Hi all need some help here.

Just purchased a new rifle (Tikka Lite 25-06) and havnt had a 25-06 for about 10 years.

My question is this, of the larger .25 bullets (Standard not Premiums) which is giving the best performance at the moment. Think I used the 117grn Interlocks last time with good results but the new SSts look okay as well.

Sighting in with Federals using the 117grn Speer Hot Cores.

I will be taking a fair amount of game with this cal, mainly pigs, red and fallow deer and chamois plus a fair bit of pest control with feral goats so dont want to have to change loads etc etc.

All advice much appreciated ta

I have had good luck with all of the 117s in 257 Roberts, however it seems I use Hornady's BTSP and Nosler's ballistic tip the most. Sierra must be good too as they are always sold out in my neck of the woods.

I am waiting for my 25,06 to be finished.
When i get it, i want to try noslers new 110 grain accubond ! ...tj3006

Of the heavier bullets offered for the 25-06 I have had excellant results with the 115 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip and the 117 grain Sierra Pro Hunter.

Both have proven effective on mule deer, antelope, and wild hogs. (Not to mention a few coyotes for good measure.)

I shot some hogs with the 120 grain Sierra HPBT but had rather erratic results. Sometimes they dropped the pig like a hot rock, other times I had to follow them up. Maybe it was just the chance of the draw.

For bullets over 100 grains I use nothing but IMR 7828 powder, though RL 22 is a close second in my testing.

The new 117 grain Hornady SSt bullet has shot good groups for me, but I just have not shot any game with them as of yet. Based on the way they blow ground squirrels into little pieces, they may be a little fragile.

I perfer the Barnes 100 gr TSX using RL 19 they also make them in 115 gr. These are deadly and accurate and I have always gotten a bang flop on game from coyotes, whitetail deer, to Axis deer.

I use the Barnes 100 gr. TSX but if you want a heavier bullet then try the Barnes 115 gr. TSX. Lawdog

the 120 gr Speer hot core has been a consistently good performer for me...

I can't say how they will perform in meat yet, but the 110 Accubond has been an excellent shooter out of my 25 WSSM. Averaging .3 at 100.

Gabe

I recommend Nosler's 115 gr Hunting Ballistic Tip.

SIERRA 117 grain Spitzer Boat Tail!! Ahead of 49.0 grains of IMR 4350 and a standard primer(CCI, Fed, Rem, Win)!!! Maybe not the fastest load in the woods but the kiss of death on deer sized stuff!!! 30 years of doing the deal with this one!!! In several different 25-06's!!! GHD PS: And you don't pay an arm and a leg for the hype surrounding the so-called "premium bullets"!!!

Thanks for all the help guys, GHD especially , thats the type of info I was after... those sierras now, what was the terminal performance like as in did the penetrate all the way through, mushroom ok, or did they tend to break up more?? Thanks again for the help

I always got good accuracy with the Hornady 115 gr SP as my non premium bullet.

I tried the 117 gr Hornady SST's. My rifle loves them. I shot a small hog with it last season. Went right through him. Small entry hole and small exit hole. Shot a doe with it and it just about took off the shoulder. Anyhow, neither one took a step after getting hit.

I've been using the older Nosler 120 grain solid base bullets for the past few years.
Before that I have had good luck with the 100 grain Ballistic tips out of the 25-06 and 257 Roberts. I've only taken Blacktail deer and antelope with these so can't comment on how they would do on bigger game.
I have also shot a few Sierra 117 grain bullets at paper but have yet to take a game animal with them. I've used Sierra's in several other calibers and wouldn't hesitate to use them in this one.

Swift A-frames. None other need apply... Seriously though, the 25-06 is a great round. It's one of my favorites and the A-frame really takes this cartridge to a new level. You need a very tough bullet to withstand the impact speeds generated by the 25-06 and the SAF do it well. Good for lots of game otherwise not suitable with a 25-06. 100 grain or 120 grain available.

Hornady's 120 grain hollow point is a real sleeper. Good accuracy and terminal performance.

The best shooting hunting bullet for me, out of my Win M70 has been a Barnes 115gr XLC, over IMR7828, WLRM, Rem cases.
Mine doesn't seem to shoot the 117gr SST very well. I'm still playing with mine though. Will use it for deer if I get a chance. Nate

Edited:Ooops! Who ever heard of a 155gr .257?

Sharpie, With "behind the shoulder shots" the 117's would penetrate, do the mushroom deal, cause severe and terminal damage and exit!!! Usual result was "DRT"....dead right there!!! For "bullet testing" some of them have been squarely placed on the right or left shoulderto try the effect of "breaking them down" and with the 25-06 the results were phenomenal!!! Both shoulders broke and tracking is something left for somebody else because you anchored the deer right there!!! Straight on from chest.......unbeleivable heart and lung destruction!!! Deer don't go far hit like that either!!!
Using the same bullet in a .257 Roberts yielded excellent results also!! On the shoulder shots, the .257 Roberts didn't give the pass thru but did cause an inordinate amount of destruction on the near side and terminal destruction of internal organs thus rendering the deer DEAD!!! Not much tracking needed......and if so it was only about 20 ft of 6-8 inch wide blood trail!!! The 117 Sierra SBT is going to be a hard act to follow for the bullet makers!!! I guess my second choice would be the 120 Hornady HP for long range stuff! The Hornady 120's may have just a slight edge in long range(300-400yard) accurracy and their performance has been exemplary on mulies and antelopes for me. (I am rather limited in mulie and antelope experience but that may change if I can ever retire!!!) But for whitetails, if using the .25 caliber stuff, a 117 Sierra SBT will be a hard act to follow!! Charlie (GHD)

I've had excellent results with the 100 gr. Partition and the 115 BT for my deer loads. Both have killed very large deer but I don't trust the 100 at the longest ranges I'm capable of shooting.

I had superb accuracy with the 100 gr XLC but opted not to use it as a big deer killer.

Cheers heaps GHD, sounds like the one I will try 1st, still getting used to the rifle but early results point to it being very accurate if I play my part alright... :-}

Will load some up and once I get a few animals with it will post the results...
Cheers
sharpie

Good luck.

Both Winchester and Remington's standard 120 grain offerings, the PSPCL and whatever Winchester calls their bullet are fine performers also. This on Mule deer and antelope with a fewelk thrown in.

I've had great luck with the Remington 120 CLs in factory loads. I only see that I can buy the 100g CLs as componenets though.

This year I'll be using Barnes 100 in TSX and XLC to see which my rifle likes better. I've gone to the 168g TSX in my 30-06 and also Barnes for my ML. Guess I'm a convert.

I like those 120 gr Speer bullets for my 257 wby mag.

Before I got into my big-bore mania, I used my Sako 25-06 on mule deer. 115gr BTs were extremely accurate and absolutely devestating on behind the shoulder shots. My concern with these bullets is their ability to penetrate if a less than perfect broadside shot is presented. I was going to try NPs or Barnes X bullets but my fickle nature took me to different calibers.

Don't let dust collect on the Sako! The Barnes XLC, and TSX will definately penetrate a deer even through shoulders, and probably stem to stern though I've not tried it.
The bullets reccomended here are very good. If your using one of the HP or SP cup and core bullets then aim accordingly. Vitals first, then shoulder or whatever on the way out. You won't need to be tracking anything if it's hit well. Nate

I sure do appreciate this thread, and I did not even open it!!!!!!
LLS

I have a had great results with Nosler's 115 gr Ballistic Tips and my 25-06.