Why 25-06 instead of .308/30-06 ?

[BigSlick]

I keep running into info about the 25-06.

Is there any specific reason just about all mfrs offer this caliber ?

Seems like a light duty 30-06 to me from first glance. Is not a .280 Remington everything the 25-06 is and more ?

Someone school me here

[MONTEGOD7SS]

My opinion is that it doesn't take a .308 bullet to kill a deer, and there are a whole buncha deer been killed with .243 bullets. A .25-06 is based off of the greatest cartridge ever, and on deer out in the open might be a better long range load. I don't do point blank sighting on my scope, so I don't need flat trajectory like the .25-06 and some of the other fast ones like the .240 Weatherby. As long as my bullet drops where I know it will, it really doesn't matter how flatly or fast it got there.

[BIGGUNGOBOOM]

Slick, typically the 25-06 is a flat shooting round, designed for more of long range shots and canyon style areas. it is a basic way of having a gun that shoots like the Roberts but in a standard style case. a lot of people use them out here, as well as the 257 Roberts. all in all its a flat shooter, that can get a little bullet screaming for good B&C.

[CZ93X62]

The 25-06 is a capable long-range deer & antelope round, with premium bullets it might do for elk. With a boiler room the size of a 30-06 casing, I like 27 caliber or larger--and the 280 and 30-06 are likely its two best calibers. 175 grain 7mm or 180 grain 30 caliber are the "do-anything" bullet weights.

The flexibility of the 30-06 mothership is incredible. The 8mm-06 is a great hunting caliber, as is the 338-06. The 35 Whelen is another fine chambering, and the 9.3 x 62 is little more than a 36-06. Its 286 grain Nosler Partition running 2450 FPS was very reassuring to have along in Alberta in November 2005, with grizzlies in the area.

With two Mauser turnbolt rifles in my big game calibers (30-06 and 9.3 x 62), there is nothing in North America I can't anchor. I like the 6.5 x 55 over the 25-06, and the 270 isn't enough better than the 6.5 to justify the outlay for rifle, scope, tooling, and components.

After 40-odd years of experimentation and tomfoolery, I think my preferences are set as to game calibers in rifles.

[Blackdog]

I have a few of the standard hunting caliber rifles (308, '06, etc), but was looking for an uber flat shooting round. So, I picked up a Rem 700 in 25-06. Then I "guilded the lily" and reamed it to AI (I know, I know, it's already overbore). My strategy is to load heavy-for-caliber slippery bullets with high BC to make it a long range rig. I'm still doing some load development, but it looks promising. If I had it to do over, I might go with 6.5-284, but when I started this process, there were very few options in a factory offering and this rifle presented itself in a hard to resist deal.

I think it's a bit of a niche caliber. Certainly not as versatile as it's parent cartridge. But, if you have the other bases covered, and you're of the type who follows the "if you don't have one, you need one" philosophy, it does have it's appeal.

BD

[Steel Talon]

My primary go to hunting calibre has been 25-06 since the 70's for the same reasons above.

I can only really add is this Once you reach out and kill a deer past 300yards using 115/117/120 grain pill and he's DRT Enlightenment will occur...:hail:

I'm a 117 gr Hornady fan, but the 115gr. Nos partition has been my 25-06's sweet tooth. Hits em like the Hammer of Thor.

ST~

[creophus]

Once you reach out and kill a deer past 300yards using 115/117/120 grain pill and he's DRT
Seriously?? Dang. I had no idea.

[Slim Chance]

My deer killing rifle is a Sendero in 25-06. I use the 100 grain BT at about 3100fps. From a rest I've made several back of the neck shots at 175 to 200 yards. The few I've hit in the ribcage on broadside shots made it 15 to 20 yards and were ready for the knife. Not much recoil and very accurate.
Were I to get a chance at an elk, I do believe I'd go with a bigger caliber and a premium bullet.

[Steel Talon]

Seriously?? Dang. I had no idea.

Don't forget the enlightenment:hail: