“Ballistic coefficient does not matter when taking ethical shots on game animals under 400 yards” That right there is a statement that proves this man’s worthiness as a hunter for induction into the Jack O’Connor Hunting Hall of Fame.
There was a man in our town who I met in the early 1990's who had a documented kill of a prairie dog at slightly over one thousand yards, he did it with a built 25-06! When I think now that he did this with optics and a rifle from over 30 years ago is even more impressive to me.
Everything you said in this video is so true. Back in the day when i was a kid our old-timer gunsmith shot a 25-06. By choice i shoot a 7-08 to mimick the 7x57 but I prefer the short action(purely preference) the 7 mauser was another favorite of the old timers along side the 30-06 of course. Boy i sure miss the old days sitting around the garage late at night listening to my father and the rest of the guys talk about gunsmithing and real hunting stories before all this internet hype bullshit. Thanks for the great video I enjoyed it
I love my 7x57. Such an excellent round. I've been debating between building a 25-06 or .280 Remington for my plains/longer range hunting rifle. I probably don't need it, cause my dad's cousin took a mule deer at 700 yards with his 7x57, but I gotta work on my shooting to make that kind of shot, lol. Anyway, I'm leaning towards the .280, simply because it's better suited to larger game as well as small game (not that I think the 25-06 is a slouch for elk or anything).
I hav hunted with a 25-06 for 45 years. I have guns in every caliber, but I always take the 2506. It has proven itself on hundreds of different size animals and game. It is a devastating round.
I really have to say that you do a extremely good job formatting your talking points in these videos, it makes it really quick and easy to follow along with. Great caliber as well.
I have never used a 25-06 but one of my mates uses one , the only experience that I’ve had in the 1/4 bore was a 257 Roberts and that was a great rifle.
I'm building a 257 Bob and even with a 22 inch barrel I should get around 3200 fps from a 100 grain bullet. Trick is to build on an intermediate or long action and have it throated to original specs for a COAL of about 3 inches instead of the 'standard' 2.78 for short actions. Also for get the anemic SAAMI of 51000 psi (some sources now show SAAMI at 54000 now) and load to a max of 58000 psi (Hornady loads the +P this way)
I have a good friend who built a custom 700 in 25-06 and used it extensively to take many many antelope, deer, elk, bear, and moose. His preferred bullet was the 100 gr partition. He said it was more accurate in his rifle than the heavier bullets, and he liked the higher velocity and flatter trajectory. He has since passed it down to one of his sons.
For all intents and purposes. The 25-06 and the 270 Winchester both have that magnum velocity when loaded properly with a proper barrel length. I know a guy who owns a 25-06 who handloads. His barrel is 26in. With a 120 grain bullet, he’s capable of reaching 3200 at safe pressures. A 270 win when loaded properly, can reach 3140 with a 130 grain bullet. For this reason I don’t consider magnums needed when wanting to shoot fast and flat. Them two cartridges alone cover flat shooting shots for sheep deer and antelope. I also consider the 25-06 and the 270 the perfect caribou round for Alaska. Their not tough as elk and their bigger than deer. Them two calibers work perfectly for caribou
I have had a Remington 700 Sendero 25-06 for 20 plus years, shoots amazing, 9 .5 inch 5 shot group at 1000 yards, handloads only, it's taken many white tail from 50 to 300 yards, I am a 25-06 fan for life.
I got my 19 year old son a 25-06 for his 13th birthday. He's taken 6 whitetail and 8 hogs so far. It's a great hunting round. To be honest he placed all shot perfectly, and we didn't have to track any of his game in the six years he's used it. 40 yards with a brutal blood trail is about as far as they've run to this point. Shot placement and a great round made that happen.
I received a NIB Remington Stainless 700 in 25.06 for a tip from some Elk hunters I guided 25 years ago. It was topped with a Burris 3x9 scope. I have lived and guided Elk hunters in Chama NM for over 30 years. My sons my wife and I have put elk in my family’s freezer every year, some Bulls but mainly late season cows. I previously used a Ruger M77 chambered in 7MM rem mag with 160 grain Nosler Partitions. Although the 7mag did its job faithfully the Elk are just as dead with 100 grain Remington Core Loc bullets (also underrated) fired from my 25.06. Plus it doesn’t kick like a mule or cost a left one to shoot. As a PH for 30 plus years I can say without any reservations that I definitely prefer guiding a Elk hunter that is confident and accurate with a medium size caliber than one that flinches with a Big Gun. On one occasion a father with 2 sons flew in from Scotland and borrowed my 25.06. 3 Bull Elk dead with 3 shots, yes this caliber is highly underrated! A double lunged elk doesn’t go far, a gut shot one is usually Coyote food regardless of caliber. Like they say in the real estate game, placement, placement, placement...🤔 Great video, Thanks
A guy that used to hunt with my dad,as well as who also got me into reloading 25+ years ago, loaned his 25-06 to his son in law and said he has killed 3 elk with a 25-06, all one shot with a 100 grain bullet.
yes, you could lose an elk or even a deer with a poor shot for even 50 bmg. elk can and do fall with less than even a 25 cal. ethics have more to do with YOU doing your job than the rifle... at least in most circumstances.
@ Greg Friday. That's a heck of a testimonial for a cartridge in the land of enchantment. Your experience and comparison to the 7mm Rem Mag was particularly interesting. Your 160 grain Partition 7mm Rem Mag load was about as "Elk" as a load can be assembled. Yet your .25-06 with factory CoreLokt ammo is about as "deer" generic as you will find. All equaled dead elk consistently. Bet those Scots appreciated that loaner rifle and cartridge in a big way.
I have three in 25.06. I totally agree with the commentary. It is absolutely fantastic on roos and any other animal (with the exception of buffaloes). I can never understand why it is relatively forgotten. I have been hunting for nearly 40 years and the 25.06 is always my go-to cartridge in Australia.
