Effective range on deer for this setup?

[Korhil78]

Just wanted your opinions on the effective range of this setup on mule deer.

1. Rem. 700 BDL 25-06 24" barrel

2. 100 gr. barnes TSX chrono'd at an average speed of 3020 fps.

3. Avg. SD is 6fps

I could push this faster but it has a very low SD and it groups three shots inside of a 1" square all day long at 300 yards if I do my part.

I want to be able to shoot this out to 600 or 700 yards but was wondering if it would have enough punch to take a mule deer at that range.

 

[midwesthunter]

If you use the 1000# of energy rule of thumb, that I know not everyone aggress with, you will only get to 425 give or take.

 

[walserjack]

the 115 gr Berger VLD is probably your best bet. After all the inquiries ive had here for the VLD it seems well suited for that kind of shot. The barnes bullet your shooting probably wont expand well at all at that range.

 

[Korhil78]

Yeah,

I put it through a ballistics calculator and it is more of a 400 to 500 yd setup which is not bad. I would have to go with the 115 gr VLD at around 3100 fps to get out to the ranges that I had wanted. Me personally, I do not like bullets that fragment like the VLD does but I know a lot of people that swear by them. Maybe the accubond.

 

[3fingervic]

I typed it into Hornady's ballistic calculator and came up with this. I used your velocity and found the BC .336 on the Barnes site.


At 300 yards the fps. is 2251 and the ft lbs will be at 1125

400 yds.- 2015 fps 901 ft lbs

500 yds.- 1794 fps 715 ft lbs

600 yds.- 1592 fps 563 ft lbs

700 yds.- 1411 fps 442 ft lbs

I have heard that a good guideline for deer is 1,600 fps. I also have read that 1,000 ft. lbs. are needed. I think it is up to you on how far you are willing to push it. If it were me, 400 yard would be it for mule deer.

 

[HARPERC]

I don't have much recent experience with .25 calibers. I've just stared a wolf rifle project, and the arbitrary criteria I used comparing cartridges/bullets effective range was a terminal velocity of 2000 fps. My reasoning being I'm reasonably certain of some bullet expansion. Using 3fingervic's numbers this gets you to 400 yards.
If you'll go to some of the bullet manufacturing sites and look at the effect velocity has on expansion it will give you some perspective on what to expect.

 

[WildRose]

Just wanted your opinions on the effective range of this setup on mule deer.

1. Rem. 700 BDL 25-06 24" barrel

2. 100 gr. barnes TSX chrono'd at an average speed of 3020 fps.

3. Avg. SD is 6fps

I could push this faster but it has a very low SD and it groups three shots inside of a 1" square all day long at 300 yards if I do my part.

I want to be able to shoot this out to 600 or 700 yards but was wondering if it would have enough punch to take a mule deer at that range.

If I have to pick between energy and precision I'll gow with precision every time.

You are right on the edge of lethal energy with this rig but if you can put it right in the heart/lungs it will kill easily at that range.

Your problem is going to come at the 600-700yds range if you striker bone prior to getting into the thoracic cavity with your shot.

At closer ranges I'd say you need to go with a good hunting bullet but the vld's like the Berger will perform very well for you at the greater ranges. Beyond 400yds your velocities will have dropped enough that even with a bone/shoulder type hit the round should stay together instead or shelling out shallow.

 

[Long Time Long Ranger]

We have taken deer and antelope between 600-700 yards with the 257 wby and the 100 grain ttsx with no problems. You could probably do ok with your 25-06. Our velocity is 3760 fps so figure yours and run it through a bal cal and see where you are.

 

[jpeaston]

I have a lot of experience with that particular bullet, and wouldn't advise anybody to shoot light skinned animals at anything less than 2500 fps for expansion reasons, regardless of energy. The newer ttsx may be different.
I had a 25-06 that could hit coyotes as far as I could range them, and below 2500 fps they would literally run for miles after hitting them square. At long range I would try to pin the shoulders instead of the "pocket" shot.