.25-06 deer load
 

I just bought a T3 in .25-06. I want to hunt deer with it but I will be shooting at very close range likely, inside 60 yds. I was thinking of a 115 partition or maybe a Barnes? Also what bullet would you load for coyote?

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

I have loaded for 25-06 for more years than I care to reveal. Most of my better loads were with H4831. My Deer load was with 120 Gr. speer boat tails using 4831, and with 117 grain Hornadys, both the Pointed soft points and with the 117 round nose over IMR 4350. The 117 round nose is a devastating deer bullet. My daughter won't shoot anything else in her Sako. Use your favorite reloading manual for the loads. I seat the bullets .010" off the lands.

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

IMR 4831 and 120 grain Speer. Outstanding accuracy and excellent results on deer. The 100 grain Hornady also gives outstanding results with the 4831, and the deer don't run after being hit with this combo. It's just a matter of BANG, FLOP.

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

For the range you've mentioned, I would go with a Barnes TSX or Nosler Partition. Impact speeds will likely be high and that is no place for a light skinned bullet. As for coyotes, try the 75gr Hornady v-max. These doing upward of 3600fps is poison on dogs. Brett

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

The Hornady 120gr. HP was made for any range from the 25-06,95% of my shots on deer are less than 80 yards in my area and this bullet works execelent...;)

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

Deer? Speer Grand Slam 120gr & 51grsH4831-SC.

Try 48-49-50-51 & 52grs and see which one your's likes best!

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

I only load with RE#22 and H-4831 SC for my son's 25-06 in a Ruger 77 MKII.It prefers RE#22 for the 100gr Hornadys and either RE#22 or H-4831 SC for the 115-120gr slugs with the accuracy going to the H-4831 SC.All are under 1 MOA @ 100yards.Use Win brass if you can still get it as it lasts.Harold

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

For deer hunting expensive Barnes and Partitions arn't needed in my opinion.I've used Hornadys for 25 years and we eat wild game in my home 3-4 times a week, so you do the math.Partitions are the next logical step up for elk,bear and yes moose with your 25-06.As a coyote gun it's hard on fur and your deer loads will be best:RE: minimal expantion.Either 54-55grs. of RE#22 in Win brass behind a 100gr Hornady with Fed mag primer electrocutes deer as far away as you can hit them.I prefer Hornady's 120gr HP ,same case and primer with a 54gr dose of H-4831SC as they are a little easier on the meat damage, pretty well duplicating a 130gr in a .270 power wise short 10gr of lead.Moose, elk +bear ,same brass,primer with 115gr Partition seated on top of 54grs of RE#22.These loads have dumped several truck loads of meat over the years ,safe in my gun but back off about 3grs. in yours and work your way up watching for preasure signs and I think they will work for you as well.Hunted Manitoulin Island as a youth before moving to Alberta..........Good luck Harold

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

Nosler Ballistic Tips are the only bullets I like to shoot out of my 25-06....85 gr are awesome for yotes and i think they come in 120 gr for deer but in IL we can't use rifle for deer...I also use H4350 for powder

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

I don't have a 2506 currentlybut FWIWa good friend does he uses IMR4350 (shade over nosler max) with 100 NBTs(longer range deer and yotes) and 120 NPs (deer,etc), while the velocity is not tops for 2506 they both produce tiny groups on paper.

I think your best to be looking atthe NPor going with 120gr pillsfor deer.No need for a light for cal, boattail or polymer tip design, at these ranges.

Side note: I thought you bought/deceided onthe6.5x55 (if memory serve me correct it was also a Tikka)??? Letus know how it shoots! I wasweighing very heavy ona LH T3 2506, nice rifle but have it in my mindI want at least a 24" tube for its application.

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

I recently spent quite some time (10-15 min.) visiting with one of the specialist from Hodgdon's. I had called to talk with them specifically about my 25-06. I was looking for the best powder to use and was quite surprised at the results of my inquiry.
The specialist advised that the best powder to use for the 25-06 is Hodgdon's H1000. I told him that I had never talked with anyone that had used this powder and ask him what was the reason that he recommended H1000 so highly.
What he told me is basically this: The 25-06 case has a large capacity for powder but a small neck for the pressure to push the bullet out. If the powder used burns to fast, the load loses efficiency. H1000 burns at a rate that give the 25-06 maximum efficiency (That's a little simpler than the way he explained, but should give you the basic idea).
Following is the load that I worked up and with this load using H1000 you have a full case.

Bullet - Nosler 110 gr. Accubond
Powder - H1000 56 gr.
Primer - Federal 100
Case - Remington

I also loaded a second bullet

Bullet - Sierra Spitzer 87 gr.
Powder - H1000 60 gr.
Primer - Federal 100
Case - Remington

I was extremely pleased with the performance of both loads.

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

At the range your talking a good 120gr soft point like the Nosler Partition or the Speer Spitzer will get the job done. The Hornady 120grHP that was mentioned is also anothergood bullet. I've had very good results using any of these with IMR4350 and 4831.
Having said all that, my favorite powder for the 25.06 is RE22 and my favorite bullet is the 110gr Nosler Accubond. I've shot 6 deer with this combination so far with no bullet recovery, closest was 60yds and the longest was 286yds. I also haven't come across a 25.06 that wouldn't shoot this stuffwell with bullet weights from 110gr-120gr. Here's my pet load for my Rem Classic 25.06.

Rem Brass
Fed 210
RE22/53.5grs
OAL = 3.244 (0.010 off the lands in my rifle).

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

I have to agree with one of the other guys about the Speer Grand Slam 120 Gr, bullet. This is one of the best tough bullets I ever shot in my 25 cal. guns. It was the best bullet that I ever shot in my .257 Weatherby. It was very accurate also.:eek:

RE: .25-06 deer load
 

First of all I would say you made a very good choice in guns... I own three Tikkas and they all shoot awsome. In my 25/06 I use 49gr IMR 4350 with 115gr Nosler ballistic tips and it is some bad news for deer...As for yotes I use 100gr gamekings over 56gr IMR 4831...Note that the yote load is a very hot load and I only use it when it is very cold...You might want to start some were around 50grs and work your way up from there... As for fur I have to agree with one of the other guys in saying it is hard on hide if you catch any bone, but you didn't say wheter or not you were going to skin them??? Shoot safe and shoot lots!!!