In 'The Hunting Rifle', Jack O'Connor gives brief mention of the .25/06 as it had not been 'mainstreamed' by Remington at the time of writing, I wish he had written the book a year later! Of course we know his favorite rifles were .270s but he hunted with a wide range of calibers. I stumbled into a Pre-64 Model 70 barreled action in .25/06 on GB and bought it cheap as it had no Trigger Group, Bottom Metal or Stock. Upon receipt, I noted that the barrel was probably unfired. My speculation was that the man who owned the original Winchester was in the middle of rebuilding his rifle to .25/06 when he passed and his family got rid of the barreled action. What happened to the rest of the parts is unknown. I assembled the barreled action into a rifle with original Winchester parts I had on hand then topped it with a Leupold 3x9 and headed to the range. To say the rifle shoots well is an understatement. Just before I took her hunting I went to the range to fire one (1) round to establish how she shot cold. I wanted 2" high at 100 yards. The bullet was 1/4" right of the centerline and on 2". I had no further questions.. That year all I saw was a medium Whitetail Doe and, reluctantly, shot her from about 80 yards and dropped her in her tracks. She is my favorite rifle. O'Connor was pretty blunt about calibers in his book, essentially saying that most 'new' (post 1906) cartridges are simply marketing devices for the gun companies to sell more rifles. He further expounded that the ancient 7x57mm was 'enough gun' for anything short of truly dangerous game. Point being that the .25/06 exceeds the 7x57mm and is just as viable. I simply laugh and sneer at all the new 'wonder cartridges' coming out in 6.5 and 6.8 This, That or TheOther! At some range beyond, in my opinion, about 250 yards for Deer and 350 for Elk, it is no longer 'hunting', it has simply become murdering an animal. Same for shooting one out your back door if you live in the woods: fine for filling the freezer but not really something to boast about. OK, I'm a curmudgeon and proud of it. As I get older I appreciate the classic rifles and cartridges more and more and have no use at all for the modern marvels. But a rifle and the cartridge it shoots is like an auto, barber, whiskey or woman: a man has to pick his own!
Thanks for the wonderfully informative video! I have a 25-06 in a Ruger #1 Varmint. I’ve used the rifle on White Tail deer in the Eastern U.S. with success. I hunt from a stand so the added weight of Varmint model is of little consequence. The 25-06 is a fantastic hunting cartridge. I push the Nosler 115grn Ballistic Tip bullet with 53.5grns of Retumbo. Multiple 5 shot groups sub MOA, averaging 3/4”. I have the rifle zeroed at 200 yards. One shot one kill is the only game on the table with the #1. Consequently, 300 yards or less works best for me even though the terminal ballistics are more than adequate out to 400 yards. The last buck harvested with the rifle was at 85 yards and the deer traveled all of 10 yards after being shot. I’ll never sell mine. Thanks again.
Great vid 👍🏼 thanks! My hunting rifle arsenal consists of 22-250, 25-06 and 30-06. I feel that provides me with something for every occasion in Australia.
I know this is an old video, but really cemented my decision and have no regrets on purchasing I recently purchased the 25-06 in the Browning X-Bolt. Was getting tough to find. I recently found out that Browning is discontinuing that caliber a long with a few others. Luckily I was able to find one. A beautiful white gold medallion in a maple stock. I am a wood stock fan. I have a .270 really because that was my grandfather’s favorite caliber which I really enjoy shooting. Then I purchased a 300wm which I found a very good deal on and enjoy shooting it as well. This is when I got the 25-06 it is an absolute dream to shoot. All of these are in the Browning X-Bolt. The reason I chose these 3 calibers is they all have been proven time and time again. These new calibers have a long way to go. Thank you for all the info you give.
When I was a kid, my dad hunted with a 25-06. I'm pretty sure he had one back when it was still a wildcat. I thought it was cool long before I had any idea what cartridges were good for what. When I decided to get back in to hunting as an adult, I wanted one rifle that would do a wide range of things in the area where I was going to do most of my hunting, west Texas and eastern New Mexico. After a lot of research, I bought a 25-06. That was the first hunting rifle I bought myself. I now have a handful of rifles in different cartridges suitable for deer and pronghorn, but that 25-06 still seems to be the one I grab most often.
A friend of mine had a .257 Weatherby Magnum that he shot long distance with. I bought a 25-06 for myself because I loved what i saw from his 25 caliber round. I instantly fell in love with the 25-06 and have shot deer, coyote and groundhogs with it for a very long time. It's just plain nasty. "When that thing goes off shit happens" as my buddy with the .257 Weatherby used to say. It knocks the crap out of what ever you unleash it on and thats a fact. Thanks for this video and i hope it opens a few eyes about this awesome cartridge.
I used a 25-06 from 1998 for springbok hunts 90gn sierra blitzkings at 3450 f/s 57gn N560 cci200 primers norma brass. Rifle is custom built shillen match ss 26'' barrel RSA single shot target action shoots 5shots 1'' or smaller at 300meters.I have lost count of how many springbok i have taken with this rifle only head or neck shots.In south africa we call it culling of game. The game were used for the meat market if you shot a body shot then the shooter must pay for it . The 25-06 is a winner for this kind of work, shoot 3'' high on 100 meters and 2.5" low at 300meters
I bought a Ruger 77 in .25-06 about 12 years ago and fell in love instantly. It is a killer for sure. My step daughter weighs about 105 lbs and manages the recoil no problem. Very versatile, excellent round.
JUST WHAT I WANTED TO HERE.COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER !!!!! I"AM IN THE THE HUNT FOR A 25-06.I ALMOST BOUGHT ONE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO,AND I LISTENED TO THE HYPE. I HADE A STRONG FEELING THAT IT WAS A GOOD HUNTING CALIBER. LISTEN TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID,RANGE SO TRUE TO ME. I WILL BE GETTING A 25.06.THANKS for your KNOWLEDGE.🎖🎖
This was incredibly informative. You might have just changed my mind about whether I should purchase I rifle chambered in this round I’ve long been fascinated with, but didn’t know much about.
I think it benefits from being a classic military rifle Mauser if I'm not mistaken so you'll have Mauser collectors after it also people who are interested in the history of a 6.5 Creedmoor and 65 cartridges I wouldn't quite call it under appreciated
greg, I agree. I have a Carl Gustav M96 (1912 receiver date) customized into a beautiful hunting rifle in 2000 and have taken many many deer and hog here in Texas with it. I would put its accuracy up against any modern expensive rifle today and most likely out shoot that rifle. 3 shot holes touching is common for this rifle. I like to tell folks I've been shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor for 20 years lol. The liability issue with the old receivers is what kept the Swede back. I don't reload and no need. Federal Power Shok 140gr Moly coated and Nosler 140gr Accubond do just fine at 2600fps.
