NolanOsborn
Regular
- Location
- British Columbia
Good deer/yote round?
Or light for deer and heavy for coyote?
Or light for deer and heavy for coyote?
Last edited:
25-06
- Thread starter NolanOsborn
- Start date
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
I've smacked a bunch of deer with it, as well as bunch of coyotes that were a long way off, and in my mind it can't be beat as a deer/long-range coyote cartridge.
It may be a little light for elk/moose, and a little heavy for coyote, but it's just perfect for everything in between.
It may be a little light for elk/moose, and a little heavy for coyote, but it's just perfect for everything in between.
I bought one cause it was a great price. Planned on using it for a donor action. I bought some factory ammo and decided to try it one year before I tore it apart. Well My .270 that I had just found the perfect hand load at that time has sat for the last 3 years. I will never part with that .25-06. Low recoil, Hits like a truck, flat shooting. It has acounted for 7 deer in those 3 years with one shot each and found right were they stood including one at 608 yards (whitetail last year standing shot ranged before I fired) Also an antelope at 316 yards which is also an animal that the cartridge is perfect for. I finally gave in that it won't be a project and bought the reloading stuff this year.
It might be a little heavy for coyotes but the 85gr ballistic tip made sure they don't move after you hit them. I have a .223 and a .220 AI so I didn't use it a whole bunch for them.
Is it better or worse than a .243 win / 6mm Rem /.257 Roberts / .260 Rem Not really, a piece of lead through the heart or lungs from any of them will drop a deer usually on the spot. but I do love my .25-06
It might be a little heavy for coyotes but the 85gr ballistic tip made sure they don't move after you hit them. I have a .223 and a .220 AI so I didn't use it a whole bunch for them.
Is it better or worse than a .243 win / 6mm Rem /.257 Roberts / .260 Rem Not really, a piece of lead through the heart or lungs from any of them will drop a deer usually on the spot. but I do love my .25-06
sir_springer
Regular
- Location
- East Kootenays
Have taken maybe 25 whitetails and muleys with a 25.06...most of 'em were one shot kills, most using Federal loaded with 117 gr. Sierra GameKings. Many of 'em dropped like they were struck by lightning, only a couple managed to go more than 20 or 30 yards.
For deer it simply does not get much better, if at all. Also inherently accurate, too.
For deer it simply does not get much better, if at all. Also inherently accurate, too.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
From what I'd heard and seen concerning the accuracy of the Savage rifles, I decided to get one and I opted for a Savage 112 BVSS. For a caliber capable of 'reaching' out a little further on varmints and preds, I settled on a 25-06.
The best accuracy I've got with it to date are my handloads using the Sierra 117gr. To minimize the freebore I increased the C.O.A.L., exceeding that suggested in the Sierra manual, helped shrink the group size. Pardon the homemade target.
sir_springer
Regular
- Location
- East Kootenays
Now that's scary accurate!!! 
Leaves little doubt, too, about how good Savage rifles can shoot, eh?
Whatever I've used Sierra Gamekings in...30.06, 300 WM or 25.06...all Federal factory ammo, I've always been able to get sub-MOA accuracy at 100 yds.
And they've never let me down on kill performance.
That said...
I've found Fusion to be darn good, too. And the Barnes TTSX 130s in 300 WM, also Federal, group like a hot damn in my Vanguard.
My Rem. 25.06, after I fixed it up a tad...
Put up this group, 6 shots @ 100 yds, with Fusion 120s...
And this one, handloads 117 gr. Hornady boatails, at 200... (Nephew, who loaded 'em, couldn't get Sierras at the time...)
Leaves little doubt, too, about how good Savage rifles can shoot, eh?Whatever I've used Sierra Gamekings in...30.06, 300 WM or 25.06...all Federal factory ammo, I've always been able to get sub-MOA accuracy at 100 yds.
And they've never let me down on kill performance.
That said...
I've found Fusion to be darn good, too. And the Barnes TTSX 130s in 300 WM, also Federal, group like a hot damn in my Vanguard.
My Rem. 25.06, after I fixed it up a tad...
Put up this group, 6 shots @ 100 yds, with Fusion 120s...
And this one, handloads 117 gr. Hornady boatails, at 200... (Nephew, who loaded 'em, couldn't get Sierras at the time...)
