Is a 25-06 worth it?

[FujiPickle]

Hello everyone.  My wife and I came to the conclusion that she would like a 25-06 for deer hunting and possibly elk hunting also.  I currently have a savage model 11/111 in a 270 and she is not a huge fan of the kick and I am worried that a .223 would not have enough power to knock down an elk if she decides to hunt for them.  We have been having trouble finding any 25-06 at most stores and are looking for a durable, lightweight (most important), and one she likes to shoot.  Any suggestions on models?  Is it even worth the trouble trying to search for a 25-06 or should we be looking for a different caliber for what she is looking for, deer mostly... possibly elk in the future.

Thank you for your time.
Fuji

[dscubame]

25-06 tikka would be a winner.

[jackelope]

Hello everyone.  My wife and I came to the conclusion that she would like a 25-06 for deer hunting and possibly elk hunting also.  I currently have a savage model 11/111 in a 270 and she is not a huge fan of the kick and I am worried that a .223 would not have enough power to knock down an elk if she decides to hunt for them.  We have been having trouble finding any 25-06 at most stores and are looking for a durable, lightweight (most important), and one she likes to shoot.  Any suggestions on models?  Is it even worth the trouble trying to search for a 25-06 or should we be looking for a different caliber for what she is looking for, deer mostly... possibly elk in the future.

Thank you for your time.
Fuji

Not only would a .223 not be enough to knock down an elk, it'd be totally illegal too.

[buckfvr]

25-06 tikka would be a winner.

 

I figured he meant .243...........

[ghosthunter]

I don't believe a .223 is legal for big game in Washington.

[arrowflinger]

.240 min caliber here in WA. You could swap the barrel of the .270 to a 25-06. Just my 

[FujiPickle]

Thank you  dscubsme will look into those, and I did mean a .243 sorry.

Fuji

[Lucky1]

I don't think the 25-06 would have much less recoil than the 270. They are both necked down 30-06.

Maybe 308 or 7mm-08 or 243?

[jackelope]

A .308 or a 7mm-08 would be my choice as well if elk were going to be targetted. If not, the .243 would be a great deer rifle.

[dscubame]

Check this out....

http://hunting-washington.com/smf/index.php/topic,148108.0/topicseen.html

[Wanttohuntmore]

I have a 2506 and I do not think there is a noticeable difference in recoil.  Do you hand load?  You can achieve a lighter kicking gun by having some light loads in that 270.

[RadSav]

I have a 2506 and I do not think there is a noticeable difference in recoil. 

25-06 is a great round, but I agree, not much difference in recoil from the 270.  You can tone down that 270 a lot by adding a Sims pad and running a 130 grain medium load like a Rem Core-Lokt.  My wife didn't like my A7 in 270 at all until I put the Sims pad on it.  Now she wants one of her own.  257 Roberts is a great dear rifle with a better bullet choice than 243 if elk is on the menu.  And I have never met a lady who couldn't handle or complained about either the 257 Bob, 260 Rem or the 7-08.  A lot cheaper and easier to get good 7-08 ammo!

[Buzz2401]

My wife shoots 308 and really likes it.  Its put down 2 elk and 2 deer so far.

[C-Money]

If you folks like the 25-06, your favorite rifle in 25-06 would work great!! Never look back. A good suggestion for light recoil and deadly on deer/elk is a 7mm-08. My wife shoots one, and loves it.

[luteai]

If you folks like the 25-06, your favorite rifle in 25-06 would work great!! Never look back. A good suggestion for light recoil and deadly on deer/elk is a 7mm-08. My wife shoots one, and loves it.

[Dan-o]

Another vote for checking out the 7MM-08.

[bobcat]

I have never shot a 25/06 but I sure think it wouldn't recoil as much as a 270 (which is my main big game rifle). I know in the 270 there is a noticeable difference in recoil between the 130 grain and 150 grain bullets. With the 25/06, use the 100 grain bullets and I think she'd be fine. For elk just make sure it's a well constructed bullet like Barnes or a Nosler Partition.