@Joakim Henrikson 6.5x55 är snart ute ur klass 1 ligan tror jag tyvärr. Jag använder 25-06 på tjäder och kolla in den här videon för handladdnings tips.
I agree. The only problem with 6.5x55 is its not chambered in newer rifles. I've been looking at 6.5 Creedmoor as an alternative as it closely duplicates the Swede and is readily available in newer rifles. I always wanted a 6.5x55 though.
Thank you very much for this VERY informative video!! I now know what my next hunting rifle will be ! I primarily hunt whitetails here in NC and I think it’ll be perfect 😀
Excellent video. Showing the 25-06 some love. In fact, for those that know how to tweak it with reloads customized to their rifle, it's an outstanding performer.
GOOD STUFF! 25-06 HAS BEEN ON MY LIST FOR A WHILE NOW. I LOOKED AT ONE NOT LONG AGO. THE SALESMAN LIKED THAT I WAS INTERESTED IN THE CALIBER (OLDER GUY) SAID "I HAVE 19 DEER ON THE SAME 25-06".
Yep, it really is the best cartridge for animals in its class. All of the .25s are awesome, but 25-06 has more ummph than the 257 Roberts, yet doesn't recoil and burn barrels like the 257 Weatherby. Its perfect!
@@usa-rb5fi if you don’t hand load the 257 Roberts is worthless! You can still find a bunch of good fast factory loads for the 25/06! You can’t find much for the Roberts
My cousin hunted with one for more than 40 years. He used it on his farms in South Africa and when he became a PH later in his life. Used it on everything except dangerous game. I shot a lot of game with his 25-06 and everything went down fast and hard. My next rifle will be in 25-06.
My first rifle was a 243 as a kid then my dad told me one day “I’ve been saving this hidden gem for you” and gave me a wood stock browning 25-06 with a box of shells thanks dad
Thanks for your great review and endorse of the 25-06. I've been a huge fan of this cartridge for years. I have one with a 26" barrel and another with a 22" barrel. Both are very effective.
Awesome video, I had a T/c encore years ago and I loved it. My friend's wife has shot several cow elk with her ruger m77 in 25-06. It's all about shot placement
Also, people go on about 'short action' being more desirable than 'long action'. WHY? So they don't have to move the bolt a few more millimetres? A long action rifle looks far more classic and elegant.
Had deer rifles in 3006,7x57,308,223,243,303,300blk and 44mag over 50 years. Two years ago started with a 2506. Great calibre, love the light recoil and flat trajectory. Nice calibre to shoot and deadly on deer.
Nosler partition is my choice , it shoot's dime size 5 shot groups in my 1903 A-3 and the cavity upset on game has always been a devastating 1 shot kill . Seriously , if your a reloader and haven't tried Nosler partition , YOU Should !
My dad had a custom 2506 built back in the early 1930s,he really loved it,My nephew has it now . It had a 26 inch barrel was truly a game killer and my dad he had taken had taken many elk and deer here in Idaho with it. I have one today in Remington model 700 with a 26 inch barrel, very accurate and pleasant to shoot, made a 674 yard shot and instant kill on an elk . For deer and Antelope size game it is tremendous.
My dad bought one in the 80’s and I followed suit soon after (browning BBR and a S&W 1500). We have never lost a deer with them and there is very little recoil. We really like the 120 grain Winchester positive expanding point. Great deer rifle you can’t go wrong with this cartridge Thanks I enjoyed the video
The only (and I mean ONLY) reason I use a 270 for deer and antelope out here in eastern Colorado rather than a 25-06 is because I currently don’t own a 25-06. Looking to remedy that in the near future.
I agree, just took a nice 8 point whitetail deer yesterday morning with mine at 300 yards. I shoot 117 grain Hornady SST ammo. It's a target rifle, 26" heavy tapered barrel. Great video!
I have a 25-06 in Sako A7 soft touch. Excellent gun for whitetail and great for smaller shooters. Last years whitetail didnt take a step, broke through the ribcage, passed through and broke the shoulder blade on the other side.
I love my 25-06…I had it bulit on the Mauser Action with a Douglas barrel over 50 years ago and I just shot another buck 4 days ago over 200 yards with the old Hornady 120 gr H-P, can’t find these bullets anymore, glad I stocked up on them….never shot a factory load in this gun….Great Video !!!
I've been a fan of the quarter bores for my whole life. The 257 Roberts, 25-06 and 257 Weatherby mag I have used on varmints to large mule deer. My favorite hands down is the 25-06.
Great video and synopsis. I had used a borrowed rifle (HIS idea) on a Tx state ‘cull’ hunt some years back and had NO idea of the capabilities of the Rem 700 .25-06 BDL I was hunting with. The hunt was marginally successful as I was the only one that had taken a deer BUT was I a believer in that .25-06 caliber! Flat-shooting and accurate with little-to-no recoil, I was SO impressed and have always ‘planned on’ getting one some day. My go-to is (and always has been) a Winchester .270 (Featherweight model)...EXCEPT for THIS season. I opted to take out my M1A and besides it being a HEAVY rifle, it was great to use it besides bench/target shooting.
Great video, and I agree with almost everything you said. I've had several 25-06's and my favorite gun to take to the woods is my Sako A7 25-06. I hand load, and have had wonderful success in hogs and deer using Berger VLD Hunting. I know they started out as target bullet, but they perform very well on hogs. I've kill well over 100 with no issues. I even convince a good friend who was a diehard .270 fan to switch to the .25-06.
I’ve had a 25-06 for years and it’s always been insanely deadly, the weight range is insane 75-120 grains, pushing 75 grain bullets around 3800 fps it’s about the best prairie dog/varmint round on earth. 22-250 has nothing on the 25-06. But if you step up to 100 grain bullets it’s insanely effective on larger game, I’ve taken several massive pigs many deer with 100 grain Speer hot cores and it drops them in there tracks, never exits but turns the insides into jelly, the last two bucks I’ve shot had the same result busted through the shoulders and completely blew the heart apart to the point where it was just a bunch of mush
Great video and you’re spot on with your choice of game for the 25-06. I’ve always liked the 280 Remington for antelope and deer, but have killed antelope with the 25-06 as well. I think the 25-06 and 280 will always play second fiddle to the 270.Take care and good luck on future hunts!
