25-06 Hunting rig for son

[Intheshop]

Factory rifle,under 2K$.80% hunting,20 plinking.

I can handle the CB side of this.And kinda don't want to push him in that direction for the 25-06...he's got better lead slingers.


Normally I'm;700's...110/10's...CZ/Husky kind of guy.Just seeing what folks on here would recommend with 25-06's.Maybe a Weatherby,Tika,Sako or ??

Bruiser Deer and smaller....

 

[9.3X62AL]

I've not perused the 25-06 in much depth, but recall what an old mentor to Buckshot and I at our former range site had to say about them--Kenny said "Most of them won't shoot" (accurately). I kinda pressed him a bit about that, and his view was that the 1-10" twist worked great for boat-tail spitzers up to about 100 grains in weight, but was a mite slow for the 117-120 grainers.

Empirically, that didn't seem right. But in the context of the 25/35 WCF--its 117 grain RN bullets--2200 FPS flank speed--and usual 1-8" twist rate.......and the 6.5 x 55 Swede that runs pencil-like projectiles and uses 1-8" or 5 turns/meter twist rates......we called that a CLUE at my old shop. If I lose my mind and opt for a 25-06 as a game taker, I would BUILD IT, and use a good quality barrel of not slower than 1-9" pitch.

 

[Intheshop]

I hear ya....

 

[Intheshop]

Sako 85 Hunter stainless....

Seems to be the front runner so far.

 

[Josh]

I've not perused the 25-06 in much depth, but recall what an old mentor to Buckshot and I at our former range site had to say about them--Kenny said "Most of them won't shoot" (accurately). I kinda pressed him a bit about that, and his view was that the 1-10" twist worked great for boat-tail spitzers up to about 100 grains in weight, but was a mite slow for the 117-120 grainers.

Empirically, that didn't seem right. But in the context of the 25/35 WCF--its 117 grain RN bullets--2200 FPS flank speed--and usual 1-8" twist rate.......and the 6.5 x 55 Swede that runs pencil-like projectiles and uses 1-8" or 5 turns/meter twist rates......we called that a CLUE at my old shop. If I lose my mind and opt for a 25-06 as a game taker, I would BUILD IT, and use a good quality barrel of not slower than 1-9" pitch.

I had a Browning A-Bolt in 25-06, it mimics the above to a T. It will shoot the 100 gr boat tail bullets and shorter/lighter bullets into bugholes. Step up to a 115-120 gr bullet and it starts to open up into a 2-3" group.

That said, a 100 gr Sierra gameking at full speed has never let a deer take a single step once hit.

 

[gman]

Here is my thought. If I'm getting near the 2k mark on a hunting rifle I just as well have a custom built. That's assuming I could get a donor rifle at a good price and gather up items needed to build it. I had a 280 AI built just in time to use this year. Total cost was 3200. Savage accuracy is pretty good.

 

[RBHarter]

I know a guy with about a 72 vintage 700BDL with a bull bbl . I don't know what twist it is but a 100 gr Partition will smoke half gallon milk cartons out at 500 yd . He claims the accuracy just isn't there with 120s but a flat base 117 shoots under an inch and inside 12" at 500.
I suspect a BT 117 wouldn't shoot so well as it's flat base sister.
3100 fps is throttled back .

 

[gman]

Thinking a 110 Accubond

 

[fiver]

I have 2 of these.
had 3 but didn't really need 2 model 77's.
the Rugers are a bit heavy but they are stupid accurate.
both of mine would hold groups in the 1-1/2" area consistently with my deer hunting load. [120gr Hornady H-points]
oh that 1-1/2" is with a leupold 3x9 scope at 300 yds.

my third one is a BRNO Mauser with an unknown make barrel on it.
it isn't a fan of the heavy weight bullets but is stellar at pulling double duty with 87gr sierras for yotes and rock chucks, and 100 gr speer controlled expansion BT's or 100gr Hornady interlock's for deer.
before I put the Huber ball trigger on it I fire formed 50 pieces of brass at over 3-K fps with both 100gr. bullet types.
it sent all 50 of the two types into a 1" square with some room leftover at 100 yds.

I've had a hard time finding a 25 cal that won't shoot.
the 250 Ackley, the various Bob's, and the 0-6's have all done well.

 

[Intheshop]

I've got less than 2K$ in a BP milling machine,a spotless Wade 8A lathe,and a Remington CDL...

Only thing missing on the bigger lathe is a pressurized,through coolant system...to which,laziness is the major blockage.Just not that interested in "building" rifles.

Sako 25-06...factory ammo....go kill something."Light up the grill".

Ziess Conquest 3-9?

 

[Intheshop]

Interestingly,used both..lathe and BP yesterday....and ironically 2000$?

A custom ceiling fan mounted to a WF Norman,pressed tin ceiling.Google WF Norman...they're still using press plates from the late 1800's.Customer gave me a SPS 7-08 as a tip.Funny how things work out...doh.But,the point is,our machine tools get used almost daily.I shoot factory rifles because it's relaxing....and like the boys always tell friends..."buy guns just as much for their looks"...
"You're going to probably look at it more than shoot it(ammo $$)".

