25-06 or 30-06

[remingtonman_25_06]

would go 25-06 if you already have a 30-06

Id use the 25 for coyotes, antelope, sheep, deer, black bear and elk.

That pretty much sums it up.

The 30-06 "may" be a bit better for elk but I doubt theyd really know the difference with a good placed 115 PT or 110 AB.

I've killed everything besides goats, sheep, and cougar with my 25-06 and 115g NBTs.

Its by far my favorite cartridge for a lot of reasons. Its accurate, shoots flat, hits a lot harder then it should, cheap on the pocket book and easy on the shoulder. Its a great rifle for the experienced shooter, or the beginner for that matter.

I decided on the cartridge over 10+ years ago over the 270 as something different that would still be awesome for coyotes, antelope, and deer. It was also the first cartridge I started using to get into longer range shooting.

Dont have a lot to say for the 30-06 as I never did care for it really. Best thing happened to that case was necking it down to .257" in my opinion lol.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I respectfully disagree, I used a .25-06 for about 10 years for a backup deer hunting rifle and killed several Utah mule deer with it and the 120 grain Nosler Partition. Most of the deer shot with this rifle were between 200 and 300 yards and all were antlered bucks. It was a capable deer killer but did certainly not ever surpass my .270 Win. The .25-06 was never what I would consider as optimum for elk hunting but people hunt elk with all sorts of calibers which I would not use for elk.

I also own and use a .257 Roberts for deer hunting and frankly do not see much difference in the .257 Bob's ability to kill deer right along beside the .25-06. I really like my .257 Roberts and this is the third one of these caliber rifles that I have owned in 50 years but it is not an elk rifle!

I have killed elk with the .30-06 and IMHO it is more capable than the .25-06 by a pretty wide margin, just my opinion of course. The .30-06 has capability to be a hammer with heavier bullets in areas of energy that the the .25-06 never will be, given that they share the same case.

 

[Vince]

For antelope, deer, and smaller game I really like my 25-06.
With that said, if I could have only one rifle it would be .30 caliber. Since you already have a .30 cal the .25 cal, in my opinion, will fill a definite niche.

 

[winchester100]

The choice between the .25 & .30 cal truly comes down to your intended use.

I'm a true fan of BOTH cartridges, having grown up with the .30-06, and having gone nuts with the .25-06 the past eight or ten years.

.25-06: wonderful for deer & smaller game. Flat shooting. Easy recoil. Accurate. Lethal as all get out. Shines with 100 - 120 gr bullets for deer & similar.

.30-06: outstanding general purpose big game round. Could literally hunt the world, excepting only the heaviest dangerous game. I think it is at it's best with 165 - 180 gr bullets, though heavier & lighter certainly work. Recoil is up a bit from the .25-06 and trajectory is more bowed, though certainly useful out to pretty impressive ranges.

Both are fine. Hurry up and build the .25-06, then you can start on a .35 Whelen and have a trio of fine '06 based rifles! :grin:

Guy

very true---a 25-06. a 30-06, and a 35 whelen is all that one would need

 

[woods]

Let's see, you have a 30-06 and a 25-06 already

Yes, why not put that beautiful wood on a 35 Whelen? Or a 338-06 and cover the other side of the 06?

 

[Firebird]

I've really been enjoying this post--We have this arguement every year in Nebraska deer camp! And every year we all kill good deer with 25.06, 30.06, and a good showing from the .284 clan. I am the only serious elk hunter in the group and would give the .06 the nod over the .25 every time. The recoil is a hollow arguement as you won't notice those one or two shots you get but you will be grateful for the extra energy, especially if you ever make a marginal hit. The only thing I would add to this conversation is to bring a quality bullet to the field, antelope are small and kill pretty easy, jittery corn fed whitetails and and elk over a year old require "the right bullet." You are after all taking an animals life and owe it that measure of respect. I'm not telling you anything you don't already know and am jealous of your predicament. I love a good wood gunstock and applaude you for that. My vote is 30.06 but you aren't going wrong with either one!

 

[nvbroncrider]

Let's see, you have a 30-06 and a 25-06 already

Yes, why not put that beautiful wood on a 35 Whelen? Or a 338-06 and cover the other side of the 06?

Good argument. Then you have everything covered.

 

[Oldtrader3]

Or a .338 Win Mag? I have a definite passion for the .338 calibers for elk hunting. The .340 Weatherby is absolutely le piece de la resistance for elk!

 

[bullet]

Both are fine. Hurry up and build the .25-06, then you can start on a .35 Whelen and have a trio of fine '06 based rifles! :grin:

Guy

+ ONE - Yes, I have got to go with Guy, a great trio

 

[FOTIS]

Or a 416 Taylor!

 

[bullet]

I would have to break the trio and go for a 416 Weatherby one of my favorite all time cartridges.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I would have to go with the .416 Rigby just for the historical sense of it.