Author Topic: 25-06 question (Read 453 times)

qajaq59 · « **on:** May 04, 2006, 02:53:37 AM »

Many years ago I ran into a couple of guys shooting chucks out in Lancaster County PA. They were using 25-06s with some pretty impressive scopes and they were shooting at ranges that seemed absolutely ridiculous. However, I was watching with my binoculars and they certainly were hitting what they aimed at.
Lately I've been thinking about buying a 25-06 and I got to wondering if those guys were just exceptional shooters, or is a 25-06 really an excellent caliber for accurate long range shots. I'm very familiar with what a 30-06 will do with hand loads, so how would you compare the two?

huntswithdogs · « **Reply #1 on:** May 04, 2006, 04:27:06 AM »

I own a 25/06 and it just seems to shoot well. It does better at over 200 yds than my 243 with comparable bullets. It seems to shoot a lot flatter.

As for comparing it to a 30/06,well there isn't much that they share but the "06" part.

These two rifles would be the perfect pair for hunting the US.

HWD

ricciardelli · « **Reply #2 on:** May 04, 2006, 05:20:59 AM »

Once I found the right load for my .25-06 it became my primary hunting rifle for everything.

It held my personal best of a 704-yard, 1-shot kill on an antelope for many years...then my 7MM Magnum took two...one at 725 and another at 750.

.25-06, 5-shots, 200-yards

7MM, 5-shots, 200-yards

Lone Star · « **Reply #3 on:** May 04, 2006, 06:17:35 AM »

Many years ago, with the components available at that time, the .25-06 was an outstanding long range varmint cartridge. Built on accurate rifles it could deliver better than most other cartridges....but today that has changed.

Actually the .25-06 has gotten even better, but many other cartridges have caught up. For shooting at 500 yards today you can use a hot .22 centerfire or a 6mm and get almost-comparable performance for several reasons. First, modern components give flatter trajectory and more remaining velocity on-target, and second they are easier to hit with. Recoil is important in long range field accuracy, and the shooter's ability to deal with it makes the difference between hitting and missing. It is easier to control a .243 in the field than a .25-06 - simple physics. Low drag bullets and rifle technology have made huge strides in bringing lesser cartridges closer to parity.

But I'm not dissing the .25-06 at all. I've varmint hunted with my .257 Weatherbys and they are amazing....but they are not ideal varmint rigs. Hitting a chuck at 500 yards with a 100-grain .257" BTip does 'move' you more than the same hit with an 80-grain 6mm bullet though.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #4 on:** May 04, 2006, 12:50:07 PM »

Quote

Lately I've been thinking about buying a 25-06 and I got to wondering if those guys were just exceptional shooters, or is a 25-06 really an excellent caliber for accurate long range shots. I'm very familiar with what a 30-06 will do with hand loads, so how would you compare the two?

Those guy's were good shot's! The only difference between the 25-06 and the 250-3000 or 257 Roberts is the velocity they start out the same bullet. Give a really good shooter the 250-3000 and a so-so scope and he'll hit chucks at ranges you wouldn't believe. Give a ho-hum shooter the 25-06 in the best custom rifle with a great scope and he'll flub shot after shot. Once you've moved beyond the point blank range of a cartridge, you really better polish up on your shooting because then it really does become shooting.

My son is presently doing his best to wear out my third 25-06. Sometimes I really miss that rifle!

jhalcott · « **Reply #5 on:** May 04, 2006, 01:42:47 PM »

I've had half a dozen 25-06's they are truly cross over guns,varmints & deer. Trouble is where I shoot in Md.,a 500 yard shot is getting hard to find.A SAFE 400 yarder is almost max .I went to the 223 & 17 rem to avoid accidents. My shoulder approves of my decision.