25/06 for coyotes

[dvraa]

Hey guys I'm new here. I've been shooting a 25/06 for coyotes and white tails. I decided to try the 70 Sierra bullets and have so far just loaded up the hunting load recommended in the Sierra reloading book. I've dropped 4 deer with it making one shot kills carefully placing my shots.
Has anyone here have a pet accuracy load for this bullet they want to share?

 

[Shooter13]

Not being a wise guy, why change? One shot kill?! Keep it!!

 

[K22]

I agree with Mr. Shooter13, if ain't broke, don't fix it.

 

[dvraa]

First deer I shot with the 70 grain pill. My dejected son is holding it up. I was making a drive to try and push something by him. Unfortunately it didn't want to run the right way and I had no choice......

 

[jds holler]

I've heard that you guys have big honkin coyotes in MN. If you're keeping pelts, I'd use a different cartridge, but as you prolly know your 25 kills em dead. It also will shoot as far as you would ever need.. Would also be great for a bear if you have a tag at the right time of year.
Nice buck -- and welcome. jd

 

[dvraa]

Never kept a coyote or a fox pelt, I always shot them to kill them in the most violent way possible. Probably shot a 100 fox in the past with a Marlin 45/70. 300 gen jhp on top of 60 grains of H-4198. It averaged 2488fps@15' from the muzzle. Spectacular kills! Cut them clean in half!

 

[Big Mc]

Hey guys I'm new here. I've been shooting a 25/06 for coyotes and white tails. I decided to try the 70 Sierra bullets and have so far just loaded up the hunting load recommended in the Sierra reloading book. I've dropped 4 deer with it making one shot kills carefully placing my shots.
Has anyone here have a pet accuracy load for this bullet they want to share?

What Shooter 13 said. TommyMc

 

[Guybo]

I've killed quite a few coyotes here in southeastern NC mostly while sitting in a deer stand and they just happen to walk out. I have killed several while actually set up and hunting for them but instead of working up a different coyote load i just use the same Speer 120gr bullet that i hunt deer with. I don't save the hides so i don't care about the damage it does as long as it takes them out.

 

[Lefty2506]

As far as deer go, I shot this one in 2017 with a Rem 700 Sendaro chambered in 25/06. The load was a 115gr NBT over a stiff charge of H4831sc. I measure it at 167" gross. He dressed out just a little over 225lb. The load was by far the most accurate load I'd ever shot from any rifle. On a good day, I could pretty consistently hit a playing card on edge from 200 yds off the bench, and occasionally cut them in half. The shot was just over 200 yds. It was a high shoulder shot. Broke the spine, but didn't penetrate as much as I'd really like so I moved to a tougher bullet. After a couple of years I switched to an AR chambered in 6.5G because 300 yds is the absolute max possible distance I can shoot while hunting, and there are only 2 stands that I hunt from that can present a shot over 225 (even those are generally closer).

My coyote load is an 85gr NBT at around 3800 fps, but I never found a super accurate load for it. All of my shots on yotes have been under 200 yds so I didn't need a tack driver. I rarely hunt yotes specifically (lack of time), but I've probably killed 10 or 12 with it over the years. All were bang flops. Originally (late '90s) I assumed that such a load would almost cut a yote in half, but it turned out not to do much damage to them. The only exception was one that I shot head on in the chest from 85 yds out of a deer stand. The pressure in its body cavity ruptured the hide from the sternum to the groin which was pretty impressive.

 

[sw282]

Twas gifted a 40X RangeMaster in 25-06 right around New Years 2025. lt shoots everything below 3/4''. That includes 100gr Factory CoreLocks @.586, 115gr Bergers from Jarrett's grouped .640''. The Factory target using 87gr Remingtons was under .4! Perhaps 70gr Sierras are in its future..

 

[dvraa]

Hey guys I'm new here. I've been shooting a 25/06 for coyotes and white tails. I decided to try the 70 Sierra bullets and have so far just loaded up the hunting load recommended in the Sierra reloading book. I've dropped 4 deer with it making one shot kills carefully placing my shots.
Has anyone here have a pet accuracy load for this bullet they want to share?

 

[dvraa]

Here are my two everyday carry guns. My BFR in 45/70 and my custom 25/06. The BFR has taken 7 coyotes, it's the most accurate hand gun I have ever owned. I generally shoot a 365 grain hard cast gas checked Ranch dog over 32 grains of 4759. Easy shooting and deadly accurate.
The 25/06 is screwed together with a Dumoulin action, Bartien 27-3/4" barrel, a Jard 5 oz trigger, Bell&Carson stock, Bushnell Match Pro scope, and a Caldwell bi pod.
I haven't really shot it enough yet but the 70 grain Sierras shot a one hole group at a 100 yards.

