25-06 for Mule Deer?

[jessieboy1]

I am buying a Sako 85 Hunter next week and wanted to get a rifle with less recoil than my 30-06 which I will keep for Moose,but was thinking about getting a 25-06 for Deer hunting and Range shooting.How effective are they on Deer?

[Brambles]

It'll do just fine on deer.

[russm86]

They are great on deer but I'm not sure how much recoil difference you will notice between the .25-06 and .30-06 as the .25-06 is just a necked down .30-06. I know my .25-06, which is a Tikka T3 Lite, actually kicks more than my older Sako .30-06. If you are interested in a lower recoil I'd maybe suggest looking into a .243?

[sed8ed]

I have had both a 25-06 and a 30-06, you wont notice much if any difference in recoil.

Have you considered a 7mm-08, that rifle had noticeably less recoil (actually traded in the 25-06 for it)... after I broke my shoulder I added a limbsaver and a mercury recoil reducer and it ended up having less felt recoil than my .223

7mm-08: http://www.hornady.com/store/7mm-08-Rem-139-gr-SST-superformance/

25-06: http://www.hornady.com/store/25-06-Rem-117-gr-SST-Superformance/

My #1 go to rifle is always my old reliable 30-06 however... I just can't seem to leave home without it...

[sed8ed]

Forgot to add... 243 and 7mm-08 are both necked down 308 offerings. The difference it that 243 is basically a 25 caliber and the 7mm is basically a 28 caliber so you will have more impact energy with the larger bullet.

[todbartell]

good choice for deer if you're looking for a low recoil flat shooting cartridge.

[Bear Chaser]

There is a signifigant difference in felt recoil between the 25.06 and 30.06 in rifles of similar weight.
My wife shoots a Browning ABolt Composite Stalker in 25.06. 120 grain Noslers at 2900 fps.
I shoot a Browning Abolt 30.06 with a wood stock. 180 grain Noslers at 2700 fps.
Both rifles have 22" tubes & similar recoil pads. The 30.06 is slightly heavier. I can't be bothered to weigh them to see how much.
My 30.06 bucks at least forty % harder against my shoulder than her 25.06 does.

As far as mule deer medicine goes it is excellent and is a perfect choice for a flat shooting low recoil round.

[jessieboy1]

The recoil chart says the 25-06 is about 12.5lbs of recoil with 120 grain bullet and the 30-06 is about 20 lbs with 165 grain.I am left handed so the selection is limited to the 25-06,.270 or the 30-06 & the recoil for the .270 with 150 grain is 17 lbs so its almost the same as the 30-06.When I am at the range I always wish I had never sold my .243 because it was a joy to shoot for hours,then my buddies told me it was a kids gun and that a big guy should shoot the biggest gun he could handle so I sold it and went 30-06 which is a great shooter but its like work shooting it,I even dread going to the range and don't want to go.I have killed 15 Mule Deer with it and the recoil once hunting is not noticed at all but if I want to shoot alot at long range to improve I think ill have to drop down in caliber.Ill just tell them its an 30 cal to keep them off my back.

[rainman]

100 ttsx at 3200 will do quite well with little recoil

[sed8ed]

If the recoil is the primary reason you don't like the 30-06, may I recommend spending about $200 to tame it (and adjust the rifle to the perfect fit for your body)

If it is a wood stock, install a limb saver/decelerator and tune the stock for the perfect length of pull... possibly have a gun smith drill the stock for a recoil reducer such as a mercury insert or a roll weight

If it is a composite stock, install a limb saver/decelerator and tune the stock for the perfect length of pull... have a mercury recoil reducer installed in the stock with expanding foam, i've done many rifles like this and ever since I broke my shoulder (car accident) all of my rifles have gotten one.

[Bear Chaser]

Recoil tolerance is different for everybody.
Noted outdoor writer and highly experienced shooter David Petzal recently blogged about his increasing distaste for heavy recoil on the Field & Stream website. It was a good read with some well thought opinions.

What I appreciate most about the 25.06 vs 30.06 is the speed with which I can reaquire the target in the crosshairs due to the lower recoil of the 25.06.

[Johnny G1]

Why not just download your 06, lots of different bullets out there.

[todbartell]

more fun to buy a new rifle :D

[Steeleco]

My then 11 year old daughter took her first and thus far only deer with a factory 110 gr spitzer at 165yds. Bang flop. She needs help holding the rifle via a bi pod or bog pod, but she handles the recoil with no issues at all.

