25-06 or 7mm-08

[Buckskin]

 Now I realize that this topic falls into two different forum categories, so I will ask it in both small and medium bore.  I'm pretty much set on buying a rifle of either 25-06 or 7mm-08, but can't decide on which to go for.  And realize that I probably can't go wrong here, but would like some input from others on the two.  I primarily want it as a low recoil deer gun for when my son starts hunting in a coulple years, and also for me for shooting paper at medium to long range (300-800yds or so).  I have a 7mm-08 Encore pistol barrel so I'm alrealy set up for reloading that caliber, which leans me a little.  Then of course I need to decide on the rifle maker.  Leaning toward a Rem 700, but also looking at the new Savage with the Accutrigger, and a Tikka T3.  Any input would be appreciated.

[Lloyd Smale]

both great calibers. To me it would come down to what you want in a rifle. If a 24 inch barrel and a long action isnt a hinderance where you hunt personaly id take the 2506. They just put a smack on deer like nothing short of a magnum will and shoot flatter then the 708. Where the 708 really shines is in light guns with 18-20 inch barrels. Still flat enough shooting for 300 yards shots and in a real handy package.

[nomosendero]

Buckskin, I deleted the other thread in medium bores, in an overlap situation like this it doesn't matter which you choose, but go with one so that all folks are on the same page as we say.

I agree with all that Lloyd said about the 25-06. It is a wonderful choice for Deer & low recoil.
And I agree also that the tube length should start at 24", so again with the long action it would be a longer gun. For Deer, Antelope, long range windy day Varmits & occasional targets it is hard to beat. And it's flatter trajectory at typical Deer hunting ranges is nice for a young hunter especially.

For a pure Deer cartridge the 7-08 is as good as it gets. And like Lloyd said, it can be very effective with a short carbine length setup as the cartridge is very efficient. But to me a
260/7-08/308 rifle can be setup 2 totally different ways to accomplish the 2 uses you mentioned.
For Deer hunting for a young hunter unless he is big for his age a short/light rifle is a plus, or if
you setup a rifle for targets a stiffer tube and a little heavier barrel is a plus. You can with care strike a balance. 
The 7-08 is a good target round at the ranges you mentioned. It is also a good "volume" round
with a good deal longer life than a 25-06.

They both have their advantages, I would seriously look at how much target shooting you will do. as this is a game changer on the rifle set-up.

[shot1]

For paper punching I would choose the 7-08 because there are many more match bullets in 7mm than .257.

For deer it would be the 25-06 hands down. Yes they need at least a 24" barrel and 26" is better. I have lost count at how many deer I have killed in my life time. I helped do control hunting on a big farm for 15 years were we had to take 100 a year. I have killed deer with most calibers from 22lr through 45-70 and I choose the 25-06 over them all. It just drops them in their tracks 99.9% of the time and if it doesn't they don't go far.

For a rifle I would choose the Savage. Here is something to ponder if you get a savage. You can have the best of both worlds. Get the long action 25-06 rifle to start with. Then get you a barrel of your choice of maker in any caliber you want, a barrel vice, wrench and head space gauges. You can change barrels in about 15 minutes.

[charles p]

The long barrel-short barrel analysis is exactly right.  I own both rifles and that is the reason I pick either for a hunting situation.

I've taken ten deer with my 7mm-08 and 65 with my 25-06.  Both are excellent.  I can't coment on the extremely long range capabilities since I have rarely taken a shot beyond 300 yards (but I have done it successfully with both bullet diameters).  If you wish to shoot beyond 250 yds with the 25-06, I suggest the 117-120 grain bullets.  For the 7mm-08 go with the 140 gr bullets.

I suggest you decide if you want a long range 300-800 yard target rifle or a deer rifle.  You are sending us a mixed message since both solutions are not always satisfied with the same choice. 

[Swampman]

.25-06 for sure.

[351 power]

yes two very different uses. good cartridges both. encore options may help you. longer barrels one of each. might find them used  and have both for one's cost. long range bull barrel i'm not sure, would 800 be too far?

[Buckskin]

Well, since I have 2 boys and a girl who will be hunting in the next several years, my hunch is that eventually I will get both.  Kind of leaning toward the 7-08 since I'm already set up with everything for reloading...

[gr8ful]

My son is 15 and has been shooting a 25-06 since he was 10, I tried him on a 7-08 and a 260, but he liked the 25-06 best, every year he has managed to take his deer always with one shot and none have gone more than 30 yards. 

