Author Topic: .25-06 vs 7mm mag (Read 1979 times)

ENCOREROOKIE · « **on:** April 23, 2003, 01:45:03 PM »

I'm gonna get a new deer rifle but it's between a 25-06 and a 7mm mag...i want something flat..i'll be shooting up to 300 -400 yards..i know the 06 will not have as much knockdown but its for deer.Ive had 7mm's before and they shot great but the older i get the recoil just isn't as fun as it used to be(ok. so im getting to be a leightweight and want to have fun at the range instead of getting kicked to death)...whats everyones opinion...i may go with the 7mm afterall but the less recoil and about the same tragectory sounds awfully good right now thanks all ENCOREROOKIE

Graycg · « **Reply #1 on:** April 23, 2003, 03:24:39 PM »

25-06 is one awesome long range deer and antelope caliber, It was one of Bob Milek's favorites and that was enough endorsement for me to buy one. If you use premium bullets and hit where you aim, there's gonna be meat in your pot. 7mm is great too, but lots more boom, kick, and flash for the same results on deer, but is better if you are looking into bigger prey.
For the 25-06, I have a supply of old Nosler 115 grain partitions that do the job just right.

regards,
Graycg

ricciardelli · « **Reply #2 on:** April 23, 2003, 03:42:37 PM »

I have a couple of both...and for all practical purposes, there is no difference!

Case in point:

This group measured around 0.489-inch, for 5-shots at 200-yards
It was fired using a Ruger 77R in .25-06 Remington with Leupold 10x optics
Case: Remington
Primer: Winchester WLR
Powder: 52.5 grains of H-4831
Bullet: Sierra 120 grain Hollow Point Boat Tail
Velocity: 2922 FPS @ 15' feet from muzzle

This group, which measured somewhere around 0.303-inches for 5-shots at 200-yards.
It was fired using a Ruger 77R in 7mm Remington Magnum with Leupold 12x optics
Case: Remington
Primer: CCI-200
Powder: 64.6 grains of RL-22
Bullet: Sierra 168 grain Hollow Point Boat Tail
Velocity: 2943 FPs @ 15' from muzzle

Now the kicker...

The .25-06 Remington killed an antelope at 704 yards with a single shot.
The 7MM Remington Magnum killed an antelope at 725 yards with a single shot.

The .25-06 Remington took a white tail buck with one shot at 25 yards.
The 7MM Remington Magnum took a white tail buck with one shot at 22 yards.

Granted, the 7mm at 2943 FPS has more "energy" than the .25-06 at 2922 FPs, but the most important factor is to know your own limitations, and to put the bullet where it counts!

stv · « **Reply #3 on:** April 23, 2003, 11:41:26 PM »

I like both. I have one of each now and have owned in the past a different set. I say however that for the use you descibe - the 25-06 can do it very handily and with out the thump and thunder of the big 7. When I go out I reach for my little 25-06. And have all the confidence in the world that I am not undergunned. I have used a 25-06 since 1972. As a matter of fact I have my 7 mm up for sale go to the classified sectin and check it out.

HBL · « **Reply #4 on:** April 24, 2003, 02:54:49 AM »

My personal opinion, I would go with the 7mm Mag. I got mine back in 1984, and by 1985 had a Kleingunther muzzle brake installed. Now it has the recoil of a 222, at least thats how it feels. I can watch every deer fall as I pull the trigger.

25-06 is a good cartridge, but I don't believe it is on the same level as the 7mag.

Either one is a good choice, but if you are going to be making the extra long shots the 7mag with 160 gr bullets can't be beat. :grin:

Hcliff · « **Reply #5 on:** April 24, 2003, 05:12:59 AM »

I love my 25/06. It kills deer like lighting. If I was hunting elk it would not be my first choice in my safe but it would not be my last. I shoot a 90 grain X-BT at 3400 fps, no drop and killer wound channel.

After getting this my need for a 7 mm mag or 270 weatherby has not been needed. (Still want 270 weatherby mag in Ruger #1 to be different)

The one thing I like about 25/06 is it is fun to shoot. I do use premium bullet to hunt as the velocity is high.

Hcliff

Ron T. · « **Reply #6 on:** April 25, 2003, 06:42:32 AM »

Yes, Encore... I switched from a .338 Win. Magnum to a Model 99 Savage in .300 Savage for EXACTLY the same reason. I enjoy shooting the rifle and the .338 finally became a "chore", rather than "fun", to shoot off the bench rest.

And... since I currently have a standing invitation to join my hunting buddy for Buck Season at his cabin in the mountain of north-central Pennsylvania, I find the Savage Model 99 in .300 Savage caliber perfect for the job.

Like you, I enjoy shooting... and I got tired of getting "beaten up" by recoil when shooting the in .338 Winchester magnum off the bench rest at my club's rifle range. Both of my sons have 7mm Rem. Mags... and while they don't kick quite as much as my .338 (I've shot both calibers), they "kick" hard enough to become "unpleasant" long before my "appetite" for shooting has been satisfied.

Therefore, I'd suggest you go with the .25/06... it's a fine, flat-shooting, long-range deer rifle with more than enough power to give you what you need in a hunting caliber and won't jar your back teeth loose shooting off the bench rest.

Nosler Partition bullets are currently manufactured in .25 caliber in 100 grain (ballistic coefficient = .377), 115 grain (bc =.389) and 120 grain (bc =.391) bullet weights. Nosler also has their fine Ballistic Tip bullets in 100 grain (bc = .393) and 115 grain (bc = .453) bullets.

For long range shooting, I'd recommend the Nosler Partition Bullet of your weight choice because you'll get both bullet expansion and penetration at the ranges you indicated you're going to shoot.

Good Shooting...

Ron T.

ihookem · « **Reply #7 on:** April 27, 2003, 03:56:16 PM »

If you reload and you buy the 7 mag you can load it down real nice, actually down to about the power of the 25-06. I thought of buying a 7 mag lots of times so I can load it up hot for bear and down for deer.

Gregory · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2003, 11:40:33 AM »

ENCOREROOKIE

I'm a big fan of the 25/06, I own a Browning A Bolt in that caliber. Have you considered a .270 Win? It's about smack dab in the middle of the two rounds your trying to choose between? I owned a Savage 110 in 270 and its a very impressive caliber.

HappyHunter · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2003, 05:59:03 PM »

25-06 gets my vote for white tail, I have taken white tail with rifle and 15 inch encore it is an awsome flat shooter.

My favorite load is imr 4350 with Nosler ballistic tip 115 gr.

My father in law has used his 25-06 on moose twice that I know of and plans a hunt with me in Sept this year to do it again (I will use a 300 Weatherby)

Good luck
Fred

longwinters · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2003, 01:53:23 AM »

I would probably buy the one that I figured I needed 1st to use this year and then later on when feasible buy the other one :grin: I use a 7mm and a 243. I love to carry the 243, but with just buying my 7mm I am very currious about being able to load it down to 280 caliber recoil. If I were thinking of only one gun for everything it would be the 7mm or actually even better the 30-06. Remember, you can always load down but you cannot load up (at least not much in the small calibers). Plus look at the range of bullet sizes in a given caliber . . . pretty limited with the little rifles like the 243 or 25-06.