[The Dude]

I'd get a new gun, always wanted a 25-06. Plus, if you reload for your 30-06, you can use the SAME SHELL HOLDER!

Think of the tons of money you'll save by buying in the "Family"

:D

[jessieboy1]

I want to buy a Sako anyway so I will set up the old Browning 30-06 with 180 grains for moose and have it double as my back up rifle then use the 25-06 just for Deer which is basically the only thing I usually hunt unless I get a Moose draw like I did this year(First one in ten years).

[scottwh]

25-06 is nice for deer. I shoot a 257 weatherby when I decide to take it out, which is very similar to a 25-06 and it levels muel deer. I find recoil to be rather lite as well..... Only problem I find with them is lots of "shell shock" to the meat.

[specbelly]

I shoot a 25-06 and a 338 mag. I have shot as many moose with the 25-06 as the 338, and never had a moose take more then a few steps. IMO the 25-06 is hard to beat, shots flat and they are accurate. Well placed shots drop them in thier tracks, and they are great for everything from yotes to Elk/Moose.

[BlacktailStalker]

What's the sweetest 25-06 on the market

[bearhunter338-06]

The 30-06 and 25-06 make a great hunting combination for hunting in North America. Go with the 25-06 and you will love it and soon find it your go to rifle. All I can say about the 25 cal. is that it is simply magical. Drops them dead fast.

[IronNoggin]

Many moons ago when my Missuz proved her capabilities with a rifle, I bought her a Browning (BBR) 25-06. She weighs all of 115 pounds soaking wet, and handles the recoil with absolutely no issues. With that rifle she has taken antelope, mulies, whitetails, caribou and moose on many occasions. Very flat shooting, and extremely accurate.

You ain't buying the rifle for your macho mag-toting buddies, so if they try to ridicule your choice of caliber, simply tell them to Get Stuffed! :twisted:

Go with the 25, you'll be quite pleased with it I am certain.

Cheers,
Nog

[rem338win]

Man some people have their heads well up their...
in the same weight rifle with the same stock design a 25-06 kicks significantly less than a 30-06.
Go for it man, 115gr for deer is great 100gr of the right design is great too.

[Buck TraX]

I have been shooting 30-06 for a few years now and bought a Rem mdl700 adl in 25-06 this spring for the gf to use this year and after shooting it a bit i realized how much I really liked shooting it over the 06.Recoil is noticebly less i recover faster after the shot, but we did get a shared moose hunt this year and was a little unsure about it for her to use on moose but sounds like 25cal will be ok on moose, shes a good shot too!

[rem338win]

I have been shooting 30-06 for a few years now and bought a Rem mdl700 adl in 25-06 this spring for the gf to use this year and after shooting it a bit i realized how much I really liked shooting it over the 06.Recoil is noticebly less i recover faster after the shot, but we did get a shared moose hunt this year and was a little unsure about it for her to use on moose but sounds like 25cal will be ok on moose, shes a good shot too!

Load up some 100 TTSXs or 120gr Partitions and tuck it in. You'll eat moose!

[Buck TraX]

she has been practicing with the 120gr partitions but im going to play around with a few different loads for it,was considering buying a 257 wby or a 264wm for myself the 30-06 was my first rifle so still learning what i like,im leaning toward the smaller calibres forsure!

[REMINGTON JIM]

Load up some 100 TTSXs or 120gr Partitions and tuck it in. You'll eat moose!

Thats a FACT ! The 25-06 is a great cartridge with the right bullets ! Fantastic deer-sheep -goat cartridge with those bullets ! :smile: RJ

[Cyrus]

Just bought a Tikka T3 in 7mm-08 tonight for the g/f. It is a super light gun and not expecting much of a recoil from the sounds of things.

[180grainer]

Why not just keep your 06 for both? I mean if you're keeping your 06 for moose and can handle the recoil for that, then why not keep it for deer and suck the recoil up for that too. Man, it's not like your duck hunting and blasting away for one but not the other. The only reason to change up if you own a 30.06 is if your going for gophers or griz. And even then, some would argue. Save your money.

[250 sav]

No experiance with 25-06 but have shot or seen my buddy shot upwards or (30 deer 80% mulies)18+/- were decent 4 points, with my 250 savage using 100 grain silvertip factory ammo, worked just fine. also have shot 5 moose with that gun 1 I shot twice but didn't have to. Except grizz I would not hesitate to use a 25-06 for any B.C. big game.