[bowhunterwa87]

25-06 is a great round but the .243 is my personal favorite.

[Jonathan_S]

Hard to pass up that laser trajectory in the .25-06.

It is a deer KILLER

[RadSav]

I have never shot a 25/06 but I sure think it wouldn't recoil as much as a 270 (which is my main big game rifle). I know in the 270 there is a noticeable difference in recoil between the 130 grain and 150 grain bullets. With the 25/06, use the 100 grain bullets and I think she'd be fine. For elk just make sure it's a well constructed bullet like Barnes or a Nosler Partition.

If the guns are of the same weight the 25-06 does have less recoil 120 grain - vs - 130 grain of similar load.  But there is only about 1 fps difference in recoil speed which I have found with my wife to be the biggest complaint not foot pounds.  The 100 grain bullet option is one I over looked since I'm not a Barnes fan.  But that would make quite a difference.  That's a good point

As far as the 130 grain and 150 grain .270 differences I think that ends up a bigger deal in our minds than in reality.  In my charts that's only a .5 foot pound difference and only a .2 fps recoil difference.  Hardly noticeable if you don't know what you are shooting.

Again the Sims pad will reduce the speed or shock of recoil to an acceptable level for most women.  My wife would never shoot any of my magnums back when I used standard pads.  Now that I have Sims on just about everything the only two guns she really doesn't like are the Model 88 Winchester in 308 and the 325 WSM.  Which brings up a good point...the 88 has a stock that pounds into her cheek.  I've begun to notice that a lot of women who shoot standard LOP guns (too long for them) get beat up in the cheek where the stock angles up from their cheek weld instead of down.  Savage rifles like the 111/11 the OP mentioned are one of the worst for this.  They are great for helping us big guys get the butt plate anchored correctly, but not so much for a lady who really has to reach into it and then have the recoil slam the up sloped stock into their face.

I know my Sako A7 magnums are much higher in foot pounds of recoil and recoil speed as compared with the Model 88 .308.  Yet with the stock sloping away from her face my wife will shoot them all day long with a never ending grin on her face. (Especially when she is blowing up grapefruit at 500 yards!)  My full length LOP Rugers she doesn't enjoy nearly as much.  But cut them down to 12.25" LOP and all the sudden she is enjoying them much more.  Not as much as the Nosler and Sako rifles, but much better than the stock Ruger before being cut down.  Her primary hunting rifle is a .257 Bob cut down to 12.25" and she absolutely loves that gun!!!  She refers to it as her best friend, Bob

So I guess when all the charts and cartridge discussions are covered the one thing us men overlook is how difficult it is for women to try and conform to the rifles we like and enjoy regardless of cartridge and caliber.  I know when I build this next rifle for the wife I will be paying a little more attention the her unique contours and "Specific Geometry" (to steal a phrase from the Savage Lady Hunter).  As much as I hate to build a gun as luxurious and special as this one we have planned for her and not be able to enjoy shooting it myself   It's much worse to spend all that money and have to watch her struggle to shoot and not enjoy it herself because it's built for an adult man instead of an angry squaw.

[Wanttohuntmore]

Radsav is spot on.  I truly do not think you'll notice a diff in the rifles kick, given the same weight/designed rifle.  Get a rifle that fits, reload for it, and it will work.  My wife took a moose with my M600 in 308, using 180 core lokts.  She's tiny, didn't mind the kick, but the scope did kiss her.  That said, she took a nice Muley with my tikka in 2506, the scope also kissed her.

[Jonathan_S]

RadSav's post is a great one.  (duh)

  "Specific Geometry" sounds like a good love song


As long as the rifle fits, it will be much better like he said.  My wife can't shoot my full sized .25-06 but can shoot her .45/70 guide gun because it fits her     don't ask me, it's a comfort thing.

Recoil shy is a tough thing to deal with.  However, the .25-06 with 117 or 90 grain loads is pretty soft reoil.  It's quick but it's not a high ft lbs recoil.

