pwillie
Member
I recently purchased a 25-06 rifle,and would like to know what ammo to use for white tail hunting. MFG,and type of bullet,thanks Willie. I have been using Nosler in the past for Weatherby's.
25-06
- Thread starter pwillie
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Birddog1911
Member
I haven't looked at that caliber in a while, but I believe that my dad was using 120grn soft points. That is a very effective cartridge for whitetails; give some details of what you got!
critter
Member
I have one (26" Shilen barrel on a M98 Mauser) and hunt smallish whitetails. I have used 100 gr Nosler BT's over IMR 4350 to good effects with it. I was concerned about penetration till I had to shoot one 'endways'.
Anything around 120 gr (hunting type bullet) and a good bullet will work just great too.
Anything around 120 gr (hunting type bullet) and a good bullet will work just great too.
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pwillie
Member
I am also interested in the MFG ,? Off the shelf ammo,thats high quality.Willie
pwillie, if you're going to use the .25-06 in AL you can get by with 100 gr bullets. I've seen AL deer, they aren't all that large. If you were going for Mule deer out west where ranges are long I'd say use a 115 to 120 gr bullet.
Just about any of the MFG's produce high quality ammo for the 06. I'd look at Federal, Nosler or Winchester.
The .25-06 has been my favorite cartridge for 34 years. It has never failed to do what I've asked of it.
Just about any of the MFG's produce high quality ammo for the 06. I'd look at Federal, Nosler or Winchester.
The .25-06 has been my favorite cartridge for 34 years. It has never failed to do what I've asked of it.
I agree with joed, I have been shooting the 25-06 for over 30 years and any of the big manufactures in a 115 to 120 grain bullet will more than do the job on a white tail deer. I have have tried everything from the old Remington core lock years ago to the Barnes TSX and my old winchester shoots them all about the same with devastating results on white tails.
Anything that's says 25-06 Remington on the box and isn't designated as a varmint bullet will work. All American made factory ammo is held to the same standards and will work fine in your rifle.
If you're looking for a Bonded bullet the Swift Scirocco is IMO the best there is. Although I don't think anyone loads it for the 25-06.... Huh
If you're looking for a Bonded bullet the Swift Scirocco is IMO the best there is. Although I don't think anyone loads it for the 25-06.... Huh
Peter M. Eick
Member
I shoot 120 Seirra's soft points at 117 grns with the boat tail. I think they are gamekings. Excellant and accurate.
One of my 25/06's does not like a 100 grn BTHP match, but loves the 90 grn BTHP (or maybe I have it backwards. Just remember that each gun is unique and likes different things.
One of my 25/06's does not like a 100 grn BTHP match, but loves the 90 grn BTHP (or maybe I have it backwards. Just remember that each gun is unique and likes different things.
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pwillie
Member
Anyone with experience of Nosler Partition 115,by Norma?
Arkansas Paul
Member
I'm thinking Nosler BTs for whitetail.
jsj127
Member
Just have to see what your gun likes. My ruger loves the hornady 117 gr btsp and Winchester 115gr ballistic silvertip and hates the 100 gr federal ballistic tip where my dads tikka likes the 100 gr federal ballistip tip. His seemed to like the superperformance hornadys better than my rifle.
Tentwing
Member
My post mostly echos the above posters
My 25-06 comes in the form of a Ruger Hawkeye. Lucky me my rifle seems to show some sub MOA love to two different factory loads. Both the Hornady Custom 117 gr SST interlocks and the Federal Vital Shock 117gr Sierra GameKing BTSP shoot very well for me.
The local Whitetail community however has a bitter disdain for these two loads ....Especially the GameKings... Truth be known the local Feral Pigs don't like them either
I got a buddy who has had a good deal on success with Winchester 120 gr CXP's and Federal Fusions as well. I have not tried those loads , so I cannot give a personal account.
As for 100 grainers Federal offers their Vital Shock in 100gr Barnes TSX ,and I have heard that that is one wicked little bullet. I personally would not feel undergunned at all going after Whitetail with it.
