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25-06 Barrel Length
#5491637
12/22/14 01:41 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 173
Hunter Gatherer
OP
Woodsman
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OP
Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 173 |
I have a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 25-06. The barrel length on this rifle is 22-inches. I bought this rifle to hunt deer, but I was given the opportunity to hunt Pronghorn Antelope in New Mexico next fall. I wonder if I need to put a 24-inch barrel on this gun? Any opinions?
Thanks ahead of time.
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5491647
12/22/14 01:48 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,483
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,483 |
How does it shoot with a 22"?
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5491678
12/22/14 01:58 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 173
Hunter Gatherer
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Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
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I like it. It's accurate with every factory load I've tried including 100 gr, 117 gr, and 120 gr bullets. It shoots all copper bullets just as well as more traditional bullets. I killed a whitetail buck with it not six weeks ago. I was just worrying about taking shots longer than 200 yards in those windy New Mexico prairies.
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5491693
12/22/14 02:03 AM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,483
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,483 |
You will be fine. Mature pronghorns usually don't get much over 116 pounds on the hoof. Plus they are very very thinned skinned.
Good look on your hunt. Don't leave blood on the cape. The hair is hollow and will soaked it up and stain it badly.
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5491702
12/22/14 02:06 AM
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Joined: Oct 2012
Posts: 29,612
Sneaky
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Joined: Oct 2012
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Need? No, it doesn't need it. All you'll gain is a little velocity, but at the price of portability. The extra speed is nice, but not a requirement for any animal.
If you wanted or needed a new barrel, anyway, I would go with a 24". I wouldn't do it just to add a couple inches, though.
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5491737
12/22/14 02:19 AM
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Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,509
kmon11
junior
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junior
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 32,509 |
You will be fine with it like it is. Like Bobo said they are not that hard to kill and there is plenty of time between now and season to practice for longer ranges. Lots of speed goats have been killed with the 257 Roberts and your 25-06 will be faster than it.
lf the saying "Liar, Liar your pants on fire" were true Mainstream news might be fun to watch
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: kmon11]
#5492076
12/22/14 04:51 AM
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Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 31,958
txtrophy85
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Posts: 31,958 |
You will be fine with it like it is. Like Bobo said they are not that hard to kill and there is plenty of time between now and season to practice for longer ranges. Lots of speed goats have been killed with the 257 Roberts and your 25-06 will be faster than it.
With a 22" barrel the .25-06 is pretty similar ballistically to the Roberts I wouldn't worry about it. Have fun on your hunt
For it is not the quarry that we truly seek, but the adventure.
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: txtrophy85]
#5492190
12/22/14 10:59 AM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 4,200
dawaba
Extreme Tracker
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A Roberts will likely have a 22" barrel too, so the .25-06 will still be way out ahead.
I've reloaded for an ABolt with a 22" barrel and a Remington 700 with a custom 24" barrel. Although not an apples to apples comparison, the velocity difference is gonna be somewhere between 50 and 100 fps.
If your current outfit balances well and shoots where you aim it, don't bother with the expense of rebarreling.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple.....and wrong." H. L. Mencken
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5496575
12/24/14 03:59 AM
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Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,586
ckat
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 1,586 |
I get 3050 FPS with a 115 grain bullet out of my 22" barrel. Plenty fast enough for a prairie goat...
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5498201
12/24/14 11:12 PM
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Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 1,102
Bbear
Pro Tracker
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Pro Tracker
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As others have said, your barrel length is fine. What you'll need to practice is not just how to make those 200+ yard shots but how to dope the wind. Check your ammo box for any ballistic information you have and check it on how the various wind speeds affect it. One suggestion on ammo is to find some that YOUR rifle likes that just happens to be a boat-tail version. The Barnes you mentioned should be good to go on this for most of their models.
[IMG][/IMG]
Pay it forward - Kids are the future.
Rifles are similar to boats and young women...there's no end to how much money you can pour into them without making them any more useful.
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: Bbear]
#5498233
12/24/14 11:21 PM
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 41,173
J.G.
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Posts: 41,173 |
What these guys said.
You have plenty of barrel, and practice shooting at distance. What would be ideal is to shoot distance on a calm day, then catch a few days with a cross wind to learn how to adjust for it. My big target at 200 yards is 4" diameter round plate. Once you get the hang of it, it's not a big deal to hit in any wind. Same as the 6" plate at 300 yards.
800 Yard Steel Range Precision Rifle Instruction Memberships and Classes Available
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5498361
12/25/14 12:35 AM
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Joined: Nov 2012
Posts: 840
10ring
Tracker
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Tracker
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I've killed plenty antelope with a 18.5" barrel .243 model 600. Your 25-06 will be bad medicine on em... plenty of barrel and gun. Just like others have mentioned get comfortable and accurate with it and your good to go.
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Re: 25-06 Barrel Length
[Re: Hunter Gatherer]
#5514305
01/02/15 03:09 AM
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Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 173
Hunter Gatherer
OP
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Dec 2012
Posts: 173 |
Fellows, thanks for the thoughts on this. Hope everyone is having a great New Year's Day.
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