What would be the better choice to carry on a mule deer hunt in Wyoming, I have a howa 25.06 and a 270 savage. I love them both but really like the howa although I think the 270 will pack more punch it is heavier to lug around. My question is would a 25-06 be enough rifle on a big mule deer buck?
Caliber for Mule deer
- Thread starter iowashedhunter
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Blue Skies Hunting Advent
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Whitetail101
New Member
I have always liked the 270 for out west. I have had great sucess with it on western hunts for blacktail in California to Antelope in Wyoming.
I handload my 270 with a 150 grain Speer Grand Slam over 54.5 grains of IMR 4831 and seated .015" from the lands. I get 1 inch groups out to 300 yards using this load, which to me makes for a great western hunting round.
I handload my 270 with a 150 grain Speer Grand Slam over 54.5 grains of IMR 4831 and seated .015" from the lands. I get 1 inch groups out to 300 yards using this load, which to me makes for a great western hunting round.
I have killed lots of deer with a 2506, even a couple over 400 yds. one at 500. I've shot some big deer also and it worked just fine. Nothing wrong with the 270 either. If you look at the energy of both rounds, there isn't much difference. But I guess if I wanted to shoot him to drop him in his tracks I think the 270 would be a little better to hit shoulder bone with. I have 2 guns I use for deer, a 2506 and a .264 win mag. I can't tell the difference in which one kills faster. I'm sure if I was elk hunting I know I would take the 264.
Elkoholic307
Banned
My neighbor used a 257 weatherby for whitetail with the 110gr accubond bullets. He has taken both shoulders at 100yds on several big bodied deer with it, and the bullet held together and exited each time. I would not be afraid to use this bullet from a 25-06 on muleys. The 270 is a good choice also, I've used the 150gr partition and 130gr accubond in it. I use a 270WSM with 140gr accubonds for most of my deer hunting and been very happy with the results. Take whichever you are more comfortable shooting and you will be fine.
Elkoholic307
Banned
xtreme
Very Active Member
I would shoot the 2506 before taking the 270 for Mule deer. The BC is better for the 2506 and energy is almost the same at 500yds. The 2506 should have less felt recoil. My choice is the 243 WSSM out to 500yds after that I would use the 7mm with the 168 Bergers. The only time I will go big caliber is for the big bear if I ever get to hunt them. Dick Scorzafava, author of Radical Bear Hunter worked up a bear gun for Savage, it has all the bells and whistles and comes in 300 and 325. In this case I would go with the 325. Deer are not going to attack you and the little 243 WSSM is 10 for 10.
Smaller is better
Smaller is better
Airdog
New Member
I watched my cousin drop a cow elk at 315 yards with a 120 grain sierra gameking out of a 25-06. I think the 25-06 is a great deer rifle.
*******
Active Member
I carry a .270 but I load it up with 110gr barnes ttx. I run them pretty hot out of my gun and I've never had a problem. Great for the high country but I change to a 130gr round if I know I'm going to an area with heavy brush.
I guess I'm just old school! I use a 30.06 or a 300 win mag and either use a 150 grain for deer or a 180 grain for elk. To date neither has taken more than one shot for a kill. So it goes without saying, use what you shoot well with. Virtually any modern firearm will do well if you are familiar with it and take the time to become proficient!
xtreme
Very Active Member
I used the Windchester Ballistic Calculator and Windchester Supreme Silvertip 115 gr with a BC of .446 for the 06. The same bullet 130 gr with a BC of .433 for the 270. Researching again shows the 06 to be the flatter shooter. I hope this is correct.
I used the higher BC 140gr accubond when I ran the comparison, that was the difference. The 25-06 is still flatter out quite a ways because it has a higher muzzle velocity and the BC isn't that much lower. Eventually the higher BC bullet will overtake it, but it has to be quite a ways out there before that happens. The trajectorys are very close, the 25 is a little flatter to 500yds and the 270 drifts in the wind a little less, but they are really close.
Thanks for all the input everyone.I think Im going to go with the 25.06 with a 110 gr. accu-bond. I appreciate all the advice.
wolftalonID
Very Active Member
Both are great choices. I can legally in my state hunt with a .223 and do from time to time on deer. I use 50gr hollow points. Being they put a hole through 3/8 steel plates on my range, I am not afraid of a bone in the path of those rounds. With the smaller bullets, the wind can be a factor, so keep em in close. I dont hunt less than 100 yrds out, but thats the bow hunter in me wanting them close.
Your 25-06 is more than sufficiant for your mule deer. Just keep your shot placement clean and on the money.
This guy got hit at 48 yrds with a 55 grain Hornady Vmax. The rifle in the picture is a weatherby SUBMOA 223 rem. He took two steps and sat right down. Shot placement is key when shooting smaller caliber rounds. If your not certain, practice till you can before you go out in the field.
Your 25-06 is more than sufficiant for your mule deer. Just keep your shot placement clean and on the money.
This guy got hit at 48 yrds with a 55 grain Hornady Vmax. The rifle in the picture is a weatherby SUBMOA 223 rem. He took two steps and sat right down. Shot placement is key when shooting smaller caliber rounds. If your not certain, practice till you can before you go out in the field.
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T43
Active Member
Although I prefer larger calibers for Mule deer sized game I have taken one with my 220 Swift and it was a 1 shot drop. If you can put the round where you want it you should have no problems with the 25'06. My 220 is a tack driver, had I not been confident about shot placement I would never have taken it out but just because you have a larger caliber doesn't mean you can afford to make a bad shot. If your 25'06 performs better for you than your 270 it would be a mistake to take the 270 based on ballistics alone.
bigpapacow
New Member
Both will make dead deer. Take whatever one you are most comfortable with. Also, consider the terrain you will be hunting. Will you be taking long shots or fairly close? Perhaps one rifle performs better for you up close vs. at longer distances. Your accuracy should be your main consideration between the two and how it will apply in your specific hunting conditions. Might want to consider your scope set-ups as well. You wont need a 6-20 power in the lodgepoles, or a 1-4 power at 400 yards...