So, what is the lack of versatility? It'll work for bandits to elk. Shoots faster and flatter to 400 then a 6.5x47.

Never owned a 25-06 bur have a 257Bob and 257WBY, both have done everything I ever ask of them.

I may be misreading RiverRider's intent, but I believe he is speaking of the "if the cartridge is not good for long range, then it is worthless and you are stupid for considering it even though the longest shot you will ever make is 300 yards" mentality that some have adopted.

I have to agree. It is, in my opinion, a pretty arrogant stance to take... much less to say/type. Don't know what I am talking about? Take a scroll through past threads about "which caliber do I need," or others concerning the 25 and 27 calibers, specifically. It doesn't take long to get swallowed with egos and big-"Richard" contests.

As I stated previously, I used to have a very narrow mind concerning the 25 calibers... It was based solely on writings/post of the internet "experts." Real world results have told me a VERY different tale than those "experts" and have taught me to form my own opinions based on experience rather than other's thoughts.

Not saying that I don't enjoy shooting long range... it is a LOT of fun!!! I don't knock the long range guys for taking 700 yard shots at big game. If they have put in the time, developed their own DOPE (not pulled it off of a "should be" website/app,) and can make an ethical, clean kill 99% of the time; more power to them. They are impressive.

But please don't let your big head/arrogance/ego allow your mouth and fingertips to cause an unnecessary divide in our shooting/hunting community. It takes all kinds to make this world go around and everyone is entitled to their own opinions/preferences. A little respect for others goes a LONG ways...

You guys are right on... The first gun I bought with "My" money was a ruger 77 in 25-06 in 1989--used my stock show winnings...I shot a slew of deer with it, longest kill was 447 yards...this was before affordable range finders. I used hold over and good ol Texas windage with a 10 power Redfield 5 star scope, and dropped a doe at the edge of our pecan orchard. I used 100 grain Barnes X bullets, and it dropped hogs, deer, feral dogs, coyotes, and a range of other varmints. Would I shoot an elk with it? Sure! If the conditions were right. Is it an elk rifle? No I think there are better choices, but it might be one of the best calibers for Texas hunting. My father-in-law uses a custom 25-06, and has taken Aoudad,mouflon. Whitetail, axis, hogs with his 25-06. He uses a 100 grain TSX bullet....it flat out works...

Please...spare us.

Speed kills, period. The 25-06 pushes an 80 about 3400 fps to 120 grain bullet about 3100 fps. Anything in between for Texas will work just fine. It will be very effective. The 25-06 is not that attractive to me, personally, because of 2 main reasons. The lack of high BC bullets has already been brought up. But weight for weight compared to other calibers, the 25-06 is a little slower than other rounds with the same parent case. I can push a 100 grain bullet in my 270 Win right at 3500 fps, and . I can not get those speeds out of a 25-06 with the same 100 grain bullet, even though it has the same parent case. The 25-06 will work great for Texas critters. And I have seen several custom 25-06 rifles that were great long range shooters (400-600 yards).

I like your logo

My huntin buddy achieved internal decapitation on a 200 lb boar at 75 yards with a hit directly between the eyes using 120gr Hornadys. His is a stainless Rem700 and it's his favorite gun in his arsenal.. Rem700 .270, Win70 .375h&h, Weatherby Van 7mag, Ruger Mini14, etc.

After cogitating on what 47Lap said, he may be right. Think I will sell all my 22 rimfires...after all, they are not very versatile, no good for 1000 yards, limited bullet selection, and marginal for deer.

That is a ridiculous statement.

Thank you so much, Colt! KRoyal did it for me!

With N.A. big game of the non-dangerous variety on the menu, all the '06 based cartridges are versatile at ranges of 300 yards or less -- which is about what most hunters are capable of. I suppose you could say that the cartridges at each end of that range, the .25-06 and the .35 Whelen are slightly less flexible than those in the middle, the .270, .280, .30-06, and .338-06. If you were just looking to make an argument.

Exactly my point.

Midway only offers 54 bullets total in 25 cal, 81 for the 6.5, 100 for the 7mm, and 261 for the 30 cal.

