25-06 Rem for LR hunting?

[188MULE]

Wondering what some of you think of using the 25-06 rem with probably a 115 berger for hunting coyotes, antelope and white/mule deer out to around 700.
I have used my 25s out to 400 alot but have never thought it was good for much more than that. I am thinking of rebarrreling to a 6.5-06 but would like to hear about your hunting/shooting/reloading experiences with this cartridge before I break the bank again. Thanks

 

[Sully2]

Wondering what some of you think of using the 25-06 rem with probably a 115 berger for hunting coyotes, antelope and white/mule deer out to around 700.
I have used my 25s out to 400 alot but have never thought it was good for much more than that. I am thinking of rebarrreling to a 6.5-06 but would like to hear about your hunting/shooting/reloading experiences with this cartridge before I break the bank again. Thanks

With the right bullet in front of a good handload, the 25-06 would be fine.

 

[Korhil78]

I personally keep my range at 600 yds with my 06 and the 115 gr Berger. 700 yds could be done but it's starting to die out past 600 so you have to be really comfortable with your shot placement or you will find yourself chasing an animal a long way.

 

[188MULE]

I personally keep my range at 600 yds with my 06 and the 115 gr Berger. 700 yds could be done but it's starting to die out past 600 so you have to be really comfortable with your shot placement or you will find yourself chasing an animal a long way.

Thats what I was thinking. I''ve shot a 25-06 for years, although I haven't killed many deer sized animals with it. I love it for coyotes and have killed many at extended ranges. Of the animals you've killed at 600 how was the bullet performance? I feel that 600 is an easy range if conditions are right. I would like a rifle of packing weight that could take a large bodied deer out to 800 and doesn't destroy my shoulder. The 6.5-06 probably would be the best bet. Right now I've been using a 6.5x.284 and been very impressed but the rifle is to heavy and long to pack into rough country.

 

[TannerGun]

I'd punch it out 25/06 A.I, and run the 115 Bergers, or any other 100gr bullet at warp speed. Yeah, we're in a game of high BC bullets, but speed will get you there as well. Anything coyote/deer sized within 1K would be a stud to shake off a well placed .257" pill... it just ain't going to happen. You'll have fun!

My best friend has killed a bunch of elk with his stock CDL 25/06, and my brother has killed stuff with ours as well. We've had a blast shooting them at steel from 500-1000 with the plain old SGKs.

 

[Nieko]

I have 3 one shot kills with my 25-06 (115 Berger) 1 antelope at 650, 1 antelope at 805, and a mule deer at 700. All three went right down. For the BC not being very high with a 25 cal Berger they are super impressive . I shoot mine to 1200 frequently and in mild wind it is simple to make great hits. The antelope that I shot at 805 was hit in the front of the shoulder and the bullet exited with about a 1-1/2 inch hole so I feel confident that there is some pretty good energy.

 

[Korhil78]

Thats what I was thinking. I''ve shot a 25-06 for years, although I haven't killed many deer sized animals with it. I love it for coyotes and have killed many at extended ranges. Of the animals you've killed at 600 how was the bullet performance? I feel that 600 is an easy range if conditions are right. I would like a rifle of packing weight that could take a large bodied deer out to 800 and doesn't destroy my shoulder. The 6.5-06 probably would be the best bet. Right now I've been using a 6.5x.284 and been very impressed but the rifle is to heavy and long to pack into rough country.

I'm definitely not saying that the 25-06 can't take deer sized game out to 700 yds. I am sure that it can but the odds start turning against you from there on out. If you REALLY want to shoot them out that far, get yourself a 10 inch round plate and set it up. Get all set up for that distance and see how many 1st shot hits you can get on diff. Days. Go on calm days and then on windy days. 115 gr is a light bullet so wind is going to be your biggest challenge. If you are getting consistent 1st shot hits all the time on that 10" round plate then you should be good to go because a deer has about a 10" vital zone.

The fartherest that I have shot a mule deer is 490 yds with the bergers and it was dead right there. I have shot a javelina at 550 yds and it died right there too.

