100 gr Gamekings in 25-06

[Manitobahunter]

  Does anyone have  any experince with these on deer?  I have a load worked up for them and are really accurate in my rifle.  Just not  sure how they will hold up on an animal.  Also working on a load for 100 gr partitions but haven't settled on one yet.  The sierras shoot so good I'd hate to get away from them.  All comments welcome.

  Cliff

[gonetocamp]

I found them to be rather explosive on whitetail. I don't use them anymore.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

Manitoba, I just load 50 100 grain Serria Gamekings for my .25-06. Like you found they are super accurate. Great coyote bullets. I haven't shot a bunch of big game with them, but a couple years ago I shot a very nice mulie at maybe 100 yards. He didn't go far maybe 75 yards, but there was no blood trail to speak of. He was well hit in the lungs. The bullet came apart, but a small piece must have exited because there was a small hole on the off side. I guess I have confidence in them, but for very big deer I would want to be sure I made a very careful shot. I would not try and drive them though a big buck at a bad angle. I have shot some game with them in my .25-35 and they seemed soft in that caliber also. Shot an antelope with that rifle. I love the accuracy, if well place, they will do fine, you know that, but they are pretty soft and I would say require careful placement.

[jasonprox700]

I've been using them in my .280 for about 11 or 12 years.  I have only had one pass through on a deer in all of those years (that include muleys too).  I used the 140 grain bullets loaded pretty hot.  They are super accurate, basically the most accurate hunting bullet I have fired through the gun.  I have to agree with everybody else, they are soft.  They are very explosive at close range.  But when you start stretching out the yardage, they perform very well. 

I would be a little leery about using them in the .25-06.  I would probably try a bullet that holds together better.

[charles p]

I prefer the Sierra Gameking in 117-120 grain in my 25-06.  I puts whitetail down quicker without as much tracking.  Have taken many small NC deer with the 120.

[41 mag]

All comments welcome.

  Cliff

Well these were my results with the bullet in question.

At first they wouldn't group within 3" at 100yds. I finally gave in and called Sierra and they gave me a load to try. It shot within 1/2" at 200yds success at last. Shot two deer with them and decided to go with something a bit less destructive. They work great if impact velocities are in the 26-2800fps range. However with the 25-06 running them up around 3200 - 3300fps easily, this means your shooting out to 250 - 300yds for good controlled expansion. Inside that on my two deer one ruined the onside shoulder and half the neck meat. The other for the most part, almost decapitated a doe that was shot just in front of the shoulder. Granted both of these were taken at around 100yds with the initial velocity running 3350'ish FPS.

I eventually decided to go with the 115gr Partition and a decent load of RL-22. I got 3150fps with that load, it groups as good as the Sierra's and BT's, but did not blow up no matter if the shot was 10 or 400yds. IT has been the mainstay for that rifle for nearly 20years until the 110gr Accubond came out. If you want a smaller bullet I would suggest it highly. It will run right there with the 100gr in velocity however it will hold together much better.

Good luck with your loading and your rifle. I love the 25's. That reminds me I need to get to work on my AI soon before the season slips up on me. 

[Manitobahunter]

  If I had to guess I would have said they wouldn't hold up but had to ask.  Too bad because the very first group I shot the first one was right on.  It looked like I had missed the target with the next two.
  I've had the 25-06 for over 25 yrs now and started shooting 120gr solid base.  After they were discontinued I started shooting 115gr BT.  Never shot quite the same, good but not great.  Tried 120gr and 100gr partitions without any luck yet.  Haven't given up yet.  Just got a phone call today that the 120gr grandslams have come in.  I'll pick them up this weekend and give them a go.

[saltydog]

I am suprised you had problems with the Partitions as I have used them for years with good results - there are just so many reliable performing bullets available to the hunter nowadays it is hard to find just one to stick with. In my experience the GameKings will do the job on big game (deer size on down) unless you take a shot that hits a major bone such as a shoulder shot / hind quarter shot at close range - nasty wound, second shot required and lots of ruined meat. You might want to look at Hornady Interlocks for big game use - they seem to be a bit heavier in the jacket, similar in cost and perform well.

[Val]

My 25-06 shoot very accurately with both the 100 grain and  120 grain Partition using IMR 4350 power.

[nomosendero]

My 25-06 shoot very accurately with both the 100 grain and  120 grain Partition using IMR 4350 power.

Yes, my Sendero likes the 120 Part.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

nomosendaro, do you use 4350 in your .25-06 with 120's?? Right now I have 115 grain BTBT loaded for hunting this fall. Exactly what I will use the rifle and ammo for has not been decided, maybe only coyotes, mostly I have shot 100 grain or lighter for my coyote hunting.

[Manitobahunter]

  I think I'm probably too fussy when it comes to shooting.  This is a hunting rifle and I have a few loads that shoot right around an inch but I still try to do better.  I know out to 3 hundred yrds  they are good enough for deer.  The up side to all this testing is the amount of powder I get to burn.

  Cliff

[nomosendero]

nomosendaro, do you use 4350 in your .25-06 with 120's?? Right now I have 115 grain BTBT loaded for hunting this fall. Exactly what I will use the rifle and ammo for has not been decided, maybe only coyotes, mostly I have shot 100 grain or lighter for my coyote hunting.

