Deer Hunters that use a 25-06

[Woodyed]

Would like to hear from deer hunters that use the 25-06. What results you've had, whether you use a 100, 115, 117, or 120 grain bullet, various yardages that you've taken deer, and how the grain and brand of bullet you used performed in regard to expansion and terminal damage. Thanks for any and all replies.

[BoneDigger]

I have taken two pigs (wild hogs) at around 75 yards with 100 grain Core Lokt. No problems yet. Both died within 20 yards of where I shot them.

Todd

[Osageshooter]

This is one of my favorite calibers. I have three rifles in 25'06. I use the 115-120 grain bullets for deer. Given the velocities and trajectories with these, I don't see the need to go to 100. I am sure it would work fine. I have a 90grain hollow point varmit load that is hell on coyotes. Winchester 120 gr. Power Points in factory were very good. I mostly load my own now. 115 grain ballistic tips are great. Kills with the 25'06 are generally spectacular on the 150 lb field dressed deer that we shoot in Eastern Kansas and Western Missouri. This caliber can take any deer alive at considerable range with very manageable recoil.

[kraigwy]

I dont use a 25-06 but I do use the 257 Roberts, I dont know how many deer and antilope I've killed with it. I like the 87 - 90 weight bullets as I found the 120s tear up too much meat.

I dont recall ever having to shoot one twice.

Figures that if the 87-90s work in the 257, they should work in the 25-06 which shoots them faster.

Think about the 243, it works quite well and if popular. The 25s will shoot them just as fast or faster in the '06 version.

[jgcoastie]

My Pop has used an old Browning A-Bolt in .25/06 for years on whitetails. Always used Federal Vital Shok's, I think.

[ac700wildcat]

I've had mine for a year and a half. I've killed three deer with it. Two were with 115gr partitions. The first was a large doe at about 200yds that dropped in its tracks. The second was a smaller doe that ran and then stopped at about 250yds after I shot the first one. That one ran maybe ten yards and fell over. The third deer I got with it, I was using a 100gr tsx at 40yds, it fell where it was standing.

[Deaf Smith]

Now think about this... the .243 is considered dandy for deer. And the .243 can't hold a candle to the 25-06!

Yes the 25-06 is good for deer. REAL good and way out past Ft. Mudge.

[Paul in ND]

Another positive vote for the 25-06 for deer.

[Water-Man]

Federal Vital-Shok 100gr. Barnes works real well and stretches waaaaay out there.

[Mike / Tx]

Well I purchased the first one back around '87 and figured I would shoot it a while then have it rechambered to the AI version. I had it in lay away for almost two months and had two boxes of shell loaded for it when it came out. At first I used some Sierra 117's since I had a friend who had given me some. They worked fine for breaking in the barrel and actually shot pretty decent.

After the break in I switched over to some Nosler 100gr BT,s and worked up probably the most accurate load I have ever shot through that rifle. It would easily stay around .375" at 200yds and still does. The draw back however was the BT running at 3350fps I found out, was a bit much for whitetails around here. I shot several does at ranges from about 50yds to around 350yds. Even at the longer ranges there seemed to be a bit more trimming than I wanted. So I backed off the load a tad and swapped over to the Partitions. I harvested the first buck for that rifle with them at about 40 paces. The bullet did a wonderful job and all was well. They shot almost as good as the BT's but I still wasn't happy.

I played with several other bullets and then a friend loaned me an older copy of the Nosler manual than I had, and in it I noticed that they had the 115gr Partition listed. Mine only had the 100's and 120's. So I began to look for them and ended up having to order 5 boxes from the rep. I went to work on them using several powders and found that RL-22 was the overall best. The end result was a load which was close enough to the initial 100gr BT load that I was happy, it leaves the muzzle at 3150fps, and groups around 1/2" at 200, and will still keep under an inch out to 300. I have used this load almost ever since. It has taken deer, hogs, yotes, skunks, and squirrels at ranges from almost burning the hair off to out past 400yds and nothing has gone more than a few yards from impact.

