25-06 vs 6.5 creedmoor which one for antelope?

Darin Eggert said:

I have a couple of antelope tags this year and am considering a new rifle.
My toss up is either going to be the 6.5 creedmoor or the 25-06 what are my pros and con to these firearms never shot or owned either?

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I have a 25-06 & two 6.5 creedmoor. I would recommend shooting a solid copper bullet if you go 25-06 if you want reliable pass through. I lean towards the creedmoor for several reasons. I'm not a creedmoor supporter either but I will give it credit where credit is due. Less wind drift on average and I have had better results with shoulder shots with the creedmoor. I'm going to say that my experience with my son making some less than desirable shoulder shots with the 25-06 when he was 8 years old learned me a lesson: don't chance a shoulder shot with a 25-06 unless it's solid copper bullets.

I would use the 25-06 with a premium bullet. 6.5 whatever gives no advantage at 400 yards and you can still buy 25-06 more places than the 6.5.
I have been shooting a 25-06 for over 25 years and even shooting Sierra cup and core bullets have never had any explode on the skin/shoulder. I will say that there have been shots where the bullet did fragment but on most of the shots I was able to find mostly whole bullets. When I went to the Barnes 100 grain bullet I never had any problem with penetration particularly when taking hard quartering shots.
My 25-06 is a beat up Ruger with the tang safety and a stock barrel. Shoots less than .375 MOA all day long.

19elkhunter51 said:

When I went to the Barnes 100 grain bullet I never had any problem with penetration particularly when taking hard quartering shots.
My 25-06 is a beat up Ruger with the tang safety and a stock barrel. Shoots less than .375 MOA all day long.

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Mine shoots 100Gr Barnes just as well, Weatherby Vanguard S2... around 1/2 MOA, furthest I have shot it was around 425 but it was dead on still.

My favorite bullets for the 25-06 are the 100 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip and the Sierra 100 gr Boattail. Use a good stiff dose of 4831 or 4350. For factory ammo, Federal Vital-Shok with the Nosler 100 gr BT is very good ammo and they will shot plum thru a goat! If I knew how to post pictures I would show you my 16"-15&1/2"" goat from last fall in SW KS. Taken with the Federal factory ammo. Not bad for Ks.

I have the 25:06 and a 25:06AI. And tho' I don't have the Creed, I do have its twin - the 260. My gradually declining eyesight forces me to accept a self imposed distance limit of between 400 and 500 yards, and at those distances either one will do its part as long as I do mine. They're both great cartridges.

KurtB said:

Both would work great. Find either and get shooting if you are using it this fall.

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Have you considered the 6.5-06?

Based on your range limit of 400 yards & working 90 hours a week with I assume limited practice time - stick with the 25-06 with a good proven made for deer bullet in 100, 110 or 115 grain. It will shoot much flatter out to 400 yards & will drop either deer or antelope quickly & reliably. Any perceived advantage of the 6.5 Creedmoor will be non-existent given your stated yardage limit. I have used a 25-06 for decades & have not found a better round for deer/antelope at reasonable shooting distances. I know this is a long range forum - but frankly 400 yards is a very long shot for 98% of hunters and is usually not necessary for antelope if you actually put a stalk on one. The majority of antelope that I have taken have been between 125 & 250 yards. Just my two cents worth.

I also believe that HSM loads the berger 115gr VLD in the 25-06, which would also be an excellent choice for this job.

I'm not sure but I thought that Berger quit making the 115. Blackjack makes a 131 grain which would be a dandy, but your gonna need alot tighter twist than 1 in 10". I never could get much better than 1 moa if I went over 100 grains with the 25-06 out of my 10 twist. 1 moa would be fine for 400 yards.

I have used the 100 Nosler's (Ballistic tips & Partitions), 110 Nosler Accubond, 110 Hornady ELD-X, 115 Nosler's & 100 & 117 Sierra's with good to excellant accuracy out of 10 twist. Some 115/117's & 120's have been less accurate I assume due to longer bullet bearing surface that prefers a faster twist. Any 100 to 117 deer bullet that you find accurate in your rifle will flatten any pronghorn quickly out of the 25-06 assuming proper bullet placement.

The 25-06 is a excellent deer and antelope round . No experience with the credmoor I'm sure it's fine . You want go wrong with the 25-06

I have both. In the OPs stated purpose and range, I'd go with the .25-06. As a madder of fact, I just cooked up 26 rounds of food for mine - 115 Nosler BTs on 51.0 grains of IMR 4831. Let the crop-damage doe back flips begin!

To me the 25-06 is very unrated for its performance. It's lights out on deer period.

The rifle that you feel comfortable shooting might be a option...

Both are fine cartridges as folks from both camps have successfully harvested all kinds of game with them...

They are so close to being the same with small advantages between them...

Find a rifle that fits you well,,, smooth cycle of the action,,, nice firm stock and go hunting and target shooting once you get the optic dialed in...

Cheers from the North