Author Topic: 7mm-08 or 25-06 for an all around Midwestern Rifle (Read 1579 times)

32 Point Buck · « **on:** January 19, 2006, 04:43:04 PM »

I have done a fair amount of research and have pretty much locked into the Tikka T3 Lite series rifle. Looking at mounting a Zeiss 3X9X40mm Conquest. The variable yet is to go with a 7mm-08 or 25-06. My hunting would include White Tail Deer, Coyote, Fox, Maybe Mule Deer, Antelope and Groungd Hogs in Western Nebraska. Just moved from Iowa so only have .223 which has been passed down to me from my grandfather. Thinking of selling it to a freind to help pay for Ziess and have only one rifle for evreything. Actually shot all my Deer, Coyote and Fox in Iowa with shotgun slugs or 3" number 2 Shot (not deer). Anyway kind of new to rifle arena. On paper it seems hard to beat the 7mm-08 for my needs but experience may be different. I know the 7mm-08 factory loads are pretty hot. Are the 25-06 factory loads kind of light? Expected them to be a little faster and flatter. Besides the Tikka being only a long action type rifle. What other advantages would the 25-06 give me? Probably shoot more paper at 500yd range than anything. Still trying to find hunting spots in this area.
Thank You.

killdeer · « **Reply #1 on:** January 19, 2006, 05:22:47 PM »

A strong case can be made for either. If you are to have only one rifle, for me the choice is easy............7-08

KD

bladerunner · « **Reply #2 on:** January 19, 2006, 06:43:06 PM »

if yer gonna hunt anything BIGGER than mulies,I'd say 7MM-08........BUT,up to and including mulies,the 25-06 will do everything you ask of it........and my Tikka T3 lite will put 3 in a half inch @ 100 yds,so the accuracy is there.....virtually no difference in recoil,looks like the 25-06 has a SLIGHT edge in trajectory,energy levels seem to favor the 7MM-08............as you mentioned,in the Tikka,long and short action mean very little because they just have a different bolt stop

You are dealing with two RIGHT answers,so just see which one your dealer has in STOCK :-D :-D

32 Point Buck · « **Reply #3 on:** January 19, 2006, 06:57:44 PM »

I have read a quite a few threads stating how people love there 25-06. Not as many talking about the 7mm-08. The ballistics I've seen on paper would favor 7mm-08 slightly overall with energy vs velocity if I were to go after slightly larger game. Bladerunner says recoil is about the same which was another question of mine since accuracy is the main goal. The other thing to bring into the equation is the wind bucking capability of a .25 caliber versus a .284. The midwest where I live has 10-25 mph winds most every day and more. Scheels Sporting did have a 25-06 which the salesman tried to talk me into vs the 7mm-08. Which they did not have in stock.

bladerunner · « **Reply #4 on:** January 19, 2006, 07:29:42 PM »

J/K about the "whatever is in stock"....always get what you want.....never "settle"....

you wrote:

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My hunting would include White Tail Deer, Coyote, Fox, Maybe Mule Deer, Antelope and Groungd Hogs

I think the 25-06 is much better than the 7MM-08 for the coyotes,foxes and ground hogs,and AS good for the deer and antelope

after re-reading your post,I say 25-06 ALL THE WAY

Gregory · « **Reply #5 on:** January 20, 2006, 12:07:14 PM »

32 Point Buck

First off don't sell that .223! You'll get more use out of it here in the midwest that either a 25/06 or 7mm-08. Up to coyotes the .223 is all you need. Family heirlooms should not be sold, in my opinion. Pass it on to your kids one day.

I own all three calibers and haven't had the chance to take any big game with my 25/06 or 7mm-08, but for deer it would be a toss up as to which one I'd carry.

kenscot · « **Reply #6 on:** January 20, 2006, 12:39:45 PM »

Tough call but I would go with the 7mm-08 if deer hunting was going to be the primary use.

Don Fischer · « **Reply #7 on:** January 20, 2006, 04:05:12 PM »

For what you say your going to do, hands down the 25-06. Dropping down to 87gr bullet's, the 7mm-08 doesn't have anything that can stay with the 25-06.

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The other thing to bring into the equation is the wind bucking capability of a .25 caliber versus a .284. The midwest where I live

Now speaking of wind bucking ability, the 25-06 win's again. Perhap's the bullet's may not buck the wind as well, all thing's being equal, but thing's are not equal. It's called time of flight. The 7mm-08 will be in the air to long allowing the wind to do it's thing! If you can get a factory 100gr 7mm-08 load it'll do somewhere around 3300 fps. You can get a factory 87 gr 25-06 load and it will do somewhere around 3400 fps. My own 25-06 with a 75 gr handload better's 3500fps!

Don Fischer · « **Reply #8 on:** January 20, 2006, 04:07:48 PM »

32 Point Buck · « **Reply #9 on:** January 20, 2006, 05:48:35 PM »

Thank You ball for your responses.
I had really had my mind set on the 7mm-08. Being based on a 1000yd case and advantages of available 7mm bullets with great ballistics. But now after your input and a little more research. Maybe the 25-06 would be better overall. There is a very remote possibility right now of hunting larger than White tail. Maybe a Mule deer down the road. Not really in postion right now to take guided elk or other game trips with kids still at home.

