25-06, How light have you loaded for deer?

Kelly Timoffee

Kelly Timoffee

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What is the lightest that the reloaders here have gone for deer in a 25-06??

First time loading for this chambering and would like a dual purpose coyote/deer load but still want a projectile that will be able to keep consistent out past 500+ yards for the small critters.

Got it in my mind that 100 grain is they way to go, could be wrong though.
 
That is my dilemma, too heavy of a bullet and I won't get expansion at longer ranges for coyotes, to light and frangible and it won't work as I want for deer.

OR load two different choices, one for deer and one for varmint, just would be nice to have just one.



mmattockx said:
Keep in mind the heavy bullets are the better choice for longer ranges, not the lighter ones.


Mark
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I use the 100gr TTSX for big-game hunting and the 100gr MK for target/varmint/LR hunting. I also have a load worked up with the 115gr VLD. You could use any of these bullets and get the job done. The 115gr VLD will work for everything you mention.
 
Jordan Smith said:
I use the 100gr TTSX for big-game hunting and the 100gr MK for target/varmint/LR hunting. I also have a load worked up with the 115gr VLD. You could use any of these bullets and get the job done. The 115gr VLD will work for everything you mention.
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I shot the Berger 115gn VLD's in a 25 Ackley for competition (based on 243, used RL19), there were reliable out to 1000 yards, lots of V's. I was thinking of using them in my Sako 25-06, in my 25 Ackley I easily got 3100fps, I think the 25-06 should easily get that or more, hence these should be good for both Deer and yotes.
 
Well I did some reading and calculating.

Looks like my two best choices are VLD 115's and Swift SC II's 100's.

Only problem I see is the Swift bullet holding together too well at velocities past 500.I would imagine the VLD would be a better choice for expansion at lower velocities.
 
If you don't want the pelts I'd go with the 117gr sst. Both deer and coyote are thin skinned game and the sst will expand at slower velocity. I use 75gr vmax for coyotes and I think ima use 117gr hornady interlock for deer and bear depending if my gun likes them or not
 
I've posted this info previously and don't know if it'll be of any help to you but here goes again:). I'm shooting a Savage 112BVSS in 25-06

Model112BVSSSavage25-06.jpg


and as a suggestion, for two reasons, perhaps one bullet you may want to give a 'try' is the Sierra 117gr SBT.

25-06Test-1.jpg


First off for me, it's a bullet that has proven very accurate.
Second, it 'seems' to be an accepted fact that possibly because of jacket thickness and/or the composition of the lead core, Sierras expand rapidly. This being so, they may work well for what you have in mind.

An item of note, the C.O.A.L. of my reloads exceeds that suggested in the Sierra manual. I've done that to minimize the freebore which seems to help accuracy for me.
 
Haven't done a whole bunch of work with the 25-06 yet, but have had some nice groups with the 117gr Gamekings and 100gr Matrix RBT's. Matrix Ballistics also make a 125gr rebated boat-tail that could be a nice long distance round for deer.
 
I have shot a barnload of deer with the 25 06. I settled on the 120 grain Speer. One mule was taken at 650 yards with that bullet. It stayed under the skin on the off shoulder. The 100 grain kills them instantly, but the 120 holds up better at longer ranges. IMR 4831 seemed to be the most consistant, with wlrm primers. Also had great success with the 117 grain Hornady boattail. My buddy uses the 120 grain Speer for his moose and elk. Works great.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
That is my dilemma, too heavy of a bullet and I won't get expansion at longer ranges for coyotes, to light and frangible and it won't work as I want for deer.

OR load two different choices, one for deer and one for varmint, just would be nice to have just one.
Click to expand...

How much expansion do you need to kill a 'yote? I would be far more concerned with getting a bullet that works for deer and then see how it performs on the coyotes.


Mark
 
The rifles primary use will be for dogs.

It may see a deer hunt on occasion.

Pelts are a non-issue , I just prefer to have them receive as much internal damage as possible to make it a quick dispatch of the critter, I know that some projectiles will just pencil right through once they slow down.

The experience of what has worked for others is what I am going to try base my choices on, I do have a couple hundred 25 cal Barnes to try(85gr tipped , and 100gr and 110gr conventional).

I just don't see them being great down range on coyotes.

I am going to try make this load work with a Rapid Z reticle as well.From the calculator at Zeiss it could work quite well for longer shots.

FYI - This is my first 25 cal rifle so I have zero experience as to what characteristics the .257 bullets on the market are capable of.I am unfortunately a 7mm guy. :redface:




mmattockx said:
How much expansion do you need to kill a 'yote? I would be far more concerned with getting a bullet that works for deer and then see how it performs on the coyotes.


Mark
Click to expand...
 
When I first read your question, I thought that you were asking about the lightest load suitable for deer, as in <how slow could I go and still be a good deer killer>. Then I realized you were talking about the lightest bullet weight that would be suitable.
I believe that the 100 grain bullet is the lightest you should go for deer, as a general matter. I have experience with ordinary cup and core, such as Hornady and Sierra, and they have both performed well and given complete pass through.
But, if you are dreaming about 500 yard shots on deer, then the 100 grain bullet is probably not the best bet. You can check velocity remaining and decide for yourself if that will be good enough.
If I were shooting a .25-06 and wanted to shoot that far, I would probably go with 115 or 120 grain bullets. Then I would find a range that allows me to shoot at 100 out to 500 yards and shoot at all of the ranges from field positions to find out how effective and accurate the bullets are at the various ranges.
 
Kelly Timoffee said:
The rifles primary use will be for dogs.

It may see a deer hunt on occasion.
Click to expand...
If it is primarily going to be used on dogs I would stick with a heavier VLD type bullet, rapid expansion and higher BC's. However, once you give it a go on deer it wouldn't be surprising to see the '06 being increasingly used for big game. Then I would be more inclined to run a TTSX or Accubomb. Decent BC's out to 500yards and absolutely perfect for penetrating big game from every angle.
 
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