Anyone shoot 25-06

huntandhook

huntandhook

Member
EE Expired
Rating - 0%
0   0   0
Location
Vancouver Island
I'm thinking of picking up a rifle for long range shooting at the range and possibly for shooting the occaisional deer. I want something in a varmint caliber that will still be able to take game with heavier bullets. I have been looking into the Ruger #1 in either .308 or 25-06. I a leaning towards the 25-06 because I can get lighter bullets and the longer case won't be an issue in a falling block action. I'm looking for opinions on 25-06 vs .308 as well as opinions on Ruger #1 rifles and heavy vs regular weight barrels. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

H&H
 
If you have your heart set on a factory Ruger #1, give 243 winchester some consideration. I think it is a more efficient cartrdge than the 25-06, it can be an extremely accurate cartridge and will give excellent results hunting deer.

Instead of 308, I'd personally prefer 7-08. If you hand load, there are some incredible 7mm bullets out there.
 
Obtunded said:
If you have your heart set on a factory Ruger #1, give 243 winchester some consideration. I think it is a more efficient cartrdge than the 25-06, it can be an extremely accurate cartridge and will give excellent results hunting deer.

Instead of 308, I'd personally prefer 7-08. If you hand load, there are some incredible 7mm bullets out there.
Click to expand...

Just curious, why do you feel that the .243 is more "efficient" than a 25-06? outside of being on a shorter action.
 
The .308 in my experience does not do as well as one would like with bullets lighter than 125 grs. However, when shooting long range at paper or steel targets, heavier bullets are often a better choice. The .308 certainly has the edge over the .25's due to the broad range of match bullets available in .30 caliber.

If your shooting is a once a year deer, and the rest of the time shooting at long range targets, I would choose the .308. If you are into long range shooting and long range varmint hunting, plus the annual deer I would suggest the .25-06.
 
I have a Ruger VT in 2506, shoots 1/2 a minute with good hand loads, trigger is sweet and has a wide beaver tail for resting on a bag. My experience with #1's is they are hit or miss, when they shoot good it's real good but they can also shoot like your garden hose. $1000 rifle should shoot well out of the box....
I get 3150 fps with a 100gr. Sierra and RL 22. BC could be higher but I am sure Bambi and the yotes won't mind.
Andy
 
I have a Ruger #1 heavy barrel in .22-250 and had some 'work' done to it as/an article I have. That made quite an improvement. Just recently I picked up a Savage 112BVSS in .25-06 and I'm REALLY pleased. :D I got it after seeing how well the one's my son in law & daughter have shoot. I made mention of it in another thread but one of my first reloads, using 117gr Sierra B.T.'s, I have a target shot at 185 yds that is under 1/2".:D
 
Between the two, I'd go 25-06. The 308 is actually quite miserable as a varmint round. The 25-06 is a good balance of a lr varmint round and a deer round. The 243 might be another option, but IMHO, it's on the small side for deer. A 260 (or a 264 win :D) could also be a good compromise, but there are no high-bc varmint bullets for it. Same for the 7mm08 - I do use mine for varminting, and I like plinking out to 400 yards with it's little 100gr varmint bullets but it's less than ideal in that application.

I suppose how you define 'long range' would make a difference
 
huntandhook said:
I'm thinking of picking up a rifle for long range shooting at the range and possibly for shooting the occaisional deer. I want something in a varmint caliber that will still be able to take game with heavier bullets. I have been looking into the Ruger #1 in either .308 or 25-06. I a leaning towards the 25-06 because I can get lighter bullets and the longer case won't be an issue in a falling block action. I'm looking for opinions on 25-06 vs .308 as well as opinions on Ruger #1 rifles and heavy vs regular weight barrels. Let me know what you think.

Thanks

H&H
Click to expand...
When you are talking "Long Range" just how far?? 25 calibre bullet selection is very minimal. you may be stuck using hunting ammo in a 25 cal. you never mentioned whether you handload??
 
Got 25-06 and love it, but I cheated, its got a match barrel. Your choice in a Ruger is an excellent one, the flag ship model would be my choice, nice lines, long barrel.
As for the .308 , I really like the Savage model 14 , its so sweet looking for a Savage :D ;)
 
windborne11 said:
When you are talking "Long Range" just how far?? 25 calibre bullet selection is very minimal. you may be stuck using hunting ammo in a 25 cal. you never mentioned whether you handload??
Click to expand...