The thing about a good load in the 25 is that it allows precise shots to be taken. Granted some critters are tougher than others, but they all have to breath and get oxygen to the brain. I concentrated my shots on hitting the CNS and or the lungs all at once if possible. The damage done has been minimal on deer or hogs, but pretty explosive on the smaller stuff simply due to the velocity. The partitions hold up well and penetrate deep even on the tougher hogs.

Two years ago I passed that rifle over to my daughter. It was shortly after the 110gr Accubond came out that I swapped out one of them for one of the partitions one afternoon just to see how they shot. IT fell right in the middle of the group of partitions at 300yds. Same load used for both bullets gives 3250fps for the 110gr. So this is the bullet my daughter is now using and has taken several nice bucks with it, as well as a couple of hogs, and two yotes. All have dropped in similar fashion to the partition. Damage has been a bit more of a wider wound channel with the AB, but penetration is very similar.

All rifles are different but if I were to recommend a couple of bullets for all around use it would have to be them. If your more on a budget you might look at the Core Loct's or the Hornady line, and I do not think you would be disappointed.

Powders for the 100gr should be in the IMR-4350 to IMR-4831 burn rate, and for anything heavier the RL-17 - 22 or H-4831 area should get you all you could ask for. If you can find it I would suggest using Winchester cases, just from personal experience. Standard large rifle primers are all that should be needed. Pick which ever one works the best for you.

Good luck and hope this helps.

[jammin1237]

get one! a reloaders dream as far as versatility, from varmints to bigger game... been shooting 75 -120 grain bullets so far, pick your application and learn to reload for it... light recoil and higher speeds for the bullet weight gives this cal a slight advantage over the others... the last deer i shot was with a reload 117 grain round nose at about 150 yards... guess i wanted to see what happened, the bullet went through the lungs and "exploded" a 4 inch hole on the outgoing side destroying the left front leg, bone and all...

i think i'll stick with the expander type bullets from now on for deer and concentrate more on hitting the heart, save some meat

[flyboy14]

My favorate, hands down. I run 117 grain hornady interlocks on top of a stiff charge of IMR 4831. Plenty of gun for whitetail, or muley. flyboy

[Gbro]

I will also chime in with the .257 Roberts. There has never been need for a second shot with it. It is my wife's rifle and the Grand sons are all drooling over Grand-ma's rifle.
I ration out the 115gr. Nozler BT's. I do not buy N-BT's any more though.
I will be trying the 117 gr. Hornady SST's soon.

[lou60]

I have had my Rem 700 for 12 years and it is a great gun. It has been used to take 8 Whitetails at ranges from 50 to 150 yds. Each have been 1 shot kills. 1 muledeer at 200 yds uphill and one antelope at 200 yds downhill. 120 grain Rem. corelock ammo. I htink it is a great round.

[youp]

My rifle like 100 gr Barnes X bullets, actually it does fine with other weights and manufacturers too. I like the way a Barnes X flattens bucks. Reloader 19 is my go to powder. I have had good results with 4350 and 4831.

[83mvp]

Used the "quarter bore ought six" for the last 25 years or so. It is without question, my favorite "go to" rifle for Texas. Load it up for deer and hogs. Load it down for varmints. Longest shot was about 320 yards on a 130 pound doe in the Texas panhandle. Entered in front of the right rear ham and quartered forward to the left shoulder. Bullet was lodged under the skin in front of the shoulder blade. Nosler Partitions. She met her maker where she stood.

4350 and 4831 under 117gr to 120gr bullets for deer and hogs. The smaller bullets for varmints. The trick is to find what shoots best in YOUR rifle. The quarter bore will do the job after that as long as you do yours.

Good hunting.

[Todd1700]

I have a 25-06 in a Tikka T-3. Love it. Haven't had any deer I've shot with it go very far. Very accurate rifle too that loves the 117 grain Hornady interlock. Here's what it will do with them at 100 yards.

[paknheat]

I have a TC Pro-Hunter in 25.06. It also prefeers the Hornady 117 gn bullets. Both the Interlock SP or the SST will put 5 shots that are smaller than a dime @ 100 yds, if i do my part. Both 4831 powders(hogdon & imr) are the ones i use.