25-06 round that people have had luck with bull elk

[BeastOfTheTrees]

Army has once again wrecked my archery season so it’s looking like 3rd rifle season is the only elk season I’ll get..... I have a savage 25-06 and cannot buy a new rifle this year so what’s a 25-06 round that people have experience with in killing a bull.

 

[FLAK]

If I were going Elk hunting with a .25-06 I would get my hands
on some 120gr. Nosler Partitions.
Love my .25-06.

 

[Rich M]

Ditto - get some Barnes TSX or Nosler Partition bullets and go shoot you an elk. They kill em with 243s all the time, so why not a 25-06?

 

[BeastOfTheTrees]

Just making sure I’ve only ever hunted them archery but I appreciate the info guys

 

[wannakillabigbull]

My best friend has hunted most of his life with a 25-06 and he swears by it. 120 grain Nosler partitions hand loaded to 3100 fps. He's taken elk out to 500 yards with that load but I wouldn't shoot near that far. If you make a well placed shot at a reasonable distance you'll have no issue taking down elk with that load.

 

[Salmonchaser]

I had a client take 4, four years in a row. 120 grain Nosler Partitions. First one stunned me the amount of damage in the chest. Next two I tracked. The gun wiggled or the elk wiggled but the bullet hit the upper leg, partition did what it should but had slowed down quite a bit. Next one slight angle away, through the liver into the chest, slam dunk with a 300 or 338 not so much with the 25. The bullet made it into the lungs but slow enough there wasn’t a lot of damage.
Point being, yes it works. With a good broadside presentation it works very well in my limited experience. A bad angle can be pushed, but not very far.
Thanks for your service, good luck on your hunt.

 

[Apollo117]

I've got an 25+ year old Savage model 110 in 25'06. Bill Gates "might" be able to buy it from me.

It shoots 120 grain Sierra GameKings into neat little clovers. It shoots 115 grain Barnes TSX into slightly less neat clovers. I would take the 115 Barnes TSX for elk. Keep the shots below 400 yards for good measure.

 

[BeastOfTheTrees]

Thanks everybody

 

[JaWally91]

My wife has had great luck with federal vital-shok, loaded with the 117 sierra game king. most consistent factory ammo out of a tikka t3

 

[Afhunter1]

I've shot a good number of deer with a 25-06 and 110 accubond. I wouldn't change a thing if I took that rifle elk hunting.

IMR 7828 SSC for 3275fps in a 24" barrel is my load.

 

[TauPhi111]

I'd go with the 115 Barnes TSX or the heaviest bonded bullet you can find and try to get as close as possible. The 25-06 has plenty of velocity so with a good shot I don't think you'd be lacking in energy.

 

[Tomahawker]

I'm in the same basic place... hopefully going on my first (and perhaps) only elk hunt this fall in Colorado. I have a TC Encore (for about the past 20 years). I bought it with a 300 Win Mag barrel but accuracy was horrible. Bought a 25-06 barrel and haven't regretted it at all (Wisconsin and Michigan Whitetail). I'd love to take the 25-06 on the elk hunt but concerned about being "under gunned" on a once in a lifetime hunt / (hopefully) animal. Don't use the 30 guns I have very much so I can't justify buying another. Grab the 25 or start messing around with the 300 WM again this summer to try to get it shooting decent. Getting a trigger job and locking hinge pin regardless.

 

[elkguide]

While a .22 in the ear will kill an elk and I have had clients take elk with everything from a .44 mag revolver to a .30-.30 to a .25-06, I do not recommend it. Yes with a properly placed (perfect) shot most anything will work but elk don't always co-operate and I like to have enough gun. Whatever weapon/caliber you choose the best advice would be to get proficient with your weapon. Shoot it from every position possible and then shoot it some more. Elk are the most incredible animal in the world to hunt and they are predictably unpredictable so you have to be ready for anything.

ENJOY.

 

[jmcd22]

I love my 25-06 and as others have said, I would probably go with a 120gr Nosler. Me personally, I wouldn't use it for elk, but that's me. I know it can get the job done but the margin for error is very tight. Elk amaze me with how tough they really are and I feel I owe it to them to have the correct caliber with room for error in case I make a bad shot so I stick with my 7mm...but again, that's my preference.

 

[String&stick]

Don't use the 30 guns I have very much so I can't justify buying another. .

Hell if your not using them, sell 2 buy a nice 7mm or 300 win and be set up to chase elk!

 

[Charon]

Good question.
I would say that a 117 grain bullet is not optimal for killing elk, however shot placement is everything.
If you can take a broadside or neck shot, then I can see nothing wrong with shooting the round at elk.
Just know your limitations, in that you cannot force the shot (running, walking away, etc).
I have seen elk killed with .243s the went out like a light.