The 25-06 Is it really enough for mule deer?

[Greg Nolan]

After a lot of waffling I decided to take the 25-06 as the mule deer rifle to accompany the 338 RUM for elk. I have to admit I haven't got the warm fuzzy feeling yet with quarter bores. Mostly because I've never used them on anything but antelope, and that was a 257 WBY. I see a lot of pictures and success stories but I need one more dose of confidence before I take off for Idaho Saturday. Help!

 

[RiverRider]

I think what matters most is the bullet you choose to load. So, what's cookin'?

 

[Greg Nolan]

I've got the 120 gr. Nosler Partition at 3223 fps. I tried to go as heavy and dependable as I could.

 

[Dr. Vette]

OK, I'm trying to decide if I should use my 257 Wby on elk and you're wondering about a 25-06 on mule deer? :shock:

It's more than enough for a mule deer. My son has taken a whitetail with my 25-06, and you have to remember it's only a tad smaller than the famous 270.

As noted above, as long as your load is good it's a perfect rifle. Mine shoots Federal Fusion excessively well and I would not hesitate to use it. Your 120s should work on elk if you so wished.

Patrick

 

[AzDak42]

25-06, with it's flat trajectory is perfect for open land mule deer. I wouldn't hesitate.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

A 120 grain .257 bullet will do pretty much anything a 130 grain .277 bullet will do...the .257 bullet actually has a higher sectional density (comparing Nosler PT's).

Pick a bullet that will hold together (you did) and go elk hunting with confidence...I've never hunted elk, but in my younger days as a curious teenager....I shot literally hundreds of bullets from a 25-06 into all sorts of stuff (phone books, deer, a couple of pretty big black bears, wet pack, mud, old car doors, and just about anything else that looked interesting)

The 25-06 is quite underrated...but I'll wager any amount that it will hang with a similar .277 bullet....anywhere, anytime.

A mule deer is no match for the 25-06...no matter how big.


About the 257 WBY on elk...go for it IMO...just don't drive the bullets to the max, at least not without some testing, they may not be able to hold up to well at 3,300+ fps...not against elk bones...then again, they might...like I said, slam one into something hard (antifreeze jugs filled with water...freeze the front jug...or the 1st and 3rd jug) at 3,300 fps and see what happens.

 

[DrMike]

I would not hesitate for a moment to hunt mulies with a 25-06, especially when loaded with a 120 grain PT!

 

[Guy Miner]

Greg - you saw those .25/06 & mule deer photos I put in Fotis' thread here just the other day... Wasn't making that up. Ranges varied from about 25 yards to an honest 400 yards and every one of those deer literally dropped when hit. None ran a step, they just fell. There were also a couple of does taken with the same rifle & loads.

I don't think it's a magic cartridge or anything - but it sure is pleasant to shoot, accurate and effective. Mine is going with me to Wyoming in a few days for mule deer & pronghorn, with a .308 Win along too.

A 120 at 3200+ fps is a warm load for the .25-06 - it should do well. I've got quite a pile of 115 gr Partitions and 115 gr Ballistic Tip bullets as well for mine, and just ordered some of those 110 gr Accubonds that SPS has on sale right now.

Yeah, I think the .25-06 really is enough for mule deer. And then some. :mrgreen:

Enjoy your hunt! Guy

 

[6mm Remington]

I'm with all the guys ahead of me. The 25-06 is a great mule deer cartridge and is not too bad for elk either if you use a good bullet and are careful about shot placement. I've taken one spike bull with my wife's rifle and the same bullet you are using but at about 3000 fps out of it, and I let a friend of my son's use it on a nice cow.

 

[FOTIS]

It will work great!

 

[jason miller]

If I were hunting elk and mule deer at the same time, had a 25-06 that shot 120 PT's well, and didn't plan on shooting past 400ish yards, I'd pack the (presumably) lighter weight 25-06 for both species and leave the RUM in camp for a backup...

 

[Greg Nolan]

The 25-06 is a 6 lb/with scope Kimber. I may just do that. Boy, that will be a monumental switch in my hunting style. :shock:

 

[JD338]

Greg,

You may have one of the best deer rifles there is.
The 25-06 is impressive as you will soon find out.

JD338

 

[Huntbear]

Wow... I guess I go out way under gunned with my .257 AI, or my .243 WSSM.....

They will both drop deer like they are pole axed out to 350 yards.. Farther if I have the time to really set up.

110 gr. AccuBond in the .257
90 gr. AccuBond in the .243 wssm.

heck, quarter bores are the best 2-400 yard deer and antelope killers there are in my opinion.

 

[Bruce Mc]

I'm taking my 25-06 as my back up rifle to my 7mm rem mag on my elk hunt next week. Its loaded with the same 110 AccuBond I have loaded for deer. I'm not feeling undergunned with it but I know I'm gonna have to pick my shot and not take and "iffy" one.

 

[shoots_5]

Mule deer are really not that tough....heck one of my favorite mule deer rifles was a 22-250. If you can't knock one down with a 25-06 you got bigger problems than cartridge selection....

 

[usmc 89]

In North eastern Montana the 25-06 is very popular, I shot against three guys using them up in Jordan and they did well with them. antelope, deer, and elk are all susceptible to dying via the 25-06. I have owned them in the past and have had great success with them.

 

[nvbroncrider]

It will work fine just make sure of your shot placement and you will be just fine. Bell killed many an elephant with a 7X57!!

 

[BK]

Should I be worried about the .243 or .220 Swift I'm thinking about shooting for deer? I don't think your .25-06 will be any handicap. Whatever I pointed mine at fell over.

 

[Anonymous]

from what I hear the 6.5 caliber is THE caliber for sectional density, loooong bullets mushroom well. The swedes kill moose with 6.5 x55.

saying that the .25 is good to go. Don't believe it hits as hard but it does the job.