.25-06 for Elk?

Ar180shooter

Ar180shooter

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What are your guys thoughts on this cartridge for larger elk sized game? I'm asking for a friend, he reloads, so ammunition cost/availability is not an issue. The shots won't be taken at excessively long ranges, maybe 250-300 yards max.
 
Aww, I've used 100 gr moly coated X bullets and dropped big moose bulls easily, (at least no more than a 5 second delay before they dropped on their face) . I am fully confident in my .25-06, and it often gets the nod when I hunt multi-species in the same hunt. Whizzing along frozen lakes to find wolves, often , a moose will be seen 300-600 yds close to a shoreline. I've taken two moose bulls at 300 & 360ish yards from my skidoo seat with a 100 gr x and never thought twice about it. A Good scope helps when you use the marginal sized calibers though. I once had to shoot a cow moose with a .243 win, and she went down in short order on a return home 2 week visit to Nfld. (I had to borrow the gun)
I always take a bigger gun if I am hunting moose only, but I have no qualms about the hot quarterbore, if you are within your abilities when you pull the trigger. (I personally limit my own shots to no more than 400 with anything , and thats on a wide open lake)
Hunt within your skill level.
 
Light for elk in my opinion, doable with 120 Nos Part or 100 TTSX or 110 accubond. Best hold out for a perfect set up and not be throwing lead at running elk with a 25-06. JMHO
 
sgt.rock said:
Aww, I've used 100 gr moly coated X bullets and dropped big moose bulls easily, (at least no more than a 5 second delay before they dropped on their face) . I am fully confident in my .25-06, and it often gets the nod when I hunt multi-species in the same hunt. Whizzing along frozen lakes to find wolves, often , a moose will be seen 300-600 yds close to a shoreline. I've taken two moose bulls at 300 & 360ish yards from my skidoo seat with a 100 gr x and never thought twice about it. A Good scope helps when you use the marginal sized calibers though. I once had to shoot a cow moose with a .243 win, and she went down in short order on a return home 2 week visit to Nfld. (I had to borrow the gun)
I always take a bigger gun if I am hunting moose only, but I have no qualms about the hot quarterbore, if you are within your abilities when you pull the trigger. (I personally limit my own shots to no more than 400 with anything , and thats on a wide open lake)
Hunt within your skill level.
Click to expand...

I find moose succum much more readily than do elk, one of our tougher critters to anchor. Big difference between cows and bulls in rut too, I'd have no qualms potting a cow in the lungs, front shoulder or bean, if close, with the 25-06.
 
You would be good to go IMO...An Elk has a 24"-26" vital area..If you can confidently group 5'' @ 300, you would have little to worry about...Take no iffy shots, and a good bullet is the best advice I can give..

My go to moose gun is a 25-06..I've taken 6 with it now, none of which went any further than any moose I shot with a 280, or any of the 30 cals(mag, and non)..I used Rem cor-lokts, on a couple, and Nosler Ps on the rest If that helps any...
 
where there are elk-there well could be grizzlies-would you be comfortable with your 25-06 if a grizzly decided he wanted an easy meal?Thats why I opt for a heavier caliber when hunting moose
 
It certainly wouldn't be carved into my tombstone that I didn't try like Fook to pop that Grizz with my .25-06. I used to believe that it was not capable of much, yet I'd always hear how a .257 roberts was a great mid game caliber. Huh? The .25-06 is like the Russian womens weightlifting team on steroids compared to the Roberts in my opinion. ELK, Moose, Deer, Wolves, Wolverine, Black bears are fair quarry with it, and if I had to, I'd certainly plug a Grizz rather than be dinner.
I often use my .300wm when I knowingly hunt bigger animals, but , alas, like I said, its great for a multi-species hunter like me. I'd never knowingly take my .25-06 rem over my .270 win or my .300wm to hunt Elk/Moose/etc if it was a big animal hunt only, just because I like to feel the "Boom" on my shoulder before I see something flop down. But, I use it as a caliber of opportunity, that is capable of killing a moose/Elk, no problem with good bullets, good optics, at sensible ranges when I am looking for wolves or wolverines or even caribou. I don't feel handicapped with my only rifle being a .25
My .02 cents worth.
 
I absolutely love my 2506 and with premium bullets like nosler partitions I believe its quite adequate for elk and moose. However it is not my first choice for either. I've flattened about a 300lb sow black bear with mine and turned off coyotes and other critters like light switches but as game weight increases I feel more confident throwing heavier bullets
 
I would do it, but it is on the light end of the spectrum as far as I'm concerned. With premium bullets it would be ok but for heavy work the 25-06 would not be my first choice. I look at it in relation to elk the same way that I look at the 243 in relation to big deer. Adequate but not ideal. More of a specialist's rifle.
 
120 and 115 Partitions have dropped 4 in my family (2 cows and 2 Bulls).


If you put the bullet where it belongs and keep the range within reason you would be fine.

I use a heavier rifle, but if I only had a 25-06 would just try to shoot as much as possible to be able to thread the needle when required.
 
While the 25-06 would not be my first choice to take on an Elk hunt, there is NO doubt in my mind that it will do the job.
If a 25-06 was in my hands, and a legal Elk appeared, I would take the shot.
As others have posted...use a good bullet and place it properly = dead Elk.
Regards, Eagleye.
 
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