100 grain 25-06 Load

[SuperstitionCoues]

To decrease the recoil that I absorb, I am wanting to develop a 100 grain load with Hornady Interlocks for my 25-06.  This is a decrease from the 117 grain loads that I typically use for deer.  Do you think that I will see a significant difference in terminal ballistics on a mule deer on a 100 grain load vs a 117 grain load?  In other words, is a 100 grain bullet "enough bullet" for a good size mule deer?

[Don Fischer]

The 117gr Hornady is my favorite bullet in my 25-06. But I'm sure you won't have any trouble with the 100gr. I've shot 100gr in mine and they shoot well. I just have a 117gr load that shoots just as well and gives a bit more punch. I don't notice a lot of difference in recoil in either.

[SHOOTALL]

My son and i both use a 100 gr. ballistic tip on white tails up to 180 or so lbs and they drop like hit in the head with a hammer for whats its worth ! Off a rest this load will group 5 rounds touching that a dime will cover at 100 yds. we use it for ground hogs and deer both .

[The Sodbuster]

I picked up a Ruger M77 MkII in .25-06 Rem about 14 months ago.  Last fall I shot 2 white-tailed deer with 100 grain GameKings.  One fell in its tracks and the other went about 20-30 yards before piling up.  Both bullets went through.  Shot one at about 50 yards, the other about 170 yards.  I think a 100 grain bullet will do the job on any sized deer if it's put in the right place. 

For my rifle, both IMR430 and H4831sc work well with 100 grain Sierras and Hornady interlocks.  There's lots of powders to choose from.   I've only tried 4 in my .25-06 (IMR7828 and H380 didn't work as well).  I use 117 grain GameKings in my .257 Weatherby.  That rifle doesn't seem to like 100 grain bullets very well.

[OLDHandgunner]

Since the early 70's my favorite load in my old Ruger 77 in 25-06 has been a Hornady 100 gr bullet over 52.0 grs of IMR 4350. This has taken lots of chucks, coyotes & several deer. I have moved up to Hornady 117 & 120 for deer to cut down on meat damage caused from the 100 gr bullets. Both weights will shoot sub MOA groups at 100 yrds and almost in the same holes.

[SuperstitionCoues]

Since the early 70's my favorite load in my old Ruger 77 in 25-06 has been a Hornady 100 gr bullet over 52.0 grs of IMR 4350. This has taken lots of chucks, coyotes & several deer. I have moved up to Hornady 117 & 120 for deer to cut down on meat damage caused from the 100 gr bullets. Both weights will shoot sub MOA groups at 100 yrds and almost in the same holes.

What kind of meat damage did you experience with the 100 grain Hornady bullet, compared to the 117 grain Hornady? 

My 25-06 is also a Ruger M77 Mk II.  I have had excellent results with Rl-22 and Hornady 117 gr. BTSPs or SST's , and H-4831SC with Sierra 117 grain BTSP bullets.  Both loads shoot a typical 1" to 0.75" group, with the Hornadys giving tighter results.   

FWIW, I have not been able to get a Sierra 100 grain BTSP to shoot well at all.  Many different combinations of powder and primer... I have just about decided that it is the boattail that the firearm doesn't like, as I have been able to get a flat-based Speer 100 grain to shoot very well, plus the tighter results of the flat-based Hornady 117 gr. SST.  I am not fond of Speer as a hunting bullet though. Thus, the move to Hornady 100 grain bullets with a flat base.  We shall see how the results come out.  I will give the IMR 4350 a try, as well as Rl-22...The package from MidwayUSA is supposed to arrive today.   

[SHOOTALL]

IMR 4831 with 100 gr ballistic tips give 1/2 to 3/4 groups in a rem 700 bdl and hasn't seemed to have excessive meat damage when hit in the right place , but a shoulder bone hit can mess up alot of shoulder meat . haven't tried the heavier bullet yet but might after reading ya'lls post !
just have had other bullets that didn't group as well and its hard to switch .

[OLDHandgunner]

SuperstitionCoues:

First let me say that I tried all the major brands of bullets at that time ( early 70's ) & the Hornady shot the best. I also read several articles that said the Hornady's would turn the meat to hamburg. This I found out when the 1st deer fell. Shot through the front shoulder the deer dropped like a ton of bricks. When skinning the deer, the side that the bullet hit was blood shot jelly from the ear to the middle of the rib cage. No good meat from that front shoulder, but the other side was OK. So I started aiming just behind the front shoulder when I could. This helped a little. Remember that these are the old 100 Spire Point. The bullets have all changed alot since then. Probably not that fragile now.
I like the Hornady 117's & 120 HP, but for just all out flat shooting & knock down power on deer at long range the 100's are for me.

[tanoose]

As far as recoil goes on paper there may be a 1 pound difference , and i don't think you will feel any difference.If recoil is your main concern for the switch put a 7/8" dia bar in the stock it will add 1 pound to your rifle but it will also cut down your recoil. Or try the 16 oz mercury recoil suppressor  in the stock these can be had for about $35.00 I have heard that the pachmayer F990 recoil pad  is the absolute best for the big magnums this is another thing to try, without adding weight to your rifle.