I am thinking of building a 25-06 for kind of my go to gun or all around killer. I heard that it is a very acurate round and I jut wanted to see what any of you who may own one had to say about the cartridge and the rifle. I will be building on a 700 action in a semi hevy sporter style rifle. I thought it would be a good gun to have fun with until my son is old enough to start deer hunting.
Buiding a 25-06???
- Thread starter T-CAIN
- Start date
I think it is a wonderfully capable cartridge. It is one of my utmost favorites for the open & windy Kansas plains. I have more guns than I could ever (afford to) wear out. Somehow no matter what new hardware comes home, one of my 25-06's is always on the short list of choices for my next adventure.
You'll want a longer barrel to fully unlock the lil-06's potential. I have a 24" magnum contour on one & a 26" medium-heavy contour on the other. The 26 isnt all that enjoyable to lug around all day & can be somewhat unwieldy to handle. I really like my 24" though & that is the one that most generally gets the nod.
You'll want a longer barrel to fully unlock the lil-06's potential. I have a 24" magnum contour on one & a 26" medium-heavy contour on the other. The 26 isnt all that enjoyable to lug around all day & can be somewhat unwieldy to handle. I really like my 24" though & that is the one that most generally gets the nod.
It is a great cartridge. My rifle is a Ruger M77V. My gun likes the 117-120 grain bullets best. From past posts, it seems many 25.06 rifles prefer heavier bullets and slower powders like 4350 and 4831.
In any event, you are on track to build a great rifle. Working up the right load can be a bit of a challenge but you WILL know when you have it dialed in.
You will also have a lot of fun on the way.
Geetarman
In any event, you are on track to build a great rifle. Working up the right load can be a bit of a challenge but you WILL know when you have it dialed in.
You will also have a lot of fun on the way.
Geetarman
I think you should build a .25-06, I know I did and have never regretted it. Of course I came to the decision based on what chamberings I already owned. I had a .270, .30-06, 8mm-06, .338-06, and .35 Whelen by the time I decided to go with a .25-06, it was that of a .375 Whelen. In the end the .25-06 won out because I figured I'd hunt more varmints, pronghorn and deer than dangerous game.
My rifle started life as a Zastava action with set triggers that I purchased off of Wildalaska here on the forums. Next I picked out a stock from Richard's Microfit from what they had instock. I wasn't happy with the stock design being a roll over Monte Carlo but it was exhibition grade Carlo Walnunt and I figured I would reshape the stock into something more eye appealing to me anyway.
So I dropped my action and stock off at High Tech Custom rifles here in Colorado Springs. Talking it over with the gunsmith I settled on a Lilja SS 26" magnum contour barrel with recessed crown, and to have all the metal work covered in KG Gunkote in semi-gloss black. While it took longer than it should have for me to get this rifle complete and one stock change because my first stock had a flaw that caused it to break in two at the recoil lug area. I'm very pleased with the finished product.
The final build was:
Zastava LA with set triggers
26" SS Lilja Barrel #5 contour
Metal work and blue printing done by HTC rifles
Stock Interarms Whitworth pattern used take off
Full lengh bedding and inletting done with the help of a friend
Decelerator recoil pad installed by Weaver Rifles
Metal finish KG Gunkote semi-gloss black
Stock finish Minwax Antique Oil done by myself
Leupold windage adjustable base and Leupold low rings
Bushnell Elite 4200 4-16X40 AO
It is a shooter as well!
So far I've claimed one coyote, pronghorn and mule deer with it. It is a little heavy to carry for a long period in the mountains here. If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably use a #3 contour. The barrel does heat up really fast, and throws the 4th and 5th shots but she'll still do under an 1" for all five shots.
My rifle started life as a Zastava action with set triggers that I purchased off of Wildalaska here on the forums. Next I picked out a stock from Richard's Microfit from what they had instock. I wasn't happy with the stock design being a roll over Monte Carlo but it was exhibition grade Carlo Walnunt and I figured I would reshape the stock into something more eye appealing to me anyway.
So I dropped my action and stock off at High Tech Custom rifles here in Colorado Springs. Talking it over with the gunsmith I settled on a Lilja SS 26" magnum contour barrel with recessed crown, and to have all the metal work covered in KG Gunkote in semi-gloss black. While it took longer than it should have for me to get this rifle complete and one stock change because my first stock had a flaw that caused it to break in two at the recoil lug area. I'm very pleased with the finished product.
