Why choose a .25-06 Rem over a .270 Win?

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I was shooting a 25-06 long before they were popular, when folks asked me what my gun was they would always say "a what?"...LOL.

I chose the 25-06 then mostly due an Outdoor life article called "The .25 Caliber Enigma" written by Jim Carmichael...the round was interesting and different. And as a teen of course I wanted to be different. And thats why I chose it...It kills deer far better than its small caliber bullet should, but then...so does a 270.

It comes down to what your're gonna hunt with it...both are truly great rounds.
 
I agree that the .25-06 is not a purposed heavy varminter. I plan to use it, as well as whatever heavier rifle I pick up in the future, mainly for deer. I just like that if I need it to, it can be a varminter. If I were picking something up specifically for little critters, it would probably be a .22-250 or a .223.
 
With the bullet selection available these days...even the 30-06 is a viable option for "varminting in a pinch"...you can get some really good velocity from an 06 using 110 grain bullets....or you can take it moose hunting with 180's.

The recoil of a 30-06 shooting a 110 grain bullet is pretty much as light as that of a 243 because of the lower charges of medium burn rate powders used with light bullets in the 30-06...less muzzle blast too.

Just a thought to consider.
 
I would'nt pic a 25-06 over a 270,I own both so I dont have to.Got rid of my 25-06 a few years back,BAD CALL, But got a different one now.I've took everything from bobcats to blackbear with both.I do like the 25-06 because not everybody has one here & they're just COOL.If you hand load you can make the 25-06 do some pretty good tricks is it better that a 270? NO, but pretty damn COOL just the same.;)
 
I had a talk once with a guy about his .280 remington. he felt he had to justify owning it, it seemed, rather than having either a 30-06 or a .270.

The fella spent probably fifteen minutes telling me that he liked shooting heavier bullets than the .270, but lighter bullets than the 30-06, and so forth, when there was no significant difference either way, in my opinion.

some people seem to feel the same way about a 25-06. You can get a 270 and it is just about as good for almost everything, but they wanted the 25-06.

The way I see it, you start at the 30-06, and you have a fine and dandy medium to heavy game rifle with good accuracy and power, and fine range. as you go down the calibers, the biggest difference is that they become a little less suitable for real heavy game, and they become a bit better at medium to even small game. I'd prefer a 30-06 for elk, and a 25-06 for anelope, but seriously, picking and choosing between one cartridge and the next one up or down is almost moot.
 
What they both enjoy is making it easy for the shooter to place a shot.Flat trajectory at reasonable ranges,and modest recoil.
They are both capable of slapping through ribs and souping hearts and lungs.
Mostly due to common twists and the commonly used bullets,we are comparing a 115 to 120 gr bullet to a 130 gr bullet most of the time(Yes,I know there are 140 and 150 gr bullets for a .270.)
So,either way,we are talking about the lead in 1/2 a 22 short,or less.

Both rely on shot placement and velocity to get the job done.

Neither is typically twisted for the heavy for caliber sleek long range bullets,but are great for reasonable hunting ranges.

Seems like a fellow can just relax and enjoy his preference.

Now,if you asked about the difference between a .270 and a .280,there would be more to talk about,but you didn't.
 
HiBC said:
Now,if you asked about the difference between a .270 and a .280,there would be more to talk about,but you didn't.
Click to expand...

Ain't that the truth? I've never seen two cartridges as different as the .270 and the .280. You can tell them apart from across the room, and the difference in performance is incredible.;)
 
yeah, the 280 is an 7mm-06 and the 270 is a 277-03. World of difference?????

I have found that the 25-06 is a great cartridge for antelope and coyote. Very flat trajectory and not much recoil. It can also be used for varmit or deer. Bullets are a bit light for elk except at close range.

270 is a great deer cartridge but a bit heavy for varmit and coyote. Recoil is heavier. It also works well on elk at medium range.

My 4 hunting rifles are: 22-250 for varmits. 25-06 for antelope and coyote. 300WM for deer, elk and moose. and 378 for bear. I have a large variety of rifles in different chamberings, but those 4 are what I use to hunt with.
 
HiBc had it right, pertaining to shot placement. I doubt there is a critter alive in North America, two or four legged, that if hit in the heart / lung / spine or brain, would be able to tell the difference between ANY of the aforementioned calibers. "SHOT PLACEMENT" is the key. Ask any old time hunter or trapper.

That being said, IMHO, in 1925 Winchester Arms developed the perfect hunting round, for varmints, medium and big game.... the .270 WIN.
 
I do not have a 25-06, I do have a .243Win and a .270Win. I just looked at some reloading data, I appears the 25-06 falls into a slot between the .243 and .270. It's a narrow slot with quite a bit of overlap. However the .243 outshines as a varmint gun because of its ability to shoot 55-58gr bullets with 22-250 like velocity, and the .270 outshines because of its ability to handle larger bullets, 150gr and beyond. However I still want a 25-06 because it sounds cool and I don't have one.:D

Let's face it, none of us will get anywhere in life if we are going to let fear and common sense hold us back!:rolleyes:
 
80 gr TTSX in 25-06

The Hodgdon online manual has loads for 24" barrel in the 80 gr Barnes TTSX bullet that suggest that 3600 ft/sec is a reasonable velocity to think about in terms of trajectory. The Barnes catalog lists this bullet as having a BC of 0.316 G1.

JBM Ballistics calculations tell us that this load can be sighted in so that the bullet never goes above or below the line of sight by more than five inches all the way out to 400 yards! The drift at 400 yards in a 10 mph is 14 inches, meaning that there is some margin for error in estimating range and wind drift.

