25-06 bullet selection

Bird Dog · July 2, 2025, 04:19 PM

I have a 25-06 with a 25" Pac-nor barrel and 1-11" twist rate. So, it's optimized for 75 to 100 grain bullets. For deer and antelope hunting I have narrowed it down to two bullets. A 100 grain Speer boat tail soft point. Or a 100 grain Swift A-frame. I can get good accuracy with both. The Speers will shoot flatter and are a lot more affordable and obtainable, but I have enough A-frame on-hand to hunt for a while. The vast majority of the deer I've killed has been with 165 grain .30-06. These basically always produce good exit wounds, and though blood trailing has seldom ever been required in 40 years of hunting, the bowhunter in me appreciates a good exit wound. Those same 165gr .30-06 Sierra GKs and Nosler BTs tend to do massive damage to the lungs/heart as they pass through but hold up well on quartering shots.

So, of the above .257 bullets at typical 25-06 velocities from 25 to 300 yards, will the Speer penetrate through or blow-up inside without an exit?

Will the A-frame tend to zip right through without devastating expansion on deer size game?

georgehwbush · Yesterday, 07:43 PM

nosler e-tip 100gr lead free about $1 each though. maybe barns tsx though i have no experience with them. i like the noslers.

georgehwbush · Yesterday, 07:47 PM

that is if you are looking for penetration with good damage ^ that.

and i can't speak to the speer or swift question in particular. sorry.

jmr40 · Yesterday, 08:34 PM

Most typical bullets perform well if the impact speed is between roughly 1800-2800 fps. That's not carved in stone, just a general guideline. Every manufacturer is a little different. Much slower and they don't expand. Much faster and they overexpand and don't penetrate.

Most cartridges such as the 30-06, 308 and similar cartridges naturally impact at those speeds from the muzzle-400 yards depending on bullet weight, sometimes a bit farther.

When you start shooting cartridges that are 3000+ fps at the muzzle you can have issues at close range with common bullets like the Speer's. That's where the more expensive bullets such as the Barnes Copper bullets come into play.

Those bullets will stay together well over 3000 fps at impact but need a little faster impact on the low end. Usually, 2000-2200 fps or they may not expand.

I'm not that familiar with the A-Frames but think they are a tough bullet that would hold up well.

Whatever you decide on check the manufacturer's suggestions. Then look at the ballistics of your load to see what ranges your load's velocity falls into the acceptable velocity ranges.

Koda94 · Today, 01:26 AM

The Swift A-Frame uses a partition technology thats well proven and established, however its old technology invented back when cup and core bullet technology was poorly bonded and experienced jacket separation. With the partition even if the front of the bullet mushrooms and separates the rear of the bullet stays together and penetrates deep. The trade off is partitions are thus more difficult to make and some claim they tend to be less accurate (but still good enought to hunt with)
I do not know of Speers boat tail soft points reputation but most of todays bonded cup and cores no longer have jacket separation issues and mushroom nicely. The advantage is they are cheaper to make and are more accurate (The speer has a higher BC than the Swift...).

Inside of 300yds it wont matter, a 100gn 25-06 is well established as a legendary deer caliber. If you think someday you might want to stretch your marksmanship past 300 then pick the Speers. I would also tend to favor a bullet thats readily available, the A Frames never seem to be in stock.

July 2, 2025, 04:19 PM	#1
Bird Dog Member Join Date: September 15, 2010 Location: Missouri Posts: 67	25-06 bullet selection I have a 25-06 with a 25" Pac-nor barrel and 1-11" twist rate. So, it's optimized for 75 to 100 grain bullets. For deer and antelope hunting I have narrowed it down to two bullets. A 100 grain Speer boat tail soft point. Or a 100 grain Swift A-frame. I can get good accuracy with both. The Speers will shoot flatter and are a lot more affordable and obtainable, but I have enough A-frame on-hand to hunt for a while. The vast majority of the deer I've killed has been with 165 grain .30-06. These basically always produce good exit wounds, and though blood trailing has seldom ever been required in 40 years of hunting, the bowhunter in me appreciates a good exit wound. Those same 165gr .30-06 Sierra GKs and Nosler BTs tend to do massive damage to the lungs/heart as they pass through but hold up well on quartering shots. So, of the above .257 bullets at typical 25-06 velocities from 25 to 300 yards, will the Speer penetrate through or blow-up inside without an exit? Will the A-frame tend to zip right through without devastating expansion on deer size game?

Yesterday, 08:34 PM	#4
jmr40 Senior Member Join Date: June 15, 2008 Location: Georgia Posts: 10,975	Most typical bullets perform well if the impact speed is between roughly 1800-2800 fps. That's not carved in stone, just a general guideline. Every manufacturer is a little different. Much slower and they don't expand. Much faster and they overexpand and don't penetrate. Most cartridges such as the 30-06, 308 and similar cartridges naturally impact at those speeds from the muzzle-400 yards depending on bullet weight, sometimes a bit farther. When you start shooting cartridges that are 3000+ fps at the muzzle you can have issues at close range with common bullets like the Speer's. That's where the more expensive bullets such as the Barnes Copper bullets come into play. Those bullets will stay together well over 3000 fps at impact but need a little faster impact on the low end. Usually, 2000-2200 fps or they may not expand. I'm not that familiar with the A-Frames but think they are a tough bullet that would hold up well. Whatever you decide on check the manufacturer's suggestions. Then look at the ballistics of your load to see what ranges your load's velocity falls into the acceptable velocity ranges. __________________ "If you're still doing things the same way you were doing them 10 years ago, you're doing it wrong" Winston Churchill

Today, 01:26 AM	#5
Koda94 Senior Member Join Date: November 25, 2012 Location: Cascadia Posts: 1,363	The Swift A-Frame uses a partition technology thats well proven and established, however its old technology invented back when cup and core bullet technology was poorly bonded and experienced jacket separation. With the partition even if the front of the bullet mushrooms and separates the rear of the bullet stays together and penetrates deep. The trade off is partitions are thus more difficult to make and some claim they tend to be less accurate (but still good enought to hunt with) I do not know of Speers boat tail soft points reputation but most of todays bonded cup and cores no longer have jacket separation issues and mushroom nicely. The advantage is they are cheaper to make and are more accurate (The speer has a higher BC than the Swift...). Inside of 300yds it wont matter, a 100gn 25-06 is well established as a legendary deer caliber. If you think someday you might want to stretch your marksmanship past 300 then pick the Speers. I would also tend to favor a bullet thats readily available, the A Frames never seem to be in stock. __________________ lightweight, cheap, strong... pick 2

Yesterday, 07:43 PM	#2
georgehwbush Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2023 Location: down town USA Posts: 554	nosler e-tip 100gr lead free about $1 each though. maybe barns tsx though i have no experience with them. i like the noslers.

Yesterday, 07:47 PM	#3
georgehwbush Senior Member Join Date: July 14, 2023 Location: down town USA Posts: 554	that is if you are looking for penetration with good damage ^ that. and i can't speak to the speer or swift question in particular. sorry.