.25-06 Remington

01 / At a glance

The basics

Origin

United States

Introduced

1969

Ignition

Centerfire

Case form

Rimless, bottleneck

Diameter

6.5 mm

Case length

63.3 mm

Rounded values to help you identify the cartridge, not manufacturing drawings. See the cited standard for exact dimensions and tolerances.

A short history

The .25-06 began as a wildcat. Shooters necked the .30-06 case down to .257 inch decades before any factory made it, and the wildcat was known for being fast and flat. It earned a following among varmint hunters and deer hunters in the West.

Remington standardized it in 1969 and chambered it in the Model 700, and the cartridge became a factory round. Other makers followed, and it has been in production ever since. It is not a best seller, but it has a steady and loyal group of owners.

The cartridge never had the marketing of the .270 Winchester or the .243 Winchester. It earned its place the slow way, one rifle at a time, because it shoots flat, kicks little and does the job on deer and pronghorn.

Why people like it

The first reason is speed. With a 100 or 117 grain bullet the .25-06 leaves the muzzle near 3,000 ft/s, and the path is among the flattest of the standard hunting cartridges. That helps when the range is hard to judge, as it often is in open country.

The second reason is recoil. The kick is lighter than a .270 Winchester or a .30-06, and a rifle in the 7 to 8 pound range is easy to shoot well. For someone who flinches from a heavier cartridge, it is a good step up from the .243 Winchester.

The third reason is versatility. With a light 87 to 100 grain bullet it is a long-range varmint cartridge, and with a 115 to 120 grain bullet it is a deer cartridge. One rifle can do both jobs.

Specifications at a glance

Values are rounded for reference. Exact dimensions and tolerances are in the SAAMI standard cited at the end of this page.

Strengths and limits

The .25-06 is a flat-shooting cartridge for light to medium game. It should be judged as one.

For deer, pronghorn, sheep and goat out to 400 yards it is more than enough. For larger game, a bigger cartridge is a better tool, even though some hunters have taken elk with careful shots and tough bullets.

It also suits the hunter who owns one rifle for several jobs. A .25-06 can be sighted in once, carried to the prairie dog town in summer and to the deer stand in autumn with only a change of ammunition. The same flat path serves both, and the recoil stays friendly enough for long sessions at the bench.

Barrel wear

A large case with a small bullet burns a lot of powder for the bullet it launches. That gives speed, and it also wears the throat of the barrel faster than a gentler cartridge. A shooter who fires hundreds of rounds a year at varmints should expect to rebarrel sooner than with a .243 Winchester. For a hunter who fires a few dozen rounds a year, it is not a concern.

Ballistics

The tables and charts below show one common modern factory load, a 117 grain InterLock BTSP bullet at 2,990 ft/s, with the rifle zeroed at 200 yards.

Reading the numbers

With a 200-yard zero the bullet rises about 1.6 inches above the line of sight at 100 yards, returns to the line at 200 and falls about 7 inches at 300, 21 at 400 and 42 at 500. A 10 mph crosswind moves it about 7 inches at 300 yards, 14 at 400 and 23 at 500. Velocity drops from 2,990 ft/s at the muzzle to about 1,900 ft/s at 500 yards, and energy from about 2,320 to about 940 foot-pounds.

Most hunters will keep shots inside 400 yards, where the bullet still carries more than 1,100 foot-pounds. Past 400 yards the energy falls toward the minimum many hunters use for deer, so judge the distance and the shot with care.

Recoil and shooter comfort

Recoil is light to moderate. In a 7 to 8 pound rifle the .25-06 gives a firm push, more than a .243 Winchester and less than a .270 Winchester or a .30-06. Most adults shoot it well, and many younger shooters can with a good stock fit.

The report is sharp because of the large case and the fast powder burn. Wear hearing protection at the range, and use plugs or muffs even in the field if you can.

How to choose ammunition

Choose by purpose first, then by weight. Ammunition for the .25-06 is made by all the large makers.

Bullet weight

A 115 to 120 grain bullet is the best all-round choice for deer. A 100 grain bullet is faster and flatter and a common choice for pronghorn and varmints. An 85 to 90 grain bullet is for varmints, where speed and flat flight matter more than penetration.

Factory loads are sold for most purposes, from budget varmint boxes to premium bonded hunting bullets. Buy the load for the animal, and test it on paper before the season so you know where it prints and how it groups.

