The "handiness" depends on your size & the terrain & distance you carry a weapon. A 6'4" tall & athletic guy will carry & handle a
26 or even a 28" Encore as good as a 5'5" 130# person would handle a 24" version, so it depends on the things I mentioned, no one answer for all of us. It is weird to me that someone has no problem carrying a 24" barreled bolt gun, but has a problem with a 26" Encore. A 28" Encore Pro Hunter is about the same length as a 24" bolt gun, because you allow about 4" for action length. So a 26" Encore is about the same as a 22" bolt gun, no problem for most people.
As far as the 25-06 is concerned, I would go with the 26 as a minimum. I have used several 24" & 26" 25-06's & to me it is a no-brainer.
The old Remington 25fps per inch stuff that has been out for eons works pretty good for 30-06 & many other rounds, but the 25-06
gains more per inch than that, I have checked too many, especially with max loads of slow powder & the heavier bullets.