25-06 or 7mm-08 for deer rifle

The .25-06 does nothing the .270 can't do just as well with bigger bullets. It's quite a bit overbore, so you're burning lots of powder to no velocity benefit, and giving up all the benefits of heavier projectiles in the bargain. The one advantage it has over everything else in the -06 family is recoil. Those little bullets don't kick much.

The 7mm-08 is a sweet cartridge, one of the most efficient designs around, and with 7mm you're getting access to a much larger selection of bullets than with the .257 bore. I'd feel comfortable using one on coyotes, whitetail, mulies, all the way up through elk and moose. Get one and don't look back;-)
 
You said:"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)."good for you for chosing a calibre with low recoil. Good for you for chosing an appropriate size calibre too.Either one will be a great gun. Under real life conditions, you will never notice 2" at 300yds. If you want my opinion, I have both calibres in several different guns. If my house were on fire and I only had time to grab one of the rifles I would grab the 7mm-08.
 
how much more powder would you be using with the 25-06 compared to the
7oh8? (if you plan to reload in the future?)

Can the same weight of bullets be used in both rifles? I have never looked at what the recipes are for a 25-06. (just a curious question.)

The 25-06 seems a little boring to me, I would sooner pick up a .257. I would choose a 7mm08 over the 257 if thats what it came down to.

Not many people know what 7mm08 is, and you can have one to impress them!
 
25-06 uses about 50-58 grains of powder with most loads, and most bullet weights top out at 120 grains, which can be pushed to about 3050-3100 fps, about the same as a 7mm-08 can push a 120
 
By the looks of the replies, had this been put to a poll, the 7mm-08 would have won hands down...and rightfully so. The choice is simple.
 
gth said:
but the 7mm-08 does it with 15-20 % less powder.
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I figured it would be something close to that. Im not sure about most of you, but I wouldnt be trying to drop a bullwinkle with a 120 grain bullet. 7mm08 best of both worlds. deer and the mooses:)

If we ever got a draw up our way for elk I think I would pass on my 30-06 and bring along the 7mm08. That little 7 can hold its own.
 
I'd definetely re-think that powder burner. The 7mm-08 is a good round, no question. I've taken a lot of elk, all bulls except for my first cow this past season. Elk are tough critters, your '06 IMHO is a better choice.
 
I know what you are getting at gitrdun, but some people also use a 243 on elk, and others think whitetails are really tough.

My dad dropped an elk with his blr 308.(150grain winchester soft point in the white box) how much different can the 7mm08 be?
 
gitrdun said:
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.
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Just the oposite for me! I've owned three in 26-06, but I can not think of anything negative about the 7mm-08, in fact I also know someone who bought three of em. Why don't you make it your goal to own one of each?
 
25-06

its up to you but if i were to buy one i would take the 06 because if your up in the boonies you probally won't be finding any bullets for your 7m. thats my past experience with uncommon calibers. but even the 25-06 is a hard one to find sometimes. best of luck but i love a 60gr out of a 25-06 for yotes lol. happy hunting.
 
Covey, I should have phrased my wording a bit better. I was addressing PowderBurner and meant that the 30-06 that "he" speaks of, not the 25-06 is a better choice for elk. So to clear it up, the 7mm-08 is a better choice than the 25-06, but the 30-06 has the edge over the 7mm-08, again only my opinion. Just get a .338WM and be done with it.

Edited: in this post since the 30-06 has been entered into the conversation, we need to clearly define "06 as either the 25 cal or the 30 cal. The original question spoke of the 25-06 and the 7mm-08
 
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guido said:
I have a 30-06 and a 25-06 so i have no reason to have a 7, I don't think
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I can not think of a reason not have one of each or at least get around to trying one of each. One man, one of each and be faithfull. No such rule on guns!:dancingbanana:
 
gitrdun said:
Covey, I should have phrased my wording a bit better. I was addressing PowderBurner and meant that the 30-06 that "he" speaks of, not the 25-06 is a better choice for elk. So to clear it up, the 7mm-08 is a better choice than the 25-06, but the 30-06 has the edge over the 7mm-08, again only my opinion. Just get a .338WM and be done with it.

Edited: in this post since the 30-06 has been entered into the conversation, we need to clearly define "06 as either the 25 cal or the 30 cal. The original question spoke of the 25-06 and the 7mm-08
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gitrdun
I wasn't part of the choice for elk thing! That might have been PowderBurner. When you said you owned three of the 7's I said I owned three of the 25's. I would not choose either for elk, but if either is all I had, I'd choose a premium bullet and go elk hunting.
 
Gotcha. It was that darned kid PowderBurner that went and got all of ol' fellars all confused. Hey, the original post is very clear - only two calibers and one type of quarry, elk is NOT included. So 7mm-08 it is with 22" barrel, voila. GITRDUN
 
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