Do not mix cartridges

The .25-06 Remington is not the same as the .250 Savage, the .257 Roberts or the .25-35. Cartridges are not interchangeable even when the bullet is the same size. Read the marking on the barrel before you load.

How to choose a rifle

The right rifle depends on how you hunt. These are the points that matter most.

• Action. Bolt-action rifles dominate and are the most accurate for the price. Single-shots and some semi-autos are also made.
• Weight. A light rifle of 6.5 to 7.5 pounds is easy to carry. A heavier rifle is steadier and kicks less, and it suits a varmint shooter.
• Barrel length. 22 to 24 inches is usual and gives the full velocity. A shorter barrel is handy and loses speed, and this cartridge loses more than most.
• Twist rate. A 1 in 10 twist stabilizes most bullets. Check the twist before you buy very long match bullets.
• Optic. A variable scope of 3-9x or 4-12x is a good fit. Varmint shooters often choose more magnification.
• Fit. Try the length of pull before you buy. A rifle that fits shoots better.

Zeroing and practice

A 200-yard zero suits most hunting. It keeps the bullet within about 3 inches of the line of sight out to 250 yards, and it gives a drop of about 7 inches at 300. A 100-yard zero is simpler to check and easier on a short range. In that case the bullet falls about 3 inches at 200 and 12 at 300.

Practice at the distances you expect to hunt, from field positions. For varmints, practice at small targets at long range and learn how the wind moves your bullet. For deer, practice a steady shot from a rest or sticks. Confirm your zero with the load you hunt with, and check it again when you change loads.

Practical uses

Deer and pronghorn

This is the core use. The .25-06 has a flat path and enough energy for whitetail, mule deer and pronghorn at the distances most hunters shoot.

Varmints and predators

With a light bullet it is a long-range cartridge for prairie dogs, coyotes and fox. The flat path makes range errors forgiving.

A varmint rifle and a deer rifle have different needs, so many owners keep one scope setting for each load. Write the zero and the drop for each load on a card and tape it inside the stock or the scope cap, and update it after any change of ammunition.

Sheep, goat and light big game

It works well with a tough bullet and a good shot. The light rifle and mild recoil are a benefit in steep country.

Elk and large bear

It is not a good choice. The bullets are light for this game. A larger cartridge gives more margin.

Some hunters have taken elk with it using tough bullets and close, well-placed shots, but that is the exception, and it asks more of the hunter than a larger cartridge would.

Target shooting

It is accurate, and it is a pleasant rifle for the range, but ammunition costs more than for smaller cartridges.

.25-06 Remington vs similar cartridges

The table lists the cartridges most often compared with the .25-06 Remington. Figures are rounded and use SAAMI maximum average pressures.

Against the .243 Winchester, the .25-06 has a larger case, more speed and a heavier bullet, with more recoil. Against the 6.5 Creedmoor, it is faster with lighter bullets, and the 6.5 has better bullets for long range. Against the .270 Winchester, the two are close and the .270 has the heavier bullet. Against the .30-06, it kicks less and shoots flatter with a lighter bullet.

Care and storage

Clean the bore after each session and after a hunt in wet weather. Wipe the bolt, the chamber and the action, and use a light oil. Check the scope mounts and the stock screws from time to time. Store the rifle unloaded in a dry place, with a light film of oil on the metal. Keep firearms and ammunition locked and out of reach of children and unauthorized users.

Safety and common mistakes

• Do not confuse the .25-06 Remington with the .250 Savage, the .257 Roberts or the .30-06 Springfield. Read the marking on the barrel and the headstamp before loading.
• Treat every firearm as loaded. Keep your finger off the trigger until your sights are on the target.
• Know your target and what is beyond it. A rifle bullet can travel more than a mile.
• Check that the bore is clear before shooting.
• Wear eye and ear protection at the range.
• Do not shoot at game beyond the range where you can place the bullet with confidence.
• If you reload, use only published data from a current manual and start low. This page does not contain loading data.
• Store firearms unloaded and locked, and keep the ammunition apart.

Sources

Sources reviewed · 29 October 2026

1. Wikipedia · .25-06 Remington ↗
2. Hornady · 25-06 Rem 117 gr InterLock BTSP American Whitetail ↗
3. SAAMI ↗