Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Best bullet for 25-06?

I just bloodied my 25-06 a couple of weeks ago, and the 117-gr Hornady SST factory load performed well...hardly an entrance hole to be seen on the unfortunate antelope, but a silver-dollar size exit hole with a 12" spray pattern of blood around it. The shot was right through the ribs at between 300 and 350 yards, and it put a jagged 2" hole in each lung.

I've seen on this forum that many shooters prefer the 100-gr bullet in the 25-06 to anything heavier, so I'm thinking of reloading either the 100-gr Nosler ballistic tip, the 100-gr Hornady Interlock, or the 100-gr Barnes TTX.

Does anyone have experience using any of these? Most of my hunting is for either deer or antelope, but I hope to get an elk tag next year!

Thanks

I like a variety of bullets in the '06 case.

Anything from 110 grain varnmint slugs at 3,400 FPS+ to 220g bear bashers...at 2,500FPS +

Oh, I just noticed. You have a .25-06.

Never mind.


Seriously, for a small caliber rifle like that with possible use on Elk, I would use the 100g Barnes TSX bullets.

I've used 100gr bullets out of the .25-06 on a small truck load of big-game animals, and I've found that at close range, under 100 yards, the Sierra bullets and the BT tend to break up if they encounter heavy bone. They still kill animals dead, but they work best when shooting through the ribs. The TSX and TTSX bullets work wonders in this cartridge at 3300+fps. I've only had one animal get farther than about 20 yards, and that was my fault, not the bullet's. I hit a little far back, and only hit 1 lung and the liver, and the animal made it about 175 yards before dying.

I tend to hunt with the 100gr TSX/TTSX in the magazine, and if I need to set up for a long shot (over 400 yards) I'll slip something a little more aerodynamic in the chamber, such as a MK, GK, BT, SST, etc. Don't think that the TSX won't shoot well at long range, as dozens of milk jugs hit at over 750 yards would beg to differ, it's just that I like to use bullets that are a little less affected by the wind when I'm shooting long. Bullets like that tend to work a little better at longer range, anyways.

At under 250 yards I like a 120 grain Partition and at longer rangers I like a 110 grain NBT.

Can't argue with your results but if you're looking to experiment I've been ver pleased with the 110 gr Accubond for my .257 Roberts. It's worked fine on whitetails, Axis and pigs.

My experience with the .25-06 is that with 100-grain bullets, premiums are often a good idea. That depends to a certain extent on normal range and the game, however. I've seen excellent results from both the 100-grain Ballistic Tip and Hornady Interlock, for instance, in open country where the normal shot is a minimum of 200 yards or so.

With heavier bullets (115-120 grains) many bullets work well, including 120-grain Core-Lokts, even at shorter ranges.

Thanks for the replies.

What has your experience been on really big animals, like elk? Would you move to the heavier bullets, or stay with the 100gr Barnes/90gr Hornady GMX?

I'm thinking if elk are in the mix, I'd use a 115 TSX.
Pretty stout bullet for the 25-06.
120gr Partition wouldn't be a bad choice either.
Just my $.02.

I've used both the 100gn Ballistic Tips and Hornadys in a .250-3000 and a .257 Roberts, but not in my .25-06. Between 2700 fps (.250-3000) and 3155fps (.257 Roberts) both work fine for me on pigs. My mate loaded the 100gn Ballistic Tips in his .25-06, but only to less than 3000 fps, and they worked fine on pigs.

In my .25-06 I've gone for the 117gn Hornadys as I didn't want four .25 cals all shooting 100gn bullets. I also have another .250-3000 shooting 100gn CoreLokts.

I've dedicated my 26-06 to shooting the heavweight bullets. The two that shoot exceptionally well are Speer and Sierra's 120 grainers. The BC's are about as good as it gets, and accuracy is right at 1/2" for 3 shots at 100 yards, using a Weaver V-16 set at 16x.

Partitions, 100 or 120 as you see fit.

We have had good luck on antelope through bull elk with the 115 CT bullets in my son's 25-06. Lot of good choices though and a 100 TSX would have to be very fine.

I haven't shot an elk with it, but a ~450lbs black bear was very impressed with the 100gr TSX at ~3300fps. Full penetration and exit holes, and the animal dropped at the shot each time. First shot spined him in the middle of the back as he was climbing up and away from me, 2nd shot was in the neck (no spine), and the 3rd shot was a frontal shot that entered the base of the neck and exited by the tail. Internal damage was significant.

I prefer a good 120gr bullet at about 3000fps from a 25/06. The Hornady HP has been an outstanding performer on deer as has the 120gr Speer Hot Core.

For elk, I'd take a different cartridge.

The Hornady 100 grain worked well for me when I had a .25-06.

Those Partitions are tough to beat.
My kid shot a Bear last Friday up here using a 7mm Mag with a 150 gn Partition. One shot thu the lungs and out the off shoulder, and the Bear expired; a quartering away shot at 60 yards.

I've used 115gr BT, 115gr Partition and a 100gr Hornady Interlock, they all worked well.
I killed more with the Partition than anything but they were expensive and didn't shoot that well for me.
I assume any brand in 100grs and up would work just fine.

Use to use the 100gr Nosler Solid Base until they discontinued them and I ran out. Now I use the 115gr Partition.

I used 120gr. NP's for years with excellent results on smaller to large bucks. Then I traded the 'ole M77 in for a different 25-06 and it didn't like the 120's in any brand..........and I surely tried to make it like 'em.

Your 1/4 bore may not like anything but your 117gr. 'lope load....who know's? Try several different types of the many aformentioned bullets and weights and see which one your rifle and you shoot best.

If not a finicky 1/4 bore, I currently use the 100gr. TTSX for deer on down and would use a TSX in a heavier offering for elk. No real need to have the "tipped" attribute on an elk as they are quite thick as opposed to deer and elk bullet's don't need to open up quite as fast as would your typical deer bullet.......IMHE.

I've killed many buck's with the "tipped" versions and several bulls with the TSX's.......so far, I'm 100% pleased.

Good luck....shoot what shoot's best for you in a brand name bullet and start cuttin' and wrappin'.........

I load 120 Hornady HP for a couple of by buddies 25-06's. No problems and no failures on a bunch of Deer. Had a Elk guide once that used this bullet on Elk with perfect results.