American Pred 25-06

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Nogood2488

New member
Thanks for the add here guys,

I recently purchased a Ruger American Predator in 25-06. It’s been a lot time since I’ve had a 25-06. What would be a good all around factory flat shooting cartridge for it to take anything from groundhog to deer with. I would rather not which back and forth depending on what I’m shooting as anything could pop up at anytime. I know some loads may be over kill for say a groundhog, but want a good load to take a deer cleanly with, with proper shot placement of course.
Thanks in advance,

Gary
 
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While I tend to prefer heavey per caliber based on your criteria I would give these a try 25-06 Remington 110 gr ELD-X® Precision Hunter
 
My answer would be the 110gr Nosler Accubonds. Perhaps a bit much for the groundhogs, but shooting these myself deer,bear and elk have all been taken at ranges from 45 yards out to 320 and zero qualms about results or accuracy. This is from a rebarreled Weather by Vanguard.
 
Nice. What I plan on doing is buying a box of quite a few that are recommended and see which round the rifle likes best. I have heard good things about the American predator rifles, but also heard they can be picky. And well I want the flattest shooting round that the gun itself shoots the best.
 
I know these are only 100 grain but do yourself a favor and try a box of the Barnes VorTx 100 grain ttsx ammo. They absolutely hammer deer and have been extremely accurate out of 2 different 25-06 rifles that I have owned.
 
Originally Posted By: Nogood2488Thanks for the add here guys,

I recently purchased a Ruger American Predator in 25-06. It’s been a lot time since I’ve had a 25-06. What would be a good all around factory flat shooting cartridge for it to take anything from groundhog to deer with. I would rather not which back and forth depending on what I’m shooting as anything could pop up at anytime. I know some loads may be over kill for say a groundhog, but want a good load to take a deer cleanly with, with proper shot placement of course.
Thanks in advance,

Where did you get it, can’t find any 25-06 on Rogers web

Gary
 
Just happen to do a google search for the Ruger American predator rifle and it popped up on Gunsamerica page. Even has a fde stock which I love especially over the green. Suppose to be a Ruger distributor exclusive or something. Ruger has never listed a 25-06 in the American predator. I was actually looking for a 6.5 Creedmoor, but when I saw that one in 25-06 I had to have it. So ordered it right then and there.
 
If it turns out to be picky, try the Barnes. My vanguard S2 is a picky SOB but it will put Barnes 80 and 100grn bullets on top of each other.
 
After 40 years owning and shooting a .25-06 if you want to stay with 1 bullet for the rifle for most game pick the 100 gr. My second year of owning my rifle I tried the 100 gr bullets for groundhogs. They worked and had I been able to hunt deer in Ohio would have been good to go.

I prefer the light bullets of 85/90 gr for groundhogs as you won't get ricochets but the 100 gr is about as close to a universal bullet as you can get.

My bullet of choice was the Nosler 100 gr solid base and BT.
 

The Speer 100 gr. SP is a very good bullet in a 25-06. Many guys go heavier but that one bullet has been a do-all for me. It's great for Wyoming antelope, deer, turkey, groundhogs etc. That's the only bullet I use in my 25-06 and have been well pleased.
 
Will have to say 1 bullet for everything would be the 100 grain. There are probably more avaialbe to choose from in that weight which gives you more chances for the best accuracy.

I have used more 75 vmaxs for coyotes then the 100s or 85s, but that has been for higher velocities and flatter trajectory. The trade off is a messy kill somethimes vs one hole and dropped hard with the 100s. The 85s are just as bad as the 75 vmaxs.

Your going to loose some speed with the 22" barrel so a suggestion would be the 80 grain Barnes. Should be able to get 3500+ FPS or close and bad medicine or Deer and smaller.
 
Originally Posted By: BOWLSEYEWill have to say 1 bullet for everything would be the 100 grain. There are probably more avaialbe to choose from in that weight which gives you more chances for the best accuracy.