The final build was:
Zastava LA with set triggers
26" SS Lilja Barrel #5 contour
Metal work and blue printing done by HTC rifles
Stock Interarms Whitworth pattern used take off
Full lengh bedding and inletting done with the help of a friend
Decelerator recoil pad installed by Weaver Rifles
Metal finish KG Gunkote semi-gloss black
Stock finish Minwax Antique Oil done by myself
Leupold windage adjustable base and Leupold low rings
Bushnell Elite 4200 4-16X40 AO
It is a shooter as well!
So far I've claimed one coyote, pronghorn and mule deer with it. It is a little heavy to carry for a long period in the mountains here. If I had to do it all over again, I'd probably use a #3 contour. The barrel does heat up really fast, and throws the 4th and 5th shots but she'll still do under an 1" for all five shots.
603Country
New member
Yes, a lovely rifle. And being a woodworker, I'm glad to see that I'm not the only guy that's a fan of Minwax Antique Oil. I use it on Walnut boxes of all sorts and a few pencil post beds, and it gives a great finish. The Linseed Oil in it really shows the wood grain. And this being a gun forum, I'll mention that I put that finish on several 22's that I have. Turned out great. though the Winchester had much better wood than the Marlin.
Yea theese guys aint lyin, that is a buetifull gun!!! I aprectiate all of your replies I think at this point my mind is set on the 25-06 now it's just a matter of sorting out the details of the gun. Taylor when you say next time you would use a #3 contour barrel how does that numbering system work, is the larger the number the heavier barrel? I was kind of wanting like a semi bull barrel, trying to keep the weight down. Sort of a mix between a varminter and a sporter, if that makes any sense.
You have it figured out pretty well my barrel weighs in at 4 lbs at a #5, a #3 will weigh in 3.3 lbs. I might even do a lighter contour as well especially if you are planning to carry the rifle around a lot. If it is going to be used in a blind or at the range mostly then weight doesn't matter as much.
If you use a good barrel your rifle will be accurate regardless of weight and contour as long as your smith is a good one. Light barrels will just heat up faster than a heavy barrel. Even if you use a heavier barrel the .25-06 will heat up so fast that it will never be a high volume shooter.
Anyway good luck with your build!
If you use a good barrel your rifle will be accurate regardless of weight and contour as long as your smith is a good one. Light barrels will just heat up faster than a heavy barrel. Even if you use a heavier barrel the .25-06 will heat up so fast that it will never be a high volume shooter.
Anyway good luck with your build!
The 25-06 performs very well on deer with the heavier bullets. I like the 117 gr Sierra Game King for deer. One thing to remember with a fast bullet is the potential for more meat loss. However, if you take a double lung shot like you would with a bow, the meat loss will be minimal.
T-Cain very good caliber choice as I have posted before the 25s I own and have owned all shot well, recoil is mild. I always had good success with the 117 and 120 gr bullets. I have tunnel vision with powder as IMR 4350 seems to always be the powder of choice.
Great project gun good luck.
Great project gun good luck.
T-CAIN, Lilja barrel weight (contour) is based on 30cal if you do a 25cal your barrel that you get from Lilja will weight more. Here is Lilja site on conoturs and how to figure barrel weight.
http://www.riflebarrels.com/products/contour_data_lilja_precision_rifles.htm
http://www.riflebarrels.com/products/contour_data_lilja_precision_rifles.htm
Old roper thank you for the web link it's becoming more clear to me now. I'd hate to spend that kind of money and recieve something I wasn't expecting. I'm sure the folks at lilja or any custom barrel company are more than willing to walk you the process and make sure what you end up ordering is exactly what you wanted.
T-CAIN, I spread my barrels around and Lilja makes a good barrel.
I'm luck my gunsmith order any barrel I want but if you ask him which barrel he use he say Krieger and that what he orders for most of his customers.
One thing I like about Lilja barrels is that you get 27" of usable barrel length alot times you don't get that with others without paying extra. With Kreiger and afew others to get a 26" usable length in SS you start at #4 contour so it's always good to read the fine print.
Well good luck
I'm luck my gunsmith order any barrel I want but if you ask him which barrel he use he say Krieger and that what he orders for most of his customers.
One thing I like about Lilja barrels is that you get 27" of usable barrel length alot times you don't get that with others without paying extra. With Kreiger and afew others to get a 26" usable length in SS you start at #4 contour so it's always good to read the fine print.
Well good luck