The 25-06 is an old wildcat cartridge turned mainstream, while the 30-06 has been a staple for many years. Neither round is as popular as they once were, but they both still have an important role to play for many shooting enthusiasts.
When we compare the 25-06 vs 30-06, we’ll determine if 30-06 Springfield shooters continuing to switch to the 25-06 Remington is justified.
By the end of the article, you’ll know which caliber is best for you based on recoil, accuracy, stopping power, cost, and many more crucial factors.
Who knows, you might decide the 30-06 is overrated.
25-06 vs 30-06
The 30-06 has been a go-to rifle for deer hunters for many generations. However, its reign has slowly been coming to an end with the continued emergence of quarter-bores.
Below you’ll find the cartridges compared; then, we will compare several characteristics of each round to determine a winner.
I’m approaching this article from the average shooting enthusiast’s point of view, so you’ll see that some sections might not be as relevant for you as others based on your hunting and shooting preferences, so you might come to a different conclusion than I do, and that’s okay.
Let’s get started!
Cartridge Specs
The cartridges are incredibly similar because the 25-06 case is the 30-06 cartridge is necked down to accept .257 in diameter bullets. You can see from the chart that nearly everything else is identical or eerily similar.
The 25-06 bullets are .257″ in diameter, while 30-06 bullets are .308″ in diameter. This is why the neck diameter of the 25-06 cartridge is .290″ and the 30-06 neck diameter is .340″.
There is only a hair difference between the base diameter of each cartridge. The 25-06 Remington is .470″, and the 30-06 Springfield is .471″.
The case length is identical at 2.494″.
The larger bullet of the 30 06 means the overall length is slightly more at 3.34″, but the 25 06 isn’t much shorter at 3.25″.
The 30 06 Springfield also has a higher case capacity of 68-grains compared to the 65.8 gr H2O of the 25 06 Remington.
The maximum pressure (SAAMI) for the 25-06 is 63,000 psi, and the 30-06 max pressure is 60,200 psi.
As you can see, the 25 06 and 30 06 case dimensions are very similar, but how does that translate from numbers on a screen to the real world?
Recoil: 25 06 vs 30 06
For most shooters, recoil matters because we don’t want to bruise our shoulders while sighting the rifle for hunting season.
Though recoil doesn’t matter as much for hunters as it does for target shooters, it still should be a consideration because sometimes a quick follow-up shot is needed while hunting, and less recoil makes this much more accessible.
Light recoil is also great for new or inexperienced shooters. They tend to flinch less with a round that has little recoil because they’re less scared of the gun hurting them.
So which round has the least amount of felt recoil? Well, that depends on a few factors, the primary ones being gun and bullet weight.
The heavier the gun, the less felt recoil it will have, and the heavier the bullet, the more recoil it has.
So with that in mind, knowing the 30-06 shoots larger projectiles, it should have more recoil, and it does.
How much more, though?
You can expect the 30-06 to punch your shoulder with 23 to 25 ft-lbs of force while the 25-06 recoils with 19-ft-lbs.
This doesn’t sound like much difference, but it is noticeable. However, the 30-06 isn’t known as a heavy recoil round compared to the 300 Win Mag.
The 25-06 Remington wins this section.
Trajectory
The trajectory is a bullet’s flight path to its target measured in inches of bullet drop. As a bullet travels downrange, it is constantly being pulled down thanks to gravity. A flat trajectory is preferred for long-range shooting.
Gravity affects lighter bullets traveling at a higher velocity (FPS) less because they reach the target quicker than heavier bullets moving slower.
The 25 06 shoots lighter bullets at higher velocities, so in theory, it should have a better trajectory.
How much better depends on the weight of the bullet.
The 150-grain Nosler Partition, 30-06, has a bullet drop of -42″ at 500 yards, while the 25 06 115gr Winchester Ballistic Silver Tip drops -44″ at 500 yards.
However, the 25-06 85gr Winchester Ballistic Silver Tip only drops -38″ at 500yds.
If it were possible to compare the same bullet weights, the 30-06 would have the advantage.
However, out to 200 yds, the 25-06 is flat shooting, which is within the range it was intended to be used.
If you’re shooting within 300 yards, the advantage goes to the 25-06, but if you plan to shoot out to 500yds, the advantage shifts to the 30-06.
This section is a draw.
