The key attraction to 25-06 is speed. It has been popular for decades because you can have a lot of energy delivered real quick, with such a flat trajectory that hold over becomes much less. It is a fantastic deer and antelope cartridge when paired with 100-120 gr. bullets. It is best with barrels at least 24" usually. With the smaller 75 gr. bullets you will be outrunning 243 Win. by a good 250 fps. That is the main attraction to this round. Personally although I have a real accurate Ruger 25-06, I have gone to the 257 Weatherby. My Mark V has a 26" barrel. For deer I shoot 117 gr. Pro Hunters. I've learned from experience with that kind of speed, you need to use well constructed bullets. I do want it to open up some but I do not want Mr. Newtons 3rd Law of motion to defeat my hunting vacay.
25-06??
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Riomouse911
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A .25-06 always was an item of interest for me... but I have so much overlap with the small to mid-bore rifles I currently have (.243, .257 Roberts, 6.5x55, .270, 7mm Rem Mag, etc.) that even if it was a smokin’ deal I still just can’t justify getting one.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t... go ahead and spring for the BAR. It’s a cool rifle that’ll be the perfect farm-ranch gun for you.
Stay safe.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t... go ahead and spring for the BAR. It’s a cool rifle that’ll be the perfect farm-ranch gun for you.
Stay safe.
swagbrdr
Member
I have one. First cartridge that started killing big game for me. Flat shooting. Sits in my safe...nowadays...and for many years. Better cartridges to do what’s needed for me. Good round for deer and smaller. It’s a great round for women and children to shoot.
My scoped Interarms Mark X. 25-06 Remington with 24" barrel is my go-to hunting rifle these days, at least in Texas. All one shot kills thus far on deer and hogs with zero tracking. The rifle isn't picky WRT any ammo I've used yet. Underwood offers a 110 grain Nosler Accubond G1 BC = .418 with published muzzle velocity of 3250 fps for a great flat trajectory option. It's my preference vs Underwood's 90 grain Accubond at 3200 fos for .243 Winchester. My rifle's also shot PPU 100 grain PSP, Federal Power Shock 117 grain PSP, and Federal Fusion 120 grain (G1 BC = 0.468) quite well. I've used both Accubond and Fusion loads with equal effects on feral hogs.
I'm keeping my recoil exposure reduced as I'm still receiving monthly treatments for a partial retinal detachment in Nov 2018. I like my .25-06 better than (conceptually) using reduced recoil loads in my .30-06. Being on blood thinners these days due to an autoimmune blood disorder is another consideration but a Limbsaver recoil pad remedied that. I bet plenty of others besides me who aren't women or children can appreciate these considerations.
Maybe we'll see a .257 120 grain Speer Impact in a few more years. Federal Fusion with Slipstream polymer tip is what Impact looks like to me.
I'm keeping my recoil exposure reduced as I'm still receiving monthly treatments for a partial retinal detachment in Nov 2018. I like my .25-06 better than (conceptually) using reduced recoil loads in my .30-06. Being on blood thinners these days due to an autoimmune blood disorder is another consideration but a Limbsaver recoil pad remedied that. I bet plenty of others besides me who aren't women or children can appreciate these considerations.
Maybe we'll see a .257 120 grain Speer Impact in a few more years. Federal Fusion with Slipstream polymer tip is what Impact looks like to me.
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GooseGestapo
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The 110gr .257” Nosler Accubond is only 110gr for a reason. I’ve got some Hornady 110gr InterBonds that are 2-2.5 MOA from both the Roberts and Weatherby as they are just too long for the 1/10” twist.
Swift only makes the Scirocco in 100gr. Likewise due to the 1/10” twist of most cf .25’s.
I doubt you’ll ever see a 120gr tipped boat-tail .257” bullet. Same reason you don’t see a tipped 175gr .284” hunting bullet.
The bullets that most excel in the .25/06 and .257wby are the 80 and 100gr Barnes TTSX. From the .257wby, the 80gr can hit 4,000fps, 3,800 from .25/06. At hunting ranges, (400yds), it’s a Point and shoot proposition.
The only problems I have with my .257Wby is that it only has a 24”bbl, and weighs 10+lbs.
The last year I hunted with it extensively, I got bursitis in my elbow from carrying it to and from th3 shooting house. My Roberts only weighs 7lb with 2-7x Leupold, sling, and 5rds.
Guess which gets hunted most???
The reason the likes of the 6.5 Creed becoming so popular for hunting, displacing the magnums, is the prevalence of good, inexpensive laser range finders eliminating range estimation errors.
Swift only makes the Scirocco in 100gr. Likewise due to the 1/10” twist of most cf .25’s.
I doubt you’ll ever see a 120gr tipped boat-tail .257” bullet. Same reason you don’t see a tipped 175gr .284” hunting bullet.
The bullets that most excel in the .25/06 and .257wby are the 80 and 100gr Barnes TTSX. From the .257wby, the 80gr can hit 4,000fps, 3,800 from .25/06. At hunting ranges, (400yds), it’s a Point and shoot proposition.
The only problems I have with my .257Wby is that it only has a 24”bbl, and weighs 10+lbs.
The last year I hunted with it extensively, I got bursitis in my elbow from carrying it to and from th3 shooting house. My Roberts only weighs 7lb with 2-7x Leupold, sling, and 5rds.
Guess which gets hunted most???
The reason the likes of the 6.5 Creed becoming so popular for hunting, displacing the magnums, is the prevalence of good, inexpensive laser range finders eliminating range estimation errors.
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The 120 grain Federal Fusion stabilizes just fine in the 24" barrel if my .25-06 rifle, as I mentioned.
Thus far, the Speer Impact bullet looks like a Federal Fusion with a Federal Slipstream tip added.
Explain why adding a polymer tip (whose primary claim to fame is reducing minimum impact expansion velocity by 200 fps) to a bullet my rifle's 1:10 inches rifling twist rate currently stabilizes as a semi spitzer design would cause that bullet to become unstable.
Why don't you consider Nosler's polymer tipped 175 grain Accubond Long Range bullets to be hunting bullets, since I and anybody else with internet access can not only see but purchase those bullets? The ones I purchased certainly have hunting in mind from my 7X64mm Brenneke rifles with 1:8.67 inches barrel rifling twist rate. Are you telling us Nosler developed those bullets specifically NOT for hunting use and some rogue elements at Nosler grabbed control and have been marketing this bullet improperly for years?
https://shop.nosler.com/nosler-bull...t/accubond-lr-7mm-175-grain-bullet-100ct.html
You're also clearly not speaking for my use of my .25-06 for "most excel" hunting bullets & weights, or you find my results incomprehensible for some reason. Tell me how different. 257 bullet weights in my .25-06 would have achieved superior results, and details of your definition of "superior results".
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Seamaster31
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I guess some guys that have never owned a 25-06 do not like the cartridge. I always keep a couple of them around and find them very useful for everything from mule deer to varmints. I have been with a few guys that are excellent shooters and patient hunters that use them quite effectively for elk. It would not be an everyman's elk cartridge, but it is just about perfect for deer and pronghorns.
The normal weight bullets are lighter and faster than those normally used by the excellent 270 Win, and the recoil is also less. A 100 - 110 grain bullet makes a fine medium game rifle, and the lighter varmint bullets are very destructive on varmints.
The normal weight bullets are lighter and faster than those normally used by the excellent 270 Win, and the recoil is also less. A 100 - 110 grain bullet makes a fine medium game rifle, and the lighter varmint bullets are very destructive on varmints.
js8588
Member
rbernie
Contributing Member
Sadly, the Blackjack offerings are only in match bullets and not hunting bullets. I would very much like to see 135 grain to 140 grain well-constructed hunting bullet for the quarter bores.
Hornady however offers their ELD-X in .284 175 grain, along with other diameters and weights, distinguished as eXpanding for hunting - visible to anyone with internet access
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/7mm-284-175-gr-eld-x#!/
as opposed to their ELD-M line, for Match. They also offer a 117 grain .257 SST, only 3 grains shy of 120 grains - and 117 grains is also their max weight in .257 Interlock, both round nose and spitzer.
The only nuisance critters I've shot with my .25-06 were feral hogs, using the 110 grain Nosler Accubond and 120 grain Federal Fusion which yielded superb results - in my hands anyway.
https://www.hornady.com/bullets/rifle/7mm-284-175-gr-eld-x#!/
as opposed to their ELD-M line, for Match. They also offer a 117 grain .257 SST, only 3 grains shy of 120 grains - and 117 grains is also their max weight in .257 Interlock, both round nose and spitzer.
The only nuisance critters I've shot with my .25-06 were feral hogs, using the 110 grain Nosler Accubond and 120 grain Federal Fusion which yielded superb results - in my hands anyway.
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Mosin Bubba
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I always thought the 25-06 was cool, but I already own way too many hunting rifles to justify buying another one.
GooseGestapo
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A 175gr tipped bullet in .284” requires a 1/8.5” twist, or faster per Hornady.
Most .284” barrels are 1/9.5”.
Hence, a custom match barrel is required.
The devil is in the details...
The Fusion bullet is not even a boattail bullet. It’s a Speer GoldDot with a rebated base.
Heaviest tipped .257” boat-tail is 115gr Ballistic Tip.
Sorry to burst your bubble.
Most .284” barrels are 1/9.5”.
Hence, a custom match barrel is required.
The devil is in the details...
The Fusion bullet is not even a boattail bullet. It’s a Speer GoldDot with a rebated base.
Heaviest tipped .257” boat-tail is 115gr Ballistic Tip.
Sorry to burst your bubble.
Here's your statement again, still as untrue after your most recent post. Bold emphasis mine. I think you need to put a contact lens in to see what's outside your bubble. Maybe in your navel?
Tell us what your "bubbleview" is of the Speer impact bullet, which is what I raised to begin with.
And are you still ducking the pertinent questions I raised? So far the answer appears to be unquestionably "Yes"
You seem to believe my Zastava M70 bolt action hunting rifles (one half stock with 24" barrel, one full stock with 20" barrel) with 1:867 inches factory barrel twist rate as I mentioned previously are some "custom twist rate" despite the absolutely factual details to the contrary. For that matter, my 7X57mm hunting rifle full stock with 20" barrel also has rifling twist rate of 1:867 inches. Why have you pointedly ignored the polymer tipped .284 175 grain Nosler Accubond Long Range bullets that I posted I purchased to use in my 7X64mm Brenneke hunting rifles?
Why so myopic as to ignore these facts? Another sign for lens issues?
Just because the "Goostapo" puts out propoganda doesn't make it fact, as repeatedly demonstrated.
Oh here, notice Nosler uses a 1:9 inches twist rate test barrel for all their 7mm load data from 120 to 175 grains.
https://www.nosler.com/reloading-componenets/7mm-caliber
Tell us what your "bubbleview" is of the Speer impact bullet, which is what I raised to begin with.
And are you still ducking the pertinent questions I raised? So far the answer appears to be unquestionably "Yes"
You seem to believe my Zastava M70 bolt action hunting rifles (one half stock with 24" barrel, one full stock with 20" barrel) with 1:867 inches factory barrel twist rate as I mentioned previously are some "custom twist rate" despite the absolutely factual details to the contrary. For that matter, my 7X57mm hunting rifle full stock with 20" barrel also has rifling twist rate of 1:867 inches. Why have you pointedly ignored the polymer tipped .284 175 grain Nosler Accubond Long Range bullets that I posted I purchased to use in my 7X64mm Brenneke hunting rifles?
Why so myopic as to ignore these facts? Another sign for lens issues?
Just because the "Goostapo" puts out propoganda doesn't make it fact, as repeatedly demonstrated.
Oh here, notice Nosler uses a 1:9 inches twist rate test barrel for all their 7mm load data from 120 to 175 grains.
https://www.nosler.com/reloading-componenets/7mm-caliber
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Except 7mm WSM; that Nosler load data shows a test barrel twist rate of 1:9.5 inches from 120 to 175 grains.
https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/7mm-winchester-short-magnum-wsm/
And 7mm SAUM shows 1:9.5 inches twist rate for 120 to 175 grains, then 1:9.25 inches twist rate for 185 grains (although the 185 grain isn't polymer tipped like the 7mm 175 grain ABLR)
https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/7mm-remington-saum/
As Sgt. Friday was known to say, "Just the facts, ma'am."
Even Wikipedia recognizes the typical 7X64mm rifling barel twist rate (I rounded instead of truncated)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/7×64mm
As well as 7X57mm
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/7×57mm_Mauser
Which have existed much, much longer than "most" other 7mm rifle cartridges (1917 & 1892 respectively) - see that in those Wikipedia links (as well as many other sources) if you don't believe me
https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/7mm-winchester-short-magnum-wsm/
And 7mm SAUM shows 1:9.5 inches twist rate for 120 to 175 grains, then 1:9.25 inches twist rate for 185 grains (although the 185 grain isn't polymer tipped like the 7mm 175 grain ABLR)
https://load-data.nosler.com/load-data/7mm-remington-saum/
As Sgt. Friday was known to say, "Just the facts, ma'am."
Even Wikipedia recognizes the typical 7X64mm rifling barel twist rate (I rounded instead of truncated)
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/7×64mm
As well as 7X57mm
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/7×57mm_Mauser
Which have existed much, much longer than "most" other 7mm rifle cartridges (1917 & 1892 respectively) - see that in those Wikipedia links (as well as many other sources) if you don't believe me
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There are a lot of people or I would call it a constant movement nowadays to turn every rifle into a target rifle. If you want to run 140 gr in a 25-06 case fine, more power to you. Get ready for a Star Trek reference here: If the Borg were to pick a bullet weight it would be 140 gr.!