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BUT,up to and including mulies,the 25-06 will do everything you ask of it........and my Tikka T3 lite will put 3 in a half inch @ 100 yds,so the accuracy is there.....virtually no difference in recoil,looks like the 25-06 has a SLIGHT edge in trajectory,energy levels seem to favor the 7MM-08

Bladerunner.
What loads are you shooting in your T3 lite for these .5 inch groups

bladerunner · « **Reply #10 on:** January 20, 2006, 07:41:09 PM »

hornady 117gr. SST's........the light mags were not as accurate...about 1-1 and a quarter inch

32 Point Buck · « **Reply #11 on:** January 21, 2006, 03:01:08 AM »

The only concern with the 25-06 in a Tikka T3 Lite is the barrel lenght is only 22 7/16 inches. From what I have read you loose a lot of advantage on rounds over 3000 fps with anything shorter than 24 inch barrel. Doesn't seem to affect bladerunners groups. How about velocity?

bladerunner · « **Reply #12 on:** January 21, 2006, 08:59:40 AM »

I think that most factory loads are tested in a 26" barrel (somebody correct me if I'm wrong) ,and that you lose about 50fps per inch of barrel......IF this is true,then Hornady ammo out of my rifle would have a muzzle velocity of 2815fps since it is advertised at 2990fps..........you also have to factor in that the 7MM-08 is ALSO losing about 175fps over advertised fps..........like I said before,you are dealing with two right answers and I believe you'll be happy with either

Don Fischer · « **Reply #13 on:** January 21, 2006, 10:30:12 AM »

My 25-06 is a 700 ADL w/ 24" barrel. I load 117gr Hornadys and get a shade over 3100 fps across a cronograph. I fooled with 100gr bullets and got a bit over 3300 fps, I'm not a 100 gr fan.

The velocity you get will depend on a lot of thing's but you'll find that it's easiest to deal with by not knowing for the time being. You cronograph factory load's and you may and may not get claimed velocities, likey not. But out to 300 yds or so, you won't be able to tell the difference between 3100 and 2900 if you just shoot what you have. Your extreame spred can easiely exceede 50 fps. That's the spred between the fastest and slowest shot in a string. I like to cronograph 10 shot's and the muzzle velocity is the average of those 10.

bja105 · « **Reply #14 on:** January 21, 2006, 11:46:56 AM »

Are you a handloader? I ask because factory ammo in 25-06 is more expensive and has less selection than 7-08. I bought a box at Gander Mountain this week, 1/2 the selection, and $1-4 more than 7-08. If you are stuck with factory ammo, go with a 308. Lots of choices from surplus to match loads.

If you do handload, 25-06 seems more interesting. I just got one, but I never was interested in a 7-08. Nothing a 7-08 can do that a 270 can't do better (and louder, and more recoil.)

bladerunner · « **Reply #15 on:** January 21, 2006, 12:42:08 PM »

7MM-08 has LESS recoil than a 270...about four and a half to 5 pounds less

32 Point Buck · « **Reply #16 on:** January 21, 2006, 12:53:17 PM »

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Are you a handloader? I ask because factory ammo in 25-06 is more expensive and has less selection than 7-08.

Like everything else I pick up. It always becomes a science project. No I have never reloaded rifle. Previously shot a lot of competitive trap shooting and loaded shot shells for practice. It could become another hoby of mine until I find what I consider the perfect conbination. This will more than likely be a long time as I am a perfectionist.
Thanks again for all the responses.

32 Point Buck · « **Reply #17 on:** January 26, 2006, 05:34:22 PM »

I appreciate everyones advise. I have decided that White Tails are the number one priority for this rifle. Although Yotes will not be passed up and I still on plan on camping in the pan handle of Nebraska shooting p'dogs. The ballistics of the 7mm-08 are hard to beat with amount of recoil, trajectory, and killing energy. Meaning more accurate powerful shots.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #18 on:** January 27, 2006, 04:13:22 AM »

My recommendation would be the .25-06.

Yes, you can kill prairie dogs and coyotes with a 7mm-08, as I have done with my 7mm Mag shooting at 7mm-08 velocities. But I find the heavier bullets tend to ricochet much more frequently than the 75g V-MAX I use in my .257 Roberts.

That said, the .25-06 with good 120g bullets will take any whitetail from up close to way out there. Im shooting 120g A-Frames, Partitions and Grand Slams in my .257 Roberts and 110g Accubond. If I wasnt comfortable taking a shot at whitetail with these loads I probably would be rethinking the shot even if I had the 7mm Mag.

Just my opinion, but I think the .25-06 is much better for varmints while the 7mm-08 is only marginally better for whitetail-sized game.

bladerunner · « **Reply #19 on:** January 27, 2006, 04:41:28 AM »

I agree with coyote hunter,the 7MM-08 may be a LITTLE better for whetails but when you throw in the other stuff,the 25-06 becomes the winner

recoil advantage......neither..(actually,25-06,but only by .01 lbs. :-D )
trajectory advantage..25-06
energy advantage......7MM-08