Categorically......Joel wrote:Hello all, very nice forum you have here, a wealth of excellent information.
I have an ugly old 721 30-06(cracked stock, bluing is all but gone, lite rust), would like to rebarrel to a 25-06 if I can do it on the cheep. I have a nice early 700 ADL stock that with some love should work as well. If I can find a take-off 25-06 from a 700, can I just have a smith headspace it and be good to go?
If it will work, anyone have 25-06 barrel they'd like to sell?
Is there another caliber I should consider? Have a 243, 270, 257 roberts, 7 mag, 300 wsm, 338 win mag, .308 so I don't know what would be better then a 25-06 for antelope and distant muleys.
Thanks
Joel
Yes.
No. (I have two .25-06's and it's probably my favorite all-around caliber)
You'd want to stick with an '06 cartridge head because if you wanted a magnum cartridge, the bolt face would have to be opened up and a magnum extractor would have to be installed......which would add to the cost. And, '06 class cartridges are quite sufficient for taking antelope and mule deer. (I know, I live in Wyoming.)
I agree, I don't know of many other cartridges that are better than the .25-06 for those animals, either. One of mine has taken many of them.
Den