Accuracy: 2506 vs 3006
Accuracy is heavily dependent on the abilities of the shooter and the rifle. Certain rifles often prefer specific ammo. However, for the article’s sake, we will assume all variables are as similar as possible.
This means recoil and trajectory will come into play more. The average shooter will find it easier to be more accurate with the 2506 Remington because of its reduced recoil. That’s not to say the 3006 Springfield isn’t accurate because it is when it’s in the hands of an experienced shooter.
The 25-06 is the winner of this section, but only slightly.
Ballistic Coefficient
The ballistic Coefficient (BC) is a numerical representation of a bullet’s aerodynamics; a high BC is preferred because it means the bullet will better resist the wind.
Calculating the BC is rather complicated and irrelevant for this article. However, you should know heavier bullets typically have a higher ballistic coefficient.
The 25-06 Remington 117 Grain Federal Power-Shok rounds have a ballistic coefficient of .361.
Compared to the BC of .329 of the 25-06 Federal Premium 85 grain Varmint & Predator Nosler Ballistic Tip round.
The 120-grain Federal Fusion 26-06 Remington round has a BC of .468, slightly better than the Hornady 110 Grain ELD-X Precision Hunter Rounds with a .465 ballistic coefficient.
The Remington 30-06 Springfield 165 Grain AccuTip Boat Tail has a BC of .447.
The Federal Fusion Rifle 30-06 150-grain bullet has a ballistic coefficient of .410.
The ballistic coefficient of a 180-grain 30-06 Nosler Accubond rounds is .507.
The 30-06 has the ability to have a heavier bullet weight which means it will also have the ability to have a better ballistic coefficient.
The 30-06 wins this section.
Stopping Power: 25.06 vs 30.06
Sometimes it’s argued that stopping power is irrelevant. While this is true for target shooters, I believe it’s essential for hunting purposes.
Excellent shot placement with a 223 Remington is just as effective as a perfect shot with a 270 Winchester; however, a poor shot with a 223 is not nearly as effective as a poor shot with a 270.
Perfect shots while hunting are rarer than we’d like to admit, which is why stopping power is crucial. It ensures we can still achieve an ethical kill without having to make the perfect shot every time.
Stopping power is measured by how big of a hole the bullet leaves and how deep it penetrates. Sectional density measures how well a bullet should penetrate a target.
It’s calculated by comparing the bullet weight and the bullet diameter. The higher the SD, the deeper the bullet will penetrate the target.
Most 25-06 Rem bullets have an SD of around .22 due to their smaller diameter bullets and lighter weights.
The heavier bullets of the 30-06 average around 0.26 SD, so not that much better, but you’ll notice the difference when hunting larger game animals.
The 30-06 wins this section thanks to its bigger, heavier bullets.
Hunting
If there’s one reason why these calibers are still popular, it’s because hunters often use them. Many would consider either caliber their favorite deer hunting cartridge.
The 25-06 can take medium-sized game like coyotes, whitetail deer, mule deer, and antelope. The 30-06 can ethically harvest all these animals and other big game like elk.
However, both calibers are most effective within 300 yards. If you need to make longer shots, I recommend the 6.5 Creedmoor.
The 30-06 has the advantage in this category because it can hunt a wider variety of species.
Home Defense: 30-06 vs 25-06
I never recommend using a rifle cartridge for home defense because overpenetration puts your family and neighbors at increased risk. However, if all I had were a 25-06 or 30-06 to defend myself and my family, I would use it.
I believe there are much better options for personal defense, such as a shotgun or pistol.
These two calibers are not great home defense rounds because they’re typically found in a bolt-action rifle, which is good for hunting but not very good for protecting against home invaders.
Instead, I would use a pump-action 12 ga or 20 ga shotgun, depending on your sensitivity to recoil.
My next option would be a semi-automatic pistol chambered in 45 ACP, 40 S&W, or 9mm.
The 25-06 and 30-06 are better suited for medium to big game hunting instead of home defense, which is why this section is a tie.
Ammo Cost & Availability
Many first-time gun buyers forget to consider the price and availability of ammo. If you can’t afford or find any ammo, your firearm is just a paperweight.
While both rounds have decent availability, the 30-06 is slightly less expensive.
A cheap round of 25 06 Remington will cost you $1.62 per trigger pull, but the average price is closer to $2.00 per round.
If you buy 30-06 ammo in bulk, you can find it for as low as $1.31 per round. However, $1.80 is the average price per trigger pull.
