Help me talk someone out of a 25-06.

[Hammerhead6814]

My father and younger brother want to buy a 25-06 for, get this, less recoil than the 30-06 of .270 Winchester!

I've told them over and over again, the 25-06 is a 30-06 cartridge necked down to accept a .25 caliber bullet! The .270 Winchester is ALSO a 30-06 that is necked down to accept a .27 caliber bullet.

Given that all three rounds use the same amount of powder, because it's just a different bullet in the same cartridge, we are not going to see a big reduction in recoil. But they won't listen to me. On the basis that "It's using a smaller bullet", they think they are going to see a big reduction in recoil. I'm pretty sure were going to get something that's about the same in that area.

I'm trying to talk them down to a .243 or .308, at least! They're still capable of killing a deer, but with a reduced recoil (smaller powder charge).

Somehow I need to put this in a way they can understand and won't fight me on.

 

[12VCummins]

According to Ammo & Ballistics Vol II recoil is:
30-06 2.19
25-06 1.57
270 1.82
308 1.95

Having shot the 30-06, 270 and 308 plus comparing ballistics I personally bought a 7mm-08 which has a recoil rating of 1.8 but shoots flatter than the .308 (it's just a necked down 308) and my handloads vary from a 100gr HP for varmints up to a 150gr Gameking for Deer. It is capable of dropping an Elk but I won't risk a bad shot so use a .300Win Mag for them.

 

[cbrgator]

25-06 does have reasonably less recoil than 30-06 and 270. Not as much as 243, but still less. 308 has basically identical recoil to a 30-06 and definitely more than 25-06.

 

[Wilson2]

No help from me. I've owned and shot a rifle in .25-06 and it is actually a pleasant caliber to shoot and it performs well. I've also owned/shot .270 Win rifles and have shot .30-06 rifles.

For each individual, there will be a point at which any more recoil is really bothersome. Some people handle recoil better than others. Each person has to find their own limit for comfort.

Here is a link that will help you: http://www.chuckhawks.com/recoil_table.htm

Calculating recoil is not easy. True, the calibers you mention are all based on the .30-06 shell, but they are typically loaded with slightly different powder loads and the bullet weight does matter some.

Looking at the table at the link I provided, you will see that an average weight rifle in .25-06 actually recoils a fair amount less than the .270 and the .30-06.

 

[rcmodel]

It's not the weight of the powder that causes recoil so much as it is the weight of the bullet.

Perhaps the most common 30-06 bullets are 150, 165, and 180 grain.

In the 25-06, the most common bullet is the 87, 100, and 117 grain.

With that much reduction in bullet weight, recoil is noticably less.

A .308 shooting a 150 or 180 bullet kicks the same as a 30-06 for all practical purposes.

rc

 

[Runningman]

Your father and younger brother are correct.

Bullet weight makes a difference.

 

[Arkansas Paul]

Does anyone in your family handload? If so, the Speer manual and probably others, give recepies for reduced recoil loads for many calibers. My wife is small, weighing about 105-110 pounds and wants to hunt. I'm not financially able to go and buy a new rifle for her, so I'm just going to load some reduced .30-06 rounds for her. I've heard they recoil only slightly more than a .243 win.

 

[DennyF]

Have owned or fired all of the above cartridges. Given similar rifle weights/stock styles, a 25-06, even one loaded with a stout charge and 120gr pills, recoils far less than any of the ones mentioned.

Most people can comfortably shoot a 7.5lb 25-06 from the bench, with good 100gr loads. Given that this load is about optimum for deer, no contest.

Two of the worst non-magnum rifles I have ever fired for annoying recoil, were 270s. One was a fairly light weight M700BDL, the other a far too light Browning ABolt Medallion.

Do your dad and bro a favor and stop trying to talk 'em out of the 25-06.

 

[Ateam-3]

I agree that the 25-06 has a lot less recoil than the 270 or 30-06. I shoot all three and the 25-06 is definitely the best. I say it compares closely with the 243 as far as recoil goes. They will not go wrong with the 25-06.

