Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 25-06 Performance on Elk & Moose?

Rob:

If you are asking this question, you should be able to use
the 25-06.

The 25-06 is just as good, a smaller bullet just faster.
In proper hands I would go right ahead.

I have harvested at least 30 whitetails with the 25-06, and
would not not have had a bit of trouble with the big animals within 300 yds.

but maybe I'm weird.

If there's brown bears at 25 feet involved, you can bet I'm not going to be carrying something based off an '06 case in my hands, but maybe I'm weird.

You guys are killing me with the bear phobia....

The OP is in Alberta. The possibility of a Grizzly exists.

Once more, for schitz and giggles...







The last 3 months. One rifle, one load.

I go out hunting with a bow in bear country and there is no way a little pointy stick will stop one of them if he wants me...

I'll go one further, I used to go out hunting with a bow for bears in bear country and never needed a little pointy stick to stop one, chit it was hard enough to sneak up on one and fling an arrow through it before they ran off!

FWIW my father in law shoots a 25-06, and his last 9 elk have been killed with it. He has options too, that's just his choice.

Moose charge too.

Once more, for schitz and giggles...







The last 3 months. One rifle, one load.

Moose charge too.

I will be shooting partitions out of it.

Anyone else use it on elk?

76inpa - is that Pennsylvaina?

I just checked Pennsylvania's website. Really nice to k.ow Elk is in the State. I know Elk isnt in every state but that wasnt always the case. I wish Hawaii had Elk :-)

Some of my native friends from Alaska claim they kill the feared Big Bear with a 223 all the time.

When I explain that most lower 48 hunters shrivel in fear and mention large caliber magnums when the Big Bear is mentioned they just lauph and tell the story of the hunter who tried to kill a Big Bear that charged him with a 300 weatherby mag and got mauled to death because he shot the bear square in the chest.

A 223 loaded with a Barnes and a Brain shot would have ended that Bear in a hurry.

A 25/06 loaded properly would make brain mush out of the largest of Big Bears.

And it most certainly will easily take anything here in the lower 48




Shod

Just curious. How many charging bears have you brained?

One in Alaska a little over 20 years ago. Bear first come into my tent around 3 am as I left the door zipped open and I woke up stairing it right in the face. Bear payed me no mind and rooted around my tent and then headed out the door. I got up and went out the door with rifle in hand and fired a shot in the air to scare the Bear out of camp. When I did so the Bear Charged instead of running and the next shot was between the eyes at about 7 ft.

How about you?




Shod

I havent brained any because only idiots carry girl rifles and bank their lives on head shots.

Well 3 more days and out for moose...hopefully I can report back on the performance or the 25-06 on a moose...

So U recommend a high shoulder shot on a moose? I was going to go for a heart/lung shot and maxing my distance to 300yrds.

Anyone with more experience with the 25-06 and moose/elk???

So U recommend a high shoulder shot on a moose? I was going to go for a heart/lung shot and maxing my distance to 300yrds.

So U recommend a high shoulder shot on a moose? I was going to go for a heart/lung shot and maxing my distance to 300yrds.

For perspective, a couple of days ago, while hunting moose with a good friend of longstanding, we had at least a couple of bulls coming to the racket we set up to tease them. As it turned out, a big, obviously legal bull came into his field of view first and he took two shots from 300-400 yards. The moose was in an 'open' area that was quite cluttered with broomed willows, birch and other brush. The moose also was in pursuit of a cow when he shot and had been raking in response to the rattling I had been doing with the plastic stock on my Winchester 375 H&H. In any case, he hit the moose twice, neither a lethal shot though the second shot strayed and broke both rear legs. (He was shooting a 7 Rem Mag with 175 Core-lokts.) I heard the animal fall followed by some continued stirring and grunting. I arrived at the scene first to find the animal still full of fight and eager. Approaching within 25 yards or so, the animal attempted to rise on its front legs. Not knowing how badly it was wounded, I sent a 300 grain Partition into the heavy part of its shoulders - it was perfectly broadside as it raised its front end up rapidly. Surprisingly that shot didn't end its aggression and I used still one more to put it down for the count. While skinning we found one of the Partitions lodged against the hide on the far side. No major bones were broken by either bullet that I could determine, yet neither Partiton exited the hide.

Can a 25 caliber centerfire dispatch a moose? Certainly. But a 375 H&H doesn't appear to be too much gun either, and I'd hardly put a 25-06 in the same category as the 375 H&H with good bullets.

For perspective, a couple of days ago, while hunting moose with a good friend of longstanding, we had at least a couple of bulls coming to the racket we set up to tease them. As it turned out, a big, obviously legal bull came into his field of view first and he took two shots from 300-400 yards. The moose was in an 'open' area that was quite cluttered with broomed willows, birch and other brush. The moose also was in pursuit of a cow when he shot and had been raking in response to the rattling I had been doing with the plastic stock on my Winchester 375 H&H. In any case, he hit the moose twice, neither a lethal shot though the second shot strayed and broke both rear legs. (He was shooting a 7 Rem Mag with 175 Core-lokts.) I heard the animal fall followed by some continued stirring and grunting. I arrived at the scene first to find the animal still full of fight and eager. Approaching within 25 yards or so, the animal attempted to rise on its front legs. Not knowing how badly it was wounded, I sent a 300 grain Partition into the heavy part of its shoulders - it was perfectly broadside as it raised its front end up rapidly. Surprisingly that shot didn't end its aggression and I used still one more to put it down for the count. While skinning we found one of the Partitions lodged against the hide on the far side. No major bones were broken by either bullet that I could determine, yet neither Partiton exited the hide.

Can a 25 caliber centerfire dispatch a moose? Certainly. But a 375 H&H doesn't appear to be too much gun either, and I'd hardly put a 25-06 in the same category as the 375 H&H with good bullets.

Were you hunting with Safari man?


David

...Or are you suggesting something about a very competent partner who isn't a rifle loony, doesn't shoot lots and lots, was shooting from up in a tree - without a tree stand, and was shooting at a moving animal that also happened to be in a relatively 'open' field of scattered brush......


One of the biggest mistakes a person can make - and there are many obviously- is assuming they'll have ideal conditions when hunting, and that nothing could possibly go wrong. A KISS routine is never a bad plan, and being aware of an area of marginal adequacy - knowing your weaknesses- is never a bad idea.

Klikitarik, I am sure they kill a lot of moose in Lousisiana..

Where is Lousisiana?

David

It was a joke about your partners poor shooting.

A smiley can work wonders sometimes.

We'll make sure we hire you next time we go hunting. (Can we ASSume you'll get'er done?)

Well got my moose yesterday...the 25-06 worked great! it was a 270yrd shot broad side, put one into his lungs. he went 20yrds and stopped, put a second one in and down he went. he was dead on the first but wanted to make sure.

Here is a pic....

That is a beautiful and more than likely delicious "obstacle" your bullets encountered on their way downrange!

I appreciate Klik's description of that animal. I've only seen a couple in my life and they do appear quite "obstacle" like to me.

Someday I hope to go "obstacle" hunting. With friends. For the pack out job. Obstacles of that size are not my idea of fun at over 60 yrs of age.

Harv, I hope you had help.

Geno

PS, if one types "obstacle" enough times one could start quesioning one's spelling abilities. It's now not looking correct to me. Must be one of "those" words. Shouldn't there be a "k" or something in there somewhere?

3 north american big game animals you shoot until they stop moving. Mountain goats, brown bears,and moose. All for the same reason, keep them from getting somewhere bad.