thelaw
I have no doubt that you will be well equipped for Mule Deer! I will be
getting my Sendero back from a gunsmith in Montana in the next few days
which he converted to a 25-06AI. This was a 1/2" gun with the 115 TSX, but with his "accurate reamer" & other enhancements I now expect better.
Anyway, I was intending to work up a Accubond load but decided to use
the 125 Gr. Wildcat RBBT VLD because the BC & "Soft Game" performance
is through the roof.
But with factory bullets, I think the Barnes TSX & Nos. Accubond are your
2 best choices. The Accubonds are of course bonded & they aren't just
supposed to be better than Ballistic Tips, they are better, offering Ballistic
Tip accuracy & near Nos. Part. penetration. Some people that I know used them last season in other calibers & I saw the results plus I have read & heard of many, many good reports on the Accubond & the fact that the 110 Gr. version is not as proven as some of the other calibers should not be a concern as the methods in making the 110's is consistant with the other accubonds just as I don't worry about a new TSX offering as the results will be predictable.
The law, if you use your 25-06 for Mule Deer & down to varmits, I would
prefer the Accubond as it is more than good enough for Mule Deer plus
the front of the bullet will upset more than the TSX making it a little better
for Varmits. Both bullets will expand at long range on Deer size game, but
the Accubond will be somewhat better after 350-400 yards with the
velocity that you stated.
If you use your rifle also for Black Bear & or big Hogs & not so much Varmits, I would favor the TSX. I expect the 100 TSX & I Know the 115TSX will out penetrate the 110 Accubond, but all the above will get to
the vitals of a Mule Deer anyway. In our last Wyoming trip for Antelope
& Mule Deer & other hunts for Whitetails, my brother used the 100TSX & I
used the 115TSX with total success, but we did see that after 350-400
yards, they expand but the wound channel is not as big at those yardages
as we would like.
Clearly, both of these bullets will perform all the above tasks, but I believe
the conditions stated would dictate the perfered bullet. Of course there are
other bullets from several companies that would work, but I believe
that the Accubond & the Barnes TSX are the best regular factory choices.
Let us know how the hunt goes!!!
