I was in the gun shop today, and saw a browning a-bolt in 25-06 for $420& the guy said he would throw in a swift scope for a $100. all this stuff is on clearance and is brand new. I have a mule deer hunt coming up and was wandering what you guys think of it as a mulie cartridge. the guide told that the mulie's he has been getting were around 350lbs. I have a 243, but my wife is going to be using it.
Hi Razorback, While I'd prefer something with more punch for large muledeer, I still acknowledge the capabilities of the .25-06. However, last I looked, the fine Browning A-Bolt was fitted with a 22" barrel in this caliber and this is why I'd advise you to pass. This caliber needs 24" of barrel to do its' thing.
The 25-06 with the 115 or 120 grain bullet should do a satisfactory job on the Mule deer. I find bullets with a larger diameter from 125 to 165 better suited for deer sized game. There are many good deer cartridges to choose from. There are also a thousand reasons any hunter would choose any one of them. The key to success is proper bullet selection and bullet placement. Sight your rifle to strike 2" high at 100 yards. That will enable you to hit the heart lung area at 300 yards with no hold over. Should you get a very close shot you are also going to hit the heart lung area.
25.06 is fine, but I have a serious problem with your guides claim of shooting 350 lbs mule deer. Maybe up to the ocassional 350 lbs buck, but consistantly that's just pure BS! Most of them won't break 200 lbs. I'd like to know who this outfitter is and where he's killing 350 lbs deer?
Posts: 210 | Location: Montana | Registered: 30 December 2001
The 25-06 will put an end to any Mule Deer quickly! As long as you do your part. However, same goes as if you were shooting a 300 Winchester. It all boils down to you doing your part.
The 25-06 is like the 270 Win. Its one of those cartridges that packs a wallop out of proportion to its specs. It does need a longer barrel than 22" though. And there ain't no herd of 350 lb mule deer roaming the mountains/plains/deserts. Mulies tend to average slightly larger than whitetails but not by that large a margin...
Posts: 457 | Location: Kentucky | Registered: 25 February 2002
If I were spending money for a out of state mule deer hunt, I would be carrying something other than the 1/4bore 06. I favor the 270 caliber and if your not recoil shy the 300 Win mag is hard to beat for those possible far out shots on a wondering trophy buck.
I have a .257 Roberts and love it! It works for deer very well. Now here's the kicker!!! I went to Idaho on a backpacking mule deer hunt and carried a much heavier 7mm Rem Mag. Not that the .257 wouldn't have worked but the 7mm is more forgiving of circumstance! The key is to understand how the gun shoots, how well you shoot from field conditions, and how well you judge distance. It always comes back to placement!
Oh nonsense- I carried a 25-06 for many years hunting mule deer and I never saw one walk away when hit right with it. With the right bullets and placed right, the 25-06 is a proven deer killer and I don't care how big your guide says these deer are- they still aren't bullet proof! I've shot mule deer at ridiculous distances with it and it never failed me. And the reduced recoil makes practice pretty pleasant. The most you'll lose with the shorter barrel is 100 fps, so don't lose any sleep over it. Just load some 100 grain Partitions, Hornady Spire points, or Xbullets and you'll be eating venison if you're capable of putting it where it counts. Have a great hunt- Sheister
When it comes to the 25-06 and mule deer, I am a fan with slightly rabid enthusiasm! Frankly, I don't care if it's a 450lbs mulie, do as the other guys have said, "place the bullet where it needs to be", and the buck will drop.
As for the load, 100gr noslers (BT or Partitions)are the way to go. They will give you a point blank range of about 300yds and be leathal well beyond that.
Pending a nonresident tag, I'll be toting my quarterbore in Wyoming this fall with full confidence! Oh, and if you are hunting high country I don't think you'll mind the shorter (and lighter 22" pipe).
I'd be for taking that 25/06 and never looking back. As for the 22" deal-to me it is an non issue. Although I've known plenty of people that did not care for a 22" tube on a round like the 25/06. FYI a couple of years back for giggles I cut a 257 Wby from 26" to 23". I lost 100 fps total!! Now to me losing say 60-70 fps total by having a 22 verse a 24 is once again an non issue. As for 350 pound muley's I'm wirth the others on this. I'm sure there have been some and I am sure there will be some more. But for the most part if you top 200 you're looking at a darn big muley in my opinion.
