7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

I know this is probably a moot point but I' d like to hear opinions. I' m considering a new rifle. I' ve decided on a Tikka rifle but can' t decide on the caliber. I already own a 270 and a .308 Win. I' m considering a 7mm-08 or 25-06...I want a flat shooter that' s versatile. Could possibly become my wife' s deer gun if I can ever talk her into it. I' ve looked at the ballistics on these two and they seem very similar...any advantages over the other. 7mm-08 has more available factory loads so I' m leaning towards it at this point. Thoughts on these two calibers? Thanks!

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

Well i know little on the two but for the 7mm-08 would be a better choice for deer and bigger. Several on this board praise the 7mm-08 as being as close to the perfect deer round as u can get. The 25-06 may be better suited for deer and smaller like varmints.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

Never shot the 7mm-08, but I love my dad' s 25-06.

Shot 4 deer with it last year, one a 160# field-dressed buck that was dropped in it' s tracks with a shoulder shot at 255 paces.

Later that day, my 6 year old nephew shot his first deer with it, a doe.

Great, flat shooting caliber with very little kick, even for a 6 year old.

Jeff...U.P. of Michigan

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

Buying one of those cartriges you would simply be duplicating the two that you already have. You want a flat shooter that is versatile. You already have the 270, one of the best deer cartriges ever made. It' s capable of taking any hooved animal on this continent. So is the 308, it' s just not quite as flat shooting but it is negligable. These figures came from Federals' premium line. Looking at these figures the .270 is already the flatter shooting rifle and retains more energy than any of the other three. If you are just wanting a new toy then I personally would opt for the 7mm-08 over the 25-06. The 7mm bullet is ballistically superior to the 25 caliber. If, on the other hand, you are open to other suggestions, since the 7mm - 08 and 25-06 are dulicating what you have I would take a good look at the 257 roberts, 260 rem., 6.5 x 55 Sweed. Just to be different. Sorry if I just really screwed you up.;):D

25-06 100 grain NBT, muzzle: 3210 fps and 2290 ft lbs / 300 yards: 2490 fps and 1380 ft lbs. 6.8" low @ 300 yards

.270 130 grain NBT, muzzle: 3060 fps and 2700 ft lbs / 300 yards: 2430 fps and 1700 ft lbs. 6.5" low @ 300 yards

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7mm-08 140 grain NBT, muzzle: 2800 fps and 2440 ft lbs / 300 yards: 2260 fps and 1590 ft lbs. 7.7" low @ 300 yards


.308 150 grtain NBT, muzzle: 2820 fps and 2650 ft lbs / 300 yards: 2220 fps and 1640 ft lbs. 8.9" low @ 300 yards

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

As much as I love my 7mm-08 Rem I will have to agree with bigbulls on this one. The 7mm-08 and the 25-06 are both great cartridges in their own right, but they are also very close to what you already have. Now if I had to pick one of the two it would be the 7mm-08 Rem, especially if you are considering letting your wife shoot it. Have you looked into the 260 Rem?

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

Not that the .270 or .308 are heavy recoilers, but the 7MM-08 does anything that they can do and with less recoil too! 7MM-08 would be my choice!

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

If your trying to get your wife involved with hunting and shooting then buy the 7mm-08 or 260 less recoil and muzzle blast. Also consider the 257 Roberts.

Bigbulls,
I' m curious as to why you quoted the 25-06 shooting a 100gr bullet. The standard 117gr would have made the 25-06 look better.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

I' d go with the 7mm-08. Better bullet selection.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

It' s a middle of the road bullet in factory loadings as far as weight goes. Just like the .270 130 grain, the 7mm 140 grain and 308 150 grain . Also they are all nosler ballistic tips. They were all about as non biased as I could find.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

:D Truth be told...I am just wanting a new toy...only if I had the money. ;) Maybe something to tinker with and more fun to shoot from the bench. Currently...I don' t reload so that' s a consideration too. Liking the 7mm-08 right now but I' m gonna look into some of the other calibers mentioned. Thanks guys!

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

BigBulls has a good point, but since you' ve added that you " wanted a new toy versus " needed" a new rifle, it' s a moot point. It sure is hard to resist the urge to get a new rifle once the itch has set in!

If you' re thinking more for the bench and less for hunting you might want to look at a 22-250. Gives you a varmint round, fun to shoot, easier at the bench. But if you want something bigger (and who am I to say no!) I' d opt for the 7mm-08. It' s a nice round, good for a fair amount of game, nice bullet selection.

The 7mm-08 seems to be hard to find in a Tikka, at least in California. I had a similar thought a while back, couldn' t find one, ended up with a Sako 30-06.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

i think you are in need of a 35whelen!

if you already own a 308win and a 270win. i would have to pick the 25-06rem due to that you already own a 308win.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

All of those cartridges offer similar performance on game, and there just isn' t much difference between the four. If you want to play around a bit, the .25-06 will certainly allow you to be a show-off better than the 7mm-08, but those 7-08s can be mighty accurate, too.

I' ve heard mention here about the .260 Rem, but it is more of the same.

If you are looking to justify this purchase by saying it may end up as your wife' s rifle, the aforementioned .257 Roberts, .260 Rem or 6.5x55 Swedish are all hard to beat in this role (or any deer hunting role, for that matter).

Sounds like fun trying to pick out your next toy! :D

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

The 7mm-08 has the better bullet selection, you can use heavier bullets,its a short action & performs well from a 22 inch barrel.

The 25-06 is slightly better varmint cartridge,performs best in a longer barrel(at least 24 inches).

I think the 7mm-08 has a slight advantage but with either of then you will not get anything that you already have covered by your 308 or 270.

I own a tikka continental (heavy barrel) in 7mm-08 & just love it but considering the cals you already have I' de look at a tikka in a 223 or 9.3x62 just for somethind different & to cover different ground.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

As far as recoil goes, doesn' t the 25-06 have 25% less " kick" than the .270?

If I was buying with my wife in mind, I' d think there would be a big difference with recoil between the two. For example, there is a smaller difference between a 30-06 and a .300 Win Mag, but the .300 is too much for me and I wouldn' t want to shoot one very often.

Jeff...U.P. of Michigan

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RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

Good point DG. I was thinking about that earlier today. She could probably shoot both with light loads with no problem. I' d be surprised if she went once a year with me anyway. [8D] Don' t really need a big gun right now but I' ve wanted a 7mm Rem Mag for years...maybe it' s time!

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

Get a magnum. 375 H&H.

RE: 7mm-08 vs. 25-06
 

I' m delighted to see it mentioned so many times.....the .257 Roberts........a fine cartridge for deer......Extremely light recoil.....and still works good as ever.....only a smidgen less than a .25-06, hell.....no deer will ever notice.