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
Earlier on, when I had a few less 'toys', probably the rifle I did the most load trial and load development with is my Schultz & Larsen in 308 Norma Magnum. I've posted this info previously but here goes again.
In a number of calibers, my 'go to' bullet for accuracy and performance on game has been the Sierra SBTs/GameKings. In the 308 NM, the 200gr has been my choice. I am however changing over to Barnes TTSX in an attempt to minimize meat loss due to the effects of lead fragmentation.
In a number of calibers, my 'go to' bullet for accuracy and performance on game has been the Sierra SBTs/GameKings. In the 308 NM, the 200gr has been my choice. I am however changing over to Barnes TTSX in an attempt to minimize meat loss due to the effects of lead fragmentation.
sir_springer
Regular
- Location
- East Kootenays
That S&L you have is a treasure! Damn fine rifles!
Don't hesitate to step down a notch in bullet size when you try out the Barnes TTSX.
In my 300 WM the 130s are lasers! About 3500 fps, according to Federal's charts. The ballistics are pretty impressive!
http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/rifle.aspx?id=750
Unless you're after griz, or hunting Africa, I just don't think heavy caliber bullets, especially in 300 magnums, are really necessary any more, given the quality of premium bullets like these Barnes.
I took a 6x6 elk at about 100 yds with one shot through the top of shoulder and lungs using these. He never knew what hit him! Lurched, made it about 30 yds and dropped stone dead. Lungs were blown to rat-unowhat! Devastating damage! But little loss of meat.
Also made my rifle a lot more enjoyable to shoot at the range, considerably less bite.
My Vangard definitely approves of 'em, too...
Don't hesitate to step down a notch in bullet size when you try out the Barnes TTSX.
In my 300 WM the 130s are lasers! About 3500 fps, according to Federal's charts. The ballistics are pretty impressive!
http://www.federalpremium.com/products/details/rifle.aspx?id=750
Unless you're after griz, or hunting Africa, I just don't think heavy caliber bullets, especially in 300 magnums, are really necessary any more, given the quality of premium bullets like these Barnes.
I took a 6x6 elk at about 100 yds with one shot through the top of shoulder and lungs using these. He never knew what hit him! Lurched, made it about 30 yds and dropped stone dead. Lungs were blown to rat-unowhat! Devastating damage! But little loss of meat.
Also made my rifle a lot more enjoyable to shoot at the range, considerably less bite.
My Vangard definitely approves of 'em, too...
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Chemainus B.C.
You're right about stepping down a bullet weight when changing over to Barnes and I believe that is also one of their recommendations. I plan, for a bullet on game, to go with the TTSX or TSX in a number of calibers;
Results so far with the 120gr TTSX in the 7x61 S&H and the 130gr TTSX in the 30-06 have been great.
- 270 Win., Husqvarna model 3000, 1 in 10" or 1 in 9.5" twist
- 7x61 S&H, Schultz & Larsen, 68DL, 1 in 10", twist.
- 30-06, Husqvarna model 4000 light weight, 1 in 12" twist.
- 308 NM, Schultz & Larsen, 65DL, 1 in 10" twist.
- 358 NM, Husqvarna model 1651, 1 in 12" twist.
Results so far with the 120gr TTSX in the 7x61 S&H and the 130gr TTSX in the 30-06 have been great
.
Gotta agree with that...
25-06 was good for it's time, and it still works fine, but the .260 beats it in every practical respect as a deer/yote gun. Will work for moose, too!
2506
I hunted for six years with the 25-06 and shot about twelve deer whitetail, mule deer and one antelope with it. It was very effective, but with the bullets available in the mid 1970s I had trouble getting penetration even with 120s, unless I used the nosler partition. They killed like lightening if hit right. So I switched to the 270, (always need an excuse for a new gun) and preferred it because I could use conventional cup in core bullets and get good penetration with them. They both kill dramatically if hit right. I load 90 grain sierra hollowpoints in the 270 for varmints and they work well.
I hunted for six years with the 25-06 and shot about twelve deer whitetail, mule deer and one antelope with it. It was very effective, but with the bullets available in the mid 1970s I had trouble getting penetration even with 120s, unless I used the nosler partition. They killed like lightening if hit right. So I switched to the 270, (always need an excuse for a new gun) and preferred it because I could use conventional cup in core bullets and get good penetration with them. They both kill dramatically if hit right. I load 90 grain sierra hollowpoints in the 270 for varmints and they work well.
