Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Deer Hunting 25-06 question

Anyones primary deer rifle a 25-06? Thinking of picking a 700 up in this caliber. Is it more of a reloaders caliber or does some of the factory ammo perform well?

I watched a guy clean a deer yesterday he shot with a 25-06 Rem coreLkt 100 gn. He shot it quartering to in the shoulder. The shoulder was bloodshot jello.

It's all my father has hunted with for the last 35 years. I know you couldn't get him to change now if you had to. He's killed truckloads of game with it using the 100gr NBT.

This^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ is exactly what a neighbor of mine has been using for 30+ years on all sort of Oklahoma WT deer and hogs, iirc, he told me the game has ranged in weight from 50 to near 400 lbs.

Haven't heard of him changing anything, bet if I went to his camp, I'd find him with that same setup this morning.

Barnes loads a factory tsx bullet. I haven't used it on game yet but extremely accurate in my rifle.

Once again people with "tack drivers" shooting center body mass and turning the whole front to jelly. If it won't hit neck at least couple hundred yards it ain't no tack driver. Guess it is lack of experience and excitement?? (Scope full a hair lead in the air)!!!!!

Once again people with "tack drivers" shooting center body mass and turning the whole front to jelly. If it won't hit neck at least couple hundred yards it ain't no tack driver. Guess it is lack of experience and excitement?? (Scope full a hair lead in the air)!!!!!

Shot a few deer,some coyotes,and a black bear with the 100 grain factory Barnes ttsx. They work about perfect.

I have a 700 XCR II in 25-06. 2 one shot kills with the 117 Grain SST from the Hornady Superformance Line. I have also shot the American Whitetail Line with the 117 Grain Interlock. Same POA at 100 yards. I haven't stretched it beyond that to check drop differences at 200-300. One broadside shot at 60 yards exited. This past saturday, quartering away at 75 yards, it turned the lungs and top of the heart to mush. Didn't exit which was a first for that bullet. I am preparing to use all of the once fired Hornady brass to load up some 110 ABs and 115 BTs. I don't think you'll be disappointed either route.

Load a tougher 100gr bullet at warp speed, zero at 250yds, and try to hit shoulders. In my experience, this is the most effective use of a fast .25cal. It works with ease.....

I would use a better bullet. I want meat, not a pile of useless waste.

My 25-06 is my go to for deer and antelope. Mine does great with either factory loads or reloads and is flat shooting. Highly recommended.

My favorite deer cartridge (along with the 257AI). I like 120gr bullets. I find it to be just as effective as the classic 270/130 combo, but I have found the recoil to be just light enough that I can watch the bullet impact. 120g Speer HC, 120gr Sierra BTHPs, 120-115gr Partitions, 120gr Deep Curls have all worked very well.

I've got a 25-06, 25-06AI, and a 257Wby so I guess you could say I'm a 25cal fan. Flat shooting, low recoil, just a great round that absolutely flattens whitetails. I shoot a 100gr TTSX, 110 NAB, and 115 NBT out of my various rifles.

My last whitetail this fall was shot at 304 yards with a 100 gr Sierra FB at about 3400 fps.. She dropped on the spot, rolled, raise her head, and it was over.. I am liking the 100 grain bullets over the heavier bullets.. Been shoot the .25-06 since the 1960's.. One of my three favorite calibers..

It may not mean anything but no other caliber has improved more from hand loading than my .25-06. Remington ammo only produced 3 shot groups of 2 1/2 inches at 100 yards, and Winchester and Federal about 1 1/2 inches. My handloads produce 1/2 inch groups.

I like my .257 Roberts with 100 grain bullets. I think if I was to use the .25-06, I would go with the 120 grain slugs but that is JMO.

Rockchuck nailed it; this anecdote isn't the fault of the cartridge but the bullet.

One could get the same results from a .243/95, .270/130, .280/140, or .30-06/150.

I have a .257AI which is pretty similar to the 25-06 and use 90 gr GMXs with great results. I am sure that 100 gr TTSXs would deliver the goods also.

25-06 is nearly the perfect deer/antelope cartridge IMHO.

I've had my 700 bdl 25-06 sporter since 1980 . Very accurate and low recoil for the killing power it produces .
It's a great varmint/predator/elk rifle 75gr. v-max puts coyotes down right now -110 NAB for big stuff -both loads using H-4831sc powder .
Killed several feral hogs with it and not one has taken a single step.
A starting load using a light weight bullet is a pleasure for smaller folks or ladies to shoot.
Really like the cartridge.

I have two of them. One a first-year production Rem 700 (built in '69) that has over 3000 or so rounds down the pipe. Still prints .5-.6" 5 shot groups. I shot the 120 Speer through it for years before changing over to the 110 AB. Last count, this rifle had taken over 100 whitetails and I used it to take my first two elk, both with one-shot kills.
The second one I have is also a Rem. 700. This one only has around 2000 rounds through it. Shooting the same 110 AB it prints itty-bitty bug-hole like groups. This one has taken another 50-75 whitetail, a couple of dozen coyotes, maybe a dozen turkey (legal here in Tx), maybe 15-20 Axis, some blackbuck, a number of mule deer and one elk.
Punch 'em through just behind the leg just above midway above center-line and get ready to clean your deer.
I have to agree with EFW - the 25-06 is about the perfect deer/antelope cartridge.