Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Best 25 caliber deer bullet

I'm running a 110gr AB @ 3350fps this year in my .25-284. I'll let you know how it goes, but I'm pretty sure it will kill.

ttt

Interesting thread. I am surprised to see that the Partition of any weight was not mentioned more even though I know it is not needed for deer and surprised to see the old 120 HP Interlock mentioned several times. Getting ready to load some Hornady of both 100 and 117 grain variety, Partition 100/115, and Sierra 100/117 ProHunters. Going with which ever shoots the best as I know they will all work if placed in a buck's airbags.

I will add the 100g partition and 100g ballistic tips Many of them SPS seconds from 250AI's

When I used a Roberts, I found the 100 grain Interlock and 115 Partition to be my favorites on deer.

I use 120 Nosler PT with 55 gr of Retumbo in a 25-06. Deadly accurate and 3200+ fps from my cooper custom classic with a 26" barrel.

Retumbo is awesome with 110 grain and heavier in 25-06

LOTS of good choices available. I've found the 117 grain btsp from Hornady or Sierra to be reliable killers and accurate as well.

Using the 110 Accubond in my wife's .25-06. Not close to max, but very accurate load and have had great results with it. Load development is done with that rifle...

My experience on deer with the 'bob and the 25-06 have mostly been with 100 gr. pills... And mostly partitions at that. The velocity/bullet combo is excellent on deer.

The 'bob has been the standard deer killer in the family 'kids, wife, me' for 20 odd years now. The 25-06 is a little newer addition but with two deer very cleanly kilt with it this fall with 100 partitions @3300 fps.

I have found with the 100 gr. partition with 3000 fps and up, a LOT of bang/flops happen, no matter who is doing the shooting. Low recoil, ease of shot placement, very dramatic and deep terminal bullet action seems to work very well.

Thought about that 100 Partition as well.

John,

I selected the Hornady 120 HP for my 25-06 based on your recommendation a few years back. Using 54.0 of H-4831sc velocity is 3080 with 4 shots under .75. What's not to like!

Doc

Looks like that Ol' boy got a little dirt on his snoot somehow, must've done a nose stand!!

Killed a truckload with 117 RN.

I have used the Sierra 117 grain flat base Pro Hunter in my 257 Wby in front of 70 grains of 7828. This was the first load IMR listed when 7828 became available. Shot good then and still shoots good now. I'm still using the 20 lb keg I purchased in 1984. Great Cartridge, Great bullet, and great powder.

That sounds like a good load. My 26" barrel consumes 57gn of Retumbo and only gets 3080fps.
John

Doc,
I used it a lot in my .257 Weatherby but haven't used it in my .25/06 yet. Glad it works for you.
John

I run a 115 gr Ballistic Tip out of one and a 100 gr Sierra Gameking out of another.


Both kill deer if you put them where they live.

Burt2506

that caliber is big enough that you'd have to test bullets for a lifetime to get an answer to your question. Any accurate 100-115 grain pill should do what you want.

Not sure if the best, but have been using a 117 Interlock Hornady American Whitetail loads in 25-06 this year. They have been great with excellent penetration, including on a really old, heavy body mule deer.