Best Factory .25-06 load for Muleys

Hello Mule Deer Nation,

I've decided to build a new deer rifle by purchasing a barreled action in either .243 or .25-06.

I'm leaning on the .25-06 cause it has a bit more energy downrange and where I hunt we can see shots out to almost 400 yards. Typical is near the 200-250 yard range. Rolling grass plains.

I like a lighter bullet with lots of zip. So that said, does anyone hunt with a .25-06 and shoots Nosler Ballistic TIps?

I don't reload so I'm stuck to purchasing factory ammo.

All your input is very welcome. If some of you prefer the .243 please post as well.

BTW, the action I am planning on buying is the Howa. Can't beat that price and value!

Thanks fellas.
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killerbee
welcome to the forum! that 25-06 is a great gun. not that the 243 is bad, but i dont see any advantages of a 243 over a 25-06. the 25-06 is more versitile. if you wanted to hunt elk with it you could and be fine. you can with the 243 also but for bigger animals you'll be better off. i think any of the of the better quality factory bullets will be great. federal, winchester fail safe,etc.. i personally dont like nosler balistic tips, but to each his own. their factory is 20 miles from my house. i prefer a bullet that stayes together better i.e. barnes, swift, fail safe,and more. if you shoot a good bullet out of you gun you will have a real deer slayer on your hands!
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hi killer,

i live in McMinnville.

I was just in Bend the other day!
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sawsman
Fatty-

The 25-06 is indeed a fine caliber. I had a similar choice almost two years ago but it was a choice between the 25-06 and the 7mm-08. The 7mm-08 won for me but it was a hard choice. I'll say that I think I made the right one.

Give the 7mm-08 a look... it's a real performer!

I have a Ruger in .243 and love it!

sawsman
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Sawman:
Have you used the 243 on muleys and speed goats? Interested in your opinion. Just bought (January) a Reminton 700 SPS Stainless, and it is a real shooter, even with factory fodder
Thanks in advance for your reply.
Duane
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sawsman
I've taken three muleys with my .243 shooting 100 gr Nosler Partitions. All three deer went down right there within 10 yrds of being hit. I like the .243 because it is easy to pack and I normally hunt in the steep and rough country.

The .243 is a very competent deer rifle at reasonable range in my opinion...

sawsman
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Hiker
Federal Premium Nosler Partitions have worked well for us.
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i just shot my first mule deer buck last season, used a remmy mountain lss in 7mm-08.

sweet sweet setup! was a big 3 pt.
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sawsman
Cool! I'd say if you already own a 7mm-08. then get the .243. The .243 would be better suited to hunt predators and varmints too.

Either way you cant go wrong. It's always nice to have lots of different calibers no matter what they are.

Have fun with the build, post pic's when you get finished!

sawsman
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sadly the 7mm-08 was a friends rifle.

what are the pros-cons of a 7mm-08 vs .25-06?

:thumb
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killerbee
if needed i can scan a couple charts i have. basically the 25-06 is flatter shooting,greater range with higher energy. only 1 catagory the 7mm-08 is better. gun recoilis 1.60 sec x lb for 7mm -08 and1.62 sec x lb . if you want i will scn them for you . this is comparing both with a 120 gr. bullet.
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I would enjoy seeing those charts.
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killerbee
see if this works
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Hiker
Impressive! Nice job KB. :thumb
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killerbee
i have a book of these for basically every caliber made.
there is a ton of info on here.
they are telling you the best way to sight in your gun to give you the farthest distance of shooting without having to adjust your shot. or the greatest distance you can shoot without ever being more than 3 " high or 3" low. then the drop out to different ranges. each caliber will come in a couple different bullet weights. also they figure out the MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE RANGE for each gun. obviously you can kill farther with these guns. they say bullets are designed to perform at at least 2000 ft. per second. and need at least 1000 ft.lbs of energy to apply the dammage needed to do their job. long story short---- they figure at what distance each guns bullet will still be travleing 2000ft.per.sec AND carrying 1000 ft.lbs of energy. [ or for elk or moose 2000ft.per second and at least 1500 ft,lbs of energy] this is what is listed as the guns MAXIMUM EFFECTIVE RANGE.
there is tons more info in the book but way to much to keep typing. but if anyone wants to see another caliber let me know and i can get it for you.
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Hiker
.300 Win. Mag. 180 grain
30-06 150 grain

Thanks
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killerbee
here you go
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sawsman
"Fatty" wrote:sadly the 7mm-08 was a friends rifle.

what are the pros-cons of a 7mm-08 vs .25-06?

:thumb
 The 7mm-08 will typically be a shorter action and lighter "mountain type rifle" which is an added benefit for those long days in the field.

The 7mm-08 will retain better down range energy over the 25-06. 7mm bullets have awesome ballistic numbers and come in many, many types and flavors which is good if you reload.

But again, the 25-06 is a great caliber and their is not a BIG difference compared to the 7mm-08.

sawsman
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Any 120 grain load will smoke a muley. I confess that I have never shot a Muley with a 25-06, but I have killed a few large whitetails in Arkansas with it. I did shoot a couple with a 100 grain Ballistic tip being pushed as fast as I could out of a 26" barrel and switched to the 120 after inspecting the wounds. Can you say nasty!
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sneekeepete
Nice charts killerbee :thumb May I ask what the book is? I have a lot of charts like that that I have made for my rifles but I would sure like a book for other calibers as well.
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Hiker
KB, Thanks. Great info. and I appreciate it. :thumb
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:not-worthy KB,

Thats awesome, thank you.



\ 10sign:
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chet
fatty, I own both calibers....
A mule deer at 400 yards would be best fed a 110grain accubond from a 257.
I have 75 grain ballistic tip loads for both calibers, and the 243 is supperior in the lighter bullet department.
After 90 grains of bullet, the slow burning powders help the 25-06 push the heavier bullets better.
but please dont shoot a deer at 50 yards with a 100 grain ballistic tip from a 25-06, impact velocity is too high. Use a good bonded bullet, accubond, a-frame, partition, barnes (if you can get them to shoot straight)
If you are buying a barrel, consider a 25-06 ackley imp.

I love both calibers dearly..... but the 257 goes deer hunting with me.
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i dont fully understand the Ackley Improved.

shed some light?
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killerbee
"sneekeepete" wrote:Nice charts killerbee :thumb May I ask what the book is? I have a lot of charts like that that I have made for my rifles but I would sure like a book for other calibers as well.
 it's called " THE TARGET BOOK" by charlie middleton and pat moran they also put out a book called " percentage tage" for oregon each year. the book is awsome and gives a tone of info for basically EVERY gun, even alot of the wildcat calibers.
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Fatty, Your choice in the 25-06 would indeed be a good one...I have had a 700 BDL for well over 20 years...after several thousand rounds the accuracy is falling off somewhat but it still often shoots under or close to a minute with reloads.....I have not used a lot of factory loads other than Rem 100 gr pointed soft point and they shot and killed well....The fact of the matter is anything you shoot through it seems to stop deer size game in its tracks, in over a hundred deer with this gun, I can only think of a few stayed on their feet and only one or two that ran 50 yards or so one poorly hit whitetail buck went several hundred yards and required a finishing shot.....I am now shooting 110 grain Accubonds....I like the plastic tipped bullets because they do not deform in the loading sequence...So the Nosler Ballistic tips will probably be a good choice because you don't reload....
Randy
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