25-06 or 7mm-08 handi?

[Deerhunter#1]

well i have the 25-06 shooting 115 grain bullets. was thinking of getting a 7mm-08 and trying the 120 grain in it. In your guys experience is there any real advantage to the 08 over the 06 or should i save the money. my bordem has me thinking but have the 243, 25-06 and 270 so i probobly dont need it but who knows.

[yukondog]

I say the 7mm-08, the one I had shot pretty good and you already have the 243,25-06 and 270, so now all you need is a 7mm,308 and 30-06.

[thejanitor]

If you need a heavy bullet for some job the 7-08 will go to a higher wt. bullet range but If you are hanging around the 120 gr class bullet I do feel the 25-06 will out shine the 7-08.  I am basing this on my 7-08 it likes a 120 gr bullet pushed slow, when I tried faster it didn't hold the groups as well. The 25-06 I have likes a 100 gr bullet and it is cooking along pretty good. So just my thoughts based on my 2 rifles. Good luck. thejanitor

[gcrank1]

Go the whole hog and get a 45-70, youve already got the lesser calibers/needs covered.

[jkpq45]

Well, since it has yet to be said, "Get both."  :-)

Actually, my decision would be more swayed by already having gear (or a ready supply of tube stubs from gunbroker....)

[cjrjck]

I use the Barnes TSX 120 grain in my 708. I get around 3000 fps. Close to 25-06 velocity with the same weight bullet but with a 4 inch shorter barrel. The .25 cal  will normally have a higher ballistic coefficient when compared with the same style and weight bullet in .284 but in the real world they are close. I like the 708 a lot mostly because it works well in compact rifles like the Handi or my Remington M7 stainless.  Truth be told though, the critter you shoot with either the 25-06 or 708 using quality 120 grain bullets will never be able to tell the difference.I have really struggled getting the 708 to shoot well in the two Handis I have owned. Same for the 243. However the 308 has been a gem. Others here have had no problems with their 708s and 243s. That's the way it is.

[Deerhunter#1]

Thanks for replies guys.

[44 Man]

I love my 7-08!  And it shoots very well with 120/130/140/150 gr bullets.  I have the 'shorty' (I guess I can't call it an Ultralite) and other than my old Topper 30-30, it is my favorite.  I have yet to find a bullet it does not like to shoot.  It did take a while to 'break in' but after that, it's been doing great.  I don't think you will go wrong with one, no, it's not a 25-06, but it's not supposed to be.  It does shine as a handy (pun intended) 'deer' gun as mine is used for.  You need one.  You also need a full 30 caliber Handi, likely a 30-06 to fill your stable with heavier bullets.  Your 'new' 7-08 will fill the .308 space nicely.  Once you get one, you can't get enough Handys.  44 Man

[quickdtoo]

I have the 'shorty' (I guess I can't call it an Ultralite)...

The 20" 7mm-08 is a Superlight, same contour as the other Superlights. 

Tim

[jeepmann1948]

Out here in West Texas where most of my hunting is done in designer tee shirts and camo shorts the 25-06 works very well,but then so does the 357 Max 22-250,223,243,7mm-08,308,30-30 and even the 22K hornets.
 The 2 25-06's i have love the Federal 117 gr factory load so well I never tried working up a load for them.
 The 7mm-08 likes the 120gr bullets and middle of the road reloading data, the deer hate them ...drops em like a rock.
 Either choice you make will be the right one
Happy Trails
George
 

[fullup3]

I have some experience with both the 25-06 and the 7mm-08.   I have a two family members I hunt with that each shoots one of them.   They both kill deer dead, and we never have shots farther than 200yds, so no long range issues come into the discussion.   The deer hit with the 25-06 almost always run a bit before expiring....may 30 to 50 yards.  They are shooting 100grain ballistic tips in the 25-06.   The 7-08 is using various bullets mostly 140's, and he has only shot one deer out of about 10 that ever took a step!  Don't know why, but that 7-08 hammers them.   
 

[Dinny]

The 7mm-08 does everything the 25-06 does within 500yds with less powder and recoil. 7mm bullets are very efficient.

Thanks, Dinny

[quatroclick]

There are some things that the 7-08 will do better than the 25-06 and visa-versa.  However, there is virtually nothing to be gained with the 7-08 over a 25-06 AND a 270.  If I all ready had the 243, 25-06 and 270, I would be looking at a 30-06, 357, 35 Whelen or 45-70.

[nwhunter]

It comes down to, what do you want, I have had both.
But I also had and still have in m70 featherweghts a 257 roberts and a 7x57.
I have killed mule deer with both and an elk with the 7x57.
So the 25/06 an 7/08 went down the road.
Good luck with which ever you choose.
 Keith

[rdlange]

I got a 25-06 for long range after reading Sourdough's posts and the Handi vs Ruger article years ago.  Never used it for that, but still dreaming.  Maybe one day I' ll have a chance to go after some speed goats.  Otherwise, K hornet, maxi, 30-30 and 45-70 got it covered.  Maybe 7-08 ammo is cheaper.

Enjoy whatever you get.

Happy Holidays.

[44 Man]

I think Rdlange hit the secret!  It doesn't matter which you get!  It will be fun and do a great job for you.  We like to try new things and that is fun too, but there is no 'perfect' caliber out there.  Some do some things better than others but all will kill most of the game we usually hunt just fine.  In fact, we can probably do that with guns we already have!  But what fun it that?  It's more fun to keep trying to find that elusive 'perfect, do it all, caliber'.  They probably made that one back in '06 as close as any other but I still want my other calibers!  Have fun and enjoy that new gun!  44 Man