Help me pick which .25-06 ammo for hunting.

[wombat13]

I got to the range yesterday with the new Savage Axis II in .25-06. It was very cold, about 8 degrees. I tried 5 different factory loads. The 120 gr Fusions and the 117 Sierra Gamekings grouped poorly, but all three 100 gr loads grouped well: Nosler Partition, Nosler Ballistic Tip, and Barnes TTSX.

So which should I buy for hunting? 95% of shots will be whitetail, but we have a lot of black bear on the property and I have them on cameras at my hunting spots.

I included the measurements of the four shot group because the farthest right shot in all three cases is the cold bore shot. When I sight in, I’ll clean it between each shot and let the barrel get cold.

 

[ColtPythonElite]

Any of them will work fine.

 

[wombat13]

A couple reviewers at Midwayusa state the Nosler ballistic tip isn’t exiting white tails. I’m worried they won’t fully penetrate a black bear.

 

[natman]

A 100 grain 25-06 bullet at any reasonable range is going to be going fast. You'll want a bullet that holds together. Use either the Partition or the Barnes.

 

[Larry Ashcraft]

I've been using the Ballistic Tip for years. I love the accuracy at 3300fps, but I think it's too lightly constructed for anything larger than a coyote. I've killed two pronghorns with it, but they were a head shot and a neck shot. I've heard stories about it being too frangible for a body shot, so I quit using it for that. I agree with natman, use the Barnes of the Partition.

 

[VoodooMountain]

Might as well shoot the partitions. Don’t need a premium bullet but since they group well I would use them. It’s not like you’ll be blowing through tons of hunting ammo anyway

 

[Laphroaig]

Don’t need a premium bullet

I can't say that I fully agree. I've had 2 instances of fragmenting bullets with my 25-06 on deer. Ammo was Remington 100 gr. core lockts and the shots were less than 50 yds. One ran off with not a drop of blood or sign of being hit. I did find her dead later in the day. The other my dad and I trailed all day, and never did find it.

I now use 120 gr. Partitions.

 

[wombat13]

I can't say that I fully agree. I've had 2 instances of fragmenting bullets with my 25-06 on deer. Ammo was Remington 100 gr. core lockts and the shots were less than 50 yds. One ran off with not a drop of blood or sign of being hit. I did find her dead later in the day. The other my dad and I trailed all day, and never did find it.

I now use 120 gr. Partitions.

I was hoping to use a 115 gr or heavier bullet, but I don’t think my rifle likes them. I’ve tried the 120 gr Fusions, 117 gr Gamekings and 117 gr Interlock (Hornady American Whitetail ammo) and they’ve all grouped poorly. All the 100 gr ammo I’ve tried groups well. Wonder if it is a twist rate issue.

 

[jmr40]

Ballistic Tips in any caliber are prone to over expand and not penetrate. This is especially prone when shooting light for caliber bullets at close range. I'd forget them.

The Partition is a good bullet, nuff said.

But in a 25-06 and 100 gr bullets I'd go with the TTSX's if they shot well. I'd hunt elk with that load. They will out penetrate conventional bullets weighing 20-40 gr more and as long as impact speeds are kept over 2000 fps will give double expansion with 100% weight retention.

This is exactly where the copper bullet shine. They are expensive, but no more than Partitions, but they make smaller caliber rifles perform more like much larger guns. Anytime I were hunting with a rifle considered borderline capable for the game hunted I'd strongly recommend them.

 

[Patocazador]

I've been handloading 100 gr. Nosler partitions for my .25-06 for years. They are accurate and more than adequate for deer, black bear, and even larger game with well-placed shots. You can't go wrong with that bullet.

 

[MCgunner]

My quarter bore experience is with a handloaded .257 Roberts. I found the Hornady Interlock too heavily constructed for 3050 fps on whitetail. It'd likely make a really good .25-06 choice. I ended up shooting Game Kings, 100 grain, which shoot 1/2 MOA in my Roberts and do a great job. The only non-exit I had with it was a deer that it went through lots of bone and it ended up on the far side ribs under the skin. This bullet was pushing 3150 fps.

Just my two cents. As for controlled expansion bullets, I very much like Barnes TSX in .308 and .223, not sure why I wouldn't like 'em in .25 caliber, but never fired one through the Roberts.

 

[MCgunner]

Ballistic Tips in any caliber are prone to over expand and not penetrate. This is especially prone when shooting light for caliber bullets at close range. I'd forget them.