I have owned and fired quite a few 25-06s through the years and have found 117 grain Hornady to be the most accurate factory load.Ground hogs at 400 yards are no problem .And the dozen or so deer I have killed with mine have dropped hard.But I myself have also always wondered why it doesnt get more recognition.
Great video. I'm a 25 guy, never owned a 25-06 though I shoot most everything with a 257 Roy, and also have a 250 Savage. I've shot 25 cal since I was 7yrs old when my dad bought me the 250 Savage at 7yrs old. I'm 55 now. Sure I have other rifles and have used them as well, and I always come back to my 25's. Some day soon I hope to get a 25-06 to be my medium 25.
I like the way you think. I agree that the 25-06 needs a long barrel to get that velocity up for those slow burning powders. That being said if you want to haul around a gun with a shorter barrel AND you hand load, then the 257 Roberts is another viable option that gives you the same attributes as the 25-06. Off the shelf 257 Roberts, even the +P stuff, doesn’t allow you to get those velocities with a shorter barrel.
The 25-06 has been a favorite of mine for more than 20 years so no fear of overbore for me. I have nothing against large BC rounds and have them but it doesn't negate my appreciation for the 25 cal.
I just subscribed! I been telling people this for a while now. Everybody is on the 6.5 bandwagon!! If you’re shooting paper a 1000 yards away go for it, but any common big bore round will kill effectively at hunting ranges! 243 to 300 win mag will all kill effectively on medium to large size game. Thank you sir for this video.
I bought an ADL 25-06 at 18 also. I have dozens of rifles but still my go to deer rifle. It's ugly as hell but still shoots. I also have a heavy barreled custom 25-06 my Uncle gave me. It is a fantastic coyote gun.
I agree its the most underrated cartridge. Its an awesome round. Wish I had never sold my old Savage 110 .25-06. I miss that rifle like you would not believe. I used to shoot it all day long on the gun range when I wasn't hunting with it. Its recoil was not that bad at all contrary to what some may believe. If the ammo manufacturers had supplied a wider range of bullets and weights it would have gone farther than it did. It has better ballistics than the vaunted and much publicized .270 Rifleman's round. I agree it does all those things. Flat shooting, low recoil, and hard hitting. I also agree its all marketing ploys to push what the gun and ammo manufacturers want to push rather than what shooters and hunters want. Winchester out marketed Remington and the .25-06 with the .270. Not because the .270 was the better round as the ballistics proved. The .25-06 is for sure a deer cartridge first and foremost. I used the Nosler Partition for deer and Nosler Ballistic Tip for varmints. Unfortunately I see a lot of gun manufacturers dropping the .25-06 from their available cartridge lists of their new rifles. I need to get another .25-06 and sell my .22-250 to get it. I like the .22-250 but I can do so much more with the .25-06. Thanks for sharing. Great video.
I love mine. I originally bought it for my wife. It's an older Remington 700 model. (I kept it in the divorce.) After I floated and glassed the barrel. I now have a 200 yard zero with Federal Fusion, 120 grain. A 3 shot that can be covered with a quarter. And the same with Horady SST, 117 grain. The 3 grain difference is an 1/8 inch. I have dropped deer from 40 yards, out to 165. It's my go to for deer here in East and West Texas. Varmints are next. Thanks for the video on it.
Great review!! I've had a Rem 700 25-06 since the late 1960's. Still my favorite deer and antelope cartridge. Over 30 kills and no lost animals. It's just a great cartridge.
Absolutely agree with you. The 25 caliber family is very underated. I'm a huge fan of the 257 Bob and the 25-06. Might even try out a 257 Weatherby magnum some day. Thanks for the great video
I am not a fan of Roy Weatherby's cartridges at all; EXCEPT for the 257 Weatherby. These 25-caliber cartridges just seem to get better and better with velocity, and the recoil remains very light. The 257 Weatherby was Roy's greatest creation.
Been shooting a bull barrel Ruger 77, top tang safety for 40 years...will continue to do so. Between it and an iron sight Winchester 30-30, all whitetail bases are covered.
Raise your hand if you have more rifles than you "need" ✋
I need more please
Need? What is this "need" you speak of?
never have a ‘need’ limit
🤚
✋
“Ballistic coefficient does not matter when taking ethical shots on game animals under 400 yards” That right there is a statement that proves this man’s worthiness as a hunter for induction into the Jack O’Connor Hunting Hall of Fame.
I’ll take a boat tail any day.
There was a man in our town who I met in the early 1990's who had a documented kill of a prairie dog at slightly over one thousand yards, he did it with a built 25-06! When I think now that he did this with optics and a rifle from over 30 years ago is even more impressive to me.
The 25-06 is one of the few rifles I've never owned. Your argument for the round is very convincing.
Everything you said in this video is so true. Back in the day when i was a kid our old-timer gunsmith shot a 25-06. By choice i shoot a 7-08 to mimick the 7x57 but I prefer the short action(purely preference) the 7 mauser was another favorite of the old timers along side the 30-06 of course. Boy i sure miss the old days sitting around the garage late at night listening to my father and the rest of the guys talk about gunsmithing and real hunting stories before all this internet hype bullshit. Thanks for the great video I enjoyed it
Lol
I love my 7x57. Such an excellent round. I've been debating between building a 25-06 or .280 Remington for my plains/longer range hunting rifle. I probably don't need it, cause my dad's cousin took a mule deer at 700 yards with his 7x57, but I gotta work on my shooting to make that kind of shot, lol.
Anyway, I'm leaning towards the .280, simply because it's better suited to larger game as well as small game (not that I think the 25-06 is a slouch for elk or anything).
I hav hunted with a 25-06 for 45 years. I have guns in every caliber, but I always take the 2506. It has proven itself on hundreds of different size animals and game. It is a devastating round.
NOT EVEN THE .270 WINCHESTER?!
I think it was Jack O'Conner, none the less, who said the quarter bore was "the perfect" caliber for whitetail deer. I wouldn't disagree.
Love this vid on the 25-06. I am lucky to own 2, a Sako AV and a Ruger No 1.
I really have to say that you do a extremely good job formatting your talking points in these videos, it makes it really quick and easy to follow along with. Great caliber as well.
I have never used a 25-06 but one of my mates uses one , the only experience that I’ve had in the 1/4 bore was a 257 Roberts and that was a great rifle.
