Q: Just been residing on the world of social media where a guy says that the .303-25 and .25-06 have basically the same performance. I used a .303-25 on pigs back in the late 1970s and boy I wish I had a .25-06 back then. Could you please run off some facts and figures on both calibres with 87 and 100gn projectiles? Data on velocities and energies with trajectory figures out to 400 yards with your normal down to earth opinion on both. Too much bull gets on to the internet and has a bad influence on the less experienced shooter’s perception of what is an adequate calibre to do an effective job in the field. You always say: “use enough gun” and “it’s where you hit ’em that matters.” True words indeed. I always thought the .240 Weatherby Magnum was closest to the .25-06? What do you know about Tasco World Class scopes? I have been given a 4x44mm and it seems very bright and clear with a wide field of view.
Keiron Alchin
A: The internet is a veritable mine of misinformation on guns, put out by guys who would never get anything printed in a magazine. The .303-25 is nowhere near as powerful as the .25-06. One character even claimed that his .303-25 Improved equals the .257 Weatherby which is ridiculous. As for the ballistics of the .303-25, bear in mind that it was chambered in the relatively weak Lee Enfield action and strong P-14 Enfield action. Hence, there is some difference in the velocities obtainable from each action. Loads and velocities I developed for both actions are listed in my Practical Reloading Manual 10th edition. But the P-14 I used had a loose chamber and longer throat than the Lee Enfield, therefore the difference wasn’t as great as it might have been, so I’ll use the top loads for comparison:-.303-25: 87gn bullet at 3130fps sighted in 1.5″ high at 100yds. zeroes at 200yd, drops 6.78″ at 300 and 20.30″ at 400. The 100gn bullet at 3038fps sighted-in 1.5″ high at 100yd,zeroes at 200, drops 7″ at 300 and 20.74″ at 400. Energy figures are: muzzle, 2049 ft/lb, 100yd 1705, 200 1410, 300 1157, and 400 940. The .25-06 has much higher velocity and can be zeroed at 250yd. The 87gn bullet starting out at 3600fps is 1.64″ high at 100 yd, 1.50″ high at 200, zero at 250, drops 2.63″ at 300 and 11.62″ at 400. Energy: muzzle 2503 ft/lb, 100yd. 2059, 200 1687, 300 1373, 400 1107. The 100gn bullet with a MV of 3360fps, is 1.96″ high at 100yd. +1.74 at 200, zero at 250, down 2.93″ at 300 and 12.91″ at 400. Energy: muzzle, 2507 ft/lb, 100yd. 2097, 200 1746, 300 1445, 400 1187. Quite a difference wouldn’t you agree? The .240 Weatherby is close to the .25-06. Tasco World Class Plus scopes were good value for money when they were available. No wonder the 4x44mm is bright since the exit pupil measures 11mm!
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