 

[188MULE]

I have 3 one shot kills with my 25-06 (115 Berger) 1 antelope at 650, 1 antelope at 805, and a mule deer at 700. All three went right down. For the BC not being very high with a 25 cal Berger they are super impressive . I shoot mine to 1200 frequently and in mild wind it is simple to make great hits. The antelope that I shot at 805 was hit in the front of the shoulder and the bullet exited with about a 1-1/2 inch hole so I feel confident that there is some pretty good energy.

Would you be comfortable taking a shot at a 300 lb mule deer @ 7-800 if the conditions permit with your setup?

 

[orch]

115gr vld in my 25-06ai 525 yard white-tail buck trotting across an open field, hit right behind the front shoulder destroyed the lungs and took out 3 ribs on exit... he took three more strides and piled up and was DRT. very impressed with how the bullet performed... i'd be comfortable with it out to 800 on deer sized game...
in a standard 25-06 might bring that number down to 700 on big deer...

as far as wind drift it bucks the wind better than my buddy's 300 win mag shooting 165gr sst's @ 3100 fps (i'm launching the 115 bergers @ 3340 fps) by about 20 inches at 1000 yards for a 10mph wind...

i'd say go for it... if you are not happy, like Tannergun, i'd recommend going to the AI.... be cheaper to just ream the barrel you already have than re-barreling to a 6.5.... besides you already have a 6.5! quit being so greedy how many 6.5 caliber guns do you need!

orch

 

[TannerGun]

Absolutely nothing wrong with a factory tube punched out A.I. in my opinion. Feed it right and it will pay dividends. I just wish Horn would make a .257" and .277" AMAX offering. A 115-120 AMAX would be sleek, as would a 145-150 in 270. But I digress...

 

[Scot E]

Berger quotes 1800 fps needed for proper expansion. I personally like to be 50-100 fps higher than that just to be safe.

At around 3,000 feet elevation that combination should reach 1900 fps at about 700-750 yards. So you will be right at max distance.

The 6.5'06 will get you out further by 100+ yards and have less drift a better BC, and SD.

Scot E.

 

[188MULE]

115gr vld in my 25-06ai 525 yard white-tail buck trotting across an open field, hit right behind the front shoulder destroyed the lungs and took out 3 ribs on exit... he took three more strides and piled up and was DRT. very impressed with how the bullet performed... i'd be comfortable with it out to 800 on deer sized game...
in a standard 25-06 might bring that number down to 700 on big deer...

as far as wind drift it bucks the wind better than my buddy's 300 win mag shooting 165gr sst's @ 3100 fps (i'm launching the 115 bergers @ 3340 fps) by about 20 inches at 1000 yards for a 10mph wind...

i'd say go for it... if you are not happy, like Tannergun, i'd recommend going to the AI.... be cheaper to just ream the barrel you already have than re-barreling to a 6.5.... besides you already have a 6.5! quit being so greedy how many 6.5 caliber guns do you need!

orch

What are your rifle specs? Barrel length & twist?
It would be great to see a AMAX in .25.
I only have one in 6.5 I have mutiples in most other calibers so the .264s need to catch up!

 

[188MULE]

Berger quotes 1800 fps needed for proper expansion. I personally like to be 50-100 fps higher than that just to be safe.

At around 3,000 feet elevation that combination should reach 1900 fps at about 700-750 yards. So you will be right at max distance.

The 6.5'06 will get you out further by 100+ yards and have less drift a better BC, and SD.

Scot E.

I took a deer at around 900 this year with a 6.5 AMAX 140 started at 3125 and it did the job nicely but was waaaay on the low end for power. I agree that the .25 is tapped at 700 there just isn't enough bullet in my book. I'm at around 1800 elev and hunt in cold weather generally. So I can expect even less max yardage. I'll have to do the math.

 

[Nieko]

188mule, my load is 59 gr h1000, win brass, cci large rifle, 115 Berger, 3.30 coal
This is in a rem 700 SPS(24 inch tube) it gives 3125 fps @6500 ft. If I run the numbers this load gives 1900+ fps and about 1000 lbs of energy at 800 yards, so yes, plenty adequate for the biggest buck at 800 yds with good placement.