 

[Hawk]

My Dad had a Remington 700 BDL from 1970 in 25-06.
I think it was a 24" barrel. Don't know the rifle twist.
I would shoot 1", 5 shot groups all day with Nosler 100 gr. Accubonds at 3300 fps or 120 gr. Sierra Game Kings at 3050 fps.
I think the new Remington 700s are 9-1/8" twist.

 

[fiver]

you might like a Vortex in 4x12 a little better.
running a 100gr bullet at 3-3200 fps will let you stretch the rifles legs quite a bit.
however if he was willing to go 270 instead of 25....
this would make your 2-K budget and leave room for a very good scope and about a case of ammo.
if they made them in 25-06 I would own one [I have the plastic model in 30-06 for deer hunting and it WILL SHOOT]
http://bergarausa.com/bergara_b-14_series_timber_rifle.php

 

[Intheshop]

Hawk,my dad and I were bestest of friends...

I'm splitting firewood and thinking of him.Kinda like 25-06's.He was 120#'s,soaking wet...yet could,and would make a case for velocity vs weight when it came to splitting wood.Think lighter weight axe vs a maul?We had long talks on the subject,and I generally agreed with him.

Given,stupid accurate hits.....velocity works.If you can't hit the mark,no amt of projectile weight makes up for it.And I'm built like a brick chit house,haha.

Fiver,Vortex is some good stuff.

 

[Hawk]

Intheshop,
My Dad and I were also best friends. We reloaded together for 25 years.

You talk of splitting firewood. My Dad and I would spend days on the driveway splitting Oak and Pecan with two wedges, a 10 lb. sledge hammer and a hatchet or axe to clean up the split. I'd give everything I own to have just one more of those evenings with him.

Fiver,
Dad always hunted with a .270 Win., Remington pump, so that is my primary caliber of chose, except in a bolt action. You can't beat a good Remington 700BDL.

Mom gave him the 25-06 as a birthday present in 1970 and he felt obligated to hunt with it some out of respect for her.

The .270 Win may not be as sexy as the newest wondergethumper, but it is a great caliber. Good trajectory out to 400 yards, easy recoil compared to the magnums and more than enough for anything smaller than elk.

A .270 Win., 130 Nosler Accubond at 3,075 fps has easily handled everything I have shot with it, including 450 lb. wild hogs.
In my opinion, you can't do better than that.

Sorry for the drift. Intheshop reminded me of great days that are gone.

 

[Intheshop]

Well speaking of dads....mine was a Winchester man.

So how are the Winchester #70,super grades these days...and in a .270?

And BTW,it isn't my money...just steering one of the boys.We have(as a large family)a bunch of rifles.Just wanted him to consider a "premium" model vs more of what we already have.

 

[fiver]

the new Winchesters I have looked at are pretty darn nice.
I looked at everything when I bought that Bergara and narrowed it down to a fairly nice wood stocked model-70, the real pretty Bergara, or the synthetic stocked rifle.
the synthetic stock won out because I have to carry it when we back pack in.


after shooting some deer with the 25-06 it done a bit better than I thought it would and I could see the appeal of the 270.
it's just a touch more than the 25, but if I wanted the bit more than a 25 I have the 7x57 ICL sitting there, so went with a 30-06 to supplement the 308 AWS boat paddle Ruger for pack hunting.
and I still have the 25 for double duty.

I really could just set a rifle up to cover anything I need done even going so far as having a 22 cal set and sighted in for 50-100 shots one for 100-200 yd shots and another for 2-300 yd shots and another for 3-400yds.
then do a 25 to cover to 200 yds another to 300 yds and another to go to 400yds.
but we all know that would be silly, it's much easier to just load different sets of ammo that will cover those ranges.

 

[Intheshop]

The Bergara looks very nice.The 270 is "probably" a better western cartridge...which isn't a bad thing.

Kinda had his heart set on a Weatherby 25-06.But he's not that picky.The 25-06 isn't a factory listing in certain guns,for instance the Super Grades.

 

[Intheshop]

We have a stock duplicator....but it isn't a passion.Building/Working on bows(recurves/longbows) in my pea brain is way more challenging....and not disparaging anyone.We all have our interests.

Will admit to working on a Tupperware stock the other day.Marlin X7 business card bedding got done correctly with $$$ bow epoxy.

 

[fiver]

the 25's have a pretty good range of bullet weights too.
you can go from 60 up to 120 with stops about every 10grs along the way.
I'm not sure about the 270 but think 100-150 is about it's window.

I do know that if I ever do a long action rifle again it will more than likely be the 6.5-06.
the long 6.5 bullets provide excellent penetration and I really like seeing two holes.
the 0-6 case is large enough to get even the long 140's moving and flying flat.
but there are plenty of good 120gr bullets that would flatten a good sized buck.