Which caliber is best for deer hunting out to 300 yards or so? Please don't say another caliber. I have decided on one of these two calibers and looking for opinions on who has experience with either in this application. Basically, I'm looking for a lighter recoil gun (bad shoulder) that will get the job done well. Thanks.

25-06 is a bit hotter round as it's based on the 30-06 case where a 7mm-08 is based on the 308. Have you looked at ballistics charts for comparison?

I just noticed someone else basically asked the same question a little earlier.

There is a thread on these two calibers a couple posts down you may get some info from. As far as "which is best", I suppose it depends on what you want to do with it , and how you hunt.

The 25 is a flat shooter with high velocity and kills quick. I've killed big bucks ( body weight ) and did NOT get an exit with factory core locks , but I broke a shoulder going in. With a 25 caliber (100 to 115 grain ) bullets you just don't get as much punch through, but you do get a lot of energy deposited into the animal. It's an awesome deer killer that particularly shines when handloading.. However, would never consider taking a 25 - 06 after anything heavier than deer.

The 7 - 08 is a little more versatile in my opinion with a wide variety of bullet weights to choose from. It's no better or worse of a deer killer. They are both awesome.

It all boils down to what you like.

7mm-08 has a little more flexibility toward the heavy side of bullets, .25-06 has the same toward the light side. I shoot both of them in the 100-130 grain range.

Both kill like a hammer inside 400 yards, so I would say pick based on whether you prefer short or long action rifles.

I love the 25-06, but there is nothing at all wrong with the 7-08. I like a short action rifle better than a long action. The 25 probably kicks a bit less. I would pick the short action over the long action, unless you are going to buy a Tikka. They are all the same length action. In that case, I would pick the 25. Can't really go wrong either way.

I posted the other thread on the same topic, I ended up buying a 25-06. I was at cabelas today buying ammo for it. It was a good bit more expensive than 270 or 30-06. They had about 4 different options for ammo. Even the core lots were like $30 a box. The 7mm-08 had more options and better priced, if any of this are concerns for you.

Ammo availability is part of the discussion. I’ve had both and 25-06 was “buy it when you find it.”

Y’all must live in a 25-06 shortage zone. I have never had a problem finding ammo always at the local store and big name stores here in town. I shoot stock ammo as well as hanloads and both are good

Yeah I agree. Other than like weatherby and stw rounds I've never had an issue finding ammo. I normally don't put myself in a crunch where I must have it. And never have forgot bullets, and never will.

Midway USA is a great source for ammo. They currently list 28 varieties of .25-06, and have stock for 18 of those.

I'm not concerned about ammo cost. If you really think about it, most folks aren't plinking with their deer rifle. I had the best season I've ever had, with hunts in 4 states, including a pig slaying trip to Texas, and consumed less than 20 rounds total. That's a lot of fun for not much ammo cost

im thinking about picking up a 25 from a friend of mine.

how is that 25 outside of 400?

Hits like a hammer

I just bought a 7mm-08 last week and went and shot it a few times Saturday to sight it in and it was really fun to shoot. I have not got to test it out on a deer yet but am looking forward to testing it out.

Couldn't tell you, as I have never killed an animal further than that. Exit wound on a big mule deer was about 3" in diameter at 328 yards (angle corrected), and he hit the ground.

I saw another hunter shoot at a similar distance, also .25-06. That shot broke both back legs and kept going. That deer had his chest behind some brush, but was on his way off the ranch. First shot put him down, next finished him.

If I knew I would be shooting 400+, I would take a different caliber just for the energy retention. Probably would go to 7mm Mag, or .280 Ackley in that case.

I have never shot over 350 yards but on our lease there are plenty of spots to shoot upwards of 500 plus. I,won't shoot that far bc I can't see that far.lol

I recently got rid of my 25 06. Even though I have killed a ton of deer with it. The hornady GMx 117 grain worked best for me. The longest shot was at 365 and another at 349. Both deer went down within 50 yrds. But another guy in our club has killed several deer with a 7m 08 at about the same ranges, with the same results. But in my opinion I loved my 25 06. Shoots flat and if you hit them where your suppose to. It puts them down everytime.

I’ve tried both due to 3 shoulder surgeries. I could tweak the recoil down on the 25/06, but not much difference. I went with 7mm 08 due to being 5’7’’ and needing a short action