RL25 is what I have used in the past with 115gr & heavier. With my 26" Sendero, I can get 3,200+ fps with no pressure signs. This was before I made it an AI, now I can get 3,350+. IMR7828 & Retumbo kicks butt with 115 & above also, I am about to prepare loads for 2 25-06's, one is my son's Sendero, another is my brother's Ruger Var. version with lam stock & my AI. I will try these other powders & will report which powder wins soon. WY Antelope is 1 month away! 

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  nonosendero, sounds like the AI is a nice round. I have thought of having one built. Does Rem. still chamber the Sendero for the .2506? I would want a bull barrel if I built another 25.

[Coyote Hunter]

nomosendero –

I am looking forward to seeing how those powders work out – I’m planning to try 7828ssc in my 6.5mm-06AI when I get it later this month.

[jmayton]

I load 55gr SBT Gamekings in my .223 and 85gr HPBT Gamekings in my wife's .243.  Both of these have taken many a hog from 40#s to 300+#s.  They've held up surprisingly well.  I've got some for my 30-06, but haven't shot any game with them yet.  I have no experience with the Gameking in .25, but if they're anything like the one's I'm using now, they should work great.

[SHOOTALL]

i shoot the 100 gr. BT , 53 gr IMR 4831 and have taken several deer with no problem . last year we tried the Partition and it was not quite as accurate but it worked well on deer . no exp on deer with GK

[nomosendero]

nomosendero –

I am looking forward to seeing how those powders work out – I’m planning to try 7828ssc in my 6.5mm-06AI when I get it later this month.

Me too & I am interested in your 6.5AI results as well.

[nomosendero]

nonosendero, sounds like the AI is a nice round. I have thought of having one built. Does Rem. still chamber the Sendero for the .2506? I would want a bull barrel if I built another 25.

They dropped it for a while, brought it back out & it looks like it's gone again according to the Rem site, very odd. I bought mine at a good price by today's standards, even with the re-chamber & accuracy treatment. But now the Sendero is much higher priced than when I bought mine about 10 years ago & I mean even when adjusted for inflation. Then add to that the re-chamber & I believe you could just pick up a used Rem, sell the stock & tube, buy a nice 26" min barrel allready chambered & a Medialist stock or a used HS pull-off & come out ahead with a barrel exactly like you want. But then again you might get lucky and find a used Sendero, my Son paid $550.00 for his last January.

[Reloader]

A couple years ago I loaded up some of these for my antelope hunt.  I've been happy with Sierra bullets, but for some reason this bullet exploded on the shoulder of a small antelope and failed to penetrate.  Too be honest I don't know if I didn't hit something before the antelope.  I think I'll stick to the 117-120 grain bullets in the 25-06 from now on.

[nomosendero]

Funny isn't it, alot of folks say the same about 25 calSierra bullets, too soft but they have done ok for me, just not my choice.

[Manitobahunter]

  If I was just shooting target I would stick with the Sierras.  They are the most accurate out of my rifle.  But I've been working on another load for the 120gr Partitions.  Got one shooting about 3/4in @ 100yrds now.  Gave some to a friend who was going bear hunting.  He nailed one through both shoulders and exited the off side. 

  Cliff

[nomosendero]

  If I was just shooting target I would stick with the Sierras.  They are the most accurate out of my rifle.  But I've been working on another load for the 120gr Partitions.  Got one shooting about 3/4in @ 100yrds now.  Gave some to a friend who was going bear hunting.  He nailed one through both shoulders and exited the off side. 

  Cliff

I don't doubt that at all, I haveshot several animals with that bullet & I have NEVER recovered a bullet.

[ccoker]

Barnes 100g tipped TSX is available for use in a 25-06
that would be a perfect bullet, controlled expansion, and will hold together even if it hits bone at close range

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

nomosendaro, thanks for the info. on the Sendaro, I would probably pick up a  used 700 and go from there. 

[Coyote Hunter]

Barnes 100g tipped TSX is available for use in a 25-06
that would be a perfect bullet, controlled expansion, and will hold together even if it hits bone at close range

I've been working up loads for the 100g TTSX in my .257 Roberts and am very happy with them.  Unfortunately I'm not quite done and for my Wyoming antelope hunt coming up October 3rd I'll be using 110g AccuBonds instead.  They shoot great, too.

When I carry the Roberts while hunting deer during the combined deer/elk season I use 120g A-Frames just in case I have a chance to fill an elk tag.

[nomosendero]

Barnes 100g tipped TSX is available for use in a 25-06
that would be a perfect bullet, controlled expansion, and will hold together even if it hits bone at close range

Yes, I gave that one some thought & was ready to order some, then Barnes published the BC for that bullet, which was .357. I e-mailed Barnes, as this is a lower BC than the 100TSX@.370, thinking it was a typo & in fact I heard it would be about .395-.400. barnes replied & said it was indeed .357 & it just turned out that way compared to the TSX. In all other cases except for I believe one of the .270 bullets the BC is higher for the tipped bullets, which was the reason for their introduction along with a little better expansion.
So, I dropped it from consideration. I ran the numbers for a 115BT @ 200 fps slower than the 100TTSX & the most diff. I could find was .9" at 450 yds & after 600 the BT kicks butt (relevant for me for targets & Varmits) & the BT is much better in wind drift at 300yds & beyond, therefore I will be loading the 115BT for WY Mule Deer & Antelope.

[nomosendero]

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