25-06.... Why?

[pdhntr]

I resolved the issue years ago.

I built a 6-06. Will likely build another this winter.

Jim

Edited: never mind.......one of the requirements is elk.

 

[Adam in WI]

I resolved the issue years ago.

I built a 6-06. Will likely build another this winter.

Jim

Why not go whole hog and spin up a 240 Gibbs?

Maybe @fredo has a 240 Redline in the works

 

[Bojo]

Only 25 I own is a little Jennings in 25acp let me tell you fellas , that is one bad mofo.

 

[dk17hmr]

I killed an elk this fall with a 122gr bullet going 3370fps at the muzzle. She took one round in the chest made it about 20 feet and fell over....that was at 543 yards with a 6.5 Sherman Short Mag


My 25-06AI shoots a 100gr Barnes at 3555fps. If it had a 1:7 or 8 twist I wouldn't have built my 6.5SS. Patriot Valley Arms makes a 25 cal 117gr monolithic which with my limited testing are only marginally stable in my 10 twist at 3300fps. It'll go faster.

Build a 25-06 or 25-06AI use a fast twist barrel. Shoot heavier bullets. Go kill animals.

 

[ND shooter]

260rem. Straight or Ai.

 

[ebb]

"spin up" how does that work ? Do you gather the pieces and wait for a tornado and throw all the parts out the front door? How do you find the gun when the wind stops?

 

[FNSafari]

.264 Win Mag and don't look back.

 

[KMart]

I’ll build the gun and load for it. It’s the “If I get to Montana and forgot my ammo, what do I do?” question I have to deal with.

First off, I am a big fan of the 25 cal. Bought my 25-06 in 1973. It does not have serious recoil up to 120 grain bullets. I don't know what they are like with the 130+ grain bullets. You will need at least an 8 twist for the heavies. For up to 120 gr, a 9 twist is the bees knees.

However finding 25-06 ammo at a stop and go in Montana may be a problem.

To meet the requirements, my suggestion is the un-cool 30-06. AND PUT A MUZZLE BRAKE ON IT. I have never been a fan of brakes, but they work. I have recently got my own 30-06. An old school Rem 700 ADL, Put a new barrel on it with a brake. It is still in the break in/load development stage. I bought some 150's and a great guy gave me some 125 Sierras and with the muzzle brake it is like shooting a 243 off the bench. 125's at 3000 fps would be a great whitetail load out to 300 yards. There is a huge selection of 30 cal bullets for all purposes including elk, and still getting a velocity above 2800 fps. Forgetting your ammo shouldn't be a problem with the 06.

To build a 260 or 6.5x55 you are still looking at a long action for magazine purposes. Even with a 140 grain bullet seated out. If you decide on a 6.5x55, you know where a reamer is. Then there is the ammo availability problem

 

[darkangel_r2]

A Creedmoor. ........just kidding! I don’t know for sure. He has shoulder problems. He mentioned using an AR 10 for hogs.

My suggestion is build him an ar10 in 6.5 creed, 7mm-08, or 308 win. 6.5 creed and 308 are everywhere, and 7-08 isn't a boutique round by any definition either. So plenty of ammo availability wherever you go. Tough hunting bullets in these calibers tend to have a higher bc and more energy at longer ranges due to this and higher bullet weight. Hand loads with with all of these can deliver excellent performance in terms of both accuracy and effect on game. My personal favorite is a 7mm-08 with a 150 eldx, barnes 140-150 tipped solid, or accubond LR with staball 6.5.


That's impressive performance.

With 25 cal and 6mm bullets its difficult to retain energy down range with projectiles that are tough enough to reliably drop an elk. The inherently lower BC and weight of tough hunting bullets means these really light projectiles run out of energy quick.

An ar10 with its recoil spring helps absorb a ton of recoil impulse. You can get a heavy spring and an adjustable gas block with a large gas port cut for a an adjustable clamp on gas block. There are even brakes out there that can reduce recoil and make the shot quieter for the shooter (not the people next to him though).

That should meet most of his criteria.

 

[lb-ft]

Straight 270 anyone? 243 might be a bit on the light side for big muleys and is certainly on the light side for elk.
257 caliber is the absolute smallest I would consider for an elk and even at that, it would not be my first choice for a trophy hunt.
That brings us to the 6.5s. Several to choose from, with the Swede and 6.5-06 being at the top of my list.
But at the end of the day, I still feel 270 would probably be the lightest I'd want to use as one gun that can do hogs, muleys and trophy elk.

I do love the 25-06. I think it's fantastic. To me though, it's not enough for elk in anything but up-close and ideal shot placement in good conditions only.

 

[Djfergus]

I hate to be the dick, if you want to hunt big game use a big gun.
If you were being put to death, would you want the it will probably work--ish
probably crawl around wounded for half a day in agony or the lights out scenario ?

