Would you use a 25-06 for Moose?

[wired leader]

I think your 308 would do nicely for moose, pick up yourself a nice 243 or maybe even a 22-250 for yotes.
That being said...you couldn't go wrong adding a good 270 to your collection. A dandy caliber that will reach way out and will have no problem dropping a coyote.

[tbell_1]

Not at the top of my list for moose calibers. Personally I think of the 25-06 as a deer / long range coyotes in the wind / look at me I'm original caliber.

Why not use the 308 for moose and bear? Buy a 223 or 22-250 for coyotes...

[Bluebulldog]

See a previous thread where a poster was looking at either .243 or .270.

Can you? Yes. Should you? Personally I wouldn't.

You could probably drive a car with your feet if you had to as well, but it doesn't mean it's a good idea.

.270 is the better round, and finding one should be easy, the retailer you were speaking with just didn't want to see you go elsewhere.

[DGearyFTE]

sgb, you asked for opinions and I will offer that IMHO the 25-06 is a good performer but not suitable for something as large as a moose. As hunters we are obligated to dispatch an animal in a quick and humane manner. In order to do this reliably there is a need to deliver energy down range. A .25 cal bullet doesn't have enough mass.

I am an advocate of the right tool for the right job. You can build a house with a hand saw, but would you want to? In the woods you would be effectively limiting your available shots due to the limits of the tool you have in hand. I am not saying you need to shoot a moose from behind because I don't believe that this shot should be taken regardless of what you have in your hand.
I would shop for the 270. Lots of flexibility and as others have stated you can get ammo anywhere. With a 308 you are good to go.

I have not read anywhere that a 25-06 is recommended for anything other than deer or elk as the largest game to hunt effectively. It is a necked down 30-06 case with a 6.5 mm bullet which is only slightly bigger than a 243. In my opinion not a first choice for hunting big critters.

[Kilo Charlie]

Possible yes...ethical no...you have a great moose gun already...buy yourself a nice varmint gun and be done with it...take a shotty with slugs as a moose backup

Unethical? Please explain. Also, does that make muzzleloaders or bows unethical?

[terrym]

I have not read anywhere that a 25-06 is recommended for anything other than deer or elk as the largest game to hunt effectively. It is a necked down 30-06 case with a 6.5 mm bullet which is only slightly bigger than a 243. In my opinion not a first choice for hunting big critters.

Actually it's smaller than that. It is a .257 cal bullet in a 30-06 case. If it was actually a 6.5 I would have no issue using it on moose. The Swede was/is one of the most popular rounds in Sweden and Finnland for moose. Sure you can kill a moose with a 25-06 you could kill a moose with a .243 but why would you want to? You can kill a goose with a .410 would you choose that?

[canadaman30]

Possible yes...ethical no...you have a great moose gun already...buy yourself a nice varmint gun and be done with it...take a shotty with slugs as a moose backup

Unethical........?????????????

[oaknut]

Unethical........?????????????

Yeah seems that so many guys get caught up in the big hole theory. Even though the high end 12ga slugs are only packing 1600 foot pounds of energy at 100yds and the 25-06 still carries 2000 foot pounds they think the bigger piece of lead is the key.

[Fox]

I would have no problem hunting moose with my 6.5x55mm swedish mauser, and the 25-06 has more hitting power then that. It also has more hitting power than a 303 British, which lots of people hunt moose with.

The problem is driving the bullet through heavy hide and bone, if you cannot get to the vitals then you cannot kill the animal. Put that 25cal pill with a good bullet design into the boiler maker and the moose with die, same with pretty much any other bullet. If you are going to use it though make sure you get high end bullets with good construction and put it where it needs to be. Also remember that the exit hole makes a difference for tracking, the bigger the holes the better the blood flow out, it is really hard to track an animals that is only bleeding internally.

[terrym]

I would have no problem hunting moose with my 6.5x55mm swedish mauser, and the 25-06 has more hitting power then that. It also has more hitting power than a 303 British, which lots of people hunt moose with.

The problem is driving the bullet through heavy hide and bone, if you cannot get to the vitals then you cannot kill the animal. Put that 25cal pill with a good bullet design into the boiler maker and the moose with die, same with pretty much any other bullet. If you are going to use it though make sure you get high end bullets with good construction and put it where it needs to be. Also remember that the exit hole makes a difference for tracking, the bigger the holes the better the blood flow out, it is really hard to track an animals that is only bleeding internally.

The 6.5 has the ability to shoot heavier bullets that have fabulous sectional density so they penetrate more reliably. There is a significant jump from a 120g bullet to a 150 or 160 out of a Swede .