.25-06 vs 7mm .08? Which to buy?

[manbearpig]

i used to fret about buying a long action, but its really no big deal. my short action 700s are 5 1/2" receiver length, the long action is 6 1/4". so 3/4", pfft.

besides, look how intimidating long action cartridges look
the older groundhogs die of a heart attack when they merely see them.

 

[bogie]

I have a Ruger 77mkII that is giving me moa at 200m with handloads. About 4yrs old and stainless/lam in 30-06.

 

[Jordan Smith]

This is a .25-06 that can blow up a 4-liter milk jug full of water at 800 yards every time. The balance of the rifle is amazing. The gun is lightweight and great for hiking in the mountains, but accurate enough for long-range shooting across the prairies.

You won't go wrong with the T3 in Lam/SS, but you also won't go wrong with the Ruger, it's just a different rifle with different characteristics than the Tikka. The Ruger is heavier, CRF, and more rugged. The Tikka is more refined, lighter weight, typically more accurate (although the Rugers are no slouch in the accuracy category, either!), and the action is extremely slick if that matters to you.

 

[Legs in the Air]

just thought id show you what a real rifle looked like. note the complete lack of plastic and manufacturing shortcuts (making all rifles a long action with a bolt stop, no recoil lug, etc etc).

yes the Tikka is accurate - guess what? so are Rugers and Remingtons and Savages. you can expect more for your money.

the Ruger M77 MkII Target is available in .25-06 for $870 at LeBarons, in Target Grey stainless.

Nice rifle. I have this model in 22-250. It's accurate but it is heavy. Almost ten pounds before you add optics.

 

[proonur]

I want to like Rem 700 rifles--- I really do!--- but I'm a Tikka and Browning guy all the way. The insistence on 90 degree bolt throws turns me off as do the internal magazines (yes I know the SPS has a detach mag but most other 700s don't). I definitely respect the 700 because of its longevity and ability to shoot well, but I guess the beauty is that there really is a rifle out there for everyone... beauty is truly in the eye of the beholder.
BTW, I agree that CZ rifles are very nice too--- love those set triggers!

 

[jaycee]

Tikka laminate/stainless all the way - most rifle for the money anywhere.

I love my Tikka 7-08.

 

[manbearpig]

The insistence on 90 degree bolt throws turns me off as do the internal magazines (yes I know the SPS has a detach mag but most other 700s don't).

i used to prefer detachable mags on my hunting rifles as well, until i realized that you can load a hinged floorplate gun way faster by just dumping the rounds in from the bottom. for a hunting/varmint rifle id pick a hinged floorplate over a DM.

since bolt smoothness came up -- i forgot to mention earlier that the Ruger's Mauser style bolt is intentionally a bit loose so as to be reliable in mud and snow, not just when squeaky clean.

 

[NAA]

7mm-08

I'd go 7mm-08...

NAA.

 

[Twisted Canuck]

What are you looking at for Optics?

I have a brand new in box, Bausch & Lomb Elite 4200 (older manufacture, Japanese glass, but NIB), 4-16 x 50mm.....I like the Rainguard. Also has the long threaded sun shade....That's why I need to buy another rifle, wouldn't want a good scope like that sitting in the closet!

Jordan S, that is a fine looking rifle and the one that I have been ogling the hardest. I do like the balance and refinement of the action....I guess I've really made up my mind before I started the thread (.25-06, T3 Lam/SS), but wanted to hear from those that have a bit more experience. Seems like a respectable set up.

Is my choice of optics about right, seems like a good combo for that rifle?

 

[manbearpig]

I have a brand new in box, Bausch & Lomb Elite 4200 (older manufacture, Japanese glass, but NIB), 4-16 x 50mm.....I like the Rainguard. Also has the long threaded sun shade....That's why I need to buy another rifle, wouldn't want a good scope like that sitting in the closet!

heh, i have the exact same scope on my .25-06, on a Farrel Industries 20 MOA rail with low Leupold QRW mounts. the gun is a Remington 700 SPS SS bedded in an HS Precision Sendero stock.

 

[Twisted Canuck]

heh, i have the exact same scope on my .25-06, on a Farrel Industries 20 MOA rail with low Leupold QRW mounts. the gun is a Remington 700 SPS SS bedded in an HS Precision Sendero stock.

Did you get yours for $350? Seemed like a pretty good price! I also got a NIB B&L 4200 2-10 x 40mm from the same gent, in silver, sitting on top of my .17 hmr...for $285.

That was with shipping...... I love the internet.

 

[manbearpig]

no, i bought mine a couple years ago secondhand but in like new cond for around $425 (cant recall)
its this one here:
http://www.adorama.com/BS424165M.html

 

[Twisted Canuck]

That's the one! Great optics, and like I said earlier, that rainguard feature is awesome!