[BOWHUNTER45]

A lot to pick from these days .. Never been a Mag kinda guy but I would choose any of the ones mentioned ...243 270 25-06 & 7mm-08 ...I own them all and they are all my favorites to shoot ...7mm-08 is getting really popular these days ...sweeeeeet little gun 

[KopperBuck]

My wife shoots a .25-06, she loves it! I'm going to put a different stock on it, and shorten it some. Just a hair long for her. Winny Mod 70...

[RadSav]

My wife shoots a .25-06, she loves it!

Looks like she shoots it pretty good too

[MountainWalk]

Buy some remington reduced recoil loads for that 270 win, and let her practice with those. She'll love em. Come season load her up with federal premium noslers, but don't tell her till after the elk or deer is down. Worked fyr my ex add my wife

[Eli346]

 Put an aftermarket kick pad on the .270 and call it good!

[higunner]

I have a Tikka 'Hunter" in 25-06 with a muzzle break believe it or not.  It recoils like a .22, just a little louder.  It was set up for a young kid who doesn't shoot it anymore.  I might part with it soon.

[brokenvet]

As many already suggested to go to a smaller capacity cases would be the best.   There are many to choose from:  7mm-08, .308Win, 7X57, 6.5X55 , 260Rem, 243, 6mm Rem, 

[D-Rock425]

I really like my 7mm08 shoots very well.  I've only killed bears with it but it does the trick when the bullet is put in the right spot. 

[splitshot]

   the tikka lite is an awesome weapon for deer.  if you are a good shot it works for elk.  no recoil hardly.  much less than a 270.  if recoil is a problem get the rubber deal that fits on the barrel.  I don't know why they don't come stock on all rifles.    mike w

[splitshot]

   forgot to mention the tikka is very lite which is nice when you are 73.  my granddaughter got a 7mm/08 which is great for a woman.  she is only 5 foot tall and loves it. get the kids model.   she liked my 25/06 but it was only a loan.   mike w

[Mtn.Ghost]

My wife shoots a .25-06, she loves it!

Looks like she shoots it pretty good too

Radsav, I saw you have a model 88 win. in .308 I have one in .243 and have owned a couple in .308 awesome rifles and getting hard to find in good condition. Do you know if they made the mod. 100 semi-auto in .243 all I have found have been in .308. Does your rifle have the basket weave checkering with acorns by chance?

[RadSav]

Radsav, I saw you have a model 88 win. in .308 I have one in .243 and have owned a couple in .308 awesome rifles and getting hard to find in good condition. Do you know if they made the mod. 100 semi-auto in .243 all I have found have been in .308. Does your rifle have the basket weave checkering with acorns by chance?

None of my 88's are post '64.  I had a beautiful 88 in .243 for a while.  But when a friends father, who had always shot one, had a stroke in the woods they lost it getting him out.  So I replaced it with mine.  I'd sure like to find another in that good of shape.  The last one in .308 I picked up from a H-W member.  I was expecting to turn it into a custom .260, but after the barrel looked better than any I've ever seen I couldn't do it.  It will be getting a new stock here soon as I have a special piece of wood that's just been waiting for an 88 project.

I've never been much of a 100 fan.  So I do not know what the production numbers were in .243.  I know the carbines are quite the collector piece.  Especially the .284.  I have seen a few in 243 over the years in Cabela's Gun Library.

[bearpaw]

The 25/06 is a great gun and does recoil a little less than the 270, but here is another option:

Keep the 270, purchase a LimbSaver recoil pad, shorten the stock if needed to accommodate the extra length of the recoil pad, and buy some Barnes 85 or 95 grain bullets. The much lighter bullets will have noticeably less recoil to start with and the new recoil pad will reduce recoil by roughly another 30%. The 95 gr TTSX is probably plenty of bullet for deer, we've even killed three moose with 100 gr TTSX out of the 257 Wtby.