Everyone in 6.5 wants you to shoot 140 gr. ( I prefer 120-129.) Everybody in 7mm-08 wants to shoot 140 gr. Like your 130gr. 270? NO! You should be shooting the 140 accubond. 140 gr. slapping back into your shoulder is 140 gr slapping your shoulder, I don't care what case it came out of. There is a lot of people who just like the lower recoil of a 100-117 gr, and the fact that 25-06 gets em out there 3400 fps, well ... cool!
Everyone in 6.5 wants you to shoot 140 gr. ( I prefer 120-129.) Everybody in 7mm-08 wants to shoot 140 gr. Like your 130gr. 270? NO! You should be shooting the 140 accubond. 140 gr. slapping back into your shoulder is 140 gr slapping your shoulder, I don't care what case it came out of. There is a lot of people who just like the lower recoil of a 100-117 gr, and the fact that 25-06 gets em out there 3400 fps, well ... cool!
Had an old hunting buddy who used both .275 Roberts and 7mm Mag depending on his stand setup. One day we we're sitting at his kitchen table and he pulled out a box of each and proceeded to tell me how he's got his 257 loaded up to almost 270 levels and then says he's loaded the 7mm down to "about" a 270 because he didn't like the recoil in the light rifle he had. I pulled a 270 cartridge out out my pocket and set it on the table between us. "There" I said, "this is just as good as a 270". He smiled, put his ammo away, and told me i was taking all the fun out of it!
To the OP, why complicate your life with an additional cartridge to be used in gun that can't utilize the mostly theoretical advantages of some of the other rounds discussed here, especially the 25-06? Buy the BAR in 270. Or tell us all to get stuffed and do what you want.
To the OP, why complicate your life with an additional cartridge to be used in gun that can't utilize the mostly theoretical advantages of some of the other rounds discussed here, especially the 25-06? Buy the BAR in 270. Or tell us all to get stuffed and do what you want.
mustanger98
Member
All any of 'em shoot is bullets. It ain't magic.
Back when I fooled with a .270, guess which bullet I went to... Hornady 140gr BTSP... and nobody told me I had to. I saw it in the Hornady manual and thought it looked more interesting than their 130 and 150.
If I were fooling with a .25-06, it'd be Hornady's 117gr BTSP or a 120gr BTSP GameKing... either at about 2800fps. Just to do something different with that .25-06, I'd use iron sights... Lyman #57WJS comes readily to mind. I can hear the wailing from the guys who sell the grossly overpriced scopes. Maybe I'd take a little of the money saved and invest in a Timney trigger.
Back when I fooled with a .270, guess which bullet I went to... Hornady 140gr BTSP... and nobody told me I had to. I saw it in the Hornady manual and thought it looked more interesting than their 130 and 150.
If I were fooling with a .25-06, it'd be Hornady's 117gr BTSP or a 120gr BTSP GameKing... either at about 2800fps. Just to do something different with that .25-06, I'd use iron sights... Lyman #57WJS comes readily to mind. I can hear the wailing from the guys who sell the grossly overpriced scopes. Maybe I'd take a little of the money saved and invest in a Timney trigger.
sage5907
Member
I've been thinking this for a long time and you really summed it up in one great sentence. Wouldn't it be great if target shooters finally accepted a hunting rifle for what it is! It doesn't have to weigh 10 pounds, it doesn't need a 24 or 26 inch barrel with a can on the end, and it doesn't have to have powerful scope with a 50 MM objective. To use it you don't need a range finder, a bipod, a wind meter and a spotting scope. Bullets don't have to cost 70 cents each and extreme powder is not required. Good going mshootnit!
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WisBorn
Contributing Member
Thank you, thank you thank you. We need to put hunting back into hunting. A nice rifle a box of soft points and a good time in nature.
Safe shooting and hunting!
Put it back? Some (many?) of us never left it and never have had any interest in leaving it. I was there before the internet existed.
For me anyway it doesn't mean all my .25-06 ammo needs to have max muzzle velocity of 2800 fps and eliminate any bonded or partitioned bullets from my ammo options to have been there, nor to remain there.
CptnAwesome
Member
I'm liking the way you think!
Same reason I own a 280 Rem and a 7mm-08. 280 can achieve a little more velocity but not a huge difference between the two.
CptnAwesome
Member
Mosin Bubba
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I didn't even like reading that with my wife in the room.
I know, when have we ever allowed need to stop us before. But when you have 7 deer rifles and only hunt with them once per year, it makes you stop and wonder if you should buy an 8th.
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No, it's time to do another type of hunting. I was a deer hunter once and decided to try my hand at varmint shooting during the summer months. It was a good decision.
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