Major ammunition manufacturers, such as Barnes, Hornady, Nosler, Remington, and Federal, make rounds for both calibers.
The winner of this section is the 30 06 Springfield.
Rifle Cost & Availability: 30 06 vs 25 06
The gun cost is usually a significant determining factor. Both calibers come in a wide range of price points.
A 25-06 Savage Arms Axis XP will cost around $400, while a Browning X-Bolt Stalker chambered in 25 06 Rem can cost more than $1,200.
A Savage Arms Axis XP chambered 30-06 will cost slightly over $400. The Ruger American Rifle will cost a little over $600, and a Christensen Arms Ridgeline FFT will cost a staggering $2,400.
The less expensive hunting rifle is the 25-06 Rem, but it’s not by much.
The 25 06 is the winner of this category.
Reloading
One way to save money on ammo is to reload instead of purchasing factory loads.
Handloading is less expensive in the long run and gives you more control over the controllable variables so you can be more consistent when shooting.
It costs more upfront and is time-consuming to begin reloading. However, if you shoot often, it’s worth the investment.
Both calibers can be hand loaded because the supplies and materials are readily available for each round.
This section is a tie.
30 06 Ballistics
Note: This information comes from the manufacturer and is for informational purposes only. The actual ballistics obtained with your firearm can vary considerably from the advertised ballistics. Also, ballistics can vary from lot to lot with the same brand and type load.
25-06 History
Gunsmith Adolph Niedner is credited with necking down the 30-06 cartridge to fit a .25 caliber bullet in the 1920s.
It wasn’t until 1969 that Remington made the cartridge for the masses and took it from a wildcat round to a mainstream caliber.
The 25-06 is considered a quarter-bore rifle alongside the .250-3000 Savage and the 257 Roberts because they all shoot .25 caliber bullets.
It’s been used to take down big game; however, it’s best suited for deer and other similar-sized game animals.
Though it’s not as popular as it once was, many hunters hold this caliber in high esteem due to nostalgia.
30-06 History
Field and Stream called the 30-06 Springfield “the greatest cartridge of all time,” and Gun Digest said it’s “the only round you need for just about anything.”
It was adopted by the US Army in 1906 and was carried by soldiers into the 1980s; talk about a run.
The 30-06 was the primary round of American servicemen during World War I & II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War.
It’s been chambered in many guns, including-
- Browning automatic rifle
- Famage Mauser
- M1 Garand
- M1903 Springfield
- M1917
- M1918 Enfield
- M1919
- M1941 Johnson
The 30-06 was not only popular in military weapons but also a success on the civilian market with hunters.
It can take a wide range of species and has been the round to stir up nightmares for all deer during hunting season.
Though its popularity has peaked and begun to wane, it still makes an excellent hunting rifle.
Parting Shots
When comparing the 25-06 vs 30-06, many shooters happily sacrifice stopping power for a recoil reduction.
But does this make it the right choice for you?
The 25-06 won 3/10 categories.
The 30-06 won 4/10 categories.
The remaining sections were a draw, meaning 30-06 is the winner!
So no, I do not believe the 30-06 is overrated; however, the 25-06 gives it a run for its money.
25-06 vs 30-06: Is the 30-06 Overrated? originally appeared in The Resistance Library at Ammo.com.
Owned a re-barreled Mauser in 25-06 for a number of years. Glass bedded receiver, bipod, varmint scope and 26″ heavy barrel. With Remington 100 gr. boat tail off the shelf ammo you could split cat whiskers. It hated Winchester brass with any load…hand load or off the shelf. Same slug when hand loading, primer and powder with Remington it shot hot and tight. Put Winchester brass in it with everything else the same and it shot lousy (for me). I vaporized crows out to 450 yards numerous times and that is gospel!!
I have absolutely no regrets with my 25-06. Best thing about it is being a flat shooting screamer. Doesnt hurt that the parent case is 30-06 either.
ZFG, out.
What a fetid crock of shit. Them that can, do. Them that cant, write (or teach). Does this guy actually get paid to write stupid shit like this? This kind of moronic stupidity is why I haven’t bought a gun magazine this century. Let’s take it a step further down the swirling crapper of silly comparisons… fast twist 22-250 with heavy bullets vs 416 Rigby, which is better? WTF, over?