 

[std7mag]

I've taken coyotes and deer with 3 different 25 caliber rifles, unfortunately not my 25-06 yet.

Savage Axis II with E.R. Shaw 24" sporter barrel in 250 Savage.
Have taken 4 coyotes with the discontinued 75gr Sierra HP Varmint and the 90gr Sierra BlitzKing.
Deer with the 100gr NBT.

Ruger 77 MKII in 257 Roberts.
Have taken 3 coyotes with the 75gr Sierra HP Varmint and the 90gr Sierra BlitzKing.
Another 3 during a sit with 100gr NBT that I accidentally grabbed instead of the 90gr BlitzKing.
Those really made a mess of the pelts!
Deer with the 115gr NBT & 115gr Berger VLD.

Savage 111 with E.R. Shaw 24" sporter barrel in 257 Roberts AI.
Coyotes with the 75gr Sierra HP Varmint and the 90gr Sierra BlitzKing.
Deer with the 115gr NBT & Berger VLD along with the 120gr Partition.

I'm not sure where @Lefty2506 is having penetration issues with the 115gr NBT.
In the 40 years of deer hunting I have never recovered any part of a Ballistic Tip. All have been complete pass throughs.
From the 100gr NBT out of the 250 Savage to the 165gr in 30-06.
Yes, I've hit bone, taking out both shoulders in one case with a 150gr NBT out of my 280 Rem & offside shoulder with the 257 Roberts with the 115gr NBT.

 

[Eric Leonard]

With 70s I’d start with 4064 and work to max pressure

 

[Treerat-sniper]

Worked with a guy years ago who drove over from WI, his only centerfire rifle was a 700 BDL in .25-06. He killed a truckload of coyotes & deer (and one WI black bear it took him years to draw a tag for). I believe he only used 100gr core-lokt for yotes & 120s for the "big stuff."
*Edit: he wasn't saving pelts!

 

[JB10]

I used to to coyote hunt competitions here in AZ before they got outlawed. The last year we had one, when i met up with a friend i asked him how many they for and what their weight was. The only one he shot he did not pick up the pieces. I gave him a puzzled look. He smiled and said he took out his 338 lapua to try out. Said there was not much left.

 

[Lefty2506]

I've taken coyotes and deer with 3 different 25 caliber rifles, unfortunately not my 25-06 yet.

I'm not sure where @Lefty2506 is having penetration issues with the 115gr NBT.
In the 40 years of deer hunting I have never recovered any part of a Ballistic Tip. All have been complete pass throughs.
From the 100gr NBT out of the 250 Savage to the 165gr in 30-06.
Yes, I've hit bone, taking out both shoulders in one case with a 150gr NBT out of my 280 Rem & offside shoulder with the 257 Roberts with the 115gr NBT.

In that particular case, the bullet was lodged against the spine. It did not penetrate the spine, only broke it enough to drop him in his tracks. I've also shot more than a few deer with my 16" Encore pistol chambered in 7-08 using a 140gr NBT running close to 2600 fps at the muzzle (IIRC). Some of those shots did not exit, but were laying under the hide on the far side. Depending on a person's train of thought, they might consider that to be ideal terminal performance. I didn't complain about it. I just wasn't really impressed with the results of THAT one specific 115gr NBT. It did the job, and I'd never say it's not adequate for deer. I'd just prefer something that always gives me an exit wound on deer. For coyotes, its population control for me, so carnage is fine. Normally they are targets of opportunity while deer hunting. These days that means the get shot with a 6.5 Grendel, 300 Blackout, or my smokeless Savage ML which pushes a 300gr SST at just over 2400 fps. I've probably killed more with my ML than anything else, and its ALWAYS a bang flop. Not good on hides though, not good at all...

 

[dvraa]

I usually end up banging away with my BFR, not often they stick around long enough for me to uncase my rifle. I've gotten pretty good with my big revolver.

 

[rmeyerwy]

I have taken a fair number of critters with the ol 25-06, Pdogs, fox, coyotes, mule deer, whitetail, antelope and 3 elk. Not the best elk gun, all took 3 to 4 shots to put down, they probably were dead as all were vital shots under 200 yards, but if the bull was standing, walking or running, I was shooting. Best suited for deer and antelope in my mind, but will launch a Pdog on up to heaven pretty quick with a 90 grain HP

 

[Larry Koch]

25-06 is hard to beat in United States for hunting. Maybe a 30 mag for Elk size same.