25 cal is a one trick pony. Can you kill deer with it? Of course, but so can all the others. Forgive me if I'm not impressed.

Heavy for caliber bullets require a fast twist. There is no getting around that. How nice would a round nose 150 grain 25 cal bullet have been? Or, dare I say it, higher bc 130-135 grainers for making those 400 yard wind calls a little more forgiving?

When was the last time 25 calibers won major matches? Short range benchrest are dominated by 6mm and 30 cals. Mid and long range comps are dominated by 6mm, 6.5's, 7mm, and 30 cals. Silhouette shooting is all 6.5's and 7's.

How much bullet development has gone into the 25 cals in the last 10 years? Crickets...........

47 your losing sight of the bottom line, for better than 85% of the hunters out there, the differences and advantages of your favorite calibers sre meaningless. Just as the average soccer mom, can't use the advantages of a Porshe Cayanne over a regular Dodge van, the average hunter isn't going to be shooting over 300 yards. It's OK to be unimpressed, but for many people, the 25/27 class cartridges are just fine.

So if the dodge van and the Porsche cost the exact same, why would I buy the van? Even if I wasn't squeezing every bit of performance out of the porsche, at least I would have options.

So a hunter cannot suffice with 51 bullets, most never need more than a couple. For hunting bullets Partitions, Accubonds, Interlock, Sirocco, Barnes, GMX, E-Tip, pro-hunters cover anything I would ever hunt with a quarter bore. With any of those a good shooter can get the job done to 500 yards which is further than most need to be shooting at game.

20 years ago the 6.5 was about a dead caliber that the long range craze got going when they finally figured it out that it would work with less recoil than the 30 calibers most were using. Back in the early 1900s the 6.5s were popular military rounds using long round nose bullets that the softpoint bullets worked very well on game as shooters of the 120+ year old 6.5X55 has been doing for years. There is nothing except fitting in shorter actions that can be done with the new wizbang 6.5s that the old warhorse will not do except fit in a short action. Thank those old military rounds for your 6.5s having a fast twist for your high BC bullets in the 6.5, the fast twist was needed for 165 to 190gr round nose bullets and became the standard for that caliber.

From my limited experience with some of the hewer 6.5 bullets that are designated for "hunting", hunters would be better off leaving them at home than hunting with them. I will use the rest of what I have on varmints and targets rather than deer or even hogs.

Do I have some of the 6.5s yes, are they any better than the quarter bore rounds I have for ranges most should shoot when hunting? IMO no

I have much love for the 6.5x 55 and 30-06. I could go on for days.

Doesn't get much better than a 160 grain round nose 6.5. Options galore.

The 160gr Hornady RN is my bullet of choice in the 6.5X54 MS and wildcat 6.5X57

OP I still say get the 25-06 if you like it. Great hunting round and a Tikka is a very good gun, have a couple in the safe.

You have kids?

Ok, bottom line....................
25.06 or 7mm08
mainly deer, hogs..... one day Pronghorns
all shots under 300 yards, closer to 150 yards

If I was shooting matches, I'd give a rat's a$$ about what cartridges win matches. I don't, and I DON'T.

If you don't like .25s and .27s then by all means don't buy one. Shoot what you like and let others shoot what they like without the ridiculous criticism. When the rest of us finally figure out we can't kill with a .25-06 (which is far more versatile than you seem to care to admit) we'll come around to the realization that you gotta have high-BC bullets to kill deer and a headstamp that says something other than ".25-06 Remington."

Either one will work great for that. Between those 2 I personally will take the 7mm-08 any day but have a ton of confidence in that round, been shooting it since 1982 and it has never let me down. If you had said some yardage greater than 300 yards and not using a dialup scope I would have said 25-06.

If the kids question was for ne, no I do not but have started quite a few nephews and friends kids hunting and shooting. Also am a huntmaster for the TYHP.

I own a Winchester model 70 Classic sporter 25-06 and Its an moa rifle out to 600 with 117 grain sst and 56.1 grains of rl-22. I wouldn't be afraid to shoot any animal in Texas with it. I thought every hunter in Texas owned a 25-06. A .243 will kill any critter in Texas as well.