By long range I am guessing up to 300yds, thats the longest target at my range. But there is another range near with a 600yd target that I wouldn't mind trying. If I go to the prairies I would like to sniper some coyotes up to 400yds or so. I don't handload myself, but I know a guy from my hunting club that can reload pretty much anything, for almost any application. What size/type of bullets would you recommend I try?
 
If I was shooting a .25-06 I would concentrate on 3 bullets. For long range accuracy I think the Nosler Ballistic Tip would be pretty hard to beat. My preference would be the 115 gr, but some of the guys around here have had such good luck with the 100 gr that it shouldn't be discounted, and would double as a good long range coyote bullet. If you want to keep the fur from your coyotes the Barnes 90 gr solid should be a good choice, and for big game the Barnes 115 gr. TSX.

You should get into reloading. It can be a pain waiting for someone else to load ammo for you, and can strain friendships if you plan on shooting a lot. Many reloaders discover that reloading adds to the enjoyment of their shooting, and allows them to do more of it for the same money.
 
Out to 300 yards on varmints, pretty much any centerfire would be adequate, although cartridges in the Hornet to 222 range might get a bit dicey in the wind.

For the 25-06, there's an 75gr Hornady VMAX varmint bullet with a BC of .290 that can easily handle 300 yards, and 600 shouldn't be any great stretch. A 25-06 shooting this bullet at 3700fps should have a similar trajectory to a 243 with a 65-75gr bullet, which is a well proven coyote combo. Out to about 600 yards, you don't really need an ultra-high BC bullet.
 
I use 100 gr. Sierra SBT, 3150 fps. Good for both whitetails and wolves, also is similar in shape and bearing surface to the 100 gr. HPBT match...
 
I have a few other bullets to try/test but it's going to be difficult to surpass the accuracy results I've got so far with the Sierra 117gr Spitzer B.T. If you want, PM me your e-mail address and I'll send you a scan of the witnessed target I shot at 185 yds with the reload data attached.
In the .221 Fireball & .22-250 I've tried a variety of Sierra BlitzKing and Hornady V-MAX bullets and the results are dramatic to say the least. So, one of the items on my next 'shopping' trip at P&d will be the 75gr Hornady V-MAX for the .25-06.
 
Another 25-06 fan. Mine's a 700 CDL, trigger worked over to a nice, crisp, no no slack, no creep 3 lb. pull. Currently it's wearing a 6-18 VXII in Leupold
QR mounts ... but otherwise swap it off for hunting to a 2-7 VXII in QR rings.
Quite impressed with how it holds "0" when swapping back & forth !

So far I've had very good results with 85 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips
for a varmint load and 115gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips for a deer load.
Both have worked best for me with H4831 and Federal GM210M primers.
Haven't been terribly impressed with the Hornady 75 V-max, but am still working on them with different powders.

And yes, do your own hand-loading !!!!
 
Thanks for all the great advice guys. I think I will get into reloading eventually, but for now it is easier and more cost-effective to have my friend reload for me. He reloads for most of the guys at the range, and doesn't mind doing it, as he has an entire room in his house for reloading and has dies for every calibre I have heard of, as well as many I have never seen before.
 
I shoot a .25/06 in a 1974 Browning M78 for coyotes and wolves. I love it, it's a real pleaure to shoot all day and it reaches well for these big varmints. It shoots better than I do. I have a Leupold 6.5-20X AO target on it. Don't forget good optics for your long range gun. Can't go wrong with a classic falling block rifle.
 
Casull said:
I shoot a .25/06 in a 1974 Browning M78 for coyotes and wolves. I love it, it's a real pleaure to shoot all day and it reaches well for these big varmints. It shoots better than I do. I have a Leupold 6.5-20X AO target on it. Don't forget good optics for your long range gun. Can't go wrong with a classic falling block rifle.
Click to expand...
I think we're using just about the same scope. Mine is a
Leupold VX-III 6.5-20x40mm LR with a Varmint Hunter's Reticle. That mounted on a Savage 112BVSS .25-06 with the handloads I've tried blew me away with the accuracy results. Under 1/2" @ 185 yds, I'm more than pleased!
 
I'd say we have the same scope Johnn. It's a good one too, I can spend all day looking through it and not get tired eyes. I can only stand a few minutes with one of the Tasco or Bushnells with that grey fog they all seem to have at higher powers. I have noticed this with both or their target type scopes on high magnification. The Leupold is clear and comfortable all day. It makes a big difference in my shooting when I can see.
I love my .25/06, accuracy as you say is fantastic.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom