Poll

new to sight. would like to know bullet weights and powder used for hunting mule deer. thinking about the 115 vld, 110 accubond, or the barnes trp. shocks. any info. would really help. my rifle is a t/c encore 26'' tube.

loads for 25/06
10 (43.5%)
25/06 for mule deer
13 (56.5%)

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Author Topic: 25/06 loads for deer  (Read 4309 times)

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Offline wind drift

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25/06 loads for deer
« on: February 13, 2009, 02:08:18 PM »
wolud like info. on 25/06 loads bullet, powder, brass. and type of primer. encore 26'' tube for mule deer.

Offline charles p

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #1 on: February 13, 2009, 04:30:02 PM »
I've probably taken 50 whitetail deer with a 25-06.  It will do the job.  I never used the lighter bullets.  I favored 115-117-120 for even the longest shots. 

IMR 4831 is an good powder.  I like Sierra Game King bullets.  You do not need premium bullets or copper bullets to kill deer.  Your success with any deer-appropriate rifle will depend upon how well you can shoot.  Bad placement with any bullet is a bad shot - period!  A good shot placement will kill every deer that walks - period!

The morale is - buy and use a rifle you can shoot well, regardless of what the TV and magazines say.


Offline backstrap

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #2 on: February 13, 2009, 05:43:51 PM »
I shot varget in my browning a-bolt 25-06 with cci primer and speer 120 gr hot core bullets,this is a new load i started useing this year deer hunting a boy let me tell u i like those speer hot cores, every deer i shot this year 3 just blew holes right through them heart and lung shot is all i take.1 doe i shot u could see the bullet hit the ground on the other side as it passed through her.i have shot ballistic tips didnt like them,shot some winchester posetive expansion didnt like them on deer eather.i have found my load i will deer hunt with as long as i have the rifle,my rifle didnt like the 100 gr bullets it likes the 115,117, 120 grain bullets.try these Speer Hot Core bullets u will like them very much .
1 shot 1 kill

Offline Blackhawk44

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #3 on: February 13, 2009, 07:16:08 PM »
Hornady 100gr. with IMR4831.  Only recovered one out of 16 and it went front to rear and stopped against the pelvis.

Offline Val

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #4 on: February 14, 2009, 04:04:31 AM »
I use the 120 grain Nosler Partition with 49 grains of IMR 4350. This load chronographs at 3008 fps in my 24" barrel 25-06.
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Offline BBF

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #5 on: February 14, 2009, 07:19:01 AM »
Either specie will fall to the old, tried and true Remington CorLokts and they are cheaper then most others. Use whichever weight will group best.
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Offline dpe.ahoy

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #6 on: February 14, 2009, 07:23:46 AM »
Use what your rifle likes.  If using 100g bullets, don't push em as fast as you can unless you use premium bullets.  Heavier weight bullets work fine at the higher speeds with all cup and core bullets.  DP
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Offline Redford Bohica

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #7 on: February 14, 2009, 11:21:59 AM »
Sierra Game King 117 gr. spitzer /50.0 gr. IMR 4350/CCI-200 primer. Drops them right there and meat damage is negligible.

Offline Hickok

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #8 on: February 14, 2009, 11:59:12 AM »
I use 117-120 gr. bullets and IMR 4831 powder in a Browning A-Bolt 25/06. Great caliber!
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Offline Catfish

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #9 on: February 14, 2009, 04:24:25 PM »
Deer are not hard to kill and do not require premium bullets. I personally like the Serria bullets, but recon any good bullet in the 115 gr. and up range should be good with proper shot placement.

Offline wallypedal

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #10 on: February 16, 2009, 01:43:33 PM »
Another excellent bullet is the Hornady 120 HP. It's been around a long time, and is a big game bullet using their 'Interlock' design. There are several powders on the slow side that will get it to 3000-3100. They have good BC and trajectory is excellent when started at those speeds. And they are have great penetration without blowing huge holes.
Tom

Offline BobsArmory

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #11 on: March 01, 2009, 04:49:13 AM »
My favorite load for .25-06 would be Remington Nickel brass (because it's pretty and cleans up nice) Federal Large rifle Match primers.  Sierra 120 grain Hollow Point Boat Tails or 117 grain Spitzer Boat Tails and IMR-4831.  They Chrono out to about 3075fps and are SUPER accurate out of my Remington Sendero.

  I don't usually bother with any of  those bullets that have  plastic tips, solid copper or tungston cores (money sucking bullets).  Sierra bullets have always been very accurate, they dominate many of the shooting compitetions.  And they are reasonable price wise.  That said I do have a gun that shoots Nosler BT's best so I do buy BT's for that gun.

Offline Don Fischer

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #12 on: March 01, 2009, 12:05:40 PM »
I've used both 100gr and 117gr Hornady's and H4831 powder. My go to bullet is the 117gr. It doesn't kill as dramatically but doesn't ruin as much meat either. Either bullet would work fine.
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Offline hunter718

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #13 on: March 26, 2009, 02:48:06 PM »
I'll second the Hornaday 120HP in my BDL-SS 25-06. Have been using that bullet with H-4831 since the bullet came out(late 60's early 70's) and there never has been any reason to look for anything else. It just plain works and is very accurate. Loaded that round for many other guys too and they all liked it.

Offline Wyo. Coyote Hunter

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #14 on: March 26, 2009, 03:40:02 PM »
 :)you have lots to pick from so I will add a bit to the pot. Either 4831 is a good one for the caliber. For mine, I use Nosler BTBT 115 gain and Re 22. It beat the others in several other caliber I have so I bought a bunch of it. that doesn't make it better, it just works for me. Some one also mentioned Rem . bullets. I haven't used a bunch, but they are fine. 8) I like the Serria products very much, but never got into the 117 or 120's with my present 25-06. I also shot some deer with 100 grain BTBT. Go with what ever you like best and shoots best. For shooting mulies, a little heavier can be better. I have dusted some that were huge in body size. While Canada or Minn. may have them, I have never shot a whitetail even close in body size to some of the mulies. Just something to think about. ;)

Offline nomosendero

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #15 on: March 26, 2009, 04:14:56 PM »
I have used a bunch of bullets in this round & all worked. Some I favor are 117 Sie.BT, 115BT, 115TSX,
120 Part. & 125 Wildcats. Find out what your gun likes. I would not be against the 100 TippedTSX either.
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Offline kudzu

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #16 on: March 26, 2009, 04:56:59 PM »
I have a 25-06 Pro hunter. It shoots the fac fed. hot-cores and the fed fusions very well. (1 1/2  to 2 1/2 at 300)  Have taken numerous WT with both and would not turn around for the differance.  If I had to pick just one it would be the fusion as they are a bit more accurate. If you are going to role your own then the hot-cores as the fusions I don't believe are availible for reloaders yet.

Offline Coyote Hunter

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #17 on: March 27, 2009, 11:01:52 AM »
Somebody mismarked my .25-06 as ".257 Roberts". 

I run Winchester +P brass and use +P load data and it gives up very little to the .25-06. While still a virgin in my hands, the Roberts shoots the following very well:

120g A-Frame
115g TSX
110g AccuBond
100g TTSX
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Offline T.R.

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #18 on: April 10, 2009, 01:32:40 PM »


This is my long time friend, Rick. This particular morning I was watching the buck thru my 10X field glasses and trying to figure out a stalk.  Suddenly, the animal lurched sideways and toppled over.  Then I heard the distant ka-POW of Rick's 25-06 rifle.  Rick took this animal with one well placed shot at approx 275 yards or so.

Rick only hunts with handloaded Sierra Pro-Hunters in 117 grain configuration.  He says the 120 gr bullets have nothing to offer in trajectory or knock down power.

TR


Offline Dallas Jack

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #19 on: April 17, 2009, 03:26:18 PM »
I use 55.5 grains of H4831sc behind a 100 grain Nosler Balistic Tip. Brass is Remington and primer is CCI 200. It shoots .900 groups in my Encore.
Dallas Jack

Offline T.R.

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #20 on: May 14, 2009, 12:46:36 PM »


This is my S. Dakota hunting buddy - Rick and his Ruger 25-06.  He favors the 117 grain flat base bullet by Sierra. 

I won't quote powder and loads.  You shouldn't trust an internet source from a forum like this one.  Best advise is to seek guidance from the powder companies.  ACCURATE is usually quite helpful.

TR

Offline John R.

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #21 on: May 15, 2009, 04:12:18 AM »
I like 115 Partitions or 110 Accubonds over a good dose of slow burning powder (RL-22, H4831, Retumbo, etc).

Offline HillBillyFarmer

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #22 on: May 20, 2009, 05:38:49 AM »
I've been using 120gr Sierra HPBT's, but I want to try both Hornady and Sierra 117gr BT's. I've got nothing bad to say about the 120's they're pretty awesome and get sub-moa groups with them. My rifle really likes IMR4831.

Offline timmo58

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #23 on: May 25, 2009, 01:18:49 PM »
 I found that 100 gr nosler ballistic tip ahead of 50.o gr 4350 IMR will take whitetails at 375 yards 1 shot  1 deer enough said,deer went 10 yards max from impact

Offline catkiller

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Re: 25/06 loads for deer
« Reply #24 on: June 15, 2009, 05:14:59 PM »
Winchester brass and primers 53.5 gr. H4831SC 100Gr. Sierra gameking.
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