I searched and could not find this in a topic section but I'm certain it has been debated here previously. What is the brain trust thoughts on the 25.06 caliber? Pros/Cons? Likes/Dislikes

Flat flying, I'm not a ballistics person but it kills whatever I shoot and the accuracy is great. I highly recommend getting one. The 6.5 and 7-08 guys will be along shortly to try and talk you out of it. Buy what you want!

I know it is fairly easily beat in the long range game but it's one of my favorites. I like the light recoil and speed. It just seems to perform better than it should.

No recoil, heavies (115gr) at 3100 FPS, varmints (85 gr) at 3550+ FPS, typically very accurate, easy to shoot, and fairly flat to 300 with the heavies. Haven't shot the varmints yet for real world experience, but the Berger 115s are deadly. The energy of the 115s drop to 1,200 at 500 yards....more than enough for deer, hogs, yotes at hunting distances.

I love my Sendero...it's one of those that will never leave the family. I have zero experience with the other cals mentioned above, so to each their own, but I'm a big fan of the 25-06.

An excellent round but a box of shells will cost you quite a bit more than its cousins, the .270 and 30-06.

I've had excellent results with my Winchester Model 70 that's chambered for the 25-06 cartridge.

The perfect Texas white tail round in my opinion. Love mine.

I have one in an older Browning A-bolt. It's nothing special but very solid.

Due to it's MV, you could wear the barrel out if you shoot a lot, (which the 115 VLD works very well for, I've run it to 800 yards) As a hunting gun for Tx. game, it falls into the 'tough to beat' category. Ammunition is a bit more expensive and not as many loads available, check out Dallas Custom Reloads, Chad has a new .25-06 offering that is hands down better than factory at similar pricing. P_102

Its hard to beat it's versatility in bullet weights if you are a reloader. The biggest drawback is the long action required. And It really needs at least 24 inches of barrel. With the premium bullets I have one that has taken two nice elk. For deer or hogs it has few peers for the recoil. It is really too much gun for varmint hunting. Besides the occasional shot at a distant coyote. Forget about saving the fur.

I like mine but have yet to take any game with it yet but hopefully I will this year.

Good round for anything in Texas.

had a beautiful 700 Custom I bought from Hunter Bradlee back in the 70's. handloaded the Hornady 120gr interlock over a full charge of H4831.

it was a laser and very accurate, but alas, I traded it for something

Great caliber, right now the 6.5 Creed is all the rage and rightly so, but I wouldn't let this keep me away from the 25, 06 if that's what you want

Thank you all for the feedback and insights. I have several smaller calibers, plus a Ruger M77 .270 and a .243. Issue is when we head to the stands as a family I am left with the smaller calibers ONLY. My oldest 2 sons love the .270 and .243 respectively as these were the rifles they harvested their first animals with. I love them too but as long as they stay in the family I am perfectly fine with an excuse to acquire another rifle in a capable caliber.

6.5-06 would be better.

Why? Do tell.

never mind if you don't reload

nice choice though

Killed a lot of deer with a 25-06 growing up..
Looking at my dad's old reloading manuals he loaded light Sierra softpoints at max charge and sighted 3" high at 100
Out to 300 yards or so it was deadly with no thought to it.

He would love 117s and go kill Elk in Colorado..

I'm really jabbing ribs, because many knew I would.

Heavier, high BC bullets delivering more foot pounds, and wind drifting less. But that's not much to worry about if you're not shooting very far.

I have two of them. Both laser-accurate rifles. Used one to take my first two elk with 120gr partitions back when that rifle was the only one I owned. Both have more than 2000 rounds through them. The 'older' one is a first-year production 700 ADL. The second is a rescue rifle from a local pawn shop that I put into some fancy wood, bedded and floated it.
Both of them like the 110 AB pushed by IMR7977. Run about 3200 fps.

As has been stated, it will drop pretty much any animal in the State of Texas that you'd like to hunt.

My longest game kill is 667 yards (hill country white tail doe). I've also used them to shoot the buffalo up at Whittington Center in NM (1123 yards)

You can load heavier bullets with the 6.5-06. Though both calibers need a fast twist rate to move heavier bullets. Theres more bullets available for the 6.5 but that doesn't matter if you dont hand load. I dont think the 6.5-06 will ever gain popularity so you wont see ammo on shelves. Similar, the 25-06 is losing popularity and you see less and less ammo on shelves.

I had a 25-06 built a couple of years ago. I like the look and feel, but had absolute hell getting it to shoot. Finally found a load using 4831SC and 120 BTSP that would shoot .75 MOA. I have no idea why this rifle has been such a PITA to load for, but I'm planning on killing something with it this year (finally).

I agree with this. Not a good choice for long range target shooting due to lack of Bullets with super high BCs.

But for typical Texas hunting out to 3 or 400 yds, it's in the sweet spot!

Two of my hunting buddies have used the 25.06 for years and swear by them and neither of them miss ever when taking a shot. Low recoil, they shoot flat and takes down anything we see in Texas easily within normal hunting range. I'd probably own one if I didn't already have a .270 and a .243. I really considered one years ago when I bought my .270, but ended up with that one due to ammo availability more than anything else.

I will probably eventually pick one up as I see one every so often in the S&S for a good price.

I've got a 25-06 on a Savage action that I built and have had for several years that I love! I've been hunting lately with my 6.5 Creedmoo but I'll always own a 25-06. Great round without a doubt!

I love my .243's, one of my favorites along side my .284WIN....25-06 will definitely get the job done for hunting, I have a X-bolt I won in a raffle 4 years ago and its never been hunting but I've worked up some loads for it and shot it then put it back in my safe. I've been telling myself to take it hunting just pop the cherry on it but to many other favorites I'm loyal to.