As usual, hunters are passionate when defending their particular chambering as the panacea in a given situation. Sometimes this passion overrules common sense. The 25-06 is a fine chambering, which has undoubtedly killed all the various species of NA game, including many that are capable of biting back. That being said, it lacks bullet weight for deep penetration through tough tissue and bone. A quality bullet mitigates this somewhat. I have shot several moose with chamberings that I will not, and do not, consider the ideal choice for moose. This includes the 6mm Remington and the 257 Roberts. However, when you have a one of these lighter offerings in your hand, and a moose [or elk] appears and gives you an ideal presentation, are you likely to pass the shot up? ---Not me!! This is one of the reasons why I always shoot a premium bullet in all chamberings when hunting. They give the "edge" when a larger, legal animal appears. In short, I do not consider the 25-06 an ideal moose chambering, but would not pass up a moose just because that was what I had in my hand at the time. Restraint may be needed if the shot is outside of 300 yards, or the presentation is iffy. JMHO, Eagleye.
25/06 for moose
- Thread starter triton
- Start date
I agree 100%. Why bother taking the .25 if you have better choices in the safe?
In Ontario, where I have to travel 16-20hrs (3500km round trip) to get an adult tag, take 8-10 days vacation time, and spend lots of $$ on fuel, food, etc, I'm not taking the marginal cartridge.
Ok but if your hunting deer in a area where elk or moose season overlap why take your 243 or 2506 and leave the bigger rifle at home? Take the bigger rifle just in case. I just feel for the average joe it isn't a good idea.
Not saying it cant be done.. I'm sure there's some guys on these forums who have the self control to wait for the perfect shot and know what they're doing. I just don't think it should be suggested, if your one of those guys with the experience and self control to make marginal rounds work you dont need to ask on the interweb if it will. Don't need average joe out hunting moose and elk with his coyotte/deer rifle!
Not saying it cant be done.. I'm sure there's some guys on these forums who have the self control to wait for the perfect shot and know what they're doing. I just don't think it should be suggested, if your one of those guys with the experience and self control to make marginal rounds work you dont need to ask on the interweb if it will. Don't need average joe out hunting moose and elk with his coyotte/deer rifle!
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- Location
- WMU248 near Edmonton
when I do get a moose tag I take the 300WM it kills deer just fine, once the moose is down I'll put away the 300 and continue hunting with the 25-06.
There is nothing that says that you can only have one gun back in camp. Not unusual for me to have 2-3 rifles while hunting in camp and another backup truck gun.
(one might break)
I'm not a ballistic expert or whatever so I will take your word for it. My experience is that they do a lot more damage - visible to the eye in a postmortem.
That is because you have no visual experience as what a real big bore can do....were not talking 45/70 here.
The 25-06 may look destructive in a deer (a fist sized hole looks big on deer vitals), but put the same bullet in a big moose and the vital damage looks decidedly unimpressive....At least it does to me.
In my limited experience (with 25-06 and large game) the hole starts out big then quickly tapers to (expanded) bullet diameter.
A big bore (such as Boomer describes) will turn everything inside to gallons of lumpy Borscht as well as smash a 6-8 inch "pipe" end to end through the animal. With a 416 (a medium bore by big bore standards) there is no gutting of the chest cavity only trimming and draining.... How is that for a visual?
There is no substitute for a real Nitro Express big bore....It must be seen to be appreciated.
That you compare the 25-06 with one of these monsters is well....Fairly priceless
Not at all!!!!
I have taken three adult moose with a 25-06, and the lungs were destroyed in every one with no bullet recovery. No different than two others I shot in the past( one with a 280, one with a 35 Whelen). It may not be everyones cup of tea, but it works for me.
I see this thread lining up two ways.
Those who have shoot moose with a 25'06, and can comment on it's performance.
And those who have never shot a moose with a 25'06, and want to impress their knowledge on the matter from that perspective.
Very interesting.
Those who have shoot moose with a 25'06, and can comment on it's performance.
And those who have never shot a moose with a 25'06, and want to impress their knowledge on the matter from that perspective.
Very interesting.
Pathfinder
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Northeast Ontario
No doubt it works, ive had an old timer tell me that he's taken all his moose with a .243, Another was telling me about the kills with his 44-40 . Moose tend to become very sick when you shoot a hole in their lung (s).
If its all you have than go for it, Its hard enough for me to get a Tag up here some no way Ill be chucking 25 cal bullets at moose If I ever get drawn again.
Each to their own.
If its all you have than go for it, Its hard enough for me to get a Tag up here some no way Ill be chucking 25 cal bullets at moose If I ever get drawn again.
Each to their own.
I agree with Eagleye. Were it the only caliber with me, I wouldn't be passing up the shot. My preferred choice? No, but I wouldn't feel outgunned and would have to be careful of shot placement, distance to target and angulation to the vitals. Were my 7, 30-06, 300rum, or 300wm available to me in a mixed hunt (possibilities of bear, moose, deer and elk) as most of MY hunts are, then my 25-06 would be spending a little more time in my safe. I normally use my 300rum with the power level 1, 11, and 111 cartridges as that covers me over a wide ballistics spectrum without overdoing it when on a deer only hunt.
Good hunting!
Seems those who use the 25'06 like em a lot, while those who have zero to limited experience with the cartridge seem to have the biggets un founded opinions.
Can one person give me an account where the 25'06 let them down on a moose?
I agree that it certainly is'nt even my first to grab rifle when intentionally going after moose, but I've yet to here a bonifide claim that it has ever failed miserable when pressed into service as a moose slayer.
Can one person give me an account where the 25'06 let them down on a moose?
I agree that it certainly is'nt even my first to grab rifle when intentionally going after moose, but I've yet to here a bonifide claim that it has ever failed miserable when pressed into service as a moose slayer.
