Does anyone have a 25-06 and used it for whitetail?

[Damon619]

Does anyone have a 25-06 and used it for whitetail?

[Beekeeper]

Yes, the 25/06 is my favorite beanfield, clearcut, grainfield rifle. In my opinion the caliber is at its best when shots present themselves at 100 yards or more, although I have killed several dear at less than 50 with it. I shoot the 110 grain Nosler Accubond over the book accuracy load of Retumbo. I have never recoverd any of those bullets from the carcass of a deer, all pass throughs even quartering shots over 200 yards. I have never had a deer move more than 10 yards when hit with the 25/06, most simply fall in thier tracks. There is also a great variety of factory ammo available for the caliber. Some folks even use the 25/06 for Elk, it will do in a pinch, but I like a little more bullet weight when shooting an animal that size.

The 25/06 is also an excellent large predator (read coyote) rifle. The 85-87 grain bullets work very well for this purpose and shoot laser flat. It is a coyote's worst nightmare.

[bonnier-admin_2]

My 25-06 has been used from Jack Rabbits to Caribou and dropped them just as dead as with any other cartridge! If you can’t knock a whitetail down with a 25-06, pack up and go home, LOL!

My 9 year old Grandson Alex dropped a nice little buck at 250 yards and moments later dropped a doe at 150 using Hornady 117 grain soft point boat tails or was it 117 Hornady SST’s, they shoot the same point of impact!

[bonnier-admin_2]

One more thing

If you’re an extreme shooter like me, the 25-06 is definably one of the best choices and I’ll stack it up against the 257WSSM which is 100fps slower and twice the price!

[Del in KS]

I have now shot 5 whitetails with my Kimber from 100 to 205 yds. My load is 100 gr Barnes TSX and max load of H1000 (Hodgdon manual). It chronographs at 3250 fps and all the shots have been pass throughs.

[waterdude466]

My wife hunts with her 25-06 Tikka with reloads consisting of 54.1 gr RL 22 Hornady 117 gr BTSP and benchrest primers, it cronographs at 3150 fps, it shoots very flat but does not always exit. All shots have been one shot kills, one shot at a doe ranged at 389 yards, no exit and tracked her 60 yards (double lung shot). My encore with a diffent load will put them 5 shots in a small clover. Great for deer and pronghorn, feral hogs need to be shot in the ear or they will travel and not leave much blood trail.

[CPT BRAD]

First thing, Clay its a 25 WSSM not a 257.
Secondly, yes more than adequate for anything in the lower 48 Moose excepted.
Third Search rifle and look at the LONG detailed conversations we've had on this rifle for the last two months. From anything to Coyotes to Elk. It's a good round go with it.

[bonnier-admin_2]

Brad

25 or 257 whatever I wouldn’t own one anyhow! Now take the 30 WSM and neck it down to .257, I just might do it!

[bonnier-admin_2]

yes i have one. it works great. i shot my whitetail 200 yards.

[ishawooa]

My old Sako is one of my favorite rifles for almost anything with hair around here. Flat, fast, and fun.

[Ed J]

I used a custom Mauser for 40+ yrs on praire dogs to elk. As Ishawoa says flat , fast , and fun.

[steve182]

Don't have one, but i want one! i will use it for deer at that time. No reason you shouldnt too

[ishawooa]

When I lived in the south the longest one shot kill I ever made on a whitetail was with my semi-custom Springfield in .25-'06 at, sounds like a lie, 257 yards. Unfortunately the deer had some sort of skin disease upon close examination, lots of bare spots with no hair, red and scaly, plus his belly hair was probably three inches long. My buds and I never knew what was wrong with him. He was a better than decent 4 x 4 mature buck with long brow tines.

[platte river rat]

My T-C Encore in 25-06 is hard to beat for either mule or whitetails. I use a Barnes 100 gr TSXBT MagPro powder--Federal match primer--Remington brass--at 3300 fps--none have made over 5 yds--all bullets are pass throughs--

[steve182]

almost a perfect round for deer, whitetail or otherwise