This does make sense. I do believe it reduces the chances of suffering.

 

[mikecockcroft]

I am a 25 cal fan boy. Build it with a 7.5 twist barrel and he can shoot up to 133 gr bullets. I'm sure its my imagination but I believe the 25 cal bullet is a magical killer.
We regularly shoot 250 Savage, 250AI, 25 Creed, 257 Roberts, 25-284 and 25-06.
The ballistics of a 133 berger out of the 25-06 is worth looking at.
Put a 2 port brake on it and send him hunting.

 

[joshb]

First off, I am a big fan of the 25 cal. Bought my 25-06 in 1973. It does not have serious recoil up to 120 grain bullets. I don't know what they are like with the 130+ grain bullets. You will need at least an 8 twist for the heavies. For up to 120 gr, a 9 twist is the bees knees.

However finding 25-06 ammo at a stop and go in Montana may be a problem.

To meet the requirements, my suggestion is the un-cool 30-06. AND PUT A MUZZLE BRAKE ON IT. I have never been a fan of brakes, but they work. I have recently got my own 30-06. An old school Rem 700 ADL, Put a new barrel on it with a brake. It is still in the break in/load development stage. I bought some 150's and a great guy gave me some 125 Sierras and with the muzzle brake it is like shooting a 243 off the bench. 125's at 3000 fps would be a great whitetail load out to 300 yards. There is a huge selection of 30 cal bullets for all purposes including elk, and still getting a velocity above 2800 fps. Forgetting your ammo shouldn't be a problem with the 06.

To build a 260 or 6.5x55 you are still looking at a long action for magazine purposes. Even with a 140 grain bullet seated out. If you decide on a 6.5x55, you know where a reamer is. Then there is the ammo availability problem

Thanks for that. I have a slight worry that he might like the gun I just built and ask if he can have it. Did you see it finished? Congrats on the 30-06! I have more of those 125s if you need them! Thanks again for the reamer loan!

 

[K22]

I'll put in my 2 cents worth. I think there is way too much focus on book numbers than real like field experience.

All the convential big game cartridges work quite well IF you use the correct bullet, shot placement and have the necessary hunting skills then shoot within a range that matches your field marksmanship capability.

Naturally some cartridges are more suited for the large bears than others and that must be taken into account. But if we're speaking about deer size and related game animals then my answer is:

Why a 25-06 - Why not!

 

[KMart]

Thanks for that. I have a slight worry that he might like the gun I just built and ask if he can have it. Did you see it finished? Congrats on the 30-06! I have more of those 125s if you need them! Thanks again for the reamer loan!

Is that the 6.5x55? Whatever the caliber, the stock is a work of art that takes true talent. I wish I had talent.

 

[joshb]

Yup! That’s it. You could do it. All ya have to do is cut and sand until it looks right!

 

[ben lurkin]

I’ve killed everything from jack rabbits to coyotes, deer and elk with a 25-06. Hit an elk in the boiler room with a 120 gr slug and it won’t be long for this world. I’ve also had then run after I thought it was anchored with a 300 Win Mag. Bullet placement is more important than paper ballistics ever will be.

 

[Djfergus]

I resolved the issue years ago.

I built a 6-06. Will likely build another this winter.

Jim

Edited: never mind.......one of the requirements is elk.

I'm doing just about the same thing that you did. Im working up loads for a 6mm PRC. It's loafing along with 108gr bullets to around 3330fps right now. I think that's where I will leave it.

 

[snert]

Josh, He wants a 25-06. Build the man a 25-06. Let him use some partitions on the occasional elk hunt. So what? Some people use ARROWs on them. Let him know it might not be the "best" but it isn't like he is shooting elk with a 22.

It is splitting hairs. Give the man what he wants...it isn't totally wrong and its a lot right.

I am in a similar situation with daughter BF. He wants a ROOOGER over a Tikka and he wants a 300 WM or a 7-08 over a 300 WSM or 7mm mag or even 270 Win. For deer and maybe an elk, someday. Whatever.

I told him whatever he choses, to get a decent scope...that's when the fight started....

 

[hoz53]

Josh, He wants a 25-06. Build the man a 25-06. Let him use some partitions on the occasional elk hunt. So what? Some people use ARROWs on them. Let him know it might not be the "best" but it isn't like he is shooting elk with a 22.

It is splitting hairs. Give the man what he wants...it isn't totally wrong and its a lot right.

I am in a similar situation with daughter BF. He wants a ROOOGER over a Tikka and he wants a 300 WM or a 7-08 over a 300 WSM or 7mm mag or even 270 Win. For deer and maybe an elk, someday. Whatever.

I told him whatever he choses, to get a decent scope...that's when the fight started....

i got a scope i could send him— you send me 10 — 6mm 105 hybrids 4 it. LOL


PS- if ur wonderin it came on a remington— its a Goodin