Dmills, you did alot better with your "impulse" buy than I typically do with mine. I have been using the 25-06 a good deal since the 70's,
(yea I'm 53) & it is one of the best rounds going, esp. in the Handi offerings.
I have shot & witnessed others shoot many Groundhogs, Coyotes & other small Varmits like your friend & mine, the incomparable "possum
on a half shell". My brother started using one a couple of years or more before me, while I shot rounds like the Swift, 22-250 & others,
but none was better on the longer range Varmits & esp. if the wind was blowing than the 25-06.
As far as big game, we killed MANY AR. Whitetails with this round. We used mostly 117 gr. Sierra Soft point Boat Tails, some of the old Nos. 120 gr. Solid Base & in a pinch, factory Core Lokts.
For a few years I lived in South AR. & I launched a serious albeit underfunded War against the wild Hogs in the bottoms close to my house. I shot several, some with the 25-06 & all were one shot kills. Most were medium sized Hogs & I killed one big Hog, but careful to avoid the grissel plate, as I used cup & draw bullets like those previously mentioned in those days.
In more recent years, we have made several trips to the wonderful State of WY. & we have taken a bunch of Antelope & Mule Deer
with this round. We usually get a Buck Antelope & a Buck Mule Deer tag & then buy Anterless tags over the counter when & where available. As I have said in other threads, others in our party have used many cartridges up to and including the 300WM, but none have performed better than the 25-06 out to 400 yards for Antelope & Mule Deer. In addition to the bullets mentioned above, we have used the 120ge. Nos. Part., 100TSX, 115TSX & the 125 Wildcat. All worked well, no bullet mentioned will carry like the 125 Wildcat, no other
will penetrate like the 115TSX. Looking back, we had more bang-flops with the 117 Sierra than any other& for Mule Deer & Antelope is great. I don't think it is the best for Hogs unless you are able to take the precaution that I mentioned before. If you are not into long range, the 120Nos Part. is the all-round Big Game bullet & flys good out to 400, but the Wildcat is better for over 300 yards.
Dmills, I believe in your case until you get more barrels, I would use the 120 Nos. Part. for all of the Big Game & if you shoot Varmits, the
85BT for them. I would not be afraid to shoot the biggest Hog you have square in the shoulder/grissel plate out to 250 yards of more.
And of course smaller hogs & any of your Deer are toast out to a good 400 yards.
Not only is it a Part., but most people don't know about it's sectional density, which is .260!!! To match that in a 270 you have to get a 140gr, in a 7mm a 150gr & in a 30 a 165 gr.!!! So, my friend the penetration is there. The 308 will give you a little more smack when you get that barrel, but to get the SD. with the 165, your vel will be 2,700-2,800 tops.
With the 25-06, you can start the 120 out at 3,100 easily in the 26" tube. With a 250 yd. sightin, you are only 2.5" high a 100 yds & about 14" low at 400 yds. With a 85BT Varmit load @ 3,600 you can sight once again 2.5" high at 100 & be only -8" at 400 yards. It would be tempting to use a 100 Part. all of the time or a 100BT for Varmits & 100Part or 100TSX for big game, but we have seen more energy/killing power at the longer ranges displayed with the heavier bullets in my view.
Been there, done that with this round & you are going to love it.
Happy Hunting
Rod Smith