I hope you enjoy your 25-06 as much as I have mine,......Tentwing
My 25-06 comes in the form of a Ruger Hawkeye. Lucky me my rifle seems to show some sub MOA love to two different factory loads. Both the Hornady Custom 117 gr SST interlocks and the Federal Vital Shock 117gr Sierra GameKing BTSP shoot very well for me.
The local Whitetail community however has a bitter disdain for these two loads
....Especially the GameKings... Truth be known the local Feral Pigs don't like them eitherI got a buddy who has had a good deal on success with Winchester 120 gr CXP's and Federal Fusions as well. I have not tried those loads , so I cannot give a personal account.
As for 100 grainers Federal offers their Vital Shock in 100gr Barnes TSX ,and I have heard that that is one wicked little bullet. I personally would not feel undergunned at all going after Whitetail with it.
I hope you enjoy your 25-06 as much as I have mine,......Tentwing
Looking through some notes, Hornady Light Magnum 117gr BTSP seems to shoot best. Followed by Federal 100gr Nosler ballistic tips.
This through a Shilen 26" heavy contour.
Not certain if the Light Mags are still available. I seem to think I've shot some in Superperformance, but didn't take any notes. That being the case, they may not have shot well.
I have another 25-06 that Remington Core loks worked well in. 100gr.
Buy a few different types and try em out..... That would be the best thing.
This through a Shilen 26" heavy contour.
Not certain if the Light Mags are still available. I seem to think I've shot some in Superperformance, but didn't take any notes. That being the case, they may not have shot well.
I have another 25-06 that Remington Core loks worked well in. 100gr.
Buy a few different types and try em out..... That would be the best thing.
Lloyd Smale
Member
i probably use more 115 partitions in the 2506 and 257 wby then anything else.
41 Mag
Member
While not loaded by Norma, I did shoot the 115gr Partition as the #1 choice of bullet for my 25 for over 10 years. I hand loaded it, and it worked well for everything I put it on.
All of the bullet mentioned should work fine on white tail as they aren't kevlar coated. The key is to pick a weight, and try a few different ones to see what your particular rifle will like. My friends 25 like the Hornady Lite Magnum loads when they are making them, my rifle would not put two inside a 3" circle at 100yds.
Personally, I would stick to one of the 115 - 117gr loads. Most factory loads in this range will take care of anything you should want to put them to task on if you put them where they belong. The 100gr loads I would choose the Partition, Barnes, or anything bonded simply due to the chance of a shot of 50yds or so. I found most of the lighter weights cup and core bullets, make a mess at these ranges at the velocities they are loaded to.
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pwillie
Member
I owned a custom Mauser '98 chambered in 25-06 many years back,it papered real well as I remember. But since that time I have shot Weatherby ammo and have become spoiled.I like the Nosler Partition for white tail(we do have some large deer here in 'Bama)especially if your shot 30-300yds which can happen where I hunt(on a farm).I guess I am more interested in a quality mfg for non belted ammo.Any suggestions will help.
If you want to use factory ammo and want Nosler look no further then Federal ammo. My preference would be 115 gr ammo or better. The 100 gr will work for deer but I wouldn't be keen on a 300 yard shot with it.
I know I was just looking at Federal ammo and saw they offer quite a bit in Nosler. Myself, I'd probably use a BT as it would do the job but if you prefer the partition I'm betting Federal offers it.
I know I was just looking at Federal ammo and saw they offer quite a bit in Nosler. Myself, I'd probably use a BT as it would do the job but if you prefer the partition I'm betting Federal offers it.
My choices of factory load for deer ,
Winchester Super X 120 gr Positive Expanding Point
http://www.winchester.com/Products/...-x/positive-expanding-point/Pages/X25062.aspx
Federal Fusion 120 gr SP.
Winchester Super X 120 gr Positive Expanding Point
http://www.winchester.com/Products/...-x/positive-expanding-point/Pages/X25062.aspx
Federal Fusion 120 gr SP.
JimKirk
Member
Federal makes 25/06 in 115 grain Nosler partition... I've shot a few boxes of it ... good ammo and works well on deer.
