Long range bullet for .25-06??

What bullet do you .25-06 shooters like for longer range hunting applications?

I know you don't always have to shoot 400-500 yds. but I'd like to work up a load that would be capable of taking a Mule Deer out to that range.

I'm kind of looking at Sierra Game Kings and Barnes TSX both in the 117gr. range.

I've got some IMR 4831 and 4064 as well as some IMR 4350.

Your choices are good but the long range king of hunting bullets for the 25-06 is the 115gr Berger VLD. 53gr of IMR-7828 and the Bergers is hard to beat.

If you are wanting to go with a barnes bullet I would go with one of the tipped ones. I have heard they expand alot more readily than the tsx. I think you will have a hard time getting good expansion at the reduced velocity of long range. I would think an accubond or the beger's or even a balitic tip should do you well at 4-500 yards

matt

Nosler accubonds work well also.

Another good option would be the 120 gr nosler partition..that is a good game round and a little heavier bullet which should have slightly more energy...Ive been shooting the bergers and they are a devastating round on game although I havent had a shot in the 400-500yd range yet...but at 200yds, man they do work!

I,ve shot Federal Premium Ammo with Partitions before and my gun did NOT like them. Shot abou 2" groups at 100 yds.

Don't know which part of the recipe it didn't like but Just in case it was the bullet, I'm going to put the Nosler further down the list.

I guess the most important thing to consider at that range is accuracy right?

I'm thinking the Bergers might be the first Guinea pig for this round.

Have any of you loaded the Sierra Gameking 117gr.? How did it do as far as accuracy? I've heard it's packs a good punch.

berger, ttsx, or accubond. all good long range profiles. i have no experience with the bergers, but the other 2 will cover you for close shots to long shots.

Accuracy, ballistic coeffient, and ability to expand at reduced velocity.

I would start with the Bergers and the 117gr GameKings. It's likely that one of those two will be very accurate in your rifle. If not, you may have a problem with the rifle!

I would say the 100gr. TSX loaded to max

I shot a doe with my .257wby at 417yds this year with a 100gr barnes TSX and it ran about 30yds with a fire hose blood trail.

I think the hollowpoint design opens up MUCH more readily, and I think the accubond would be a good choice to but I dont think it will open as quickly at long ranges as the TSX with its open tip.

I however would not use a Sierra game king, sorry but the only deer that I have ever lost was shot with one at 250yds

If you are going to try the TSX, I would suggest the newer, Tipped TSX. It has a plastic tip which improves the BC and provides more reliable expansion at longer ranges where the velocity has fallen off.

I just played around a little on some ballistic software and at 500 yds, the difference in drop between the 115/117 bullets and the 100gr TSX is about an inch. But the heavier bullets drift a lot less in the wind than the lighter bullet. With range finders, it's easier to adjust for the correct drop than it is to dope the wind at long range. JMHO.

dewayne: With respect, if you did not recover the deer that you shot with the GameKing, how can you know it was the bullet's fault? I have shot many deer with that bullet from 25/06's, 257's and 257AI's. Never had a problem.

There was blood every where and a good trail but the deer kept going and going while being chased by a pack of wild dogs, the deer made it close to a road before it died and was carried off by some Okies on Thanks giving morning.

The bullet was a 130gr. 270win sierra game king, and while I did not recover the deer I do know this.

the deer was hit in the shoulder and his front end buckled and he pushed himself with his hind legs for 40yds and stood up with one legs flopping around(the shoulder I hit him in) and made it to the tree line before I could put another one in him.

Found tons of blood, and no it was not a gut shot but it just kept going and going.

While I cant say for certain that it was the bullets performance....it just soured me on the Gamekings and I Killed my first buck with a That very same load and same bullet and even killed a couple after that buck i lost but after that I never could really trust them again.

Switched to nosler accubonds in 140gr for the .270 and on occasion the 140gr interlock from hornady.

