25-06 experience

[Mtstalker]

I picked up a used ruger m77 mark 2 heavy sporter in 25-06 1:10" twist. The gun is in awesome shape except the bluing on the muzzle and a portion of the stock has some dings ( it was a truck gun from a farmer). Unkown amount of shots but with factory ammo it wad shooting 1" at 100 yards. Since i have never owned a 25-06, what are your thoughts on it for a deer and close range elk gun? Any powders i should try first? Thanks.

 

[stacy]

ITS A GREAT CALIBER I HAVE SEVERAL AND THEY DO WELL TRY U SOME H-4831OR H-1000 AND SOME 115GR BERGERS AND U MAY BE SURPISED ON WHAT IT DOES !!!!!!

 

[cheek9075]

Can't say for elk, but works great on deer. I shoot 117gr sst, h4350 powder loaded to mag length. Great shooting round in the rifle i have, rem700 2506 sendero, stainless flutted. I bedded the action, installed muzzle brake, Jewell trigger. Best factory rifle I have ever had.

 

[Barlow]

Go for it, you will like it. Barlow

 

[nmkid]

My 25.06 really likes 110 gr Accubonds with 4831sc. When I can find the bullets!

 

[tripdad]

I Don't own one, but have hunted with 3 guys over the years that shot them and loved them. Absolute hammer on deer, but doesn't leave good blood trail, although most deer don't go over 20yd.

 

[Lone Hunter]

H4831 SC with 85 gr NBT's is an absolute bomb on varmints. You will be very impressed with it. Makes a real pretty red mist and mess. 115 gr NBT works on deer and is very accurate also. Next bullet I try will be the Bergers. I really like the way they shoot and perform in other calibers so I believe they will work in the 25/06 too.

 

[slm9s]

I'd consider light for elk. You know if you carried it, your dream bull would appear at a bad angle 300 yards away.

Perfect deer rifle though.

 

[joed49]

Great cartridge, I've owned one for 38 years. I wouldn't hesitate to use it on Elk with a 115 to 120 gr bullet. Lots of powders work fine in the .25-06, just find one with a burn rate close to IMR4350 and it will like it.

Some powders I've used and had good luck with are IMR4350, IMR4831, H4831/SC and RL19.

 

[ninehorses]

IMR 4350 with the Berger 115 vld hunting bullet will get you to 3050-3100 fps. Just about any 100-120 grain soft point will work for deer.

RL19 with the Nosler 85 grain BT will get you to 3600 fps and is hard on coyotes, not fur friendly.

 

[Mtstalker]

Thank you for the input. I was wanting to try the berger 115 vld but the box says 1:9 twist and mines a 1:10. I was concered that i have no idea how many shots have been through it, but it does shoot ok with factory. I will try it out. Thanks again.

 

[JRS]

Thank you for the input. I was wanting to try the berger 115 vld but the box says 1:9 twist and mines a 1:10. I was concered that i have no idea how many shots have been through it, but it does shoot ok with factory. I will try it out. Thanks again.

The 1:9 is optimal. The 1:10 will work. The 25 caliber will kill an elk as dead as a 30 caliber will.

 

[Mtstalker]

What kind of barrel life are you experiencing?

 

[JRS]

What kind of barrel life are you experiencing?

Barrel life will depend upon the type of powder you use and how hot you load it. With modern powders, used as a hunting rifle, you aren't going to wear out the barrel.

 

[msinc]

Brother-in-law uses that caliber for big game in Pa. He has dropped several black bear at longer ranges and I will attest that a black bear can be a tough animal to anchor. I believe the right bullet and the right shot placement are more important than the caliber, I mean, to a point..... still, I would use it for elk. From what I've seen I would use a 257 Weatherby magnum for anything on the planet!!!

 

[lawman29]

Ruger M77: RL19 53.5 100 gr Nosler.

 

[nmkid]

Second thought. Don't know what other folks have found but, my accuracy increased as I neared maximum loads.

 

[SS427]

We would not hunt with you for elk where I live. I don't want to potentially spend 2 days of the my season tracking an elk you wounded with it. Get a caliber that improves your odds of doing it right if you want to hunt elk.

 

[BP1]

I had one in a TC encore killed several deer and hogs with it. I also watched a fella put 11 rounds in a mule deer in VanHorn Tx.He had no business hunting.

 

[Patton243]

IMO, a 6.5-06 or 6.5x284 is better in every way over a 25-06. Bullet selection being the biggest reason. The 6.5s are definitely a BETTER selection over a .25 for hunting elk too.