often see alot of tech,data for different calibers.. BC , sectional density, velocity ect... one supposedly better than the other ect.. On paper i suppose it's true, or possibly ultra long range. But my experience over the years , and countless deer shot by myself ,my sons , my daughter, brothers ect.. has been that there really isn't a nickles worth of difference between calibers when it comes to killing deer. i have seen my daughter drop two good sized whitetails in there tracks, i mean , bang ,flop with a 22-250 (yea i know it is to light for deer) but she waited for a good shot put the bullet right where she needed to. I have also seen her drop whitetails on the spot with her 243 one at a lazered 330 something yards. I have shot many , many deer at ranges of 40 yds to 450 yds with 30-06, most with a 7mm rem mag and 300 mag and the last 8 or so with a 25-06 i have come to the conclusion that the 25-06 kills just as good if not better than the mags, though they look better on paper.I have shot many deer with the mags that go straight down but the 25-06 puts them down just as fast, i mean not even flinch, flat disappear in the scope down. So my experience is there is not a nickles worth of difference between calibers between 25-06 to 300 mag in the field. Anybody else find it that way? would like to hear more about the 25-06, i am very , very pleased with it's performance on deer. It get's the job done without alot of the rip, roar of the mags.
25-06,270,7mm,300mag..not a nickles worth of difference
- Thread starter shade mt
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Long Time Long Ranger
Well-Known Member
I don't think many will argue with you for your application on deer and well placed quality bullets. The key is long range like you said. There is a difference there.
25-06 is a great caliber, no doubt. But for bigger game, and longer distances, put a mag in my hands anyday of the week. For the uses you have stated, can't go wrong with the 25-06. I wouldn't hesitate to take elk with it either under 500 yards with the right bullet, and shot placement.
AJ Peacock
Well-Known Member
No argument on thin skinned deer hit well at medium range (up to 400yds or so), get out at 600yds + and the BC's and velocities of the heavy magnum cartridges really help with wind-drift and penetration.
The particular projectile makes more difference than the cartridge. I'd take a .243 with a Nosler partition over a 7mm Rem Mag with a 120gr varmit bullet every time.
AJ
The particular projectile makes more difference than the cartridge. I'd take a .243 with a Nosler partition over a 7mm Rem Mag with a 120gr varmit bullet every time.
AJ
LRSickle
Well-Known Member
Well said. With well-placed shots, I think they are all very capable of killing even elk-sized animals at semi-lengthy distances. However, if you misjudge an angle or it's quartering a little more than what you thought, the power and added penetration of the bigger guns might bail you out of an otherwise bad situation.
I think the 25-06 is a great and very capable round. I also love the low recoil.
I think the 25-06 is a great and very capable round. I also love the low recoil.
I have a friend whom i will be going with to Co. this fall has killed 21 bull elk since 1978. He shoots a 6mm-284. He has killed out to 800 yards i know him well and he is most definite an excellant off hand shot. His theory is larger calibers with bigger bullets dont open up at that yardage. I have been using 25's for quite a few years and have to agree on white tail they are nasty. I will be taking with me a 300 saum as one of my guns for elk. I have read alot on this site about the larger bullets and have learned from it. But for around here on east coast the 25's are excellant, but my buddy has sure taken a lot of game with a 100 grain bullet.
Mike
Mike
one thing i need to say yet... though i am very impressed with the 25-06 i think my 300mag is still my favorite rifle... it just shoots oooh so good.. had it done over by a good gunsmith model 70 action 26" barrel and a good trigger job. We have a range here at the house 200 yds is all the farther i can shoot, but we shoot walnuts for fun, deal is .. ya shoot till ya miss then the next guy takes his turn. When i break out the 300 nobody wants me to go first.. lol... but yea the 25-06 is ranking a very close second as a favorite rifle and it does a very good job on deer. was wondering what the longest drop em on the spot shot anyone has made with the 25-06 ?
silvertip-co
Well-Known Member
well I thingk the 270 and 25-06 are close and the 7mm mag and 300 mag close, but the whole 4 arent close as the 7 and 300 have a lot more hp and kick. I hope nexty yr to enter 25-06 world. I think its just a great calibre.
hey.... one other thing... we DON"T shoot walnuts out of the tree, which could be very dangerous depending on where you live, a high power cartridge can go a long way. we line them up on the ground in front of a dirt bank. didn't want to give anyone bad ideas...... cause ya never know.
liltank
Well-Known Member
Good call on the heads up w/ the walnuts shade mt. I have shot and loaded for a 25-06. Used 115 NBT and 120 SGK's. Both bullets shot and dropped deer nicely. It was on a Howa action and with 52.8grns of IMR 4831. Shot one hole groups all day long. Nice deer rifle. I have yet to shoot a deer with my .308, but I know this caliber with the proper bullet will do something a 25-06 won't. My uncle shot through a 3"sappling taking out the doe behind it.