I breifly tried the gameking in .257wby and wasnt happy with the explode on impact results I saw at 3,500fps velocity

I have been pleased with the performance of the 100gr TSX from Point blank contact at 3,500fps to 417yds it has held up and has expanded and performed flawlessly, and thats what I think hes looking for a bullet that will work at point blank and all the way out to long range.

Tough Decisions. I do think I'm gonna go with a 115-120 gr. bullet because of the wind drift advantage. I guess I just have to find what is most accurate in my gun. I'll probably try the Gameking then Berger then TSX in that order.

Based on the reviews that I have looked at the Berger and Gameking seem to have the best accuracy and the Gameking had some consistently good reports on energy transfer.

I have heard that the TSX is devastating and provides great penetration, but I have heard some mixed reviews about accuracy.

Thanks for the advice everyone.

I load both the 100gr Barnes TTSX & the 115gr TSX for .25-06 over IMR7828 & 4350 respectively. I prefer the TTSX, better expansion @ longer ranges & holds together plenty good up close.

x2.

Where do y'all get the TTSX in .257? Only place I have looked so far is Cabelas and they don't have .257 cal in TTSX.

http://www.federalpremium.com/products/compare/rifle_compare.aspx

I used this link at federalspremium.com

I compared

117gr sierras
115gr partitions
100gr barnes tsx

in 25-06 and it seams the 100tsx had the least wind drift and had the most energy at 500yds

Ive said it before and will again, love the tsx, good accurate bullets, will hold up very well under high velocity impacts even on the most solid bone and muscle of your targeted critter, but I have had poor results with reduced velocity from long range and just plain slow bullets. They dont expand reliably at slower velocities.

That said I have never lost an animal with them, but if you are specificaly tailoring a load to be used at long range I would look for something else.... if you like them try the TTSX

I load the Sierra Game Kings 117gr in my 25-06 and it shoots this bullet better than any others I have tried. I have tried the Barnes and the nosler partition. Both from 90 up to 120 with horrible accuracy. I dont have the specs as I am at work, but it is close to max load. In the two 25-06 I have had, both have gotten their best groups close to max load. As with anything, start low and work your way up.

110 gr.accubond 49.8 gr.imr 4007ssc or 115 vld 49.0 4007. both loads consistanly hits everything i aim at out to 600 yds. my most accurate load is 100 nos.bt 50.0 gr. 4007. but wind affects it out past 500 yds.shoots 1/2in. or under at 100 yds.

Midway, Midsouth, etc.

Just an update. I picked up a box of 117 gr. Sierra Game Kings, loaded up 3 with 45 grains Accurate 4350 and CCI 250s. I already had that powder in the powder measure so I figured I'd give it a whirl.

Shot a 3 shot group that measured .370". Didn't have time to set up the Chrony since it was getting dark but according to the data book I should be in the neighborhood of 2600-2700 FPS. Gonna work up in speed and see what happens.

My 25-06 loves the accubonds. deadly deadly deadly

The most accurate for me at long ranges is the sierra gameking boat-tail hollowpoints. A buddy also used them for the longest shot he ever made on a south texas buck that field dressed at around 170, around 450 yards. very accurate in factory and reloads not a picky bullet.

yukon: who puts that bullet in a factory load?

I think Federal offers some Sierra Game King but I'm not sure. might look through the Federal Premium ammo on Midway USA.

Thanks for the reply. Federal Premium lads the 117gr Sierra GameKing SBT. But I am not aware that anyone loads the 120gr HPBT GameKing.

I shoot Sierra Gamekings outof my 25-06 with 51.5 grains of IMR 4831 and a Magnum Primer. Flat shooting very accurate load. Bullet may not exit every time but I havent ever had a deer go more than 30 yds after being hit. Most were instant drops on the spot. I have bought some Berger VLD 115 grains to try but havent loaded them yet.

120 grn hpbt gameking..

much as I love the 120gr Sierra HPBT, I would not recommend it for long range. The BC is pretty pedestrian for a 257 bullet of that weight