I had read this, had worked up a 150 BT load for my .308 that shot 3/4 MOA. I also worked up a Barnes 140 grain load that shot 1 MOA and decided to use 'em on hogs for a hog hunt. They worked fine, but in subsequent years and experiences, I've determined the exploding BTs are a myth, at least at 2750 fps in a .308. I've shot completely through whitetail butt to neck with that bullet and it never stopped in the deer. Stopped the deer DRT, though. It has stopped every deer DRT that I've shot with it and a couple of hogs since. It never stopped in the animal. I like high shoulder shots and it breaks both shoulders and heads on out. Not a lot of excessive meat damage, either. This is my favorite hunting rifle and load recipe.

The same 150 Nosler BT is my favorite in my 12" .30-30 at 2050 fps. Perhaps pushing them over 3000 fps causes 'em to grenade? Don't know, I just know I haven't had the problem in my applications.

 

[Stevenvalleyky]

I had read this, had worked up a 150 BT load for my .308 that shot 3/4 MOA. I also worked up a Barnes 140 grain load that shot 1 MOA and decided to use 'em on hogs for a hog hunt. They worked fine, but in subsequent years and experiences, I've determined the exploding BTs are a myth, at least at 2750 fps in a .308. I've shot completely through whitetail butt to neck with that bullet and it never stopped in the deer. Stopped the deer DRT, though. It has stopped every deer DRT that I've shot with it and a couple of hogs since. It never stopped in the animal. I like high shoulder shots and it breaks both shoulders and heads on out. Not a lot of excessive meat damage, either. This is my favorite hunting rifle and load recipe.

The same 150 Nosler BT is my favorite in my 12" .30-30 at 2050 fps. Perhaps pushing them over 3000 fps causes 'em to grenade? Don't know, I just know I haven't had the problem in my applications.

It was NOT a myth back in the day. Nosler has since reworked the ballistic tip and offers it in 2 versions. The light for caliber BT are now labeled for varmint. That's the original BT design. The reworked version is the heavy for caliber bullets labeled big game I believe but not 100% sure what they call these. They have a heavier jacket that holds up very well. Great deer rounds.
It very close range with impact velocities near 3000 fps or more, most any cup and core will overexpand, ballistic tip or not. Corelocts which typically hold together well will explode at impact velocities that high. If the OP is certain that he will be that close on most of his shots, the TSX would be awesome. If long range shots with low impact velocities are expected, a more explosive bullet would be more appropriate.

 

[wombat13]

Nosler sells ballistic tips in Varmint and Hunting. They recommend impact velocities not to exceed 3200 FPS for the hunting. The Federal ammo loaded with the 100 gr bt has a published mv of 3220 and 2968 at 100 yd. most shots in the woods here in the NE are under 100 yds and VERY rarely 200. That means impact velocity will almost always be near or above 3000 FPS.

 

[stringnut]

Just how poorly are the heavier bullets grouping? You may not want to give up yet. Twist rate shouldn't be an issue as that is pretty much standardized throughout the industry. More shooting in better weather may be called for. It may be worth contacting Savage if the issue persists. They do have a reputation of taking care of issues and the axis seems to be a pretty good gun for the money.

 

[wombat13]

Just how poorly are the heavier bullets grouping? You may not want to give up yet. Twist rate shouldn't be an issue as that is pretty much standardized throughout the industry. More shooting in better weather may be called for. It may be worth contacting Savage if the issue persists. They do have a reputation of taking care of issues and the axis seems to be a pretty good gun for the money.

The heavy bullets have all grouped in the 3” to 4” range at 100 yards.

 

[Captcurt]

A 100 grain 25-06 bullet at any reasonable range is going to be going fast. You'll want a bullet that holds together. Use either the Partition or the Barnes.

I second this. I haven't used the Partition much but it has been the hunting bullet to beat for decades. If they group good in my 257 Weatherby they will be thoroughly tested on game next year.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Be patient. Most likely your barrel is just beginning to shoot in (break in).

In a .25cal, forget the ballistic tips if bears are a possibility.
I've had ballistic tips in 85, 100,and 115gr break-up. On the flip side, they are VERY accurate. I made my all-time longest shot on a mule deer doe near the Marias river near Lincoln Montana in 1993. I had a bad batch of Hornady 117's that were key-holing past 100yds. The BT's were spot on at 250yds.
I shot the deer over a coulée at a later paced approximately 440yds. I held on top of the deers shoulder and broke the spine. Two days later, I shot over 50 prarie dogs with the remaining 96rds in the box of 100 I took for trip.

I've had the 115's (BT's) fail miserably from my .257WbyMag at ~110yds. (3,350fps), at 210yds from my .257 Roberts, they were "ok".

For shots under 150yds, stick with the 115-120gr bullets. For those stands where shots may stretch, use the 100's. But, to be truthful, I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a bear (black) or even an elk, if that's was what was in the gun at the moment. But then, I've killed over 110 deer with that "Bob" over the last 34years. I've got 100, and 115gr Nosler Partitions on the bench, but never gotten around to using them. 100, and 117gr Interloks have typically worked just fine. Really liked some 120gr Corloks I got about 25yrs ago, but were discontinued from components sale about then. I have a bunch of 87's and 90gr (Speer, Hornady) I got from a gun shop going out of business about 20yrs ago. My estate will probably sell most of those...

