Mykey

If you had to choose between these two calibers 30.06/25.06 and all you did was hunt deer and your longest shot is 300yds which one would you choose? Thanks!

TScottW99

I would choose the 25-06 myself. I know that the 30-06 is more versatile and you can buy the round at any mom & pop' s, but I like the 25-06, a great deer round, mild recoil and it puts them on their fanny (not that the 30-06 doesnt) You won' t go wrong with either though, both great rounds.

Pro-Line

JUST for deer...I' d choose the 25-06. I love that little caliber for whitetails.

That said, the 30-06 is also hard to beat.

frizzellr

Just for deer I would go with the 25-06 Rem. Personally I am no longer that fond of a 30-06 Sprng. It is a jack of all trades for sure, but it is a master of none. A 30-06 can do nothing that couldn' t be done more efficiently with a diferent cartridge. I don' t buy in to the one gun for everything concept which 30-06 fans seem to promote. Its a good cartridge, but it is not the best thing since sliced bread.

Nomercy

I' m going against the grain, I' d get the .30-06. I' ve had both in various makes over the years, and in most years the biggest thing I harvest is whitetailed deer, some around and over 250# (two of my does this year were ~220-240), at ranges anywhere from ten feet to as far as I can shoot, longest thus far has been 383yrds. At ranges like that, and on deer that big, I just don' t feel comfortable sending a 100gr bullet, or even a 120gr bullet (one of the heavier loads I' ve used that would still fly decently). The .25-06 is a great deer rifle, but at great ranges, it' s just not right for me. I feel a bit better sending a .25-06 round out there a long way after a coyote, just because it' s a little more flat shooting (a little), but then, 100gr is more than enough, and my .22-250' s do the job more than well enough, so if you' re planning to use it as a deer rifle that does coyotes equally well, then the .25-06 is your gun, but if you want a deer rifle that will excell at its job, then the .30-06 is your gun.

I hate it when people say the .30-06 is good at it all, but a master of none, cartridges don' t work like that, they aren' t people, the .30-06 excells so well at it' s job, that its abilities extend beyond normal expectations. Sure a .300win mag is better for power and velocity (debatably, and NOT so for inherent accuracy), but it also kicks harder, the only way to surpass the .30-06 is to get more or equal power AND: use less powder, or kick less, be more accurate, and come in a short action, holy crap, we should be shooting .308' s!! [&:]

frizzellr

OK Junior, name me one thing that the 30-06 does so well that can' t be done either equally or better by another cartridge. The 308 is more efficient, has less recoil and can actually be loaded to higher pressure and velocity than the 30-06. Shocking I know but if you don' t believe me look at the latest Speer loading manual. That' s just one example. Many claim the 30-06 has the ability to shoot heavier bullets. That' s all well and good, but a 338-06 will out perform a 30-06 hands down. So let' s see what you come up with that makes the 30-06 so great.

Deleted User

[Deleted by Admins]

Ruger-Redhawk

Both of the 06' s are great deer cartridges. If I was going to use the rifle strictly for deer. I would choose the 25-06 or 270 Win.
Ruger Redhawk

Pro-Line

I hear ya, Friz. The 30-06 is considered to be such a " versatile" gun by most because it' s one of the few big bore centerfire guns that you can buy shells for in any wally world....and there are so many factory loads available. Versatility and popularity are not the same.

To prove my point...shoot a 150gr out of a .270 and a 30-06. The difference is negligible. Do the same with a .308 and 180gr bullets.

Also, the deer doesn' t care how versatile your caliber is....just how accurate your shot is.

handloader1

30-06 Sprg. Good luck.