.25-06

[boomer68]

Got a chance to pick up a Weatherby Vanguard S2 DM and was wondering what a good all round bullet would be for deer? Was thinking 110 AB and maybe Retumbo?

 

[Alderman]

I would think a good grouping AccuBond would work just dandy.
I've had luck in the past with the old 120 grain solid base bullets out of the 25.06.
Also one that groups better than anything else I've tried is the Sierra 117 grain SPT.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[JD338]

That would be an excellent choice. The 115 gr BT would also work nicely on deer as well.

JD338

 

[Guybo]

I've tried lots of different bullets in my 25.06 and have had excellent results with accuracy as well as on game performance with them all. Several of my favorites include the Speer 120gr HC, Nosler 110gr AccuBond, 115gr BT and the Sierra 117gr PH. My favorite powder is RL22. You'll have no problem getting top performance from the 110gr AccuBond, it's a fine bullet!

 

[wildgene]

...another good choice is the 120gr. Sierra HPBT GameKing, very good accuracy & terminal ballistics out of all my .25's...

 

[Guy Miner]

I remain impressed with the accuracy, velocity and bullet performance with the 115 Nosler Ballistic Tip, pushed by Retumbo.


The 115 Nosler Partition is also very good.

Have some 110 Accubonds, but I haven't yet tried them. Other here report excellent results.

With the 100's - I've had great results using H4350.

Good old .25-06 is very easy to load, very easy on the shooter, accurate, flat shooting and very lethal. Accuracy potential is high. It's well worth the effort to build very accurate ammo - typically I use my match grade dies for the .25-06, and am rewarded with impressive accuracy.

Oh, and Nosler sells excellent .25-06 brass!

Enjoy, Guy

 

[Guy Miner]

Oh - and RL-22 is NOT to be overlooked for the 115/117/120 gr bullets...

I got better results with Retumbo, but not much better.

It's a fun cartridge - I've used little else for deer since getting one about 10 years ago. Somebody else here has used theirs for 40+ deer as I recall, and Elmer Thud uses his for red stag & other game.

I was surprised when I found out that so many of my local area Washington elk hunters use the .25-06 as their primary elk rifle too...

Guy

 

[joelkdouglas]

If you hunt in cold weather at low altitude and your 25-06 barrel is a 10-twist (standard) I would suggest a 100 grain or lighter/shorter bullet.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[joelkdouglas]

I was surprised when I found out that so many of my local area Washington elk hunters use the .25-06 as their primary elk rifle too...

Guy

I loaded up some 100 Partitions and 100 TTSXs for my 25-06 in case my 30-06 isn't back from some stock work...

I wouldn't want Scotty to go elk hunting in WY without me!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

 

[SJB358]

I was surprised when I found out that so many of my local area Washington elk hunters use the .25-06 as their primary elk rifle too...

Guy

I loaded up some 100 Partitions and 100 TTSXs for my 25-06 in case my 30-06 isn't back from some stock work...

I wouldn't want Scotty to go elk hunting in WY without me!



Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I've got a 7mm Mashburn you could use in a pinch buddy! :twisted:

 

[boomer68]

What is the opinion of the 90gr GMX? Too light?
The 100gr PT would be a dandy. I believe the Vanguard is 1-10" twist.

 

[Guy Miner]

I used the 100 gr TSX on a couple of mule deer... Iffy expansion on one. Good, solid sub MOA accuracy. Great velocity at 3340 fps w/H4350.

There's now the Tipped version or TTSX, and Nosler of course has their 100 gr E-Tip, which, being of giliding metal should be better than the Barnes re barrel fouling.

The TSX did truly impress me with penetration... And made me start thinking that the .25-06 just might be a viable elk & bear rifle.

BTW - never did have ANY problem with stabilizing the 115gr Nosler or Berger bullets at only about 1,000 feet above sea level, in temps cold or warm. Standard 1:10 twist.

Regards, Guy

 

[SJB358]

What is the opinion of the 90gr GMX? Too light?
The 100gr PT would be a dandy. I believe the Vanguard is 1-10" twist.

I think you'd do real well with any of the good 80-120 grain bullets out there, be it bonded, partitioned, or mono in construction.

 

[Wincheringen]

I've had a lot of success with the 115 BT, although Retumbo didn't work as well as RL22 in my rifles. The 110 AB would be a good choice as well.

 

[ElmerThud]

Wonderful cartridge/calibre & although I see here some have enjoyed great success with the heavier 115gn & 120gn bullets, I've never found the need to go to those weights.

My success has come with both the Sierra Prohunter 100gn bullet - superb quick kills & quite spectacular at times. But it's less of a performer once you're out to 300yds in terms of quick kills.
For those ranges I found the 110gn AB does the job very effectively (red deer hinds mostly).
I've used the 110gn AB at closer ranges on some very big red stags 300lbs + too.

Guy is right (thanks buddy) I do take some quite big red deer stags with both bullets as appropriate & so have no reason to change...all this from a 22" barrel.
I believe a 1-10 twist is pretty standard on .25-06 - so that's why I use the lighter end of bullets.
They fly fast & straight & I shall be in Scotland looking for stags on 1st October.

(My 6.5x54MSch won't be ready in time Scotty...it's away having mounts fitted and unlikely I'll see it for stags this season..more likely to be ready for the hinds later on).
Best wishes to all ET

 

[SJB358]

Wonderful cartridge/calibre & although I see here some have enjoyed great success with the heavier 115gn & 120gn bullets, I've never found the need to go to those weights.

My success has come with both the Sierra Prohunter 100gn bullet - superb quick kills & quite spectacular at times. But it's less of a performer once you're out to 300yds in terms of quick kills.
For those ranges I found the 110gn AB does the job very effectively (red deer hinds mostly).
I've used the 110gn AB at closer ranges on some very big red stags 300lbs + too.

Guy is right (thanks buddy) I do take some quite big red deer stags with both bullets as appropriate & so have no reason to change...all this from a 22" barrel.
I believe a 1-10 twist is pretty standard on .25-06 - so that's why I use the lighter end of bullets.
They fly fast & straight & I shall be in Scotland looking for stags on 1st October.

(My 6.5x54MSch won't be ready in time Scotty...it's away having mounts fitted and unlikely I'll see it for stags this season..more likely to be ready for the hinds later on).
Best wishes to all ET

I was wondering about that :grin:

It'll still be neat to see how it lays hinds down. It will be interesting to me on your thoughts of the heavier 140's in the 6.5MS versus your tried and true 25-06. I know the 6.5 is moving a little slower, but those quick expanding 140's should leave bigger holes, maybe?

Either way, I am excited to see the results ET.

 

[REDGREEN]

I prefer the120 grain Speer hotcore over a dose of IMR 4831 or 7828. Works excellent.

 

[FOTIS]

My load 25-06 REM
110 NAB 57/RL25 3225 fps .43"/100

 

[boomer68]

Got out to the range today and I think we have a winner!

 

[DrMike]

Looks as if that load is dialed in just about right. Deer, beware!