25-06 Good for 400 yd mulies?

[grumpyBD]

Just as the title says....I'm looking at buying a Winchester M70 in 25-06 with a 24" barrel and camo synthetic stock. Also wondering you have favorite reload recipes I could work up to. I'll be hunting next season in Wyoming. Plenty of time to practice and work up loads.
Thanks in advance, Tom

 

[johnnyk]

Durntootin'....I've had good accuracy with the 100gn NBT and Barnes TSX using 55.5-57.0gn of RL22 and CCI BR2's. Accuracy runs under 1/2" and velocity 3300fps (+).
110gn AB/IMR4350/CCI BR2
48.0gn = 3009fps/.4345"
48.5gn = 3021fps/.4870"
49.0gn = 3029fps/.6555"
49.5gn = 3115fps/.7490"

110gn AB/IMR4831/CCI BR2; no groups tighter than .7205" using 51-52.5gn

110gn AB/RL22/9.5M = best group; 54.5gn(max or there abouts). Velocity averaged
3271fps, accuracy; .669"

115gn Berger/RL22/9.5M; 51.0gn 3044fps, .390"

117gn Sierra BTSP/RL22/9.5M/52.0gn; 3050fps, .4790"
115gn NBT/RL22/9.5M/52.0gn; 3067fps, .4095"

Mileage will vary and some bullets will be more accurate in your rifle than mine and vice versa. Good luck and happy shootin'. Those mulies will never hear the rifle go off! JohnnyK.

 

[Big33]

100 gr NBT over 57 gr of RL-22 goes about 3400 or so out of my m700. I whacked a nice 3x4 muley two weeks ago at 394 yds with no hold-over, so to answer your question, yes.

 

[Ridgerunner665]

I've taken a few pretty good sized whitetails at nearly 500 yards with a 25-06.

That was several years ago, I used factory Hornady loads...117 grain BTSP's.


I'd say it would do a fine job on mulies too.

 

[RT2506]

Yes a 25-06 will get it done just fine at 400 to 500 yards. I and my hunting buddy have killed some big body white tails out to a bit over 500 yards with the 117 gr Sierra's with either 52 grs H4831 or 49 grs. IMR 4350.

 

[Chopaka81]

Yes! There is no doubt that a 25-06 will do the job.

On a whim last year I bought a 257 WBY Vangard. I have been getting outstanding results with Nosler 110gr AB's. I recomend you give that load a try.

This year I did a bang flop @ 385 yds (lasered) on a 4pt mule deer using my 270 Win, 130gr Sierra SBT @ 2950 fps. Nothing special, but a very accurate load. Based upon the post-mortum analysis of the wound channel, I would have been just as well served with my 6mm Rem and it's Sierra 100gr SBT @ 3000 fps load.

With very little effort you should be able to get 3150 fps using a Nosler 110gr AB out of that 25-06 and this is why I think it will "do the deed" out past 600 yds. gun)

 

[VarmintGuy]

GrumpyBD: I have taken several Mule Deer with the 25/06 at the 300 yard plus ranges - never anything in the 400 yards though.
I have taken Antelope right at 400 yards with the 25/06 though and I coached my middle son to take his first Antelope Buck at exactly 400 yards (Leica lasered) with his Remington 700 in 25/06.
Good rest, patient shot choice and properly placing the shot and yes the 25/06 is definitely a 400 yard Deer cartridge.
I heartily recommend the Nosler Ballistic Tips for Mule Deer and Antelope.
Good luck this fall.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

 

[grumpyBD]

Thank you all for the info. I went ahead and bought the rifle. It was a good choice. I'm currently running 100 gr Barnes TSX out at 3250fps. I'm searching for a good OAL now. I've shot 1.5" groups at 200 yards so far. Just need more range time to dial in.

Thanks again, Tom

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I've taken coyotes, antelope, deer, elk, and black bears with the 25-06 out to 600 yards with the 115g NBT at 3200fps.

Id use a 115 over 100 for LR any day. 100s will work out to 400-500, but the 115s work out to at least 600, and I bet they would kill at 700, just never had the oppurtunity to push it that far on game.

 

[FreeTrapper]

I was just discussing this caliber with my brother who has been shooting it for a number of years. He shoots long range frequently on his cattle ranch in hunting deer and coyotes. He reports that 4 years ago, he shot a muley buck at a lazered 525 yards with his Ruger M77 in 25-06 using handloaded Nosler Ballistic Tip. Shot went higher on the shoulder and damaged the spine. Deer crumpled up right there and never moved. He swears by that bullet in both the 25-06 and his .257 Roberts.

I shoot a 25-06 in a Remington M-700CDL and have been using Nosler 100 grain ballistic tips for year round shooting and deer hunting. I have been taking advantage of this calibers ballistic capability and running velocities with this bullet at 3500 fps. IMR-4350 performs well here.

 

[grumpyBD]

I'm thinkin' of experimenting with the Ballistic Tips too. 3500 fps? Wow ! I'm hoping for 3300 fps +.

Thanks, Tom

 

[BillR]

Bought my first .25-06 in 1968 when it was a wildcat and have been shooting that cartridge ever since. At one time I owned 5 of them. Did I say I like the .25-06 by the way. I could not even begin to tell you how many deer I have shot with it. For most of those years I used the 117 Sierra SPBT Gameking bullet. I have taken 1 Whitetail and 1 Antelope at around 700 yds but for the most part they have been between 100 and 400 yds. Both shots killed at 700 but neither one of them had much for bullet opening at those distances and just a small hole going in and going out. Very little meat damage on either. The White tail was a bang flop and the Antelope was about 6" too far back and I had to follow it for quite a distance before it expired. I'm now using the Berger 115 in a .25-06 AI and it will get er done.

 

[Guy M]

Funny how this thread is still kicking after two and a half years!

Yes, the .25-06 is very effective on mule deer at 400 yards. Absolutely. I'm using the 115 Berger VLD over a stout charge of Retumbo. Nice combo. Good accuracy, good velocity. The bullet is very deadly on deer sized game.

Regards, Guy

 

[C.B.]

I will just keep it going a little longer. Shot a damage doe , just the other day using Factory Federal 100gr NBT at a ranged 526 yds. Have some 115VLD Bergers to shoot throught the chrony and ladder test,have not found the time to shoot them yet.