain violent. The reads NOT
FUR friendly. But if one wants to dispatch predators, and
varmints, with extreme prejudice, this is your bullet.
The negatives of the 25-06 Rem. versus the 243 Win, is it
is a long action round, so that means a heavier rifle in
some cases, and due to barrel heating, this is not a colony
varmint rifle. The 243 Win, would be a better choice for
high round count shooting.
I have a friend that wanted a new "deer" rifle. I steered
him towards a Tikka, in 25-06 Rem. He was a 30-06 Sprg
fan previously. He took the leap of faith, and got the
Tikka, in 25-06. The first three deer he shot were
BANG flops. He was impressed. He hunts a small chunk of
land, so it is important for deer to drop quickly. He has
a much more confidence that this fast moving, hard hitting
25-06 will do that. For brush hunting, I have a BAR in 308
Win, but for open country shooting, my clear first choice is
the 25-06. It flies flat, and hits hard.
Squeeze
sandhillshunter
New member
The 25-06 is my single favorite deer cartridge! It's going to be hard on fur though. But with what coyotes are bring right now, who cares. You really can't go wrong with either though.
camo_deerslayer
New member
My first gun was a .243, I was 12 years old. GREAT started gun, I still have it.
My dad had a couple 25.06's, they were GREAT for everything from prarie dogs to elk!! That's the gun of choice for me!! I don't own one, but may someday... Don't rifle hunt much, other than coyotes. But, if I did I would own a 25.06...
My dad had a couple 25.06's, they were GREAT for everything from prarie dogs to elk!! That's the gun of choice for me!! I don't own one, but may someday... Don't rifle hunt much, other than coyotes. But, if I did I would own a 25.06...
I really enjoy my 25-06. I have a model 70 CRF. It shoots really good. It likes the 85 NBT and 87 Speer TNT - but the critters don't.
I wanted a short action rifle to carry in the truck and everywhere else and I really like the .257 caliber. I just ordered a 257 Roberts. I am still on the fence about the AI chambering for it but I feel this round will do everything that I need. with a 75 VMAX it should be an awesome coyote gun. I plan to move my 25-06 to a deer rifle with 100 TTSX from barnes.
I wanted a short action rifle to carry in the truck and everywhere else and I really like the .257 caliber. I just ordered a 257 Roberts. I am still on the fence about the AI chambering for it but I feel this round will do everything that I need. with a 75 VMAX it should be an awesome coyote gun. I plan to move my 25-06 to a deer rifle with 100 TTSX from barnes.
okoyote
New member
If buying a 25 06 get at least a 26 inch barrel or you might as well get a 243. I have a 25 06 t3 and can get only 3100 fps on the 110 accubond before showing pressure. It shoots very well and i have taken several deer and antelope out past 300 yards. Doing it over again I would opt for a 243 if going the tikka route. The tikka has a 23 and some inch barrel that equals big muzzle blast and weak velocity for the 25 06.
I've had my 25-06 since 1990 and it along with my 220 Swift are the 2 guns I will never sell.
For everything from Whitetail Deer to varmits, the 25-06 has few peers. You can load 75-85 grain bullets for varmits, 100 Gr. for Whitetails and 120 grainers for Mule Deer. It's hard hitting, flat shooting, and inherently accurate. My Go To load is 56.5 Gr of H-4831 under a 100gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. It gets 3300 fps and consistently groups .75 inches at 100 yards(24 in. barrel). It makes for spectacular kills.
Go with the 25-06. You will definately apprecite the versatility it offers. The 243 is a good cartridge, but a 25-06 it's not.
For everything from Whitetail Deer to varmits, the 25-06 has few peers. You can load 75-85 grain bullets for varmits, 100 Gr. for Whitetails and 120 grainers for Mule Deer. It's hard hitting, flat shooting, and inherently accurate. My Go To load is 56.5 Gr of H-4831 under a 100gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. It gets 3300 fps and consistently groups .75 inches at 100 yards(24 in. barrel). It makes for spectacular kills.
Go with the 25-06. You will definately apprecite the versatility it offers. The 243 is a good cartridge, but a 25-06 it's not.
Don Fischer
New member
Got my first 25-06 about 1972, had two since. Really like the cartridge for open country deer and antelope hunting.
Also on my third 243. Never really thought much of it for other than a preditor cartridge. With 70gr SMK and 75gr V-Max and HP bullet's it's very accurate, could shoot it all day and with the 22" barrel, handier than my 25-06's and their 24" barrel's, much better blind gun in my opinion.
On to nit-picky:
The question
"What type of gun is a 7mm08 im not familiar with the mm's".
The 7mm-08 is not a gun, it's a cartridge. I see this a lot when someone ask's, "what gun should I get"? Usually what they mean is what cartridge should I get. But the rifle itself could be very different also depending on the type of cover and terrain you'd use it in. A long action cartridge with a 24"+ barrel could be pretty awkward in a small ground blind. But the same in open country will give a similar bullet started at similar velocity a bit more velocity than if fired from a 22+ barrel. The longer barrel rifle also balance's different than a shorter barrel of similar contour.
Just a deal of mine, many people don't seem to know how to ask what it is they really want to know. There are cartridge's and there are rifles. Gun's, include a whole new deal, black powder, long guns, hand guns, ect.
Also on my third 243. Never really thought much of it for other than a preditor cartridge. With 70gr SMK and 75gr V-Max and HP bullet's it's very accurate, could shoot it all day and with the 22" barrel, handier than my 25-06's and their 24" barrel's, much better blind gun in my opinion.
On to nit-picky:
The question
"What type of gun is a 7mm08 im not familiar with the mm's".
The 7mm-08 is not a gun, it's a cartridge. I see this a lot when someone ask's, "what gun should I get"? Usually what they mean is what cartridge should I get. But the rifle itself could be very different also depending on the type of cover and terrain you'd use it in. A long action cartridge with a 24"+ barrel could be pretty awkward in a small ground blind. But the same in open country will give a similar bullet started at similar velocity a bit more velocity than if fired from a 22+ barrel. The longer barrel rifle also balance's different than a shorter barrel of similar contour.
Just a deal of mine, many people don't seem to know how to ask what it is they really want to know. There are cartridge's and there are rifles. Gun's, include a whole new deal, black powder, long guns, hand guns, ect.
Hey Guys,
Love the comments and education! I don't own either of the calibers discussed and perhaps had a perception that the .243 was a more "versatile" weapon than the 25-06. Up until a few years ago, I always liked the "big" caliber guns like .30 Cal, .308 and even the 30-06. But earlier this year bought my first a 22-250 and then a .223, both bolt guns. I'm learning real quick from you folks and first hand that these smaller caliber rifles seem to get the job done as well. Guess the "old school" conventional thinkin needs an update because of the newer technology in weapons, ammo and powders. I find this kinda information very useful and certainly helps spark new ideas and "expanding horizons." There is perhaps an assumption that because we own/shoot guns or share a common interest in hunting and shooting, that we all have a great deal of knowledge.
I can tell you from where I sit, not everyone has the same level of understanding or even care for details. You can read books, talk to friends or simply get on blogs like this and learn new stuff all the time. Doesn't mean I'll undertand it totally, but it certainly gives me new insight on why and how some things happen when shooting a weapon. Alot of it does, however, help me in practical application and thats what makes me happy. So keep the comments comin and you technical wizards keep helpin us lesser informed shooters.
Ya'll have a great and Happy New Year!
Love the comments and education! I don't own either of the calibers discussed and perhaps had a perception that the .243 was a more "versatile" weapon than the 25-06. Up until a few years ago, I always liked the "big" caliber guns like .30 Cal, .308 and even the 30-06. But earlier this year bought my first a 22-250 and then a .223, both bolt guns. I'm learning real quick from you folks and first hand that these smaller caliber rifles seem to get the job done as well. Guess the "old school" conventional thinkin needs an update because of the newer technology in weapons, ammo and powders. I find this kinda information very useful and certainly helps spark new ideas and "expanding horizons." There is perhaps an assumption that because we own/shoot guns or share a common interest in hunting and shooting, that we all have a great deal of knowledge.
I can tell you from where I sit, not everyone has the same level of understanding or even care for details. You can read books, talk to friends or simply get on blogs like this and learn new stuff all the time. Doesn't mean I'll undertand it totally, but it certainly gives me new insight on why and how some things happen when shooting a weapon. Alot of it does, however, help me in practical application and thats what makes me happy. So keep the comments comin and you technical wizards keep helpin us lesser informed shooters.
Ya'll have a great and Happy New Year!
quarterbored
New member
Originally Posted By: BrentWinA 25-06 will do everything that a 243 can do and MORE!
This is not entirely true. While I love the .25-06... there are a few tricks up the sleve of the .243 that cannot be matched by the .25.
First... 4000+ fps. No way in heck is the .25-06 going to run with a 55 grainer out of the .243 for small varmint work. 4000+ fps is no joke on small critters, and works very well on coyotes too.
Second... recoil. While neither will cause any serious flinching... or detached retnas... the .25-06 has about 50% more recoil than the .243 across the board.
Last... long range work. The advent of the super high BC bullets for the 6's like the 105 Amax, 115 Dtac, and 107 Berger turn the .243 into a rather formidable weapon out to 1k or more. The only bullet that can come anywhere near those in the .25 is the 115 Berger... and in my experience it takes 12-15 grains more powder to get close to what the .243 can do shooting the slick LR pills.
Now, I will agree that the .25-06 is a better deer rifle... though I've shot plenty of deer with both, and never really seen the difference. I've also shot about 75-100 coyotes with the .25-06... and pretty much every time it's dog down now.
I could shoot either at everything (up-to and including elk) for the rest of my life and I'd have no complaints.
This is not entirely true. While I love the .25-06... there are a few tricks up the sleve of the .243 that cannot be matched by the .25.
First... 4000+ fps. No way in heck is the .25-06 going to run with a 55 grainer out of the .243 for small varmint work. 4000+ fps is no joke on small critters, and works very well on coyotes too.
Second... recoil. While neither will cause any serious flinching... or detached retnas... the .25-06 has about 50% more recoil than the .243 across the board.
Last... long range work. The advent of the super high BC bullets for the 6's like the 105 Amax, 115 Dtac, and 107 Berger turn the .243 into a rather formidable weapon out to 1k or more. The only bullet that can come anywhere near those in the .25 is the 115 Berger... and in my experience it takes 12-15 grains more powder to get close to what the .243 can do shooting the slick LR pills.
Now, I will agree that the .25-06 is a better deer rifle... though I've shot plenty of deer with both, and never really seen the difference. I've also shot about 75-100 coyotes with the .25-06... and pretty much every time it's dog down now.
I could shoot either at everything (up-to and including elk) for the rest of my life and I'd have no complaints.
Quarter Round
New member
I prefer the 25-06 as a deer rifle and a good varmint rifle. As quarterbored stated the 25-06 edges out the smaller caliber for deer, although the 243 will take deer easily.
I've never found a caliber I didn't like, but just prefer some over others.
I've never found a caliber I didn't like, but just prefer some over others.