ir655

I just bought a Ruger 77 MKII in 7MM Rem. Mag. and had the trigger pull adjusted to 3.5lbs and I am already looking for a different caliber rifle and it' s not because I don' t like the gun I bought, I just think I might need a smaller caliber rifle as well. Does anyone have any points or comments or suggestions about the .25-06?

Thank you very much,

Arman M. G.

frizzellr

Since you already have a 7mm Rem Mag then I would think a 25-06 Rem would serve you well as a second rifle. If I needed a primary rifle then I would choose a 270 Win over the 25-06 Rem since it can do everything the 25-06 can and more. However, the 270 has less of a gap between it and the 7mm so the 25-06 would give you a bit more difference and allow you more on the lighter end of the bullet weights.

akbound

Hi ir655,

The .25-06 is a very good caliber. Recoil will be considerably less than your current 7mm Magnum. The .25-06 can be used for long range varminting but is best as a medium game (ie. deer, antelope, etc) cartridge. Like your 7mm the .25-06 does best with 24" or longer barrel. So you won' t gain much in " handiness" but it can weigh a little less, and will kick less.

As long as you are considering something to be different from you 7mm Magnum without " so much overlap" maybe consider one of the smaller quarter bores, (like the .257 Roberts). Or even drop to one of the 6mm' s. The sixes make much better varminters and can be stretched to cover deer. But as long as you already have the 7 Mag., you have medium game covered. If you are looking for something new and different.....how about the .243 WSSM?

Just a couple of thoughts!

Good luck with your decision.

Clint.

The 25-06 is a great caliber. The Ruger is good too. My Ruger is the older Model 77 with a tang safety in 25-06. It shoots 5 shots into one ragged hole at 100 yards.

Clint

tabby

I have a Rugar 77 MKII in 25-06. It is a great gun. I shoot a 100 grain Nosler Balistic Tip. Does a very good job on deer. Farest shot was 180 paces. Dropped the 3.5 year old in his tracks, lung shot. Very quick and flat shooting. My dad used to have this caliber, and told my about how he shot a doe at 400 yards. I didn' t believe him, and he showed me where it was. He was right, 419 yards.

What do you plan on hunting? Your 7mm will cover all large game and deer. You may want something like a 22-250 for woodchuck/prarie dogs and yotes.

ir655

Thank you very much for your reply' s guys!

I guess most of you are right about one thing, I might need something smaller like a 22-250 or 257 Roberts, since the 7MM Rem. Mag. will do most medium sized game. I mainly hunt deer and sometimes varmints. I noticed last year that a .30-06 is a " little" too big for a Fox...which blew up pretty much. Once again thanks for the comments and suggestions.

Arman M G

zrexpilot

The 25-06 is definately a good gun but I would suggest the .243.
Ballistics show the -06 to be a tad better at the start but falls off at long range where the .243 starts to exceed it. The versatility of the .243 is whats nice about it. You can shoot 55 gr ballistic tips for varmints that shoot over 4000 fps and only drop around 26 in. at 500 yds. and you can go all the way up from there to 100 or even 115 gr bullets for deer and antelope. I shoot Hrnady' s in 100 gr and have killed lots of deer and hogs way out there. 200-300 yds. You should think about the .243 you wont be disapointed.

eldeguello

.25/' 06. Excellent cartridge!

kyhuntsman

I too have an older Ruger Mrk II 25.06 and it is a tack driver. The gun can shoot much better than I can. It is a very versatile caliber capable of taking varmints and deer sized game. I highly suggest this caliber!

Matt

RedAllison

As good as the 25/06 is (I know I had a SWEET Weatherby Vanguard in that cal back in 1990 that I shot a couple of bucks with before some AZZHOLE stole it!) if you have a 7mag you dont need the 25. What the 25 will do on deer, the 7 will do. What the 7 does on ANY game, the 25 wont necessarily do. The 25 is typically only more " accurate" because of the ease with which it is shot. Because it has the word " Magnum" stamped on its face, the 7 is unfairly labled as a kicker, a noise maker and a large powder burner. But I have yet to shoot the 7 that isnt just as easy to manage as anyother " deer caliber" and I have a 700 30/06 that kicks MUCH harder than my 77 7mag.

Now just to show you how impartial I am, I am considering having my 7mag rebarreled to a 257 Wby Mag, lol the worlds a sick place and I' m a happy guy!!! [&:]

But on the other hand, I suppose you are just doing the " man thing" and lookin for a reason to get another rifle. And thats NEVER a bad thing!
RA