 

[Jordan Smith]

I have a brand new in box, Bausch & Lomb Elite 4200 (older manufacture, Japanese glass, but NIB), 4-16 x 50mm.....I like the Rainguard. Also has the long threaded sun shade....That's why I need to buy another rifle, wouldn't want a good scope like that sitting in the closet!

Jordan S, that is a fine looking rifle and the one that I have been ogling the hardest. I do like the balance and refinement of the action....I guess I've really made up my mind before I started the thread (.25-06, T3 Lam/SS), but wanted to hear from those that have a bit more experience. Seems like a respectable set up.

Is my choice of optics about right, seems like a good combo for that rifle?

Yup, sounds good! That should be a great long-range/varmint setup!

I took an inch off the stock of my rifle because my LOP was shorter than the rifle in factory condition, so my Burris FFII Tactical in 3-9x40 sits beautifully on the rifle and the balance is superb. I imagine the slightly longer and heavier scope that you're installing will give the rifle a slight muzzle bias, which is offset by the longer butt stock. It should balance about like mine does

 

[qd-ziggy]

I shoot 25-06in a tikka t-3 other 1/2 shooots 7mm-08tikka t-3.no complaints about either .I reload so ammo avail is usually not a problem .the 25-06 is an easier find around here in rural sask.than the 7mm08.
both have been used on elk,white tail,mule deer,yoties and even gophers with success.
you said in first post you confuse easy .it is very easy to grab 7mm-08 and fire out of 308.by accident .My 7&8 yr. old nephews fire both off the bench

 

[Twisted Canuck]

I shoot 25-06in a tikka t-3 other 1/2 shooots 7mm-08tikka t-3.no complaints about either .I reload so ammo avail is usually not a problem .the 25-06 is an easier find around here in rural sask.than the 7mm08.
both have been used on elk,white tail,mule deer,yoties and even gophers with success.
you said in first post you confuse easy .it is very easy to grab 7mm-08 and fire out of 308.by accident .My 7&8 yr. old nephews fire both off the bench

Ummm, I don't confuse easily enough to mix ammunition in my firearms. I actually said that more to keep the thread on topic (two calibres in consideration) and not end up talking about every wildcat cartridge under the sun and why it is the best....and you accomodated that nicely by giving your firsthand info on both the cartridges and the rifle that I am favoring. Thanks for the input.

 

[freezer filler]

Like you I'm looking to fill the gap between the 17hmr and for me 7mm-08. I'm thinking .243 dont know if it was brought up on here yet . My father and grandfather both used this caliber for deer and all around everthing gun. there is a much better bullet selection then the .25 and you get the short action.

 

[burroak]

A choice between 7mm-08 and 25-06?

.240 = 6mm .243 or 6mm Rem
.250 = 6.25mm 25-06, etc
.260 = 6.5mm 6.5 x 55, etc
.270 = 6.8mm .270 (06 case)
.280 = 7mm 7mm-08, etc
One millimetre difference between them all.

I went with a .270 because:
I can buy ammo anywhere,
I can buy Remington Managed Recoil ammo, not available for the 25-06, that's about the equivalent of 6.5x55 out to 300 yards and that anyone's shoulder can shoot and,
because the .270 is a bigger case than '08 and with Hornady SuperPerformance ammo becomes the equivalent of a 7mm RemMag, or more.

I went with a TC Venture because:
It has a 5R rifled barrel and guaranteed moa accuracy,
has a 24" barrel to make use of long action case volume,
is reasonably light for a 24" barrel,
has a 60 degree bolt lift,
detachable clip,
very smooth action,
is cheaper than Tikka and "felt" better (not that I disliked the Tikka, at all).

And I went with a Vortex 3.5-10 x 50 scope with minimum 92% light transmission, because I liked it better than the Bushnell 3200 of the same capability when compared side by side.

That said, if limited to the 25-06 and 7mm-08, I'd go with the 7mm-08 because, like the .270, it has a wider range of ammo available.

IIRC, in a tikka the short action case doesn't really make a difference, you're still stroking the bolt long action...

 

[1899]

Without a doubt I'd go with a 25-06 - it is a great all-rounder. Barnes was showing a load on their website with the 85gr TTSX @ 3800fps out of a 24" barrel. I've shot deer and boar with the old 75gr X bullet - a much inferior design and far poorer BC - out of a .257 Wby and the results were very good indeed.

Then again you could go with a 120gr A-Frame and be very happy too - even on Moose.

Or anywhere in between. Low recoil, flat trajectory and good killing power. What more could a fellow ask for in a varmint/deer rifle?

 

[Jordan Smith]

IIRC, in a tikka the short action case doesn't really make a difference, you're still stroking the bolt long action...

Not really. The rifle is a long-action, yes. It is no lighter than the same gun chambered for a LA cartridge, true. But the SA version has a bolt stop, so you're not actually stroking the bolt long-action.