[Blue357]

The 25-06 doesn't seem to get mentioned much, but it really is a fine cartridge that is in my opinion about as good as it gets for varmints to medium size game. The round came before the 270 Win as a wild cat cartridge, and later was adopted and marketed by Remington at the time when slower burning powders became available which allowed the 25-06 to really come into it's own.

History aside this is one smoking hot round that can really reach out and touch things with minimal elevation adjustments and relatively light recoil to the shooter. If you have considered getting a magnum caliber for deer or wild boar you could do yourself a favor and go with a 25-06 instead. You will benefit from reduced recoil, lower cost rounds, and round that has the speed, weight, and sectional density to punch through even the largest deer or hog with a well constructed bullet like the Nosler Partition or Barnes TTSX.

The 25-06 is a very cool round with a rich history, and I only wish I had discovered this great cartridge sooner. I'm convinced that if you too give one a try that you will likely find yourself cheating on your 30-06, 270 Win, 308, etc. Not only have I found myself cheating on my 30-06 and 308, I've also started cheating on Remington with the Tikka T3. What a fine combination. Get one!

 

[MontyF]

I'm a long time quarterbore fan. The .25-06 is where I'm at now. I agree with all you said but wished I would have "discovered" the 6.5 sooner.

 

[broom_jm]

The 25-'06 is one of those cartridges that is great if you will only have one rifle for varmints and big game, but if you're going to have dedicated rigs for both, there are better choices available. Short action rounds, like the 243 and 22-250, are more efficient for varmints, while the bigger brothers of the 25-'06, the 270 Winchester or 280 Remington, are able to push heavier bullets with equal sectional density.

 

[alaska682]

i had a 25-06 in a H&R Ultra hunter, it was an accurate rifle but i couldn't get into quarter bore the way i can get into my 280 Rem, or my 338's...
The only quarter bore that i have now is a WW1 Walther Model 2 in 25acp.

 

[Tnhunter]

i had a 25-06 in a H&R Ultra hunter, it was an accurate rifle but i couldn't get into quarter bore the way i can get into my 280 Rem, or my 338's...
The only quarter bore that i have now is a WW1 Walther Model 2 in 25acp.

How's the weather there Bud? I remember HOT, HOT, HOT, this time of year and hated my bike ride from the hooch to the airfield. Color me a wuss, that's OK.

 

[DRC]

Big fan of the 25-06 I currently have only 1 a Ruger no1 26 inch barrel I had a Remington 700 24 inch barrel I have taken elk with it

 

[nachogrande]

1/4 bore 25-06

A great dual purpose, Jack of all trades/master of none??? It lends itself well for some applications (24-26" heavy barrels), for a short bbl/ lightweight/ tree stands/ to be carried a lot, NAH. I'll probly always have one though.

 

[Blue357]

A great dual purpose, Jack of all trades/master of none??? It lends itself well for some applications (24-26" heavy barrels), for a short bbl/ lightweight/ tree stands/ to be carried a lot, NAH. I'll probly always have one though.

I think it's about as fine a deer caliber as there is. Plenty of cartridge for deer, light recoil, and excellent ballistics. It may not give everyone a warm and fuzzy, but I don't think it can't really be argued the effectiveness on medium size game in common barrel lengths. Sure the round reaches full potential in 24-26 barrels, but the ballistics are still outstanding in a 22-23" barrel for hunting. I have other calibers and heavier rifles for long range target work, but the light and handy Tikka t3 in 25-06 has won me over for a rifle I'm going to hike out to a deer stand.

 

[tdoyka]

i had a tc venture in 25-06 and i liked it. but after sending it back to s&w three times, i got rid of it. (trigger spring wasn't long enough)

i had a hard time finding a load for it. but when i did, it shot fantastic. .3" at 100 yards(3 shots) 120gr bt with imr4350?.
3 shots did roughly 1 1/2- 2 1/2" at 100 yards using a plethroa of powders.