It took both my Roberts (custom build w/E.R.Shaw bbl) and bought-used .257wby about 250rds to. "Shoot in" and groups settle down.
Both are about .75 MOA with loads they like. The Bob was >1/2moa till barrel got pitted (long sad story). My best friend has a Mauser MkX in .25/06. I've seen it shoot 3-shot 1-hole groups on several occasions. 120gr Sierra GK over 43.0gr IMR4320. Only gets 2,800fps, but has killed a bear at 120yds stone dead with one shot.
Welcome to the "Quarter bore" clan.

P.S., what I'm seeing in the groups you posted is parallax from a bundled-up, very cold shooter with a cold stock and a scope set to correct parallax at 150yds. Sometimes it's not the gun or ammo!!!

 

[Patocazador]

View attachment 772917 View attachment 772918 View attachment 772919 I got to the range yesterday with the new Savage Axis II in .25-06. It was very cold, about 8 degrees. I tried 5 different factory loads. The 120 gr Fusions and the 117 Sierra Gamekings grouped poorly, but all three 100 gr loads grouped well: Nosler Partition, Nosler Ballistic Tip, and Barnes TTSX.

So which should I buy for hunting? 95% of shots will be whitetail, but we have a lot of black bear on the property and I have them on cameras at my hunting spots.

I included the measurements of the four shot group because the farthest right shot in all three cases is the cold bore shot. When I sight in, I’ll clean it between each shot and let the barrel get cold.

What is the twist of your barrel? If the twist is too slow, it won't stabilize long bullets. For it to stabilize 120 gr. bullets, it should have about a 1 in 9" twist I would guess.

 

[wombat13]

What is the twist of your barrel? If the twist is too slow, it won't stabilize long bullets. For it to stabilize 120 gr. bullets, it should have about a 1 in 9" twist I would guess.

Twist is 1 in 10” which seems to be the standard. IIRC, the only manufacturer offering 1 in 9” is Tikka (and Sako).

 

[Patocazador]

Twist is 1 in 10” which seems to be the standard. IIRC, the only manufacturer offering 1 in 9” is Tikka (and Sako).

Shoot what the gun likes. 100 gr. bullets are plenty big for deer and black bear.
.25-06 is really good for a bean field rifle. The 2 calibers I see the most for that use .25-06 and .280 A.I.

 

[horsey300]

Nosler sells ballistic tips in Varmint and Hunting. They recommend impact velocities not to exceed 3200 FPS for the hunting. The Federal ammo loaded with the 100 gr bt has a published mv of 3220 and 2968 at 100 yd. most shots in the woods here in the NE are under 100 yds and VERY rarely 200. That means impact velocity will almost always be near or above 3000 FPS.

At those speeds, I guarantee you will be displeased with the btips, I'll second the partitions and monometals, you could even drop to an 80 gr Barnes or gmx and be OK. You're referencing factory loads, if you're not handloading, federal offers a copper 100 gr and a 120 fusion, even though they're heavy, you might try the fusions, they've been accurate in everything I've tried them in so far. If you're not shy about spending money on ammo, the Nosler custom line has 110 gr accubonds, which would be perfect for what you're wanting if you can get it to group, but they're $86/box.

 

[entropy]

The Federal 100 partition. Correct the windage to center that group to POA, and you have DRT venison or bear.

 

[sage5907]

I've been using a 25-06 for over 50 years and have used various combinations of bullets and powders. First, if you shoot a deer in the lungs it will almost always run before it falls. The best choice for an instant kill is a high shoulder shot which is to aim at the point of the shoulder so the bullet hits the large shoulder bone and expands between the shoulders. Just follow the front leg up and shoot slightly above the center of the body. The deer will go down quickly. For deer hunting the best choice is 117 or 120 grain bullets. I don't like a bullet that exits the body and I want the bullet to expend all of it's energy inside the body. My favorite has always been the 120 grain Speer HotCor but I also like the Sierra 117 grain GameKing and ProHunter bullets. You have several choices of powders that you can try to get the most accurate load. Some rifles like a flat base bullet better than a boattail. Any 25-06 that shoots minute of angle is a good deer rifle so don't get hung up on one hole groups. For years I used 49 grains of IMR 4831 but now I use several loads such as 47.5 to 48 grains of Reloader 17, 51 to 52 grains of Reloader 22, and 55 to 56 grains of Reloader 25.

 

[horsey300]

^^^^agreed on flat based bullets.