I am considering a deer caliber for this years hunt as my son is taking over the .308. What do you get mounting a .257 bullet on a .308 casing? Is it essentially a .257 roberts? I know the roberts is based on the 7x57 casing. Sorry to change subject, but figured this would get the attention I am looking for.
I am considering a deer caliber for this years hunt as my son is taking over the .308. What do you get mounting a .257 bullet on a .308 casing? Is it essentially a .257 roberts? I know the roberts is based on the 7x57 casing. Sorry to change subject, but figured this would get the attention I am looking for.
ol mike
Well-Known Member
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25 souper - i think.
MontanaRifleman
Well-Known Member
Not as long as my 300 RUM will...
remingtonman_25_06
Well-Known Member
25-06 is my favorite cartridge. It kills really really well for its size. I've shot everything from squirrels to black bear with mine in the last 10 years. I am on my 4th one at the moment.
Shot a lot of coyotes and deer with 115g nbt's at 3200fps and 90% were bang flops from 200-600 yards. Put it in there shoulder and they dont go anywhere but straight down!!
It kills deer as dead as any magnum with a lot less kick and expense. It was either that or the 270 when I was looking at a deer round, but I like to be a little different and everybody has a 270, so I got the 25-06 and couldn't have been happier. It would be my last caliber to part with. I can shoot 75-85g bullets for squirrels/coyotes, 115-120g bullets for antelope, deer,black bear, and elk.
Though not an ideal elk round, it will work with the right bullet, my sister took a large cow with the 100g NP at a couple hundred yards, it did take 3 bullets, but thats because I told her to keep shooting till the elk was on the ground. I've killed 3 black bears with it from 375-450 yards as well, again with 115g nbt's and one was a 117g sbt.
IMO, its a great coyote/antelope/deer round out to 600-700 yards. Stoke it with a 115g NBT at 3200fps, and its still has plenty of thump at that distance.
When you start talking about 500+ yards on elk, I'll take any 7, 30, or 338 magnum though.
Shot a lot of coyotes and deer with 115g nbt's at 3200fps and 90% were bang flops from 200-600 yards. Put it in there shoulder and they dont go anywhere but straight down!!
It kills deer as dead as any magnum with a lot less kick and expense. It was either that or the 270 when I was looking at a deer round, but I like to be a little different and everybody has a 270, so I got the 25-06 and couldn't have been happier. It would be my last caliber to part with. I can shoot 75-85g bullets for squirrels/coyotes, 115-120g bullets for antelope, deer,black bear, and elk.
Though not an ideal elk round, it will work with the right bullet, my sister took a large cow with the 100g NP at a couple hundred yards, it did take 3 bullets, but thats because I told her to keep shooting till the elk was on the ground. I've killed 3 black bears with it from 375-450 yards as well, again with 115g nbt's and one was a 117g sbt.
IMO, its a great coyote/antelope/deer round out to 600-700 yards. Stoke it with a 115g NBT at 3200fps, and its still has plenty of thump at that distance.
When you start talking about 500+ yards on elk, I'll take any 7, 30, or 338 magnum though.
J E Custom
Well-Known Member
You will not get many to disagree with you on the abilities of the 25/06 on deer.
There appears to be a right caliber for every type of game, and on deer the 25/06 is one of them.
but own other type game it is not.
In my opinion a 7mm rim mag is unnecessary for deer unless you want to shoot over 4 or 500yards
then the mags take over.
I have no doubt the 25/06 or others in its class will kill well beyond that but then the issue
becomes wind ,trajectory.time of flight,energy and bullet performance, All of these factors
contribute to a well placed shot at long distance.
As bullets get better ,Powder choices get greater,Barrels get longer so does the distance
and the requirements to make really long shots.
When the 25/06 was developed most people would not shoot deer beyond 350 yards and
performance was stellar with the bullets that were available at the time. But technology
has changed and extended ranges are now possible but at some point a Larger,Faster,
better(High BC) bullet will be nessary to get the desired performance.
I believe that if you could get with-en a few feet of a cape buffalo with a 25/06 and place the
bullet just behind the shoulder and get the bullet into the lungs he would die. How long and
after how much chaos would it take for him to go is the question?
An arrow is deadly on deer but at much closer ranges. so keep on deer hunting and enjoying
your 25/06 but don't expect the same results on an elk or something as large.
J E CUSTOM
