25-284 load comparison- which one would you choose for big game up to elk and why?

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Hey guys, just put together some load comparison data for my .25-284. This represents the extremes of bullet weight, velocity, and BC, comparing a fast 110 ELDX vs. a slower 134 ELDM.

The MV of the 110 is an estimate only based on Hornady load data (3200 MV in 24" 25-06 @52.1 gr SB 6.5 vs. 22" 25-284 @51 gr SB 6.5) while the 134 is actual MV from my rifle. Apologies, for the estimate, my Magneto is a POS. Although I don't have MV for the 110, I did shoot a 1.25 MOA 10 shot group with it yesterday, so the accuracy justifies considering it.

Based on this data, excluding ft. lbs of energy, which load would you choose and why? I'm not looking for an argument, just folks' feedback based on the data. I underlined the values at 700 yards, as this is the point where the higher BC of the 134 nullifies the velocity advantage of the 110.

NOTE: this assumes a guy has a range finder and knows his dope at range.

.25-284 comparison data
Muzzle	3150 FPS	2820 FPS
Range	110 Velocity	134 Velocity	110 Energy	134 Energy	110 Elevation	134 Elevation	110 Windage	134 Windage	110 TOF	134 TOF
	(fps)	(fps)	(ft-lbs)	(ft-lbs)	(mils)	(mils)	(mils)	(mils)	(s)	(s)
100	2973	2701	2159	2172	0	0	0.15	0.12	0.1	0.11
150	2887	2643	2036	2079	-0.13	-0.19	0.22	0.18	0.15	0.16
200	2803	2586	1919	1990	-0.34	-0.45	0.3	0.24	0.2	0.22
250	2720	2529	1808	1904	-0.59	-0.76	0.37	0.3	0.26	0.28
300	2639	2473	1702	1820	-0.86	-1.08	0.45	0.36	0.31	0.34
350	2560	2418	1601	1740	-1.16	-1.43	0.53	0.43	0.37	0.4
400	2482	2364	1505	1662	-1.47	-1.79	0.61	0.49	0.43	0.46
450	2405	2310	1413	1588	-1.8	-2.17	0.69	0.56	0.49	0.53
500	2330	2257	1326	1516	-2.15	-2.57	0.78	0.63	0.55	0.59
550	2256	2204	1244	1446	-2.52	-2.97	0.87	0.7	0.62	0.66
600	2184	2153	1165	1379	-2.9	-3.4	0.96	0.77	0.69	0.73
650	2113	2102	1090	1315	-3.3	-3.83	1.05	0.84	0.76	0.8
700	2043	2051	1019	1252	-3.72	-4.29	1.15	0.91	0.83	0.87
750	1974	2002	952	1193	-4.17	-4.76	1.25	0.99	0.9	0.94
800	1907	1953	889	1135	-4.63	-5.24	1.36	1.07	0.98	1.02
850	1842	1905	829	1080	-5.12	-5.74	1.46	1.15	1.06	1.1
900	1778	1858	772	1027	-5.63	-6.26	1.58	1.23	1.14	1.18
950	1715	1811	719	976	-6.17	-6.8	1.69	1.31	1.23	1.26
1000	1655	1766	669	928	-6.74	-7.36	1.81	1.4	1.32	1.34

 

[il_cop]

the 134 all day. longer bullet, higher sectional density = more material to cut flesh and the lower velocity compliments that bullet.

 

[wind gypsy]

Close range whitetail hunting, 110 AB. Anywhere a longer shot might be present id take the better wind deflection of the 134.