25-06 For Deer?

[DirtTime]

Never owned or shot a quarter bore, until a week ago ( still haven't shot it yet ). I did a lot of reading and watching videos on the 25-06 for deer. From what I have read it's pretty close to the .270, and is a solid deer cartridge with the right bullet. I don't reload, and most of what I read using factory ammo was the bullet type and weight. Most said the 115gr and 117gr are best, with a bullet that doesn't shatter when it hits bone. Nosler Partitions.

Also, this is a somewhat low recoil round so when and if the g/f makes up her mind about hunting she should be able to use it just fine.

So I went with the Federal Fusion 120gr bullets. ( I know, I have to see what the rifle likes best, that's a given )

 

Any thoughts from the masses?

Edited June 14, 2016 by ....rob

[turkeyfeathers]

Not totally familiar with this one but have heard over the years this is a good deer cartridge. Sounds like you're on track with the Federal Fusions too.

[ATbuckhunter]

Ive seen it used on hunting shows and it dropped deer every time. Defiantly a good caliber to use. I personally would be using all copper bullets because they have nearly 100 percent weight retention. 

[grampy]

Should be no problem, dropping a deer with the 25-06 and 120 gr. Fusions. Let us know how she shoots!

[DirtTime]

The Fusions seem like a great round for the caliber and deer. Really hope the rifle likes them. If not, I will try the Fed Vital Shock and then Rem Core Loct.

[Pygmy]

Ain't no flies on the 25-06 as a deer cartridge..

 

With 100 grain bullets (my choice) it is a .243 on steroids... BANG- FLOPS with heart/lung shots are common..

 

With 115-120 grain bullets it is so close to the .270/130 grain combo that it is not even worth arguing about the difference..

[dbHunterNY]

know they're used a lot on deer and similar sized game.  a guy I know has one that he claims is really accurate sub-MOA gun.  I don't have any experience with one first hand.

[Hock3y24]

25.06 is great, I will be using one this deer season with hornaday interlock 117 grain bullets

[Uncle Nicky]

Never hunted with one, but I did watch a guy shoot a couple antelope with a .25-06, killed them just as dead as my 30-06 did. It's got more oomph than a .243, so I'd say it's more than adequate.

[BizCT]

Plenty for a NY whitetail

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[fasteddie]

I have taken several deer with my 25-06 single shot rifle . Initially I was shooting Remington Core Lokt bullets but they were a bit pricey so I now shoot 117 grain reloads . 

The bullets for the 270 are less expensive and more readily available . 

[ants]

I got a 25-06 last year, and it is crazy accurate with the117 gr interlocks. I think I'll take it out this deer season. I have no doubt will be a kick a$$ deer round.

[fasteddie]

You hit them in the lungs / heart with the 25-06 and they don't go anywhere . They just drop !

 

[t_barb]

Bought one a couple of years ago when the opened rifle hunting in my area..   Love the caliber..   flat and fast..   have shot out to 200 yards and it does the number..   never had one go more than 20 yards..  I shoot hornaday American whitetail in 117 grain...  perform very well and have not had a reason to change.

 

Also, love the option to go to a 80- grain round that scream at around 4000 feet per second..   make a great varmint round.

[Tughill Tamer]

I have no personal experience with the round but have heard a lot of great things about the 25-06 for deer.

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[airedale]

The 25-06 is a favorite of mine, back in the mid seventies I had a semi custom 25-06 made up using a Santa Barbara commercial Mauser action and a 26 inch Douglas premium air gaged sporter weight barrel to squeeze out all the velocity I could get out of that big case. I put this gun up not for Deer but for long range windy day chuck hunting. I always loaded bullets on the lighter end of the 25's scale, 75 gr and 90 gr bullets gave me the best accuracy and I can say some of the longest shots I ever made were with that 25-06. 

 

I never shot a Deer with mine but there is no question in my mind that with bullets in the 100 gr and up category the 25-06 would be one of the finest long range deer rifles out there. I always wanted to take my 25-06 on an out west Mule Deer Antelope hunt but never got around to making it happen.

 

Sold off the old Mauser many years ago but have been seriously thinking about one of the 28 inch stainless barrels Thompson Center makes for their Encore rifles as I still have quite a few 25-06 bullets and brass laying around which gives me a pretty good excuse to get one. 

 

Al

Edited June 15, 2016 by airedale

[chrisw]

I have a 25 WSSM (Browning A-Bolt) that is ballistically identical to the 25-06 just in short fat case, if I could only pick one deer rifle it would be a 25 caliber. It flattens them quicker than my 06's, rarely does the round not exit and when it doesn't its stuck in the hide on the offside. I use the winchester 120gr PEP's with great results and this gun puts them well under 1". The gun is light and short and a pleasure to haul around. I've never had a deer go more than 50 yds with a lung hit, I wouldn't hesitate to use it on broadside elk under 250 yds. I've owned dozens of calibers and the 25's are hands down my favorites.

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[DirtTime]

Thanks for all the feedback. I haven't hunted over a field in years and years. Areas I hunt now are all less then 100yd shots. So it should be just fine. Just hope the Fusions in 120 won't be to hot a round for the Axis XP.

 

I also like this caliber due to what t_barb mentioned, I can easily drop down in bullet weight and use the rifle for chucks and yotes.

 

Edited June 16, 2016 by ....rob

[fasteddie]

Shoulder hit at about 160 yards in 2015 opening day of gun season in Geneseo .117 gr Sierra 25-06 reload

. Recovered the bullet . I should have weighed it .

[emptypockets]

 I've owned a couple of them, Remmy and a Stevens. A pleasure to shoot and they get the job done if I do my part. Had good results with 120 corelok and 117gr Hornady. The light hollow points will REALLY thump a woodchuck.

[Larry]

A buddy of mine has one and has killed every deer he has shot with it.

[PREDATE]

My Dad swears by his for deer, he even dropped a big Maine black bear with it.

Dead nutz accurate rifle

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[chas0218]

Those that have and shot one how is the recoil compared to a .243 with 90gr. bullet? I would like to get one for my wife (actually just an excuse for another gun) and she currently uses a .243 and is a complete recoil wuss. Although she has shot her 1187 20 gauge for deer she likes that .243 more. Hunting where we do there are some nice sized bear and I'm afraid that .243 wouldn't be enough if given the opportunity.

Edited June 20, 2016 by chas0218

[Pygmy]

I had a Ruger 77 in 25-06 once and the recoil with 100-120 grain bullets was perceptively lighter than a .270 or my .280, and even lighter than my 7mm08 or a 7x57 I used to have.

 

I never shot the .243much, but I am guessing that the 25-06 recoil is similar with similar weight bullets, say 100 grain..

[phade]

The most impressive bang flop I've ever seen in person was from a 25.06....big gnarly buck too. Darn thing didn't even flinch.

 

One of those times where you watch the shot and all you can do is say dammmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmn!