Scenario: You're hunting Elk with the only rifle you own, an accurate 25-06 loaded with 115 Berger VLD started at 3135 fps. You have a very nice 6x6 Bull across the canyon at 400 yards, no detectable wind, and not enough daylight left to attempt to get closer. You taking the shot? Or letting him walk
This is your shot angle.. Post your thoughts, I'll post the decision that was made after a while.
EDIT:
Here is the full video. This is my youngest boy (18) on the gun. Featherweight6555 absolutely nailed it!
I'm gonna hold for bullet impact @ about 4:30 (oclcock ) right on that dark brown to light brown transition area. The if my aim is true I'm getting out my skinning knife. YMMV. Flame away.
"Aim right, squeeze light" " Might as well hit what you're aiming at, it kicks the same whether you miss or not" NRA Life, GOA
I'm in the process of working up a load for my 25-06 with the 115vld.
What powder are you guys using ?
TIA
I've had good results with both Retumbo and IMR 8133. Sadly IMR 8133 is no longer available. I saw the 115 VLD average 3199 fps with good accuracy from IMR 8133.
1st i don`t hunt with a 25-06 and never will i have 257 Weatherby mag. rifl, my handloads and with a my bi-pod on my rifle prone or sitting 400 yards is a easy shot on a big animal with my rifle. i use 103 gr. Hammer bullets at 3680 FPS average . i am basically 500 FPS faster, but a 25-06 is still a fine cartridge for some hunters to use. Pete53
My friend in Rapid City, South Dakota hunts elk with his 25-06 loaded with 117 grain Nosler Partition bullets. He has never lost an animal yet but his shots are always less than 250 yards. Your scenario of 400 yards is an extremely long shot even for a skilled rifleman. I would pass up because of the distance.
My elk rifle is a Savage 99 in .308 and I've had very good luck with 180 grain Core-lokt ammo. Longest shot for me was about 225 yards.
About a foot below his chin would break the spine where it goes in between the shoulder blades. However, it's only a 115 gr bullet and canyons often have unfelt wind currents. A couple inches to either side would be a disaster.
“In a time of deceit telling the truth is a revolutionary act.” ― George Orwell
It's not over when you lose. It's over when you quit.
Assuming I can get a good prone position, my shot placement would be right up that left front leg to about mid-body. Which very well might mean the front of the scapula is in the way. May or may not be an issue. He looks alert — ready to bolt…or is he going to calm down and go back to feeding in a moment or two…I’d hesitate a bit to see if he moves more favorably.
Then confirm wind one more time.
All hypothetical as I wouldn’t be elk hunting with Bergers as a first choice.
I would with a TTSX or Accubond but not with the Berger. I have seen first hand what they do when they hit bone and it is messy to say the least. That was on antelope. Elk are far tougher than antelope.
Assuming I can get a good prone position, my shot placement would be right up that left front leg to about mid-body. Which very well might mean the front of the scapula is in the way. May or may not be an issue. He looks alert — ready to bolt…or is he going to calm down and go back to feeding in a moment or two…I’d hesitate a bit to see if he moves more favorably.
Then confirm wind one more time.
All hypothetical as I wouldn’t be elk hunting with Bergers as a first choice.
Even if I were using my 338 Win. mag with suitable bullets I'm not so sure that's the shot I'd take. Assuming away any penetration issues, from the shot presentation in the picture it seems to me that point of impact would have the bullet traversing the "chest innards" farther back than I'd prefer. I'd like to land it a bit left, closer to where the dark collar meets the tan.
I would with a TTSX or Accubond but not with the Berger. I have seen first hand what they do when they hit bone and it is messy to say the least. That was on antelope. Elk are far tougher than antelope.
There's a lot of merit to this. I like the VLD, but not sure that a 115 gr Berger VLD is the right choice for bull elk quartering towards.. Might end up hitting the shoulder bone, and I'm not sure that the Berger is going to provide enough penetration... I would feel better about the Barnes TTSX in this situation.
OP edited with the video and a pic. There was never any doubt as to whether or not we take the shot, I've seen what those little Bergers do when they are placed in the chest cavity, and yes, they will break an elk shoulder.