I shoot a 25-06 for antelope, and have had no trouble with successful kills out to just over 300 yds. The place in Wyoming we hunted this year was really wide open and you could have taken legitimate shots out to 500 or 600 yds. With zero cover, these were typically the only shots available. I did luck out and fill my tags with shots around 250 yds, but the terrain really highlighted the need to be able to make shots at longer ranges.

How does the 25-06 truly stack up for retained energy to break bone and penetrate on antelope (and possibly mule deer) at 500 or 600 yds? The one antelope I shot at 317 yds last year just dropped over dead in her tracks with through and through bullet performance and lots of damage, so I know the energy at this range is great plenty. If I do the math on my load, here's how it works out for my 200 yd zero:

.257 Cal, Hornady #2552 BTSP, 117 grn
Range Elevation Velocity Energy Drop 10mph Wind Deflect
0 yds -1.50 in 3079 fps 2463 fpe 0.00 in 0.00 in
200 yds 0.00 in 2617 fps 1779 fpe 8.19 in 2.93 in
300 yds -6.44 in 2403 fps 1500 fpe 19.47 in 6.76 in
400 yds -19.01 in 2199 fps 1256 fpe 36.88 in 12.65 in
500 yds -38.68 in 2005 fps 1045 fpe 61.39 in 20.59 in

Based on my range tests, these calcs are pretty accurate. At 500 yds, we are down to only ~1000 fpe. Is that enough? Seems low to me. I like to err on the side of "more than needed." Like I said, the 1500 fpe at 300 yds did a bang-up job. I really like the 117 gr hornady for the 25-06. I can hit at those longer distances, but will the bullet do its job? What if there's a mule deer tag with me also? They are bigger and tougher than antelope.

I'm considering getting a 300 Win Mag for the really open area hunting like this year and using the 25-06 for the closer shots where we typically hunt. The trajectory of the 300WM is really very close to the 25-06 (just a bit flatter), but the bigger bullet and higher muzzle velocity carries more energy a lot further downrange. Just a sample load calculation with a bullet I like and typical book velocity:

.308 Cal, Hornady #3045 BTSP, 165 grn, 300 Win Mag
Range Elevation Velocity Energy Drop 10mph Wind Deflect
0 yds -1.50 in 3100 fps 3521 fpe 0.00 in 0.00 in
200 yds 0.00 in 2681 fps 2633 fpe 7.98 in 2.58 in
300 yds -6.18 in 2485 fps 2263 fpe 18.90 in 6.00 in
400 yds -17.96 in 2298 fps 1934 fpe 35.41 in 11.01 in
500 yds -36.46 in 2119 fps 1645 fpe 58.65 in 18.00 in

Here, I'll have at least the 1500 fpe at 500 yds that I have with the 25-06 at 300 yds, and I know that this is enough energy. Also, slightly less drop and wind deflection. The .300 carries more power, but do I really need it? Overthinking all this? Maybe just looking for an excuse to buy another rifle(!)

I watched a friend stuff a antelope in the dirt at 550 yards or so with a 25-06 and a 100gr Sierra Game King.

I'm interested in the 117gr BTSP too on deer at those ranges so I'll be listening in...

FWIW... I got a friend who shoots the 25-06 Sierra 100gr GK at 400-500yds on Mulie and WT regularly with spectacular kills in Montana

I'm thinking you're good to GO

I have not shot mine quite that far but I have had several DRT on mulies witetails and pronghorns out to 457 yards. If I had the ability to make a 5 or 6 hundred yard shot I have no doubt the 25-06 is up to the task.

quote:

How does the 25-06 truly stack up for retained energy to break bone and penetrate on antelope (and possibly mule deer) at 500 or 600 yds?

For pronghorns I now use the .257 Roberts.....not because it's better but because it's in a M-70 fwt and lighter.....but it's not too far from .25-06 performance.

I haven't (yet) taken pronghorns at 500 but a few at 400+ and when we hunt doe/fawn (Wyoming herd control) I'll even use it for mule deer.

I usually use a .270 or something of that flavor on mulies as they can be quite a bit bigger.

Back to the "speed goats".....they are quite easy to kill as almost any hit will stop them and they can't hide like a darn whitetail in the woods and brush....so while it's not the norm for me, a wounded goat is not going far and we've never had one get away.

I find that the .257 Roberts (.25-06 kin) is fully adequate for pronghorns at least to 400 yards.....IIRC the longest shot we've taked was about 450 or so.

Energy figures are fun to compare, but have little to do with killing an animal. Place the bullet right, with enough velocity left to make the bullet expand and you will have a cleaning job to do.

+1

quote:

Originally posted by Sakoluver:
Energy figures are fun to compare, but have little to do with killing an animal. Place the bullet right, with enough velocity left to make the bullet expand and you will have a cleaning job to do.

Bingo!

quote:

Originally posted by Sakoluver:
Energy figures are fun to compare, but have little to do with killing an animal. Place the bullet right, with enough velocity left to make the bullet expand and you will have a cleaning job to do.

Finaly some one that knows what he is talking about

25 wssm at 500 yds +/- 15 100 gr tsx passed through broke the off side shoulder d.o.a. I was happy with it and the goat could not tell the diff as he was very dead.

as the man says you still have to hit them. that seems to be way more important than the balistics chart.

quote:

Originally posted by Sakoluver:
Energy figures are fun to compare, but have little to do with killing an animal. Place the bullet right, with enough velocity left to make the bullet expand and you will have a cleaning job to do.

Very well said.

Captain,

I would use the 25-06, but would try out some Berger 115gr. VLDs.

I can't vouch for them personally, but they have an excellent rep for just that purpose.

Jim

If you're a numbers guy, go play with a ballistics calculator and different .257 bullets. At those ranges, the BC can make a bigger difference on drop, retained energy and speed. Maybe the 100gr Barnes TSX or 110 Accubond? Easier to find a good bullet for a rifle you already own to do the job you want, then to buy a new gun. Also, if you're barrel is at least 24", you could always rechamber to the 257 Weatherby. Has to be as custom made for goats as any other cartridge out there. Or you could just buy one, you can get a Vanguard for around 400 and some change. Ammo is a little pricey, but not horribly more expensive then stepping up to a 300 Win Mag, and the recoil won't be much higher