Hi everyone, who here uses or knows of someone using a 25-06 for hunting?

What do people think of this caliber for hunting? Comments? Opinions? Success stories and failures? Ammo availability?

I don't use one but have a friend who loves his. I can't think of many calibers that would be better for antelope or deer. A bit light for really big deer or elk IMO. Factory ammo isn't as available as say 270, but enough good ammo out to find something that will shoot.

I do.

I have a Golden Eagle 7000 in 25-06.
I shoot a 120 grain WInchester Super-X or the 115 Ballistic Silvertip.

I have two 25-06's, a Ruger No. 1 and a Remington 700. Both are deadly on antelope and deer. I shoot Federal 100 grain Ballistic Tips for antelope and 120 grain nosler partitions for deer. Never had to shoot an animal twice with either load. The round is devastating on prarie dogs, marmots and coyotes as far out as I can see them!

Thanks for the posts everyone, I apprecaite that,

I came across one of our regular range shooters the other day and he had one, loved it and had great things to say about it, it was the first and only one I had ever seen and it got me wanting one,

Needing a nudge I came here to the forum, thanks again,

I got two,took many deer with them,great balistic's.Shot placement is the key,if you can't shoot worth a damn you would be served with a 35 cal and not shoot over a hundred yards.

I think the secret to success in 6mm, .25, .260 and 7mm calibers for hunting is to use the best quality bullets. Nosler Partitions, Trophy Bonded Bearclaw, Combined Technologies or Barnes.
Having a bullet that stays in one piece to dump all of it's energy on target is what makes a good hunting cartridge.

We had a lady bring in a really nice Weatherby Mark V (25-06) to our store yesterday. She said it was great on antelope.

A family friend owned one until he died a couple years ago. Devastating on prairie dogs, powerful medicine for coyote, perfect for antelope and great for hunting Whitetail. Should work fine on Muleys but wouldn't use it on Elk.

My bro-in-law just bought a Ruger Hawkeye in .25/06 for his dad to use this fall's deer hunt. It's replacing his .270 and .30/06

I have a Tikka T-3 with a Leupold VX-III 3.5X10, in 25/06...it shoots every bit as flat/far and accurate as my Weatherby Mark V in 280 with same scope....I cant tell the difference and niether can the deer! I like the 115 grain Winchester ballistic silvertip.

Great cartridge for NC deer as long as you aren't trying super long shots (heck, most people I know take <100 yard shots anyway) or in the thick brush.

Also a great starter round for yougsters or others who aren't used to heavy, big rifles and their calibers.

cc

Pfft, I made a 200+ yard shot with my 25-06.
It's all about placement.

quote:

Originally posted by ScreamingCockatoo:
Pfft, I made a 200+ yard shot with my 25-06.
It's all about placement.

That ain't nuthen I took a deer with a neck shot at 370 yards a few years back in Kentucky.It pissed my hunting buddy off cause he was letting the deer get close to him for a shot,He had put me in a stand across the valley.

I love my Quarter bore..it is devastating to ground hogs out to way past where I shoot..at 200 yds. you dont even have anything left to bury when you use Nosler Ballistic tips. And my good friend from Montana says the 25-06 is one of the favorite guns for dear and antelope out to 350 yds.

Thanks everyone, I appreciate the comments,

I am up in Northern Alberta and around here 250+ yds is generally a close shot since we have lots of open field and the deer generally dont let you get any closer. The bush is thick and hard to move through, generally all our hunting is done more by sniping than anything else

I have been shooting a 7 mag and a 280 Remington, well I guess I am getting old and wimpy since shooting a 7 mag from prone doesn't seem like a lot of fun these days, my son likes the 280 so its time for a new gun,

Everything I've read and what I've been hearing is that the 25-06 is a lot easier on the shoulder and is great for long distance, one guy I've talked to has taken elk with it, he's been shooting a 7 mag as well up to now

The advantage we have up here is that our elk are usually shot at long range but there are generally good opportunities for a broadside lung shot

I love my 25-06 although I use it mainly for groundhog hunting. My Dad had one that he used for Deer and it did the job well. I would not be without atleast one rifle in 25-06.

I have a Remington Sendero SF with a Burris Signature Series 6-24X scope on it in .25-06 and I absolutely love it! It seems to shoot well with pretty much everything I've shot through it including Federal Nosler ballistic tips, Winchester Silvertips, and a couple of different types of soft points. I've never hunted with mine, but 100yd shots at the local range hardly allow the rifle to do itself justice, being capable of well below MOA when I do my part. I've even had some one hole clusters, primarily with the ballistic tip varieties of ammo.

My old man shoots a Marlin single shot 25-06 and he loves it. It shoots fast and flat and he hunts whitetail with I believe 100 grain Federal Fusion shells.

My dad just shot his Big Horn sheep with a .25-06 at ~ 650 yards last October. I've heard and seen video of his guides shooting mule deer, sheep, and coyotes at 1000+ yards with them. Pretty wicked.

HB

This message has been edited. Last edited by: Harleysbluff,

While I would certainly own a 25-06 if I had the money to buy a rifle for every scenario, I think the .243 can do almost everything the 25-06 can do. The .25-06 gives you the option for a 100 or 200 extra foot pounds and a little flatter trajectory than a .243. You can also go up in bullet weights to 120 instead of being limited to 105 with a .243. However, my effective range with a .243 is about 400 yards, which is about the limit of range at which I would shoot a deer regardless of caliber. There is also a much bigger selection of bullets for the .243, everyone carries them, and shooting one is cheaper than shooting the .25-06.

So, while I think it would be cool to own a .25-06, if I am buying a hunting gun, I would go with a .243.