.25-06 100 grain vs 120 grain

[filmjunkie4ever]

Since I now have two of these rifles, and good rifles they are I was mulling over a qunadry I thought I would throw out for mutual discussion...I do that alot!

I feel like the .257-120 grain bullets are the full equal of the .270-130 grainers provided they are pushed to the same speed. Even the 120 grain Corelokt is a good long range bullet in a .25-06. I killed a buck years ago at nearly 400 yards. I hit the onside shoulder and it exited the offside ribs...DRT let me tell you.

I have shot a few coyotes and various other small vermin with the .25-06 and 85-100 grain bullets but never a deer to this date.

Here is my question, does the 100 grain bullet kill as well as the 120 on deer sized game?

I fully feel the 100s to be a better all-around for this gun since you pick up 300 fps by dropping 20 grains of bullet weight. And its not like I hunt anything bigger than mule deer with these rifles but I do have great confidence in those 115-120 grain bullets I have used on deer.

Should I load one with the 120s and the other with the 85s? Or should I load both with 100s?

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I personally would load two different bullets. I have 2 30-06 and they each have a different bullet. I just like playing around and trying different things. If I had 2 25-06s, I would set them up with 110 AccuBonds for deer and 85 B-Tip for yotes.

Again, I like to have different rounds and like to try different things.

 

[1Shot]

I have killed we will say 100++ deer with a 25-06. Actually lost count many years ago but helped my buddy for 15 years do crop damage control work on a big farm where we took 100 deer a year. We shot them with about everything between a pointy stick and a 45-70. In the 25-06 with cup and core bullets like the 100 Sierra, Hornady, Speer & Nosler and the 115 to 120 cup and core bullets from the same makers there is not that much difference in the results on deer until the yardage really gets out there beyond 400 yards the heaver bullets hold up better in the wind. Usual results when shoot deer is BANG FLOP no matter which bullet is used. It is the deer killing round I have ever pulled the trigger on. About any bullet under 100 grs is a varmint constructed bullet and they really come apart on impact. I used to shoot 87 gr Sierra SP for groundhogs and it looked like you set a bomb off in them. It scattered parts across the field. For deer I just load one bullet these days the 117 Sierra Pro Hunter that shoots bug hole accurate and I feel comfortable killing a deer out to around 600 yards if need be. Where I hunt these days my average shots are from point blank to around 400 yards. I sight in 3 inches high at 100 yards with the 117 Sierra at 3000 fps and I hold center of front shoulder out to 350 yards and from there to 600 yards I hold right at the top of the back let her rip. Bang Flop about 99% of the time. I did try some 120 gr Speer Grand Slam bullets and still have some of these older made with the really hard lead in the base and softer in the front. These are one tough bullet and if I ever had to go after elk size game that would be the bullet I would use. I have not used any of the newer bonded bullets in my 25-06 but have used the AccuBond 130 gr in my 264 Win Mag and it is one great bullet. I bet the 110 AccuBond would be as good in the 25s.

 

[wildgene]

...I don't load many 100gr. rounds for my .25's, but I use a lot of 75-90gr. varmint bullets, & shoot quite a few 120gr. loads. Change of POI is usually pretty minimal @200yds. & only takes a few round to change the zero...

 

[Oldtrader3]

I shoot 100 Partitions and 110 Accubonds in my .257 Roberts. These bullets fly at about 3100 fps in a .257 which is perfect for out to 400 yard deer.

 

[Guy Miner]

The 100's I hunted with were TSX's @ 3340 fps. Very deadly on mule deer.

I tried that bullet, because I figured even at the high velocity, it wouldn't come apart. This was before the advent of the AccuBond, and the E-Tip. Also before the TTSX, the tipped version of the TSX.

Eventually, after a few deer, I moved away from the Barnes TSX bullets. Had one experience that led me two question if they were expanding consistently. I understand that was one reason Barnes developed the TTSX, or Tipped version, to promote bullet expansion.

Since then I've been very happy with the 115's, either Berger or Nosler, at a slower 3120 - 3190 fps, depending on the exact load.

Would I use 100's again on deer sized game? You bet!

Regards, Guy

 

[ElmerThud]

I've shot many many Scottish red deer (hinds and stags 300+lbs) with the Sierra 1620 100gn bullet at around 3257fps MV. Quick kills always.
More recently I have a load for the 110gn AccuBond at around 3130fps MV and they too certainly do the business. I opted for the 110gn AB in case of 'extended range' open hill shots with slightly more retained energy - and it does work, so I'm happy to have both loads available with both providing superb accuracy.

Both are excellent bullets which I'm certain will work well on your North American deer from a .25-06Rem.
ATB ET

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Thanks for all the advice fellas.

I think I will load two different loads for the two different rifles of the same caliber.

The debate with the 100 vs 120 grain bullets is like the one in the standard .30-06 with 150s vs 165s. There really isn't a lot of difference when you get down to business.

Thanks again!

 

[REDGREEN]

120 grain rules in the 25 06. I have shot a pile with both the 100, 117 and the 120 grain, and the 120's are far superior. They work well for elk and moose, hit harder than the 100's and buck wind better. I use them for everything from gophers up, and would never change. I flattened a large mule buck with my silhouette rifle at 650 yards lasered with the 120 grain Speer hotcore. The bullet destroyed the heart and stuck on the skin on the off shoulder. If your rifle likes the 120's use them. They are perfect.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Thanks Red. How is the penetration?

What are your favorite 120's?

I have two of these rifles and was thinking to load one with 120s and the other with the lighter 85s or 100s.

The Remington definately shoots the 120s well!

 

[wildgene]

...relatively speaking a 100gr. will shoot a little flatter, a 120gr. will have less wind drift & deliver more energy out to 600yds., but the 120's will have a significantly better S.D. & generally heavier construction...