Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Elk bullet for 25-06

I have a 25-06 that I can shoot well. It's a quite accurate Tikka T3. I've mounted a Leupold 4-12x scope with LR dots.

I'm going cow elk hunting this winter and may get a bull elk tag next year. I have no trouble hitting antelope at 400 yards with a 100gr TTSX (Federal factory load) but I'm concerned about expansion and penetration with elk at longer distances (500 yards?), where velocity of the 100gr bullet will be dropping to below 2,000 fps.

Under those conditions, what's my best bullet choice: 100 TTSX, 110 Accubond, 115 / 120 Partition or 115 Berger VLD? Something else?

And yes, I know the standard answer: "Get closer." I'm planning to - I passed on an elk last winter in Wyoming because I didn't feel I could make a good first-shot hit.

But I'm pushing my limits this summer a bit with accuracy and distance, and I want to be sure my bullet will perform at the same distances I can. I could pick a larger, more powerful cartridge but my rotator cuff simply can't tolerate the big boomers any more.

What do you think?

Talk to Tman, he killed elk w/ the .25/06! I am going to use mine some this fall for cow elk w/ 110 gr. Accubonds.. But will be hunting close to home w/ a long season & no pressure to take one😞 Tman has been there done that, he is not speculating. 👍

VLD would be good for a 500 yard shot

I'd be A-Okay using the 25-06 with just about any of the bullets you mention. If it were me, I'd probably sway towards the 115/120 Partition if you are worried about expansion at longer ranges. A slew of elk have been taken with the 130 PT and 270 Winchester. Not much difference in the two in my opinion.

Having seen the 25-06 with 80gr TTSX used successfully on big caribou bulls, bigger bull moose, brown bear, mountain goat, and deer it would not bother me a bit to use it on elk...

Killed or have seen multiple elk 10-20 with 100 gr tsx. in 257 wlby at 3500 fps. All worked well with complete penetration and not too much meat damage. I would definitely not use Berger. Saw a hornady 100 gr blow up on a rib on a cow elk once out of a 25/06. We got her, but could have gone bad. I load for the guy and switched to Barnes after that with no problems. Haven't worked up a load for my 25/06 yet, but will try RL 22 if I do.Daryl.

I'd be running a 120 Partition as my first choice.

CZ1022 ~

Noslers Shooters Pro shop as we speak has 120 grain Partition (Blems) available for 33 cents each.
You may find that Accubonds tune a bit easier than Partitions but for that price you might consider
burning a bunch of them to see if your rifle slings them as accurate as your other options.

I don't have a 25-06, but I do have a 257 Weatherby Magnum. I have used successfully 120 gr. Nosler Partitions in hand loads. IMR 4831 at max. And Federals Premium 257 factory 115 gr. Trophy Bonded Bear Claw (no longer offered,but I bought many boxes) I have used them on all African PG, many the size of elk-kudu,zebra etc.. Both bullets are outstanding to say the least. I would use them on elk anytime. Guess I need to get around to picking up a 25-06. Its a great round. I wanna try out the Swift Scrirraco II.

Draftmule , thanks for your post , been looking for 120 partitions for months. Best hunting bullet for 25/06 and 257 weatherby, If your looking for elk bullets, I use H-1000 for 25/06 and 7828 for the weatherby

Tman: "Much as I think both cartridges (.270 and 25-06) are outstanding deer/antelope cartridges, you couldn't run fast enough with either one in hand to give them to me as an elk rifle."

WyoCoyoteHunter - I think you're talking about some OTHER TMan than the one posting under that name on this forum!

Well, that's a dramatic turn of events !!

WCH is referring to; T_inman.

T_Inman Offline
From The Rock
Joined Tue Mar 06 2007 12:13 AM
Last Seen 8 hours ago
Total Posts 8,851 (Campfire Outfitter)
Posts Per Day 2.353

I have used my 7mm-08 & 120TTSX for multiple bull Moose, so see no issue at all with using same for Elk !

YMMV

Son used a 115 grain Ballistic tip on a good bull. He used a little 120 gr Sierra 7mm squib load on a cow also. Both died rather fast. Sure the ttsx or partitions would be fine as well.

I have over 40 years of elk hunts behind me as a hunter and as a guide.

I would say without hesitation, use a 120 grain Nosler Partition, a 115 Grain Barnes or a bonded bullet of 110 grains or more.

Skip all the rest. Not that all others are bad, but none of them are as good as the bullets above for what you will be doing.

ESPECIALLY skip anything made by Burger.
They have a VERY VERY high failure rate even on deer and antelope.

Yeah, Berger's hunting line is sketchy at best. Their target bullets are top notch though.

More than 400y is a lot to ask of a caliber that's already a little light for elk. Not to say that it's unusable, just on the light side. I'd use the 115 or 120 partition, and keep it under 400y.

I'm not the world's biggest nosler fan, but I have killed several elk with the .25-06 and the 110 accubond, both bulls and cows. It'll work just fine at any sane distance...promise. I did have one mature cow run 200 or so yards with a solid double lung hit and only an entrance hole to bleed from, but that was an exception IME.

To the OP, any of those choices will be just fine. As per everything nosler (including the fabled partition) they kill like lightning: if you can actually hit something with it.

Back when they first came out I would have fully agreed with you, but reports of late show very different tale.

Since I can't seem to get any 6.5mm 147 ELDs right now, I will be elk hunting this fall with the 6.5mm hunting VLD, and have no worries.

The man who knows fine wimminz rear ends speaks the truth here...

if you dont hand load give the doubletap 120 gr partition ammo a try, excellent accuracy

Cabelas had the 147 eld on sale for $29.99 yesterday. They are in stock though at $34.99 today.

Midway has them now too apparently, better price as well.