Just my thoughts.
'GET TO THE HILL"
Dog
Posts: 879 | Location: Bozeman,Montana USA | Registered: 31 October 2001
Razorback: This thread has almost exclusively talked about the caliber, which is fine for muleys, or the gun, which is fine for the caliber. Everybody forgot about the scope. Buy the gun, but DO NOT put a cheap scope on a serious hunting rifle. Mule deer hunting does tend to be a longer-range affair than most big game hunting, and a high quality fog-proof scope is an absolute necessity.
Buy one of the basic Leupold line (M8, VariX II, new VX-I). There are other scopes out there that will do, some affordable and some expensive, but the Leupold will be the most dependable and economical.
And that mule deer may very well be twice the size of a run-of-the-mill southern whitetail -- 250 lbs on the hoof for a good one. It will just feel like 350 pounds when you try to pack it off of the mountain.
Have fun on your hunt!
[This message has been edited by Stonecreek (edited 03-27-2002).]
Posts: 13263 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
The 25-06 will do fine, and the differance between a 22" and 24" is mostly noise. Ballistically it's not many fps. As for the 350 lb mule deer, yes they are out there, as are a very few that will go 400 lbs, but the odds of getting one are like winning the lottery. Here in Alberta I would say that the average male adult mule deer would be in the 200-225 lb range. Not that there aren't some real monsters out there (I know, I've been looking for one for quite a while)but they are not common. Buy the 25-06 and don't look back. As for the scope, I've never used a Swift so I can't say anything against or for them, but the price is right, and you can always put it on a 22 when you buy a Leoupold. FWIW - Dan
Posts: 5285 | Location: Alberta | Registered: 05 October 2001
While I will agree with what most people have said regarding the shorter barrel with a 25-06 I must say...would you buy a 4WD truck and put some cheap thin street tires on it? Why buy something capable of some truly superb ballistics and then put it in a gun that brings its performance down. Its like buying a 300 win mag and cutting the barrel down to 22"...essentially turning it into a fancy 30-06! I'll not argue that the drop in velocity is nominal but it also limits your powder selection to fairly fast to medium burning powders. Will it matter? Mostly not. But in a community like this that dabbles in minutia I can't quite really buy into the shorter barrel argument.
Posts: 457 | Location: Kentucky | Registered: 25 February 2002
Razorback, The 25/06 will work great. I would use the 120 gr Partitions in it but Old Sarge's recommendation will work well. I hunt them with a .257 Roberts with 115 gr Noslers. You will be well equipped. Tell him to keep the Swift. If you buy one, then you will have to buy a second. (Crap on one of them and cover it up with the second.)
And Troy was right on the 350 pounders. A 200 is a big deer. Even then the 25/06 will do wonders and give away nothing in trajectory to a .270 or a .300 Win Mag.
Last years buck from Idaho.
[This message has been edited by Customstox (edited 03-28-2002).]
Posts: 4917 | Location: Wenatchee, WA, USA | Registered: 17 December 2001
The .25-06 is a great cartridge! Very accurate and the lower recoil encourages more practise. The ballistics of the latest Atomsmasher Magnum may look good on paper but many folk don't practise much because of the recoil. Do you reload? I have had good results (1/2" - 1" at 100 yds & 1.6" at 200 yds) with Speer 120 Spitzer, Hornady 117 BT, IMR 4381, IMR 4350 and H450. Don't worry about 2". Your deer will never know the difference! Get a good scope, Go for quality over high magnification if you have to choose.
Posts: 18 | Location: British Columbia | Registered: 30 March 2002
I have taken many large whitetails several over 300 lbs(alberta and saskatchewan bucks) with a 257 weatherby which is just a faster 25-06.I used 100 gr partitions and ballistic tips and kills were quick and clean.
Posts: 3104 | Location: alberta,canada | Registered: 28 January 2002
Stubblejumper. I am looking for a GOOD whitetail hunt/outfitter in Saskatchewan or Alberta. Could you email me(address on my profile) any good hunts that you are aware of? Thanks for any help you can give !! GREG
After many years of 30-06, I got a Ruger #1 in 25-06 for last years hunt. Four shots, four deer. Could not be more pleased. 100 grain Sierras. The guys at the Sierra factory said I would love the 100s and I do.