I'm building a 257 Bob and even with a 22 inch barrel I should get around 3200 fps from a 100 grain bullet. Trick is to build on an intermediate or long action and have it throated to original specs for a COAL of about 3 inches instead of the 'standard' 2.78 for short actions. Also for get the anemic SAAMI of 51000 psi (some sources now show SAAMI at 54000 now) and load to a max of 58000 psi (Hornady loads the +P this way)
My savage 25-06 is great. Use 117 gr. Whitetail hornady rounds and never fails one shot one down.
I have a good friend who built a custom 700 in 25-06 and used it extensively to take many many antelope, deer, elk, bear, and moose. His preferred bullet was the 100 gr partition. He said it was more accurate in his rifle than the heavier bullets, and he liked the higher velocity and flatter trajectory. He has since passed it down to one of his sons.
For all intents and purposes. The 25-06 and the 270 Winchester both have that magnum velocity when loaded properly with a proper barrel length. I know a guy who owns a 25-06 who handloads. His barrel is 26in. With a 120 grain bullet, he’s capable of reaching 3200 at safe pressures. A 270 win when loaded properly, can reach 3140 with a 130 grain bullet. For this reason I don’t consider magnums needed when wanting to shoot fast and flat. Them two cartridges alone cover flat shooting shots for sheep deer and antelope. I also consider the 25-06 and the 270 the perfect caribou round for Alaska. Their not tough as elk and their bigger than deer. Them two calibers work perfectly for caribou
I have had a Remington 700 Sendero 25-06 for 20 plus years, shoots amazing, 9 .5 inch 5 shot group at 1000 yards, handloads only, it's taken many white tail from 50 to 300 yards, I am a 25-06 fan for life.
I got my 19 year old son a 25-06 for his 13th birthday. He's taken 6 whitetail and 8 hogs so far. It's a great hunting round. To be honest he placed all shot perfectly, and we didn't have to track any of his game in the six years he's used it. 40 yards with a brutal blood trail is about as far as they've run to this point. Shot placement and a great round made that happen.
I received a NIB Remington Stainless 700 in 25.06 for a tip from some Elk hunters I guided 25 years ago. It was topped with a Burris 3x9 scope. I have lived and guided Elk hunters in Chama NM for over 30 years. My sons my wife and I have put elk in my family’s freezer every year, some Bulls but mainly late season cows. I previously used a Ruger M77 chambered in 7MM rem mag with 160 grain Nosler Partitions. Although the 7mag did its job faithfully the Elk are just as dead with 100 grain Remington Core Loc bullets (also underrated) fired from my 25.06. Plus it doesn’t kick like a mule or cost a left one to shoot. As a PH for 30 plus years I can say without any reservations that I definitely prefer guiding a Elk hunter that is confident and accurate with a medium size caliber than one that flinches with a Big Gun. On one occasion a father with 2 sons flew in from Scotland and borrowed my 25.06. 3 Bull Elk dead with 3 shots, yes this caliber is highly underrated! A double lunged elk doesn’t go far, a gut shot one is usually Coyote food regardless of caliber. Like they say in the real estate game, placement, placement, placement...🤔 Great video, Thanks
nice to get a tip like that
A guy that used to hunt with my dad,as well as who also got me into reloading 25+ years ago, loaned his 25-06 to his son in law and said he has killed 3 elk with a 25-06, all one shot with a 100 grain bullet.
yes, you could lose an elk or even a deer with a poor shot for even 50 bmg. elk can and do fall with less than even a 25 cal. ethics have more to do with YOU doing your job than the rifle... at least in most circumstances.
@ Greg Friday. That's a heck of a testimonial for a cartridge in the land of enchantment. Your experience and comparison to the 7mm Rem Mag was particularly interesting. Your 160 grain Partition 7mm Rem Mag load was about as "Elk" as a load can be assembled. Yet your .25-06 with factory CoreLokt ammo is about as "deer" generic as you will find. All equaled dead elk consistently. Bet those Scots appreciated that loaner rifle and cartridge in a big way.
I have three in 25.06. I totally agree with the commentary. It is absolutely fantastic on roos and any other animal (with the exception of buffaloes).
I can never understand why it is relatively forgotten.
I have been hunting for nearly 40 years and the 25.06 is always my go-to cartridge in Australia.
In 'The Hunting Rifle', Jack O'Connor gives brief mention of the .25/06 as it had not been 'mainstreamed' by Remington at the time of writing, I wish he had written the book a year later! Of course we know his favorite rifles were .270s but he hunted with a wide range of calibers. I stumbled into a Pre-64 Model 70 barreled action in .25/06 on GB and bought it cheap as it had no Trigger Group, Bottom Metal or Stock. Upon receipt, I noted that the barrel was probably unfired. My speculation was that the man who owned the original Winchester was in the middle of rebuilding his rifle to .25/06 when he passed and his family got rid of the barreled action. What happened to the rest of the parts is unknown. I assembled the barreled action into a rifle with original Winchester parts I had on hand then topped it with a Leupold 3x9 and headed to the range. To say the rifle shoots well is an understatement. Just before I took her hunting I went to the range to fire one (1) round to establish how she shot cold. I wanted 2" high at 100 yards. The bullet was 1/4" right of the centerline and on 2". I had no further questions.. That year all I saw was a medium Whitetail Doe and, reluctantly, shot her from about 80 yards and dropped her in her tracks. She is my favorite rifle. O'Connor was pretty blunt about calibers in his book, essentially saying that most 'new' (post 1906) cartridges are simply marketing devices for the gun companies to sell more rifles. He further expounded that the ancient 7x57mm was 'enough gun' for anything short of truly dangerous game. Point being that the .25/06 exceeds the 7x57mm and is just as viable. I simply laugh and sneer at all the new 'wonder cartridges' coming out in 6.5 and 6.8 This, That or TheOther! At some range beyond, in my opinion, about 250 yards for Deer and 350 for Elk, it is no longer 'hunting', it has simply become murdering an animal. Same for shooting one out your back door if you live in the woods: fine for filling the freezer but not really something to boast about. OK, I'm a curmudgeon and proud of it. As I get older I appreciate the classic rifles and cartridges more and more and have no use at all for the modern marvels. But a rifle and the cartridge it shoots is like an auto, barber, whiskey or woman: a man has to pick his own!
Well... I guess I'm not in this boat alone. Welcome aboard, mate!
Thanks for the wonderfully informative video! I have a 25-06 in a Ruger #1 Varmint. I’ve used the rifle on White Tail deer in the Eastern U.S. with success. I hunt from a stand so the added weight of Varmint model is of little consequence. The 25-06 is a fantastic hunting cartridge. I push the Nosler 115grn Ballistic Tip bullet with 53.5grns of Retumbo. Multiple 5 shot groups sub MOA, averaging 3/4”. I have the rifle zeroed at 200 yards. One shot one kill is the only game on the table with the #1. Consequently, 300 yards or less works best for me even though the terminal ballistics are more than adequate out to 400 yards. The last buck harvested with the rifle was at 85 yards and the deer traveled all of 10 yards after being shot. I’ll never sell mine. Thanks again.
Great vid 👍🏼 thanks!
My hunting rifle arsenal consists of 22-250, 25-06 and 30-06. I feel that provides me with something for every occasion in Australia.
Those are the cartridges I am moving towards, only I have a 7 Rem Mag instead of 30-06.
@@chriscosby2459 i
No need for a 30-06 in Texas
The 6 mm Remington too is one I have
Kenny Jarret talked me into the 25-06 and I got my Ruger 77 in 1986, taken many southern deer and hogs with it
I know this is an old video, but really cemented my decision and have no regrets on purchasing I recently purchased the 25-06 in the Browning X-Bolt. Was getting tough to find. I recently found out that Browning is discontinuing that caliber a long with a few others. Luckily I was able to find one. A beautiful white gold medallion in a maple stock. I am a wood stock fan.
I have a .270 really because that was my grandfather’s favorite caliber which I really enjoy shooting. Then I purchased a 300wm which I found a very good deal on and enjoy shooting it as well.
This is when I got the 25-06 it is an absolute dream to shoot.
All of these are in the Browning X-Bolt.
The reason I chose these 3 calibers is they all have been proven time and time again. These new calibers have a long way to go.
Thank you for all the info you give.
When I was a kid, my dad hunted with a 25-06. I'm pretty sure he had one back when it was still a wildcat. I thought it was cool long before I had any idea what cartridges were good for what.
When I decided to get back in to hunting as an adult, I wanted one rifle that would do a wide range of things in the area where I was going to do most of my hunting, west Texas and eastern New Mexico. After a lot of research, I bought a 25-06. That was the first hunting rifle I bought myself. I now have a handful of rifles in different cartridges suitable for deer and pronghorn, but that 25-06 still seems to be the one I grab most often.
A friend of mine had a .257 Weatherby Magnum that he shot long distance with. I bought a 25-06 for myself because I loved what i saw from his 25 caliber round. I instantly fell in love with the 25-06 and have shot deer, coyote and groundhogs with it for a very long time. It's just plain nasty. "When that thing goes off shit happens" as my buddy with the .257 Weatherby used to say. It knocks the crap out of what ever you unleash it on and thats a fact. Thanks for this video and i hope it opens a few eyes about this awesome cartridge.
I used a 25-06 from 1998 for springbok hunts 90gn sierra blitzkings at 3450 f/s 57gn N560 cci200 primers norma brass. Rifle is custom built shillen match ss 26'' barrel RSA single shot target action shoots 5shots 1'' or smaller at 300meters.I have lost count of how many springbok i have taken with this rifle only head or neck shots.In south africa we call it culling of game. The game were used for the meat market if you shot a body shot then the shooter must pay for it . The 25-06 is a winner for this kind of work, shoot 3'' high on 100 meters and 2.5" low at 300meters
I bought a Ruger 77 in .25-06 about 12 years ago and fell in love instantly. It is a killer for sure. My step daughter weighs about 105 lbs and manages the recoil no problem. Very versatile, excellent round.
Great video man I agree with everything you say about shooting animals past 400s I feel that is not hunting
Samuel Berryhill ...agree totally. Beyond that too many variables come into play & leaves too much to chance.
Totally agree
At that point it’s target shooting, seeing how far you can kill an animal from...
You make good videos. I find myself watching more and more of them.Thanks.
JUST WHAT I WANTED TO HERE.COULD NOT HAVE SAID IT ANY BETTER !!!!! I"AM IN THE THE HUNT FOR A 25-06.I ALMOST BOUGHT ONE ABOUT 10 YEARS AGO,AND I LISTENED TO THE HYPE. I HADE A STRONG FEELING THAT IT WAS A GOOD HUNTING CALIBER. LISTEN TO WHAT YOU JUST SAID,RANGE SO TRUE TO ME. I WILL BE GETTING A 25.06.THANKS for your KNOWLEDGE.🎖🎖
My go to gun for whitetail and mule deer. It is truly awesome!
This was incredibly informative. You might have just changed my mind about whether I should purchase I rifle chambered in this round I’ve long been fascinated with, but didn’t know much about.
Great, knowledgable video. Ive used the 2506 on deer, and like any tool, used correctly, it performed flawlessly. Thank you for putting it together
I think the 6.5 swede is just as underrated and probably even more so.
It is very popular in military rifle competition. More accurate and less recoil than most military cartridges.
I think it benefits from being a classic military rifle Mauser if I'm not mistaken so you'll have Mauser collectors after it also people who are interested in the history of a 6.5 Creedmoor and 65 cartridges I wouldn't quite call it under appreciated
greg, I agree. I have a Carl Gustav M96 (1912 receiver date) customized into a beautiful hunting rifle in 2000 and have taken many many deer and hog here in Texas with it. I would put its accuracy up against any modern expensive rifle today and most likely out shoot that rifle. 3 shot holes touching is common for this rifle. I like to tell folks I've been shooting a 6.5 Creedmoor for 20 years lol. The liability issue with the old receivers is what kept the Swede back. I don't reload and no need. Federal Power Shok 140gr Moly coated and Nosler 140gr Accubond do just fine at 2600fps.
@Joakim Henrikson 6.5x55 är snart ute ur klass 1 ligan tror jag tyvärr. Jag använder 25-06 på tjäder och kolla in den här videon för handladdnings tips.
I agree. The only problem with 6.5x55 is its not chambered in newer rifles. I've been looking at 6.5 Creedmoor as an alternative as it closely duplicates the Swede and is readily available in newer rifles. I always wanted a 6.5x55 though.
Thank you very much for this VERY informative video!!
I now know what my next hunting rifle will be ! I primarily hunt whitetails here in NC and I think it’ll be perfect 😀
I bought two quarter bores recently. A 1956 REM 722, in 257 Roberts and a Sako A7 Coyote in 25/06.
I didn’t care for it early on because of blood shot but when Barnes xbullets came along it makes it a whole different rifle
This is exactly what I keep telling everyone. The new monolithic bullets put deer down quick, but don't destroy meat.
Excellent video. Showing the 25-06 some love. In fact, for those that know how to tweak it with reloads customized to their rifle, it's an outstanding performer.
What an outstanding video!! Loved the animations, facts, and conviction of your opinion. Great work!
GOOD STUFF! 25-06 HAS BEEN ON MY LIST FOR A WHILE NOW. I LOOKED AT ONE NOT LONG AGO. THE SALESMAN LIKED THAT I WAS INTERESTED IN THE CALIBER (OLDER GUY) SAID "I HAVE 19 DEER ON THE SAME 25-06".
Yep, it really is the best cartridge for animals in its class. All of the .25s are awesome, but 25-06 has more ummph than the 257 Roberts, yet doesn't recoil and burn barrels like the 257 Weatherby. Its perfect!
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 that cause .25-06 is a .257 Robert's in a .30-06 casing. More powder pushing it.
@@usa-rb5fi if you don’t hand load the 257 Roberts is worthless! You can still find a bunch of good fast factory loads for the 25/06! You can’t find much for the Roberts
My cousin hunted with one for more than 40 years. He used it on his farms in South Africa and when he became a PH later in his life. Used it on everything except dangerous game. I shot a lot of game with his 25-06 and everything went down fast and hard. My next rifle will be in 25-06.
My first rifle was a 243 as a kid then my dad told me one day “I’ve been saving this hidden gem for you” and gave me a wood stock browning 25-06 with a box of shells thanks dad
Thanks for your great review and endorse of the 25-06. I've been a huge fan of this cartridge for years. I have one with a 26" barrel and another with a 22" barrel. Both are very effective.
Awesome video, I had a T/c encore years ago and I loved it. My friend's wife has shot several cow elk with her ruger m77 in 25-06. It's all about shot placement
I actually really like the 117 grain Hornady SST. My rifle would throw a .25 to half inch groups at 200 yards. I had them loaded with AA4350.
Come on now. A Quarter to 1/ 2 inch at 200. Highly doubt it.
Also, people go on about 'short action' being more desirable than 'long action'. WHY? So they don't have to move the bolt a few more millimetres? A long action rifle looks far more classic and elegant.
Also a long narrow cartridge gives you a larger magazine in a slimmer package.
I agree. I've always said that a man should cycle the bolt like he has a pair and short action rifles would be forgotten.
I agree. I love my 300 Win Mag and 270W, and very little compares to either.
Had deer rifles in 3006,7x57,308,223,243,303,300blk and 44mag over 50 years. Two years ago started with a 2506. Great calibre, love the light recoil and flat trajectory. Nice calibre to shoot and deadly on deer.
Nosler partition is my choice , it shoot's dime size 5 shot groups in my 1903 A-3 and the cavity upset on game has always been a devastating 1 shot kill . Seriously , if your a reloader and haven't tried Nosler partition , YOU Should !
My dad had a custom 2506 built back in the early 1930s,he really loved it,My nephew has it now . It had a 26 inch barrel was truly a game killer and my dad he had taken had taken many elk and deer here in Idaho with it. I have one today in Remington model 700 with a 26 inch barrel, very accurate and pleasant to shoot, made a 674 yard shot and instant kill on an elk . For deer and Antelope size game it is tremendous.
I've watched many of your videos. Keep up the good work.
My dad bought one in the 80’s and I followed suit soon after (browning BBR and a S&W 1500). We have never lost a deer with them and there is very little recoil. We really like the 120 grain Winchester positive expanding point. Great deer rifle you can’t go wrong with this cartridge
Thanks I enjoyed the video
Great video highlighting the attributes of the 25-06.
Excelent information about this cardtrige. Thanks and regards!
The only (and I mean ONLY) reason I use a 270 for deer and antelope out here in eastern Colorado rather than a 25-06 is because I currently don’t own a 25-06. Looking to remedy that in the near future.
Thanks for setting the record straight on BC and terminal performance.
Love this caliber. My 2nd fave
I agree, just took a nice 8 point whitetail deer yesterday morning with mine at 300 yards. I shoot 117 grain Hornady SST ammo. It's a target rifle, 26" heavy tapered barrel. Great video!
Great comments! As you say, it's results that count. I have a 25-06 with a 26" barrel and love it.
I have a 25-06 in Sako A7 soft touch. Excellent gun for whitetail and great for smaller shooters. Last years whitetail didnt take a step, broke through the ribcage, passed through and broke the shoulder blade on the other side.
Best true video I’ve watched. Love the 25-06 with 100 gr Barnes TTSX
You sir are the man,this is a great video👊✊👊
keyboard commandos !! Love it ! Thank You for your straight forward information. I always wanted a 25-06
I love my 25-06…I had it bulit on the Mauser Action with a Douglas barrel over 50 years ago and I just shot another buck 4 days ago over 200 yards with the old Hornady 120 gr H-P, can’t find these bullets anymore, glad I stocked up on them….never shot a factory load in this gun….Great Video !!!
Great video! I own 3 and if I had to choose one gun out of my collection the 25-06 would be it. Mine are Ruger’s and I truly love them!
Amen brother ! Ballistic coefficient DOESN’T TAKE GAME and everything you’ve said I agree with you 100% !!! Great video and the absolute truth !
Thank you - nicely done ...
I've been a fan of the quarter bores for my whole life. The 257 Roberts, 25-06 and 257 Weatherby mag I have used on varmints to large mule deer. My favorite hands down is the 25-06.
Great video and synopsis. I had used a borrowed rifle (HIS idea) on a Tx state ‘cull’ hunt some years back and had NO idea of the capabilities of the Rem 700 .25-06 BDL I was hunting with. The hunt was marginally successful as I was the only one that had taken a deer BUT was I a believer in that .25-06 caliber! Flat-shooting and accurate with little-to-no recoil, I was SO impressed and have always ‘planned on’ getting one some day. My go-to is (and always has been) a Winchester .270 (Featherweight model)...EXCEPT for THIS season. I opted to take out my M1A and besides it being a HEAVY rifle, it was great to use it besides bench/target shooting.
Great video. Very informative.
