25/06

[Grizzly550]

What do u guys think about 25/06 with 120 gr for elk?

[Fridaythe13th]

Not very big of a caliber but it well work for shorter ranges. I love my 25/06 browning medallion but bought a 300 ultra mag for elk. Maybe over kill if there is such a thing.

[explorerss]

Shot my first bull with a 25-06. The bull was about 120 yards out, first shot was right behind the shoulder, he kinda hunched forward but didn't take any steps so I shot him again, same thing right behind the shoulder and same thing hunched forward so I jacked another round in and fired, hit him in the neck and he stood up on his hind legs and flipped over backwards. 2 of the shots were pass throughs. As long as you can put the shot where it counts I think it's plenty lethal. I wouldn't shoot over 300 yards tho.

[Rangerz]

I have a 25.06 and love it. Tack Driver. I would only use it for elk if I had no other option.

[Indian Summer]

I'll just be honest: That's too light. I won't say you can't kill an elk with it. Hell I know a guy who killed a 5 point bull with a .22! Yes...a .22. He was a young kid at the time. He shot it in the head... many times. Not pretty.

When people ask about rifle calibers and poundage on bows you will always hear "Placement is key. With proper placement it will do" And that is usually true. That said I am sure I could kill an elk or even a moose with a spear.

I guarantee you that if you were only able to shoot an elk 1 time with a 120 grain bullet, although he may die from a perfect shot... it would not be quick and who knows how far into a hell hole it could make it before that happened. Wouldn't you prefer a humane kill? Humane means quick.

My niece shot a cow one time at just under 100 yards with a .243. There was a fairly large herd and we couldn't be quite sure which one she picked out to shoot. But at the shot they all ran off but one. She never flinched though. Just stood there for awhile then walked off not staggering or limping. We were lucky that there was snow and we were in a wide open area with meadow and a burn & no other cover. It was foggy and we inched our way closer to where she had been standing to look for blood. Before I got to that spot I saw her bedded down head up looking fine actually. We took nearly an hour to circle around and get my then 13 year old niece to about 50 yards. The cow was chewing her cud and fully alert. She looked calm as if nothing had happened. Of course we knew she was hit but I was sure wondering where at. My niece is an extremely good shot and after awhile we got her settled in and she shot the cow right in the eye and it dropped immediately. When we went over I found the original shot and inspected the wound channel when we dressed it out. It was a perfect double lung shot. Experiences like that teach me how amazingly tough an elk can be. There are many stories of elk being dressed out by hunters who find arrows and bullets in them from earlier shots. They are not deer! Heck.. deer are pretty tough too. So are turkeys for that matter right?

I know not everyone can just run out and buy a better tool for the job. But I'd bet you can find someone who will lend you a heavier gun. I think everyone knows someone with at least a .30-06.

So even though you could kill an elk sized critter with a .25-06 it won't be pretty and there's also a chance you may not find it. That's a risk I would personally prefer not to take.

[Grizzly550]

I have a 25.06 and love it. Tack Driver. I would only use it for elk if I had no other option.

Thanks for info!

[Grizzly550]

I have a 25.06 and love it. Tack Driver. I would only use it for elk if I had no other option.

Thanks for info!

[Grizzly550]

I'll just be honest: That's too light. I won't say you can't kill an elk with it. Hell I know a guy who killed a 5 point bull with a .22! Yes...a .22. He was a young kid at the time. He shot it in the head... many times. Not pretty.

When people ask about rifle calibers and poundage on bows you will always hear "Placement is key. With proper placement it will do" And that is usually true. That said I am sure I could kill an elk or even a moose with a spear.

I guarantee you that if you were only able to shoot an elk 1 time with a 120 grain bullet, although he may die from a perfect shot... it would not be quick and who knows how far into a hell hole it could make it before that happened. Wouldn't you prefer a humane kill? Humane means quick.

My niece shot a cow one time at just under 100 yards with a .243. There was a fairly large herd and we couldn't be quite sure which one she picked out to shoot. But at the shot they all ran off but one. She never flinched though. Just stood there for awhile then walked off not staggering or limping. We were lucky that there was snow and we were in a wide open area with meadow and a burn & no other cover. It was foggy and we inched our way closer to where she had been standing to look for blood. Before I got to that spot I saw her bedded down head up looking fine actually. We took nearly an hour to circle around and get my then 13 year old niece to about 50 yards. The cow was chewing her cud and fully alert. She looked calm as if nothing had happened. Of course we knew she was hit but I was sure wondering where at. My niece is an extremely good shot and after awhile we got her settled in and she shot the cow right in the eye and it dropped immediately. When we went over I found the original shot and inspected the wound channel when we dressed it out. It was a perfect double lung shot. Experiences like that teach me how amazingly tough an elk can be. There are many stories of elk being dressed out by hunters who find arrows and bullets in them from earlier shots. They are not deer! Heck.. deer are pretty tough too. So are turkeys for that matter right?

I know not everyone can just run out and buy a better tool for the job. But I'd bet you can find someone who will lend you a heavier gun. I think everyone knows someone with at least a .30-06.

So even though you could kill an elk sized critter with a .25-06 it won't be pretty and there's also a chance you may not find it. That's a risk I would personally prefer not to take.

Thanks for info!

[Grizzly550]

Shot my first bull with a 25-06. The bull was about 120 yards out, first shot was right behind the shoulder, he kinda hunched forward but didn't take any steps so I shot him again, same thing right behind the shoulder and same thing hunched forward so I jacked another round in and fired, hit him in the neck and he stood up on his hind legs and flipped over backwards. 2 of the shots were pass throughs. As long as you can put the shot where it counts I think it's plenty lethal. I wouldn't shoot over 300 yards tho.

Thanks for info!

[Grizzly550]

Not very big of a caliber but it well work for shorter ranges. I love my 25/06 browning medallion but bought a 300 ultra mag for elk. Maybe over kill if there is such a thing.

Thanks for info!

[pointysticks]

as a young kid, i read a lot. i read stories of Ed Weatherby shooting elk with his 257 Wtby magnum. i stored it away in my memory banks. when it came time to buy my first rifle, you guessed it. i got a Mark Wtby in the 257. that thing tipped mule deer over with ease. i shot six bucks with that thing..out to 250 yards and every single one of them, just folded right there. they all died on their feet.

my first elk hunt in colo..i took it. i'll be honest, i was nervous. it's a light bullet. i was shooting factory loaded ammo..using nosler partitions. the best bullet i could afford at the time. i never got to fire at an elk. (long horrific story)

when i actually got to shoot an elk, i kinda chickened out. i used a 30.06 with a 180 gr partition.

now i'm not sure if i will ever fire a bullet at an elk again. the arrow thing is proving to be a real challenge. it's gonna take me a while i suspect.

the 257 puts a little more heat on the bullet. but like anything, i put more weight on bullet placement than anything. in my childhood reading, i learned that Eskimo people shoot polar bears with 30-30's!!! that is a crazy. hahahah.

[baddaddy]

Grizz,

Might I suggest a 115 grain Barnes TSX bullet for your 25-06. They are great bullets for small calibers if you are going after Elk. I use one in a 7-08 and have had great luck with them dropping Elk. I tend to go to larger rounds like a 35 Whalen for elk but I dont think twice about grabbing that 7-08 and using it either. Just my .02.