A 95 gr TTSX in the 270 will be traveling at 257 Wthby speed. TTSX bullets will hold together at high velocity and go clear through an animal. Remember this, the lighter the bullet the less the recoil, the problem with many light bullets is they may not hold together for big game kills, however, Barnes bullets normally retain 95% to 100% of their weight thus getting deeper penetration than heavier bullets of other brands. Here's reload data for the 85 TSX and the 95 TTSX bullets if you want to try them.

Most Accurate Load In The Test Rifle
Bullet Style: TSX FB
Bullet Weight: 85 gr
Primer: Fed 210
Barrel Length: 24"
Case: R-P Twist Rate: 1:10"
Powder RL 17   59.0 (grains)
Velocity 3609 (fps)

Most Accurate Load In The Test Rifle
Bullet Style: TTSX BT
Bullet Weight: 95 gr
Primer: Fed 210
Barrel Length: 24"
Case: R-P Twist Rate: 1:10"
Powder RL 17   56.0 (grains)
Velocity 3402 (fps)

Work up to those loads and make sure they shoot well on paper before going hunting. If you don't reload look for factory ammo, I don't think Federal makes 270 ammo with the Barnes 110 TTSX any longer but here is some other factory ammo with 110 gr Barnes:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/157237/doubletap-ammunition-270-winchester-110-grain-barnes-triple-shock-x-bullet-hollow-point-lead-free-box-of-20?cm_vc=ProductFinding

Also you might try Remington Cor-Lokt 115 gr:
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/882105/remington-managed-recoil-ammunition-270-winchester-115-grain-core-lokt-pointed-soft-point-box-of-20?cm_vc=ProductFinding


more insight on the 110 gr Barnes, from a texas hunting forum:
http://www.texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/ubb/showflat/topic/234563/gonew/1

This post is to let the 270 fans out there know what the Barnes 110g TTSX is capable of doing in the field.

My rifle of choice is the 270 Win Ruger M77 Hawkeye equipped with a Burris Black Diamond 8x32 scope.

I have been an avid deer hunter for the past 50 years and a dedicated reloader for the past 40 years. I have always shoot Nosler bullets in a variety of rifles over the years and have no complaints with that bullet. It has put a lot of deer in my freezer & some nice horns on the wall.

In 2009 I got interested in the Barnes TTSX 130 and loaded them with 57.5g of H3841sc. This round was very accurate and put 3 deer in the freezer for me. One a nice 9pt, chest shoot at 225 yards (stand to feeder). Two does at the same range, both neck shoots.

In 2010 I decided to try the Barnes 110g TTSX because I wanted a little flatter trajectory due to the distances of possible shots at our lease. I loaded the 110g TTSX with 57.5g of H4350, OAL 3.340, velocity 3300 fps. Shoot 7/8” 3 round groups at 100 yards. Went to the lease and took a really nice 10pt at 225 yard. The bullet entered just behind the left shoulder and exited just behind his right shoulder. The bullet shattered ribs on entry and exit, exit wound was approximately 2.5”. The heart & lungs were torn to pieces. I was amazed at the damage that bullet caused. After impact the buck ran for 10 yards & dropped.

This year while in Cabela’s I found that Federal loaded the 270 win with the Barnes 110 TTSX with an advertised velocity of 3400 fps.. When I examined the round I saw the seating depth was much deeper than the rounds I was loading. I bought the box and measured the OAL, it was 3.22. With my rifle still “Zeroed” for the OAL round of 3.340 I shoot a 3/4” group one half inch right of zero point. I was surprised to say the least.

So far this hunting season I have taken 2 does at 220 yards both neck shots with devastating wounds, a 10 point (same distance, left shoulder shot) all 3 deer dropped in their tracks. Shot a bore hog, that we estimated would weigh about 350 lbs. The hog was walking at a 45 degree angle at about 150 yards, the bullet entered the neck and from what we could tell it exited his mouth. He dropped in his tracks.

The Barnes 110 TTSX in my 270 is hands down the best performing round I have ever shoot.