Great video, and I agree with almost everything you said. I've had several 25-06's and my favorite gun to take to the woods is my Sako A7 25-06. I hand load, and have had wonderful success in hogs and deer using Berger VLD Hunting. I know they started out as target bullet, but they perform very well on hogs. I've kill well over 100 with no issues. I even convince a good friend who was a diehard .270 fan to switch to the .25-06.
It’s a pleasure to see this videos whit really good information and facts thank you
Great video sir. On point the whole time.
I’ve had a 25-06 for years and it’s always been insanely deadly, the weight range is insane 75-120 grains, pushing 75 grain bullets around 3800 fps it’s about the best prairie dog/varmint round on earth. 22-250 has nothing on the 25-06. But if you step up to 100 grain bullets it’s insanely effective on larger game, I’ve taken several massive pigs many deer with 100 grain Speer hot cores and it drops them in there tracks, never exits but turns the insides into jelly, the last two bucks I’ve shot had the same result busted through the shoulders and completely blew the heart apart to the point where it was just a bunch of mush
Great video and you’re spot on with your choice of game for the 25-06. I’ve always liked the 280 Remington for antelope and deer, but have killed antelope with the 25-06 as well. I think the 25-06 and 280 will always play second fiddle to the 270.Take care and good luck on future hunts!
Excellent info, thank you
The 25-06 is my favorite rifle and great for shooting from ladder stands.
I use a Tikka for walking around and a M70 for stands
I have owned and fired quite a few 25-06s through the years and have found 117 grain Hornady to be the most accurate factory load.Ground hogs at 400 yards are no problem .And the dozen or so deer I have killed with mine have dropped hard.But I myself have also always wondered why it doesnt get more recognition.
Great video. I'm a 25 guy, never owned a 25-06 though I shoot most everything with a 257 Roy, and also have a 250 Savage. I've shot 25 cal since I was 7yrs old when my dad bought me the 250 Savage at 7yrs old. I'm 55 now. Sure I have other rifles and have used them as well, and I always come back to my 25's. Some day soon I hope to get a 25-06 to be my medium 25.
I like the way you think. I agree that the 25-06 needs a long barrel to get that velocity up for those slow burning powders.
That being said if you want to haul around a gun with a shorter barrel AND you hand load, then the 257 Roberts is another viable option that gives you the same attributes as the 25-06. Off the shelf 257 Roberts, even the +P stuff, doesn’t allow you to get those velocities with a shorter barrel.
The 25-06 has been a favorite of mine for more than 20 years so no fear of overbore for me. I have nothing against large BC rounds and have them but it doesn't negate my appreciation for the 25 cal.
I just subscribed! I been telling people this for a while now. Everybody is on the 6.5 bandwagon!! If you’re shooting paper a 1000 yards away go for it, but any common big bore round will kill effectively at hunting ranges! 243 to 300 win mag will all kill effectively on medium to large size game. Thank you sir for this video.
Still have the 700 ADL I bought when I was 18 years old. Also have a Forbes 24B now. Love the round.
I bought an ADL 25-06 at 18 also. I have dozens of rifles but still my go to deer rifle. It's ugly as hell but still shoots. I also have a heavy barreled custom 25-06 my Uncle gave me. It is a fantastic coyote gun.
I have been hunting with a 25-06 for the last 30 years!
I've dropped more than one moose and elk with this caliber. 120 grain Grand Slam. All under 500 yards. Good reload, and shot placement.
Excellent review! Thank you.
.25-06 with 115 Nosler partitions is absolute king !
Well done video, thanks 👍😎
Love the 25-06. Great flat shooting deer cartridge without much recoil.
Another great video, keep up the good work :)
Dude 25-06 is the best deer caliber ever I love mine
Spot on video. Great round for deer sized animals. Anything based on the 30/06 case is hard to beat.
I agree its the most underrated cartridge. Its an awesome round. Wish I had never sold my old Savage 110 .25-06. I miss that rifle like you would not believe. I used to shoot it all day long on the gun range when I wasn't hunting with it. Its recoil was not that bad at all contrary to what some may believe. If the ammo manufacturers had supplied a wider range of bullets and weights it would have gone farther than it did. It has better ballistics than the vaunted and much publicized .270 Rifleman's round. I agree it does all those things. Flat shooting, low recoil, and hard hitting. I also agree its all marketing ploys to push what the gun and ammo manufacturers want to push rather than what shooters and hunters want. Winchester out marketed Remington and the .25-06 with the .270. Not because the .270 was the better round as the ballistics proved. The .25-06 is for sure a deer cartridge first and foremost. I used the Nosler Partition for deer and Nosler Ballistic Tip for varmints. Unfortunately I see a lot of gun manufacturers dropping the .25-06 from their available cartridge lists of their new rifles. I need to get another .25-06 and sell my .22-250 to get it. I like the .22-250 but I can do so much more with the .25-06. Thanks for sharing. Great video.
I love mine. I originally bought it for my wife. It's an older Remington 700 model. (I kept it in the divorce.) After I floated and glassed the barrel. I now have a 200 yard zero with Federal Fusion, 120 grain. A 3 shot that can be covered with a quarter. And the same with Horady SST, 117 grain. The 3 grain difference is an 1/8 inch.
I have dropped deer from 40 yards, out to 165. It's my go to for deer here in East and West Texas. Varmints are next.
Thanks for the video on it.
Great review!! I've had a Rem 700 25-06 since the late 1960's. Still my favorite deer and antelope cartridge. Over 30 kills and no lost animals. It's just a great cartridge.
Absolutely agree with you. The 25 caliber family is very underated. I'm a huge fan of the 257 Bob and the 25-06. Might even try out a 257 Weatherby magnum some day. Thanks for the great video
I am not a fan of Roy Weatherby's cartridges at all; EXCEPT for the 257 Weatherby. These 25-caliber cartridges just seem to get better and better with velocity, and the recoil remains very light. The 257 Weatherby was Roy's greatest creation.
@@desertdogoutdoors1113 Supposedly it was his favorite cartridge.
Been shooting a bull barrel Ruger 77, top tang safety for 40 years...will continue to do so. Between it and an iron sight Winchester 30-30, all whitetail bases are covered.
Great advice. Thanks
Great info. I love the 25-06. I just love small bore calibers.
Thanks, good info that I needed right now.
love the videos!
Very useful information thank you