25-06 question

[bub524]

I recently bought a  NIB Charles Daley '98 Mauser 25-06 for what I thought was a good price. It had a Barska 3-12 illuminated ret. scope. Unfired still full of Cosmo. I noticed when I got it home the barrel is 22". Now after I thought about it all the other 25-06's I've had, Ruger, Rem., all had longer barrels. You always see a 25-06 with a barrel thats longer then say a 270 in the same model. So why the longer barrel and is this one with a 22" factory barrel going to give me problems?
Thanks.

[DennisB]

It does seem short for a 25-06, but ya won't really know until you clean her up and shoot it some.  My 25-06 has Springfield action, Douglas barrel, Fajen stock, Timney trigger, put together well before Remington made it a commercial round.  A buddy really liked its accuracy and had to have one.  He ended up with a Mauser based rig with a 22" barrel that was also a good shooter.  Ya just never know...

[Don Fischer]

I've had three of them and all had 24" barrels. I kinda think that with the 22" barrel, you don't gain much over a 257 Roberts and certainly not a 257 imp Ack. In either case, it's in good company! Probally the 25-06 really shines when it has a 26" barrel, but then I've never had that either.

[jro45]

With the 25 caliber I think they loose about 30 or 40 fps per inch. Best to shoot it thru a conagraph.

[nasem]

i highly doubt it will make that much of a difference.  I know the 24" will give you faster bullet (maybe AT THE MOST 80-100 fps faster) but, it doesn't matter really, the ease of comfort and handling is what matters the most.  22" is a great length

[Eagle Eye]

I have had several 25-06 that didn't have a 24" barrel, including a Remington Mtn. Rifle DM model.  My Sako was 24" either.  You do give up some velocity (about 100 fps according to my chronograph for 22" over a 24") but sometimes you give up length for handiness in the woods.  Enjoy the new rifle, 25-06 is one of the best there is for fun and accuracy. 

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  My .25-06 has a 27 inch # 5 Douglas. I like it, but the barrel is a bit long for most folks. But for me a 22" is toooooo short. That is because I prefer a fairly heavy rifle. I have gotten used to handling long barreled rifles to me they offer more plus's than minus's, BUT I have a pal who is a real .25-06 nut. He has a bunch of rifles, and he must have 5 or 6 .25-06's. All barrel lenghts up to a 28 inch Browning single shot. One of his fastest rifles is a model 70 with a 22" barrel. So if you like your shorter length rifle, no problem. For deer in the timber and general hunting if you like a short rifle I would think it would be fine. I would also say if you planned to shoot a bunch of long range varmits you might want a heavier barrel simply because they are easier to shoot. Not that they shoot better, just easier to hold steady.

[bub524]

Well I'm going to try it out one of these nights or maybe this weekend. I'm sure I'm going to like it. Then I'll have the burning itch for another one.

[Brithunter]

Well if you hand load then just look up the data for a slightly faster powder. I did  this for a .270 win chambered rifle I have which only has a 20" Barrel. It's a full stocked BSA CF2 "Stutzen". With normal .270 loads and factory stuff you get a huge fire ball out of the muzzle which is just unburnt powder. Using H380 or H4895 stops this. And let's face it does the Deer know that the bullet which just killed it was doing 100 FPS less that it could have been?

[the jigger]

the extra speed of a 24" or 26" barrel will be significant after 300yds. ENJOY your new toy!!!!!!

IF YOU'RE GONNA GET OLD YOU BETTER BE TOUGH!! GITTIN' OLD AIN'T FOR SISSIES!!!

[kudzu]

If a short gun with a long barrel is the ticket in a 25-06, then do as I did.
TC Pro Hunter.
Over all around 42'' (about same as 22'' bolt gun) and a 28'' tube.
Best of both worlds.

Good luck,DM