I've been shooting the 25/06 since 1969... never found any bad bullets at all. I reload and have tried lots of different bullets for GA whitetail deer. The only bullet that is designed for deer sized game that I had any problem with has been the Nosler BT in 115 gr. and only at close range where they have blown up with out penetrating as they should. At longer ranges they perform very well. I say close range, I mean less than 100 yds. Here in GA you never know what range you may encounter a deer ... I've shot and killed them from 9 yds to 411yds both measured distances.
Any factory ammo designed for deer should do well ... if your gun will shoot it well. Find what shoots best in your gun and practice.
Hard to beat the plain jane Remington Corelokt ammo.
Jimmy K
I've been shooting the 25/06 since 1969... never found any bad bullets at all. I reload and have tried lots of different bullets for GA whitetail deer. The only bullet that is designed for deer sized game that I had any problem with has been the Nosler BT in 115 gr. and only at close range where they have blown up with out penetrating as they should. At longer ranges they perform very well. I say close range, I mean less than 100 yds. Here in GA you never know what range you may encounter a deer ... I've shot and killed them from 9 yds to 411yds both measured distances.
Any factory ammo designed for deer should do well ... if your gun will shoot it well. Find what shoots best in your gun and practice.
Hard to beat the plain jane Remington Corelokt ammo.
Jimmy K
OldRook
Member
PWillie
just purchased my first 25-06 this past summer, always wanted one for a whitetail rifle.. Relocated to MS and figured it was time..
bought a remington 700 sps and sighted in with 100 grn factory corelokts.
shot three deer with the corelokts and was just about ready to retire the rifle, killed all three dead, but had two make it 100-150 yards before expiring with no blood until they piled up dead.
Friend recommended i try some nosler accubonds and he gave me a partial box (114 grain) and he had 4 berger of a similar bullet type and 114 gr
killed another 13 deer this fall with the hand me down bullets and couldn't be happier with the rifle or performance. Never had a deer go further than 5 yards after switching bullets.
I have a 100 brand new hornady sst's (114 gr) on the bench and will work up a load with them..
farthest shot 302 yards, second farthest 295 all the rest between 85-150... Awsome performance out of gun and bullet.. Couldn't tell a noticeable difference between the two types.. I shot the 4 bergers first and was very impressed (3 one shot kills and i flat missed a doe at 200) The balance with the Noslers and the same performance, never had to have a follow up except on the one lone hog i killed..
gun has shot all three types of bullets to the same point of impact and out of the box is a sub moa piece of equipment..
enjoy that 25-06 just do not try and shoot a bullet in it that is designed to do everything..
just purchased my first 25-06 this past summer, always wanted one for a whitetail rifle.. Relocated to MS and figured it was time..
bought a remington 700 sps and sighted in with 100 grn factory corelokts.
shot three deer with the corelokts and was just about ready to retire the rifle, killed all three dead, but had two make it 100-150 yards before expiring with no blood until they piled up dead.
Friend recommended i try some nosler accubonds and he gave me a partial box (114 grain) and he had 4 berger of a similar bullet type and 114 gr
killed another 13 deer this fall with the hand me down bullets and couldn't be happier with the rifle or performance. Never had a deer go further than 5 yards after switching bullets.
I have a 100 brand new hornady sst's (114 gr) on the bench and will work up a load with them..
farthest shot 302 yards, second farthest 295 all the rest between 85-150... Awsome performance out of gun and bullet.. Couldn't tell a noticeable difference between the two types.. I shot the 4 bergers first and was very impressed (3 one shot kills and i flat missed a doe at 200
) The balance with the Noslers and the same performance, never had to have a follow up except on the one lone hog i killed.. gun has shot all three types of bullets to the same point of impact and out of the box is a sub moa piece of equipment..
enjoy that 25-06 just do not try and shoot a bullet in it that is designed to do everything..
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pwillie
Member
I found a box of Nosler 100 gr.partition,and will start there.....let you know how it goes...BTW the Rifle is a Ruger No.1 stainless,and I am having the hicks accurizer installed,along withe kelllering trigger.
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