 

[nachogrande]

Never said it won't kill deer blue!

It is certainly a favorite caliber of mine. A "short barrel to me is 20" or less, & that won't do a 25-06 justice, plain and simple. No disrespect to a great caliber, but they all have + & -.

 

[MikeG]

"Real" hunters use a .257 Roberts, though

 

[alaska682]

How's the weather there Bud? I remember HOT, HOT, HOT, this time of year and hated my bike ride from the hooch to the airfield. Color me a wuss, that's OK.

Actually its not that bad this year, all of that "global warming" has kept the temps pretty decent here in the Sinai. Hasn't crossed 100* since April and not a whole lot in the high 90's either, humidity is pretty bad, but with it only in the high 80's its not oppressive. We've also had a couple cool days where it only got into the mid 70's, that was about a month ago.
I do believe that its going to be a pretty cool winter here.

 

[fyimo]

I have been a huge fan of the 25-06 as it was my favorite Antelope cartridge the 21 years I lived in Colorado. I also killed a few Mule Deer with that caliber also. I have two 25-06 rifles with one being a Custom Mauser and the second being an H&R model 301 Ultra rifle with a full manlicher stock.

 

[BU Bear]

I have two of the 25's. One a first-year production 700 ADL with over 3000 rounds through it and the other a pawn shop rescue that got re-barreled and put into a good stick of wood. That one has over 2000 rounds through it. Both still keep sub-MOA groups with 110 AB's.
I used the first one on my first two elk (it was the 'largest' caliber I owned at the time). Two one-shot kills, both DRT. I've taken everything from prairie dogs to elk with it. Too many whitetail to keep track of and about a dozen mule deer. As for feral hogs, it drops every one of them I've shot at. You could say I'm a believer in the 25-06.
My longest one-shot kill was over 600 yards (627 to be exact, measured and witnessed) with a 120 gr Speer on a Texas Hill country whitetail doe.
For 5 years those two rifles were my 'big' caliber guns. I took them to the range every week, usually during a lunch break, and shot 25-50 rounds. I got where I knew where they were going to print out to 500.
For a mid-sized game animal, say up to 400 lbs live weight, it's a great cartridge. Loaded with the appropriate bullet, it will drop every NA 'plains' game animal you could meet.
Are there better cartridges out there now? Sure. But, I'll take my 25-06 out more often than just about any other cartridge when it's time to put some venison in the freezer.

 

[Tnhunter]

600+ yards, hunting? Not my idea of a "hunt" but I pray your success continues for the animal's sake. All I have to say.

 

[flashhole]

25-06 fan here too. Mine is a very accurate Ruger #1V. Thought I would use it dual purpose but it really is too much for varmints. I will be toting it this upcoming deer season.

 

[HiDesertHunter]

but it really is too much for varmints.

Kinda depends on your shooting environment. Where I live (Central Oregon) 300+ yard varmint shots are common. I am a fan of the .243 Win but have always thought the 25-06 might be a better caliber for my long distance, High Desert hunting.

 

[DRC]

I always use nosler partitions usually 115 grain in the 25-06 on big game but the nosler ballistic tips on varmints I like the 100 grain. I know they are rated only for 3200 fps max but they are going about 3400 fps out of my gun perfect for a coyote

 

[Blue357]

I always use nosler partitions usually 115 grain in the 25-06 on big game but the nosler ballistic tips on varmints I like the 100 grain. I know they are rated only for 3200 fps max but they are going about 3400 fps out of my gun perfect for a coyote

I haven't had the chance to try the 115gr Partitions, but my rifle really likes the 100gr Barnes TTSX. With it being a toughly constructed bullet penetration still good in the 100gr weight. I've heard the same for the 100gr Partition.

 

[MontyF]

A vote for the 110 Accubond. Its prooved accurate in the .25-06s I've tried 'em in and does the job on what they connect with.