Last Fall I shot four Mule Deer with the 25-06. Three were with the Nosler Ballistic tip in 100 grain. The other was the same bullet in 115 grain. You can't beat the Balistic tips for deer IMO. The Roberts is really at its best with 100 grain bullets for chasing deer size game. I have shot a lot of deer with the 25-06, 257 Roberts and the 250 Savage. All with Balistic tips. I did use a few Barnes X bullets with good success.