[Deerhunter#1]

I had the same thought in mind last year and went with the 708. Living in pa my shots at deer are always under 200 yards and like the idea of pushing the bigger bullet but still with little recoil. I know the 708 with 140 and 2506 with 117 grain bullets are suppose to have the same amount of felt recoil but the 06 is sitting on a big case. So far I am happy with my choice. I have never shot an 06 so maybe someone who has both can shed some lite on the difference in recoil for the two.   

[Freezer]

  Buckskin you need more rifes. Unless your childern are large I don't think the same gun will fit you and them.  The 25-06 is a great cartridge but should have a long barrel (24-26 inches) to take advantage of is capability. It will also be heavy and not a lot of fun to lug around. The 7-08 would be a more versitle. Stock legnth is very important, if the gun doesn't fit the child won't shoot it well and it will have more felt recoil.  Have you considered a NEF Handi Rifle? A lot of different calibers and barrels fit the same frame including  shotgun. For the price each child can have thier own and and you can afford to adjust the or replace stock.

[Buckskin]

Freezer, I like your first statement "Buckskin you need more rifles"!!! I couldn't agree more!

I've decided that I'm going to go with a Remington 700, you can pick up youth stocks for about $25 on Ebay or Gun Broker for the 700's.  And am leaning toward the 7-08 for this one.  Since they are so close in balistics and you can get by with a shorter barrel it makes sense.

[nomosendero]

Freezer, I like your first statement "Buckskin you need more rifles"!!! I couldn't agree more!

I've decided that I'm going to go with a Remington 700, you can pick up youth stocks for about $25 on Ebay or Gun Broker for the 700's.  And am leaning toward the 7-08 for this one.  Since they are so close in balistics and you can get by with a shorter barrel it makes sense.

Then in that case good liuck & let us know how things go. Neither way would have been wrong.
Thanks for sharing.

[Lloyd Smale]

just keep in mind that short barrels and youth stocks make for a light gun and the 7o8 in a light gun is going to have a bit of recoil. More then what a 2506 will have in a full sized gun. If you dont handload you might consider looking to see if they make the factory lighter loads for it till the kid gets used to it.

Freezer, I like your first statement "Buckskin you need more rifles"!!! I couldn't agree more!

I've decided that I'm going to go with a Remington 700, you can pick up youth stocks for about $25 on Ebay or Gun Broker for the 700's.  And am leaning toward the 7-08 for this one.  Since they are so close in balistics and you can get by with a shorter barrel it makes sense.

[Buckskin]

I do handload, so that's not a problem to reduce the load, or drop down the weight of the bullet. And I haven't bought the darn thing yet, so there's always a possiblity of going the other route when I'm at the store.

I've been know to do that when buying guns....

[Freezer]

There's always the Rem Model 7. Short action, light and it comes in 7-08

[scootrd]

There's always the Rem Model 7. Short action, light and it comes in 7-08

+1 tack Driver

[samh]

I have a Tikka T3 and a T/C Pro Hunter, both in 25/06. They are my deer rifles. I've hunted with everything from a 300WM to a .223 in my 56 years and I've used nothing but the 25/06 for the past 5 years for deer. That said I'm sold on the 7mm08. Got several fiends with them and the 7mm08 is as good as it get's for deer hunting. But with all I've said, if I didn't have a deer rifle and went looking for one, I'd look long and hard at the .260. It's almost like you bred a 25/06 and a 7mm08 and got a .260 as a result. Short action and great bullets with high ballistic coefficient.

[Buckskin]

I ended up going with the 7mm-08 in a Remington Mountain SS and couldn't be happier, put an Elite 4200 4-16x40 on her.  Well inside 1 moa with the first batch of ammo I loaded for the gun with 139gr SST's.  I have a ladder test ready to go with 140gr Accubonds as soon as a nice calm day rolls around.

[yooper77]

Buckskin,

Perfect choice with the 7mm-08 Remington over the 25-06 Remington.

I have a Weatherby Mark V Sporter in 7mm-08 Remington and handload it using only 308 Winchester brass with excellent accuracy and zero issues.

yooper77

[s.w.ecology]

I have both. If recoil is an issue go with the 7mm-08. I think it is softer than the 25-06.  But both will do the job. If your son has a smaller frame, like a lot of boys that age then the 7mm-08 will fit him and treat him better. If all thing are equal though, and he is already gotten some growth then the 25-06 might be a benefit for it's versatility in hand loads.

My $.02 worth. Good luck.

[s.w.ecology]

Sorry I didn't see that you had already decided.  Have fun with it!