Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Long Range Hunting 25-06 load for Antelope

Yeah, stopped there for 'Pepsi' and gizzards a couple dozen times on the way the lake.


Speaking of the Hi-Line, mosquitos where out in semi full force today, probably got bit about 20 times.

Is it dry enough to get around to shoot gophs up there yet....or is the grass already too high???

We had 2-3" of rain last week but it's drying out quick in the hills. Another good one predicted for tomorrow though. Farmers are nervous about getting the crop in.

Grass is just starting to take off.

Thanks...thinking about a reccy run in that Chester country....

"Though some of the people involved expressed regret when theirs had little bitty balls."

Mule deer, you looking up Ingwe's skirt again? I know he is a smooth head, but looking under his skirt just ain't right. Flinch

Antelope are not hard to kill, and the last one that I shot was with a 223 with a 55g Sierra loaded to 3100 fps, DRT.

25/06 may be the premiere antelope cartridge for non wild cats. The 100g Hornady flat base in my rifles shot 1/2" or better with IMR 4350(3300 fps) and R#19 (3375 fps) with Win primers in win cases(ONLY).

For your extreme speeds, try IMR 7828 and R#25 with Fed 215's, you will be in excess of 3400fps chomping on 3500 fps with the 100's with great accuracy.

I used Sierra 90g BTHP with IMR 4350 to take a LOT of antelope, then the 100g Sierra BTSP, then the 100g Hornady Flat base which is tougher and is excellent on deer also.

OAL is critical in every 25/06 that I have ever owned. I h the rifles that I have had, the accuracy will like from a .040 bullet jump to touching the lands.

Make no mistake about it, the 25/06 is a magnum rifle for antelope, and are the Hammer of Thor out to 600 yards.

I run 100 gr Interlocks at 3250 fps through my 257 AI for absolutely everything and have had great performance. There are many here who have run 'em through the Weatherby Mag w/out penetration issues, and fueled by 4831 I bet you could get 3400 fps through your '06 which oughta be death on anything and laser flat out beyond 450.

Good luck!

The rifle is a Rem Mtn rifle with the wood stock.
Scope is a Swaro 4x12 AV.
I have some Win brass that is once fired and most of the powders listed.
Sounds like the 100-120grn bullets work best.
This rifle will shoot sub-MOA for 3 shots and then the groups start to open up.
I have been using 110NABs with good results.
THANKS for all the info.
Coach

Flinch,

No comment! (laughin', though...)

Flinch, I hope that is not the problem.
The rifle is box stock and has always shot 3 close together and then the next one is about 1" high and right.
Maybe if the bbl channel was opened and the action bedded it would do better.
I have always thought that if I can't hit with the 1st 3 shots it wouldn't matter.

Coach

Pretty much how it's supposed to be. All I've ever fretted about in a deer rifle, was the first shot, from a cold barrel. Then next in the peckin' order, is a 3 shot group, just to see what any follow up shots might produce?

Don't even fire more than 3 shot groups from my varminters, except maybe when I was testing new loads and then, sparingly.

None of them have failed me yet.

Couch, it could be a bedding issue, but I would bet the stock is touching the barrel. I just bought a new 7mm-08 and took it out yesterday. The first 3 shots go under 1/2", then the next three shots start to string vertically (no cooling between shots). I let it cool, and the next three shots go into the same 1/2" group, then string vertically again. The barrel is making contact on the bottom, so when it heats up, the groups move with it. Float the barrel and I bet your problems will correct themselves. Flinch

100 TTSX is where its at. The 100 Accubond would be a good beat as well.

Let the gun decide. Go with what it likes and will shoot the best. IMHO, accuracy for a long range speed goat is the most pressing issue. They're not that hard to kill and most any bullet will put one down. But, you gotta deliver that bullet where it can do the job. Precision first, bullet performance, second.

The 25-06 is an excellent antelope or "speed goat" caliber to hunt them with out West. I venture to say it will indeed kill those speeding goats out to 400 yards with no problem at all.