One more 25-06?

wisconsinteacher · Jan 29, 2014

Would you start with a 100 or 117 gr bullet when setting up a rifle for deer/antelope? I am a little worried the 100gr might be too light. Am I worrying about nothing?

FOTIS · Jan 29, 2014

RL22 Mag primer 100 gr BT, or PTs. No worries

rjm158 · Jan 29, 2014

I have used 100 BTs exclusively in my 25-06's for deer hunting and have never had a reason to regret it yet. I have gotten compete pass throughs and very dead deer with regularity.

A healthy charge of 4831, Federal 210M primers, and various brass have worked for me in a Sauer 202, a Tikka t-3 and a couple Marlin XL-7's.

Ron

Oldtrader3 · Jan 29, 2014

I use the 110 AccuBond. If they will shoot in your rifle, they are the best of both worlds.

Guy Miner · Jan 29, 2014

I use the 115's now, but the 100's worked GREAT.

I just like the higher BC bullets, and have no fear of the 100's from a .25-06 for deer sized game.

Guy

6mm Remington · Jan 30, 2014

I agree with these guys. Don't worry about using a good bullet like the 100 gr. Partition. The 110 gr. AccuBond I feel would be great deer and antelope medicine. The heavier Partitions would as well. As Guy has stated, he's had great success with the BT too.

Mountain Goat · Jan 30, 2014

I always shot the 115-120gr bullets in the 25-06. I took several deer, 2 bears, and a 12 year old boy took a nice cow elk using a barnes x. Other than increased velocity, I see no advantage to the 100gr bullets in tne 25, but I certainly wouldn't feel shy using a 100gr NBT. Look at how well the 90-100gr bullets work in the 243! There's no reason why the 25's wouldn't do the same.

Vince · Jan 30, 2014

My rifle shoots the 87 grain and 100 grain bullets best with a charge of 4350.
While I haven't been able to test the 100 grain bullets yet I can tell you that even the 87 grain bullet works well on antelope. I took four antelope in Wyoming with that bullet and it's a varmint bullet.
At the time it was all I could find that could shoot well in that rifle so it's what I used. I did have a 270 WSM I could use if needed but the 25/06 was plenty.

PJGunner · Jan 30, 2014

I have two Ruger #1's in 25-06. One was a bit of a beater I bought to use as a donor but made the mistake of shooting it. :shock: Darn thing is a tack driver with 120 gr. bullets but does not like 100 gr bullets. Methinks it's the very long throat. The second one was minty enough that you could almost call it NIB and it won't shoot anything worth a damn. :?: :?: :?:
A friend of mine had a nice 30-06 and due to his poor shooting lost a nice eating size deer. He and one of my co-workers tried to find it without success. Of couse it was that lousy outdated 30-06's fault, not his poor shooting. He had the rifle rebarreled to a 25-06 and the next year shot a deer that died where he could find it but whatever bullet he used blew up like a bomb on the shoulder and made one hell of a mess. Kind of made him mad when I told him he should have stuck with the 30-06. (Sorry. I just couldn't help myself.) :lol:
Paul B.

rjm158 · Jan 30, 2014

"Kind of made him mad when I told him he should have stuck with the 30-06."

Or maybe spent the cost of rebarrelling, etc., on more ammo and shooting time to improve his shooting ability?

Ron

Guy Miner · Jan 30, 2014

rjm158":k72oaggo said:
"Kind of made him mad when I told him he should have stuck with the 30-06."

Or maybe spent the cost of rebarrelling, etc., on more ammo and shooting time to improve his shooting ability?

Ron

Exactly... More of us should do this. Shoot more, get in shape, learn to spot game and track it...

Much more important than buying the gun of the month.

Guy

Grundy53 · Jan 30, 2014

Oldtrader3":6l0aiq5o said:
I use the 110 AccuBond. If they will shoot in your rifle, they are the best of both worlds.

Me too.

sent from my typewriter

Wincheringen · Jan 30, 2014

I have several 25/06s and they each have their own character. One really likes the 115 BT, one really likes the 110 AB, another does really well with the 90 Sierra HPBT, 90 Barnes Solid, & 85 BT. Others tend to shoot well across the spectrum.

REDGREEN · Jan 30, 2014

I have shot a load of deer with both the 100 and 120 grain. They both drop them drt. I load 120 grain Speer and they work fine for elk and moose. The 25 06 prefers to be loaded warm, and is very versitile.

elkeater2 · Jan 30, 2014

Vince":g26u39xt said:
My rifle shoots the 87 grain and 100 grain bullets best with a charge of 4350.
While I haven't been able to test the 100 grain bullets yet I can tell you that even the 87 grain bullet works well on antelope. I took four antelope in Wyoming with that bullet and it's a varmint bullet.
At the time it was all I could find that could shoot well in that rifle so it's what I used. I did have a 270 WSM I could use if needed but the 25/06 was plenty.

You're right Vince. Antelope don't vary in body size like most of our deer do. There's a big difference in deer sizes, even in the same area. I've shot mule deer bucks that would make you see stars trying to load them on a pack horse. So I suggest we shouldn't lump rifles and cartridges into one "antelope/deer" category. Antelope are nearly just overgrown jackrabbits. :grin:

There are 87 grain bullets that will do the job out of a 25-06 on antelope. I think what Wincheringen said is the most true "I have several 25/06s and they each have their own character. One really likes the 115 BT, one really likes the 110 AB, another does really well with the 90 Sierra HPBT, 90 Barnes Solid, & 85 BT. Others tend to shoot well across the spectrum."
Find the one that works best, anywhere in that grain range.
EE2

remingtonman_25_06 · Jan 30, 2014

Closer ranges use the 115 for added penetration...for long range use the 115s again for BC and energy.

Although the 100s do work great too!

My vote still goes 115 if they shoot for you.

jcinnb · Jan 31, 2014

Mountain Goat":25ax00tu said:
I always shot the 115-120gr bullets in the 25-06. I took several deer, 2 bears, and a 12 year old boy took a nice cow elk using a barnes x. Other than increased velocity, I see no advantage to the 100gr bullets in tne 25, but I certainly wouldn't feel shy using a 100gr NBT. Look at how well the 90-100gr bullets work in the 243! There's no reason why the 25's wouldn't do the same.

DUDE. How about a bit more punctuation. Reading along and dropped my tablet. Thought for a second you shot a twelve year old!!!!! I teach middle school. It could happen!

jcinnb · Jan 31, 2014

You should start by checking you barrel twist. Mine is pretty particular.

wisconsinteacher · Jan 31, 2014

It is s 1:10 twist.

jcinnb · Jan 31, 2014

wisconsinteacher":1u3rb5nh said:
It is s 1:10 twist.

Then you are in great shape. Mine for some reason is 1:12 which make it, in theory, a lighter bullet shooter. But, the throat is long, giving me issues with jump on the smaller bullets.

I have to test a lot, take nothing for granted, but when I find one it likes, it will drive tacks way down range.

I suggest you start at 100 grn.

Good luck.