Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 25'06 Back to the Drawing Board...

To be fair, Nosler shows max velocity (operating speeds) of 3100 for 100 ballistic tips, mine would have been a bit north of that for both shots.

I have to agree. I have seen nothing but excellent penetration and expansion from the ABs I've used on game in 25-06, 7mm-08, .270Win and 30-06. I'm hoping that my 257Bob will be bloodied soon with same.

Myself and two other guys I know have been using 100 gr Sierras on deer for the past 60 years. It's about the best Texas deer combination made. I realize it's not as glamorous as a bullet that has just letters for a name but it works very well. My grandfather built his 25-06 in the 50s and my dad his at the same time. I didn't do mine till 2000 or so. I tried Nosler partitions once and didn't like them. They killed the animal but were slinging the front of the bullet off on impact. I suppose they did what they were supposed to do but I didn't like it.

Alan

Really surprised on the Accubond performance. I've shot several deer with it via .257 WBY and only had one run after the shot. I tested some when they first came out on water jugs at 20yds. With a MV of 3450fps from my "Bee" the bullet penetrated five jugs and retained about 50% of it's weight. It's a good bullet in my book though tough to explain what you saw with your deer....

All that being said, for years a stiff load of IMR 4831 and the 120gr Speer BTSP was my go to load for the 25-06. With a B.C. of .480 the little Speer is a real hammer on LR deer. They're cheap and accurate as hell. Retumbo would likely really make 'em sing....... may be worth a look!


X-VERMINATOR

Got that right, over 53 gr of H4831. I have never been disappointed with that load at any sane range or angle.

the 80 grain tsx is good, as is the swift scirroco,

Tanner, I love this advice! As far as price goes I think you'd be real happy with Noslers seconds.

Ended up picking up 120ish 100 TTSX here, we will see how they shoot.

I dunno about all of that. I've watched the .25-06 firing the plain old Remington and Winchester 120 gr. factory loads kill lots of stuff much tougher than deer.
With almost anything you can get a bullet that doesn't function as it should. Several here have had the TSX fail to expand, for instance. Then the critter runs off, leaves little or nothing for a blood trail and can go quite a ways.
I've seen bullet blow up on the surface as well. The critter didn't even realize he had been shot. No, he didn't get away.
I've had the Nosler Partition blow off the whole front end. And that buck was down so fast I didn't know what happend to him.
Same rifle, different bullets.
The thing I'd suggest is find a bullet you like and don't push it too fast. Or, if you insist on over 3000 fps at the muzzle, then I'd go with an Nosler Partition. E

Pass through? Broke both shoulders? I also think this was a fluke. Try again. I know you have lots of opportunity there Tanner, so why not increase your sample size? I tried that bullet for the first time this year and killed 3 deer at 300 yards with it. All pass throughs all all 3 DRT. MV is like 3450fps. Granted, these deer were lots smaller than what you take.

I'll definitely try the 110 again in the future if these TTSX don't shoot- the Accubonds shoot incredibly well and I love the fact that they've got a decent BC. I'm almost betting that I hit a twig or branch or piece of foliage on that shot, because the same bullet worked great on my sister's buck a few days after.

We recovered 2 AB's this year- one out of my sister's buck, and one out of my brother's (130gr .277" from 90 yards in the offside shoulder under the skin).

I think you'll like the TTSX's - though I figured the 110 NAB's would be the ticket too. Have some of those on hand for the .257 Wby my son shoots. If I don't shoot them first from my .25-06 that is!

Went Nosler Blue this year, Ballistic Tip 115's @ 3120 fps. Could load hotter, but this bullet over Retumbo shot really well for me on target and on game:



100 yards, prone, bipod:


1st shot, 420 yards:


One shot, 160 yards. Pass through. Instant drop.


One shot, 260 yards. Pass through. Instant drop.


I'm sold on Ballistic Blue for my .25-06 700 CDL.

FWIW, Guy

For deer size and under I liked hundred grain hornadies as well as 100 grain ballistic tips. I did whack one deer with a 100 grain swift scirooco and at 40 yards and 3300 plus feet per second I was really impressed with the performance. In one shoulder and out the back of the rib cage. Small hole in, heart in two pieces and both lungs were all blown to heck. Exit was maybe dime sized.