The interesting thing is that, if you can afford to shoot the Barnes bullet, it ought to do well on everything from pdogs and jackrabbits through deer & antelope.

Would I choose the 25-06 over the 270? Definitely if I had a 30-06 or heavier for large game or am interested in Elk and below. If I were to think about only one rifle for everything but dangerous game, it would be either the .270 or the .260 Remington.
 
Do what I did, split the difference and build a 6.5-06 and get the best of both worlds.

It shoots the light bullets nearly as fast as the .25-06, but the "light" .264 bullets are better ballisticly than the "light" .257, so the difference downrange is minimal.

It shoots heavier bullets (140gr and above) as fast or faster than the .270, the only real advantage of the .270 is the choice in heaviest bullets (160gr) is better with the .270. 160gr 6.5 bullets are limited to round nose.

There are also a wide variety of match bullets available, if you want to compete.

The down side is that it is handload only, but as wildcats go, it isn't all that "wild", simply neck-size 25.06 cases and you are ready to load.
 
The Hodgdon online manual has loads for 24" barrel in the 80 gr Barnes TTSX bullet that suggest that 3600 ft/sec is a reasonable velocity to think about in terms of trajectory. The Barnes catalog lists this bullet as having a BC of 0.316 G1.

JBM Ballistics calculations tell us that this load can be sighted in so that the bullet never goes above or below the line of sight by more than five inches all the way out to 400 yards! The drift at 400 yards in a 10 mph is 14 inches, meaning that there is some margin for error in estimating range and wind drift.
Click to expand...

True, but a 270 with the 85gr TTSX will follow an almost identical trajectory out to 400, albeit slightly flatter (better by 1/2" at 200 and 1/4 at 400) and with slightly less (better by 1.5" at 400) wind drift.

It's mostly a question of personal preference for "light for caliber" or "heavy for caliber" and/or whether you want to more appropriately cover the "deer and bigger" or "deer and smaller end of things." Although, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot an elk with the appropriate bullet in 25-06 either.
 
My 2 bits......

Since ALL centerfires are better handloaded than with factory ammo, ..... I'll say that if you reload, the 270 has somewhat more versatility and performance. However, if limited to factory ammo, the 270 wins again and by a huge margin. If limited to one rifle, it would be wiser to choose the 270. But then what does wisdom have to with a gun-nut?;)
 
The velocity may not be there. Ever chronographed your loads? I was disappointed to find that my FN Deluxe with its 24” barrel does not push a 130 as fast as my 30-06. The velocity I got with 150’s was not particularly spectacular. Even though I am at max charges according to some loading data.

I only got 3000 fps with 130’s with Federals. Winchester factory was not particularly spectacular when it came to velocity.

I have used 200 grain bullets out to 1000 yards in the 30-06, (rifle match), and shot well. I pulled targets for a guy shooting a 280 Remington at 1000 yards and he shot extremely well, so I know the 280 has the ballistics, but these 270’s/25 caliber rounds, I just don’t consider them long range rounds no matter what the claimed velocities.

SAKO 24" Barrel

130gr Hornady Spire Pt 53.7 gr IMR4064 (Lee Scoop 4.0) thrown Fed cases Fed210M

Ave Vel = 3185
Std Dev = 33
ES = 68
Low = 3156
High = 3224
N = 5


FN Deluxe 24" Barrel

130 gr Nosler BT 55.0 grains H4350 wtd lot 22655 R-P cases WLR OAL 3.3"

29 Dec 2011 T = 50 °F

Ave Vel = 2833
Std Dev = 15
ES = 39
High = 2848
Low = 2809
N = 5


150 gr Speer Flat Base 53.0 grains H4350 wtd lot 22655 R-P cases WLR OAL 3.250"

29 Dec 2011 T = 51 °F

Ave Vel = 2704
Std Dev = 18
ES = 49
High = 2727
Low = 2678
N = 5


130 gr Winchester Power Point SP Factory

29 Dec 2011 T = 51 °F

Ave Vel = 2789
Std Dev = 17
ES = 42
High = 2809
Low = 2767
N = 5


130 gr Federal Hi Shok Factory

29 Dec 2011 T = 51 °F

Ave Vel = 3028
Std Dev = 38
ES = 103
High = 3088
Low = 2985
N = 5


FN270.jpg
 
25-06, 280, 30-06, etc

I have 2 25-06's, 1 a Rem700Varmit Special, 1 a Rem700BDL, love both for their intended purpose.

I have a 280 Rem - love it too.

I have a 30-06 Sprfld - its ok.

Also have 243, 6mmRem, 7mm-08, 7mmRemMag, 308's, 30-30's 444's, etc.

Pick one and shoot it, then get another, repeat.

270Win reputation was over-stated, get a 280Rem or a 280 Ackley Improved, best of all worlds. Best bullet selection, best all around.

Try it - you will like it!!!!!!!!!
 
With most bullets weights, the 280Rem and 280 AI have virtually no muzzle velocity advantage over the 270Win and any velocity they do have is off-set at range by the higher BC of the same weight 277 bullet over the 284.

Hodgdon load data:

270Win 140gr, 2775-2975fps

280Rem, 140gr, 2830-2960fps

280AI, 140gr, 2870-3012fps

The biggest difference I see glancing through the load data is about 150fps for 120gr bullets, which equates to about 250 ft/lbs.

This is not to say that there's anything wrong with the 280Rem or AI but you're certainly not going to see a huge performance gain, or any at all really.
 
oldmanFCSA

270Win reputation was over-stated
Click to expand...

Let us not succomb to delusions...

I am a big fan of the .280, but the reputation of the .270win is well earned and proven.

I, too, am a fan of the .25-06, it is neat round and a great performer with low recoil.
 
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