What 25 calibers are yall shooting?

Considering building a .25 something once I'm done with my 6.5 build....
Are there any short actions that are easy to get brass for?
I know 25-06 is popular but I've seen several deer lost (I know probably the shooter) but still left a bad taste with me.

I know it's not what you want to hear but a 25-06 is about as good as it gets for Deer hunting.

I am building a .25-06 now and plan on a .257 Roberts with a 3" chamber very soon.

Used to shoot a .257 Wby, but sold it, and built a custom .25-06 AI.

Personally if I was going to build a 25 something and didn't want a 25/06 then I would wait a year unless I wanted a 25 sst. With the fast twist barrels and high bc bullets becoming more available i think the 1/4 bore is about to finally get some much needed and deserved love!

I killed my first deer with a 25-06! And have killed several since and my wife hunts with a26-06 100gr barns vortex and we have never had an issue!! I currently shoot a 257roy 110gr ABs and it's performed from 48yds to 364yds with out issue. The 25s are my favorite shooters! Which is a personal opinion for deer. Like any cal, shot placement is key lol. I have always wanted to take a 7mm SAUM and neck it down to a 257 cal and see what it could do. Maybe one day I will now that I am getting into reloading. Will be looking at swapping both guns over to the same bullet so I don't have to buy multiple 25cal bullets.

I understand the bad taste thing. I feel the same way about a 270 even though there are plenty of folks that swear by them. BUT the 25/06 isn't called The hammer of Thor on whitetail for nothing! Poor bullet choice and or poor placement can make a 338wm look bad on a deer.

I've had several 25/06s mostly for woodchucks with litter weight bullets mostly 75/87gr tips. I have used 100to 117 tips didn't like the performance. Although the farmers I hunt with use 75gr hp in there25-06 and 243 with great success but I don't like lite bullets for deer. Just my 2 cents

For the .007 reduction in bullet diameter, I'd just buy more than enough powder, primers and brass for your 6.5 you just built and rock on. Maybe upgrade a scope if needed.

That was my practical side speaking. My son's 25-06 has accounted for bull elk, mule deer bucks, whitetails, antelopes and a mountain goat. All with 115 grain combined technologies bullets. Splendid shooter. It sits in the safe mostly now while the 6.5x47 lapua gets packed around.

But I built that before I discovered the 6.5 stuff and haven't looked back since.

Vanilla 25-06. Wanted to get a 240 Weatherby but in factory rifles it doesn't do anything the 06 can't except make you hunt for brass. I bought enough bullets to half ways toast this barrel. I don't know what's next for it. AI the ought-six, I suppose. 25-284 maybe?

Question for the OP though: if the 25-06 left a bad taste, what are you expecting to find that surpasses it ballistically? You're essentially left with the Roy or a wildcat of some flavor? Not that that should deter you but what are your expectations?

I have a 257 saum reamer ordered, and a 26" 1:7.5 proof sendero as well. Going to build on a defiance xm action to load long with blackjack Bullets. Should be in the 3350fps range with a 350 g7 bc. Will be light recoil long range deer/antelope rifle.

I enjoy my 25-06AI. Shoots 115 Berger at 3350 fps with H1000. Haven't shot it in a few years as new builds took top priority. Maybe a rebarrel to shoot the Blackjack is in order to rivive my first semi custom gun.

I shoot a 25-06AI in a specialty pistol and just love it. Has hammered deer and coyotes for me for years with no issues. Seldom need more than one shot using 110AB and 115 berger vld's, 100-500 yds.

SemperFi