25-06 or 7mm-08 for deer rifle

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baindoor

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Hi all,

First, I'm new here, good site with lots of information. I'd appreciate any opinions on my dilema below.

I am looking for help deciding which calibre/cartridge to get in my deer rifle. I'm currently in living in Ontario but I will be moving back to BC sometime in the next couple of years. Obviously I'd like to get a cartridge/rifle that will be effective in both areas.

I have narrowed the choice to two: 25-06 and 7mm-08. Both have relatively low recoil (a definite requirement), long shooting, relatively flat trajectory, plenty of retained energy for deer, adequate factory ammo available (I don't reload).

For the rifle, I'm pretty sure on a Savage synthetic (stainless or blued -- not sure). Both cartridges are only available in a 22" barrel.

So I break it down like this:

Trajectory: 25-06 is ~ 1.5-2" lower at 400 yards
Bullet energy down range: 7mm-08
Noise: 7mm-08
Recoil: =
Velocity loss in a 22" barrel: 7mm-08

Now at first glance, the answer is the 7mm-08 as it is only behind in one category. However, I like a flat shooter so those extra couple of inches at 400 yards is holding me back. The shorter (than 24") barrel may also affect the 25-06 more than the 7mm-08 -- velocity loss and increased muzzle blast.

I'm interested to hear what people have to write about the barrel length and overall choice of cartridges...

Please no suggestions of other cartridges (haha). Thanks in advance.
 
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they're both fine. I have yet to add a 25-06 to the farm, but I have a feeling a Savage 112BVSS is not far away. There's no way I'd get a 22" 25-06 though, wicked muzzle blast

Still, for deer, for me, it's gotta be 7mm08. Forget the trajectory, you won't notice a difference under real world conditions.
 
25-06

I own a 25-06 and what a great deer rifle but i have 4 other rifles to hunt larger game with, if you ever plan on larger game i would go with the 7-08 otherwise i like the 25-06 for deer. You can't go wrong with either as stated by (captonion).
 
25-06 is a great deer rifle... but a 7mm-08 has more energy and better/heavier bullet selection. These are not bad things... there is no such thing as too much gun.
 
My situation duplicates NAA's - 3 of the 7mm-08 can't be wrong. I won't comment on the 25-06 as I've never shot or owned one.
 
7mm-08

Hi, never had a 25-06, but had a few 7mm-08's. Traded them in for a .260 Remington, she's right in the middle of all that. Heavier bullet than the 25 and better (slight) trajectories over the 7mm-08. The .260 is just a hair behind a .270 (and in short action), so how can you go wrong.:redface:

Sorry to throw one more in the mix :D :D :D

If you were sticking with your two choices....7mm-08 in my opinion, more bullets to pick from.

Arch:)
 
Both are good calibers, but I'd split the diff and buy a 270Win.

Isn't there a caliber restriction in S.Ont. that only allows .277 and under?





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SuperCub said:
Both are good calibers, but I'd split the diff and buy a 270Win.

Isn't there a caliber restriction in S.Ont. that only allows .277 and under?

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Click to expand...

Not if there is a rifle season for deer. That rule onlyaplies in specific areas for small game.



I say get both. 7mm-08 and a .257bob.(classier than the -06)
 
25 06 will flatten anything that you point it at, within reason. I have no problem with it for deer, elk or moose. It will drop deer so quick that by the time you blink after firing it, you better remember where the deer was standing, or you will be looking around for it. Check out the 700 remington's, or a ruger. You will not be disapointed with the performance. 120 grainers work real well in them, and I have shot many deer with the 100 grain as well.They don't even take a step.I have had 3 25 06 rifles, and now have # 4 in a ruger #1 stainless. Love em.
 
Baindoor, If it's a deer rifle you are after IMO the 7-08 would be a better choice. The 25-06 is a good combination cartridge but I think it works best with a 24"+ barrel making it a bit harder to use in the bush. And we all know where the big ones live. My suggestion would be a 7-08 ( or 308 ) in a BLR and most of all shoot it and when it becomes natural shoot it more. Get out to the gun shows and look at what is available in the styles and types you are thinking about, then buy new or used. The best thing about this process is that baindoor, you are going to get a new rifle, and we all would like to be in your shoes.
257 Roberts
 
Choice

Baindoor, as an avid 25-06 fan and a passionate observer of all my buds with 25-06 guns most with shorter barrels than the optimum 24inch, all of our deer are just as quickly dispatched with our 22 inch barrels. Federal offers a number of quality bullets for deer hunting, my fav is the Nosler partition in 115 grains. My first 25-06 was a Stevens at $350.00 a minimum investment for a rifle that shoots very well, also available in 7-08. The biggest factor in getting a new rifle as a beginer is lots of practice at the range.
I was looking at the exact comparison between calibers that you are looking at, and I quite enjoy shooting the 25-06. You can easily shoot off a box of 20 at the range with no ill effects on your shoulder, and I have a bad right shoulder.FS
 
Thanks everyone, great information. I have to say I'm leaning towards the 7mm-08 more. For me, the velocity loss and extra muzzle blast from a 22" barrel of the 25-06 outweight its advantages in trajectory. Really, for me, the cartridges are for all intents and purposes virtually the same.

Any other opinions on barrel length and the 25-06?

I'm pretty sure that either way I'll be happy...
 
That inch at 400 yards is meaningless. Period. First, your range estimate must be spot-on (so you need a laser rangefinder) and any wind, cold, heat, updraft or downdraft will make that theoretical difference zero.
I don't own either cartridge, but I'd love to have either. I'd probably pick the 7mm-08 as first choice, but strictly as a reflex, not for any logical reason. Win-win. Sounds like a great problem to have! Enjoy your rifle no matter what flavour.
 
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