25-06 Questions
 

Before I make up my mind an purchase my new firearm, I have a few questions for 25-06 shooters.

How fur friendly are they when loaded with varmint loads on coyotes? If you miss the shoulder blades and punch 'em thru the lungs, do they still leave a massive hole? I've seen a few 'yotes shot with 25s over the years and they were all blown up real bad.

RE: 25-06 Questions
 

The main thing to stay away from if you don't want pelt damage is to not shoot hollowpoint, or quick expanding bullets, and shoot the higher grain for cartridge loads. Depending on what else you plan on doing with the .25-06, I would tend toward 115 or 120 grain bullets. Cutting the velocity down really helps. Use something like a Nosler Partition and you shouldn't have any excessive pelt damage or to much hole to sew up thereby cutting into the pelts profitability. Use a full solid bullet if you want the absolute minimal pelt damage, about no expansion. Good Luck.

RE: 25-06 Questions
 

Same as above, use a heavy bullet that won't expand easily. Still the damage will be more than a regular varmint gun...you might look into Berger varmint bullets if you handload. They're not supposed to give a passthrough, just blow up after penetrating an inch or two making massive internal damage.

RE: 25-06 Questions
 

Yep, just gonna go with the 243 instead. I already have 2, never hurts to have 3 ;)Gun will mainly be used for a backup deer gun, coyotes, varmints, antelope. More than likely it will bounce around in my pickup 11 months out of the year.

RE: 25-06 Questions
 

:(

RE: 25-06 Questions
 

hahaha.

James - Don't worry I'm getting your favorite cartridge ;)

RE: 25-06 Questions
 

. Thats ok, somebody has to buy them.:D

RE: 25-06 Questions
 

Well at least it's just a beat around gun. It would be an insult for a 25-06 to be shut up in a pickup for that long [:'(]I'd say pelt damage between the 25-06 and 243 is comparably even.

RE: 25-06 Questions
 

I've shot a ton of coyotes over the years with my 243s and have had no issue with pelt damage.

Its actually an honor to be one of my pickup guns. My pickup guns see more action in a year time than many guys' rifles see in a lifetime of use ;)

RE: 25-06 Questions
 

So far mine has been extra NASTY to what I have killed with it...