Apples & oranges. I own both & they have completely different uses with a very little bit of overlap. Antelope to deer sized animals. If a hunt is planned, I wouldn’t shoot groundhogs with a 30 & wouldn’t take a 25 if going for anything larger than whitetail deer. In the eastern deer woods, I wouldn’t even use a 25 for deer if I had a choice unless I was hunting powerlines or open fields too. If I was a one rifle kinda guy, it would absolutely be the 30 for a multitude of reasons. The 25 has been on the skids for the last few years ever since the 6.5 Crudmire came onto the scene with a little modern engineering, & a super marketing push. If the same engineering tricks are used, the 25-06 could be what it used to be 30 years ago & that may be in the cards.
A more useful article could be more similar cartridge/rifle combos like 30-06 vs 300WSM vs 300 Ruger Compact Magnum vs 300 Remington Short Action Ultra Magnum. How’s that last one for a mumbo jumbo of an oxymoron? (No wonder the big green R went tits up a few years back.) Not a true magnum in the bunch, these all shoot similar bullets at similar speeds, but are different enough to confuse most folks.
“…This kind of moronic stupidity is why I haven’t bought a gun magazine this century…”
I’m having Guns And Ammo flashbacks from the 1980s. Never missed an issue.
“…6.5 Crudmire…”
Ha ha ha
Solid post, Grizz.
Horseshit. Pissing on the Creedmore makes him sound as stupid as the author of the article and no, I don’t own a Creedmore and I am not a fanboy.
Maybe try reading for comprehension dumfuk. Crudmire does about what a pair of 100+ yr old cartridges (6.5×55 & 6.5×57) can do if loaded to the same pressures in a modern rifle. Same with the 260 Rem. It’s allegedly phenomenal accuracy has more to do with the chamber throat geometry than anything else. No magic, no super sniper abilities without the marketing. Not much new under the sun.
A .270 vs. 30 06 would be a worthy discussion.
Not this.
Next.
I absolutely WOULD shoot a groundhog with an ’06. Don’t need that much gun and my .223 varmint rifle would be plenty BUT I loaded some very hot 125 grain HP’s. Oh my goodness do they have terminal effect at 150 yards!!!
See the qualifier “If a hunt is planned…”
I shot a groundhog with a 358 Norma Magnum once too. It stuck it’s head up at the wrong place & time.
That settles it then.
If the 25-06 is so terrific, why are there so many .30 caliber cartridges and rifles out there? I compare the 25-06 to the 7mm magnum; nothing but a large game wounding round that the animal suffers horribly and eventually dies a great distance away, and usually not found by the shooter. Nope, for large game I’ll stick with my 30-06. It’s tried and proven many times over.
Get a .338 and never wound another large animal ever again.
I’ve taken dozens of elk with mine and none did anything but die instantly
where they stood. Bears drop even faster. It is a tad heavy for deer though.
when TSHTF 3006 is in every home………..since 1906. thats a lot of availability.
Not to mention THE WWII round for the Garand.
available in any weight almost anywhere.
The largest Grizzly ever taken was with a 7mm Mag.
I’m betting it was taken with an obsidian headed spear a few million years ago…which is of course to say…”as far as we know”.
Sadly none of us really know much of shit when it comes to the fullness of knowledge that IS the universe.
This is one of the worst of a series of bad ammo articles. He even misidentifies the M1917 “Enfield” calling it the M1918. The Browning heavy water cooled machine-gun is the 1917 and the Enfield is the M1917. Unrelated, the two revolvers made by S&W and Colt chambered in .45 acp are also M1917, being type classified in 1917. The BAR, Browning Automatic Rifle is the M1918, arriving on the battlefield late summer 1918.
Tens of thousands of FN 49’s were chambered in .30-’06 as well as a small number of FN copies of the K98 Mauser. The only K98 originally factory made in ’06. All other Mausers encountered in ’06 have been rechambered or rebarrelled.
Only one correction..The 1917 .45 revolvers could not use ACP rounds, they require
rimmed cartridges or moon clips for use in the 1917 revolver.
actually, a 1917 smith will fire bare acp just fine. moon clips make life a lot easier but the mouth of the case will catch on the step in the chamber anyway. you just have to pick the shells out one at a time with your fingernails to reload, and that’s tedious.
The six round clip first brought out by Ranch Products 40 years back made it even better. After WW1 some bright boy came up with the .45 Auto Rim which is a .45 acp size cartridge with an unusually thick rim that loads and ejects like what we think of as normal in a revolver. A .44 mag speed loader works well with the Auto Rim in a 1917 or any other S&W N Frame in .45 acp.