 

[DougW]

OK, don't buy one.

There, I talked you out of a 25.06.

 

[husker]

--------------------------------------NO!!---------------------------------------------

 

[Arkel23]

Tell them it's not a Weatherby caliber and watch them run from it.

 

[cbrgator]

I would try and talk him INTO a 25-06.

 

[Clipper]

High school physics...They're right.

 

[eldon519]

If you want to talk them out of one, I'd point out that .25-caliber doesn't have particularly good bullet selection as far as target grade aerodynamic projectiles go. 6mm or 6.5mm have much sleaker bullets due to their popularity in target shooting. .243, 6mm Remington, .260 Remington, 6.50-06 (if you can find one).

Basically .25-06 does what it does by just pushing less-streamline projectiles really hard with a big powder charge. That's inefficient and hard on barrel life. .243 and .260 have loads that shoot just as flat out to 500 yards.

Not that I dislike the .25-06, there is nothing wrong with it. But if I wanted to talk someone out of it, the above mentioned points are what I would tell them.

http://www.remington.com/products/ammunition/ballistics/

 

[hometheaterman]

This thread had me interested as well as I was thinking of going from a 30-06 to a .243 as I wanted less recoil also. The more I read the more I seemed to read stories of people who preferred the 25-06. So I came here wondering why you would want to talk someone out of it.

 

[DennyF]

I'd point out that .25-caliber doesn't have particularly good bullet selection as far as target grade aerodynamic projectiles go...


Mebbe so, but there are lots of .257 diameter HUNTING bullets that are more than up to the task of accurately and cleanly dropping game animals like prarie goats and deer, pretty much where they stand. Even out beyond 450 yards.

My choice for the past 20 years, has been the 100gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. Been lucky enough to have put three of them into one ragged hole @ 100 yards from the bench a few times and maybe another dozen into deer, some at well over 300 yards, two beyond 400 yards.

He wasn't inquirin' about a good cartridge for target shootin'.

 

[hotlead]

I shot all three last weekend and in all honestly really couldnt tell the difference between them. I guess my shoulder isnt calibrated for the difference?

 

[Dr.Rob]

.25-06 is light for elk and such. For deer it's fine. Makes a dandy antelope rifle.

For big mulies and such I'd suggest going .270 over .25-06. It's not just about recoil, it's shot placement, bullet weight and retention. A LOT of .25-06 rounds are loaded for varmints not for big game.

Just make sure he picks the right bullets.

 

[Zak Smith]

In the '06 case, I'd take a 6.5-06 or .280 Remington (7mm-06). Both have way better bullet selection than .25-06 or .270. (And they are much better for long-range.)

 

[litman252]

I shot my first deer, and a fair amount later, my last deer both w/ a 25-06. Recoil is very mild, could not have weighed more than 130lbs on that first one. It's a great cartridge up to elk IMO.

Yes, other callibers are better for all around, but a 25 for low recoil and good performance on the small deer family is a good combo for me.......

Tony

 

[schiesz]

All this talk about the 25-06 is really getting me fired up. I still haven't gotten a chance to try out my Remington 700 in the same. Maybe next weekend will do it.

 

[mljdeckard]

If you don't believe it, find a 30-06 loaded with a 110 gr spitzer. Then find one loaded with a 200 or 220 gr bullet. Load them both in the magazine of a medium to lightweight bolt rifle, shoot the 110 first, immediately followed by the heavier one. THEN see if you think bullet weight makes a difference.

It's a few spots down on the list, but I'm looking at a 25-06 for coyotes.

 

[SeekHer]

Just have them get a .257 Roberts then, a necked down .275 Rigby (7x57 Mauser)...

Unless you're handloading and have a wealth of .30/06 brass on hand then cost wise they are about the same and availability in stores about the same...

 

[Arkansas Paul]

The rifle makes a difference too. My dad has a Mossburg bolt action in .30-06 and it's pretty heavy on the recoil. My Weatherby Vangaurd isn't nearly as bad.