Thoughts on a 25-06 for sheep/mountain rifle?

[bow_hunt32]

I've had excellent luck with the SSTs... I load now and the price has gone up for the factory stuff, but I've whacked about a dozen antelope and mule deer with it with most of them tipping over upon impact. BC is 0.39 but I've never noticed a problem hitting an animal... maybe ~ 3,100 fps helps!

Hornady Superformance 25-06 Remington Ammo 117 Grain Hornady SST

Superformance ammunition is loaded with proprietary propellants that increase the velocity ratings up to 200 feet per second compared to other popular...

www.midwayusa.com

How do they handle the wind?

 

[loggerchas]

Have an H&R 25-06 and have killed many antelope, deer, and cow elk with it over the years. Never have had an issue with terminal performance when I have done my part. Accuracy has been superb out of the H&R with an older Leupold and the price is definitely right.

 

[menhaden_man]

How do they handle the wind?

According to ballistics calculations, it looks like 3.1" of drift at 300 yds and 9.4" of drift at 500 yds with a 10 mph crosswind. For comparison, the 6.5 CM with 143 ELDX comes out with 2.2" and 6.6" of drift, respectively. I've never noticed a problem with drift but apparently take much more conservative shots than other folks.

Guys will knock quarter bores for that exact reason (drift), though I personally appreciate the flatter trajectory since I've never touched a turret in several dozen kills with a rifle. I don't have to think very much to drop something in it's tracks up to 300 yds. I think I posted Spomer's article earlier in this thread... regardless of what you think of him or how others will say my opinion is wrong, it's worth a read.

I think it'd be a fine rifle to hunt with but you're right in thinking through your options. I prefer to hunt with whatever gun gives me the most confidence... any of them will kill.

 

[neut]

My sheep hunting partner killed his first ram with a 25-06. It works well. I always lean to a lower recoiling cartridge that I can shoot effectively. My pick would be something in a short action 260, 7-08, etc but that 25-06 is a beauty. I run a 6.5x47L.

 

[kscowboy01]

If it's just sheep, that would be fine. However, if bear or moose are on the list as well, it might be a little light. Yes, I know moose have been killed with a 25-06 but I'd prefer something with a little more umph behind it. I took a .308 with 150 grain Accubonds and had 200 grain Accubonds ready for grizzly with a quick adjustment of the turrets.

 

[bow_hunt32]

Ran some 117 gr deer season XP through my Tikka the other evening, hard to beat a good shooting quarter bore!

 

[Pathfinder27]

I have a 25-06 in a T3 Lite stainless. Love that rifle but have only used it for a handful of midwest whitetails. Im considering packing it for an Antelope and Mule deer hunt this fall in WY, although I also have a .243, 6.5 CM, .270, 7 mag, and 300 Win mag, so its a tough choice. I recently came across winchester's 117 gr deer season xp and noticed the BC of .453 is pretty dang good for a quarter bore and only $24 a box. Compared to the 110 eldx at .465 and 110 Accubond .418 it seems like a pretty solid choice. Does anyone have any experience with this cheap deer season xp stuff?

I shot those 117gr Winchesters or Hornady American Whitetail 117gr. I've shot mule deer and hogs at about 400 yards with the Winchesters and they dropped dead in their tracks. I've had two occasions with the Hornady ammo where I shot whitetails and didn't find them for over 100 yards without even a drop of blood along the way. Not sure the cause or what. Either way though 25-06 with 117gr is my go to setup since 2010.