Thanks Ron. I'm currently shooting a .270 Tikka T3 Lite. I've scaled back from a 30/06. The .270 is still more than I need for our local deer. The T3 is nice and lite (6.2 pounds) for hunting. If I go to a .25/06, I'll have to go to a heavier rifle.

25-06 is a 30-06 necked down. Great cartrige, one of my favorites...used to load 117gr but I really like the 110 accubond and suprisingly found RL22 with mag primers to work the best in mine. Between my two boys and I using it we have taken antelope, mule deer and cow elk and never wished we were carrying a different gun. The longest kill was 406 yards lung shot on a cow.

Been shooting a 25-06 model 70 for a long time.117 gr round in the kill zone=dead deer.had a model 70 270 and alawys shot 130 gr bullets.to be honest they both killed deer on the spot.last deer i shot with the 25-06 was 300 yds laser,dropped where it was standing.25-06 is a excellent caliber for deer sized animals,flat shooting and hard hitting with a light recoil.enjoy!

Your 280 is a great mule deer rifle. I shoot factory Hornady light magnums with the 139 gr SST bullet and it just plain flatasses mulies and whitetails out to 400 yds here in Saskatchewan. If you are comfortable shooting it maybe switch glass from the 25-06?!?! Above all - Shoot Straight!!!

Sorry!! Didn't read all the posts just jumped in the middle of the conversation!! Sorry you didin't get your deer but glad you had a good hunt. I didn't get my deer this year but that was by choice as I was looking for a specific one but had an awesome season myself!! Good luck tuning up the 25-06. A friend of mine used one to take an antelope, a whitetail and an elk. He also put the finishing touch on two other whitetails that others had not hit well. Add about a dozen coyotes?? This is a quarter-bore that works!! Again - good luck and Shoot Straight!!

The 25-06 is a fine deer cartridge, whether it's whitetails or muleys. I use 120 grain reloads in mine and no whitetails have ever got away. I wouldn't hesitate to take it muley hunting.