I was explaining to a guy at my range how the acp will stop like any other revolver cartridge in the S&W without clips. He hauled out a .45 acp revolver from the S&W Performance shop that was smooth all the way through and definitely would not work without clips, so we must assume nothing.
hearing 30-06 considered for home defense conjures the image of its use for the first contact level of home defense at the edge of a pretty large perimeter… like a house 2 or 3 hundred yards back from the road and the first adversaries cutting the lock on the front gate down there…. inside a building its advantages would be wasted and anything chambered for it is likely to be pretty awkward in close quarters, nevermind penetration of walls and other things which could be problematic… for close quarters indoors defense a shotgun with heavy buckshot would probably be a better call.. if adversaries wearing armor is the threat model, then a rifle round might be a better call, but then, something like 762×39 along with its classic associated hardware would probably be the better one… 3006 really shines when reaching out to connect at distance.
it’s also effing expensive anymore. In a previous age there were mountains of surplus ammo and 3006 was cheaper than 308.. that age is over.
these caliber threads are interesting and entertaining, but generally the ‘oddball’ calibers are only for hobby or specialized type uses where one is willing and able to go 100% into loading the stuff oneself.
body armor doesnt stop headshots. that what makes buckshot a excellent inside defensive round. At 20-30 feet distance, accuracy isnt as critical.
Yer fuckin’ momma. THAT’S what’s over-rated.
Come stand in front of mine and see how “over rated” it is…douchebag.
Good luck finding 25-06 ammunition
I am just waiting for Sam to compare and contrast 50BMG Raufoss with 30mm APHEI.
Better yet, lets talk over-pen characteristics of 120mm apfsds Abrams smoothbore versus 406mm cpi naval gun.
Honestly, in all the calibers I have shot and used in combat (556, 762, 50bmg, 20mm, 25mm, 30mm, 60mm, 81mm, 105mm cannon and mortar, rockets, 155mm, 203mm and all classes of dumb and smart bombs) they all have a specific niche they fill and pros and cons. The only “perfect round” for everything I have been privileged to use was 155mm HE from artillery.
Clear a room or house? 155mm HE.
Take out an mg team? 155mm HE/WP.
Sniper? 155mm.
Tank? 155mm.
Infantry squad or larger element? 155mm.
Schoolbus of communists college students? 155mm HE/WP.
Tranny NHL exhibition game? 155mm DPICM and HE/WP. Just to be absolutely sure toss in VT fuze for max ground coverage.
Now the practicality and availability of 155mm to me now does not exist, so I must make due with 556, 762×39, 308, 6.5g, 25-06, 30-06, 9mm, 10mm, 45acp, 12ga, 22lr and 177 pellet.
Pick the tool for the mission that you are most proficient with and is readily available. What caliber is the best for whatever is subjective when it comes down to survival situations.
Recreational pseudo-intellectual debates on best caliber is like arguing whether shit tastes better fried or baked. It is a pointless debate because it is still shit no matter what way you cut the turd if you aint getting rounds on target vitals.
ZFG, out.
P.S. when in doubt, always strive for first round effect on target. Keep up the fire caliber masterdebaters. I AM LOOKING AT YOU SAMMY.
True, the means to achieve success depends on choosing the best tool for the job. It’s funny how it took the US Army over 30 years to find its way to 6.8×51 when reloaders, precision shooters, and civilian competitors were using 6.5×47 wildcat cartridges for years.
…but when you think about how politics corrupts everything it touches, you get the picture.
It usually boils down to kickbacks for the govt military contracts. I think that 277 fury is going burn those barrel throats out fast as fuck too.
Caliber debates always end up as a dick measuring contest.
ZFG, out.
In the real world it’s not all about degrees of effectiveness it’s more about availability. For example the 5.56 x 45 isn’t a particularly good combat round either…but you can get your hands on it a lot easier than the newest super cartridge. If you’re smart you take care of the basics before the exotics and that is why you have a 30-06 instead of a 25-06.
Article is a waste of time for me. I can’t see a target at 200 yards.
Well, when it’s close I want what’s common. Those are close. My 25-35 shoots nice and flat but try to find cartridges. I want the people who groove on finding the perfect caliber and case, along with propellant of course, to keep on keeping on, develop, improve, perfect and produce. Remember the 264 magnum? 280 Winchester? Is the 217 bee still around? 32-40?