338/06 or 25/06?

[Axle2010]

Since I found me a Ruger African in 35 Whelen I have no use turning my Savage 111 06 into one. I've always liked the 2506 but I also had very insane for a 257 Wby so idk if the 25 would be wasted. But I also have a 338WM a 340Wby and now a 35 awhelen so maybe the 338/08 would be pointless too. What do guys think? Or is there another interesting 06 conversation caliber? Thanks

 

[Mauser78]

Why must it be a 06? I don't know the specific firearm sorry. But if you are going to replace the barrel you can do any caliber.

 

[Axle2010]

Why must it be a 06? I don't know the specific firearm sorry. But if you are going to replace the barrel you can do any caliber.

The existing rifle is an 06 so the easy caliber changes have to use the same bollt face and magazine. Savage caliber changes are easy but have to stay with the parent cartridge

 

[JimP]

The 25-06 hands down. I thought about rebarreling my old 06 to the 25 50 years or so ago and glad that I didn't since that rifle was given to me by my uncle and will just live in my safe or at the range. But I picked up a 25-06 a number of years ago and love it. Low recoil with a 100 grain Barnes TTSX and it is one of the most accurate rifles that I own. I took it out shooting the other day to get ready for a Wyoming pronghorn hunt and it put all 5 of the shots into a 1 1/2 inch group with me in a sitting position at 250 yards. I didn't even bother to pull the bench out since I wanted to get off some rounds in a hunting position.

I have it loaded to 3200 fps and while it will go a lot faster that is the velocity that I planned for this rifle.

The 257 Weatherby while a fantastic round is known for burning barrels depending on how you use it

 

[RLL]

Get the 257 wby and make the 338/06. I have a reamer for the 338/06 and some proper head stamped brass if you’re interested.

A friend of mine went to South Africa this summer with just a 338/06 in hand shooting 225 hornady interlocks at ~2650fps. Not my preferred bullet but he only needed 1 shot on each animal with no issues in terminal performance.

 

[JeffD]

An old acquaintance of mine went to Africa in the 1980s with a 338/06 and a 416 Taylor. He shot a variety of planes game and a buffalo and had great performance with all of that. Those two rounds offer a lot of bang for the buck.

Edited to add that he used Nosler partitions in the 338. That was the best bullet one could obtained back then.

 

[Ray B]

Years ago I did an article for Handloader Digest on a 338/06A. It was a Winchester M54 rebarreled and updated by CP Donnelly. With a 22" barrel it produced velocities with 210 grain Nosler partitions within 100 FPS or so of 338 Win Mag. It fit the category of perfect elk rifle.

 

[fourfive8]

338-06

 

[BFaucett]

Personally, I'd go with the .338-06. It's today's version of the .318 Westley Richards (.330" bullet diameter).

Cheers! Bob F.

 

[Ryan]

What's wrong with leaving it as a 30-06? Yeah, it's a tad boring, but also incredibly useful.

 

[jruby]

I have both - my 338-06 is on a 1917 enfield that has been nicely sporterized. My 25-06 was built on a JC Higgins model 50. I have had these two rifles / cartridges for the last 25+ years so I know them well. I feel these two cartridges serve different purposes. The 25-06 is a superb deer rifle, not so good for larger animals. The 338-06 is better as a elk cartridge. Yes there is some minimal over lap. All depends on what you want to use the rifle for.

 

[Axle2010]

What's wrong with leaving it as a 30-06? Yeah, it's a tad boring, but also incredibly useful.

I have a much nicer blue and wood 06 that shoots great. It's a good cartridge but no need for 2 of them

 

[meigsbucks]

.280 Remington. Greatly underrated.

 

[Axle2010]

.280 Remington. Greatly underrated.

That an 06 derivative? I didn't know that

 

[Russ16]

Whichever you’re going to use more. Are you more likely to do more pronghorn/smaller antelope hunts or larger bodied game?

25-06 is going to be a ton of fun to shoot especially at long range if you’re into that.

 

[Sarg]

That an 06 derivative? I didn't know that

Yes a darn good one to, the 7x64 cousin.

I’d do the 338/06 it is amazing, with the lighter projectiles with hotter hand loads equals factory 338Win mag, but not really needed that warm.

Of course handloads in the .338Win can be increased more still.

 

[meigsbucks]

Yes. It is basically a .30/06 necked down to .284 and the shoulder moved forward a little so you can’t chamber it in a .270.
There is also a .280 AI that is a blown out .280 Rem. It will give you about an extra 75-100fps. I like the standard .280 better. I had a .280AI and only got about 75 fps more. Not worth it IMO. If I want more out of a 7mm, I’ll use my 7mm Rem mag.

 

[Axle2010]

Whichever you’re going to use more. Are you more likely to do more pronghorn/smaller antelope hunts or larger bodied game?

25-06 is going to be a ton of fun to shoot especially at long range if you’re into that.

I'd love to go for a pronghorn but that's a long way from south Ga. What we have down here are smallish whitetail and big hogs. I have .223 up to 460WBY so I don't NEED either one I just have an ugly Savage I want to make into a cooler cartridge and I'll handload so ammo isn't an issue really. Maybe make the Savage a 338 and find a nice No1 in 2506...?

 

[BFaucett]

That an 06 derivative? I didn't know that

Does a bear. . . well, you know the rest.

The poor ol' .280 Remington has been around since 1957 and, just like Rodney Dangerfield, it "don't get no respect!"

Cheers! Bob F.

Here's mine:

Ruger M77 Mk II .280 Remington

 

[jpr9954]

.280 Remington. Greatly underrated.

If you are going to the .280 Remington, go all the way to a .280 Ackley Improved. You can still shoot .280 Remington ammo if need be.