I have used more 75 vmaxs for coyotes then the 100s or 85s, but that has been for higher velocities and flatter trajectory. The trade off is a messy kill somethimes vs one hole and dropped hard with the 100s. The 85s are just as bad as the 75 vmaxs.

Your going to loose some speed with the 22" barrel so a suggestion would be the 80 grain Barnes. Should be able to get 3500+ FPS or close and bad medicine or Deer and smaller.

I can attest to that. I am 1.5 grains under max with Reloader 17 under an 80grn TTSX, out of my 24 inch Vanguard they will do 3,560fps. I am willing to bet you could get 3600fps out of a 22 inch barrel with a max charge. I am the same 1.5 under max of RL22 under a 100grn TTSX and they will do 3200fps. They shoot pretty good too.
https://imgur.com/pkfIMgh
 
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Originally Posted By: bmooreOriginally Posted By: BOWLSEYEWill have to say 1 bullet for everything would be the 100 grain. There are probably more avaialbe to choose from in that weight which gives you more chances for the best accuracy.

I have used more 75 vmaxs for coyotes then the 100s or 85s, but that has been for higher velocities and flatter trajectory. The trade off is a messy kill somethimes vs one hole and dropped hard with the 100s. The 85s are just as bad as the 75 vmaxs.

Your going to loose some speed with the 22" barrel so a suggestion would be the 80 grain Barnes. Should be able to get 3500+ FPS or close and bad medicine or Deer and smaller.

I can attest to that. I am 1.5 grains under max with Reloader 17 under an 80grn TTSX, out of my 24 inch Vanguard they will do 3,560fps. I am willing to bet you could get 3600fps out of a 22 inch barrel with a max charge. I am the same 1.5 under max of RL22 under a 100grn TTSX and they will do 3200fps. They shoot pretty good too.
https://imgur.com/pkfIMgh


I was getting 3620 fps from my 24" barrel with the Nosler 85 gr bullet and some older RL17. Something has changed as I bought a newer lb and can't get that velocity out of it now.
 
Nogood2488 said:
Thanks for the add here guys,

I recently purchased a Ruger American Predator in 25-06. It’s been a lot time since I’ve had a 25-06. What would be a good all around factory flat shooting cartridge for it to take anything from groundhog to deer with. I would rather not which back and forth depending on what I’m shooting as anything could pop up at anytime. I know some loads may be over kill for say a groundhog, but want a good load to take a deer cleanly with, with proper shot placement of course.
Thanks in advance,

Gary
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I am reloading 115 grain Berger Hunting VLD's and getting great results on Antelope from 70 yards to 418. Does the job every time and love that Ruger American Predator in 25-06. Won it years ago in the 4R program Ruger promoted for sales as this one could not be purchased then for retail sales. Almost sold it till I shot it then just decided to keep it after the first couple animals down with it. Paired with a Vortex 4-16x44 Viper Scope I'm very confident with it out to 500 yards. Coyotes I would go to 700...
 
The 80gr TTSX Barnes looks like a winner, spendy but how many are you going to toss at game. I use 100gr Partition in my 25-204 (2850 fps) for deer and still have a good stock of 75gr X bullets.
 
I dont shoot solid coppers very often simply because of the cost of factory ammo, but after shooting them, clean your barrel very well before switching back to standard bullets. Ive read and watched multiple accounts of accuracy changing dramatically from not cleaning the bore sufficiently after shooting solid copper and going back to jacketed bullets.

Im in the same boat of finding the best factory load with my .22 creedmoor right now. Shooting it today hopefully! Hornady 69gr vmatch, 80gr precision hunter, and 88gr hsm. Havent found any 80gr eldm on the shelf yet but anxious to compare it to the 80gr eldx! See if they do maintain the same accuracy between them.

Good luck!
 
6mm06 said:
The Speer 100 gr. SP is a very good bullet in a 25-06. Many guys go heavier but that one bullet has been a do-all for me. It's great for Wyoming antelope, deer, turkey, groundhogs etc. That's the only bullet I use in my 25-06 and have been well pleased.
Click to expand...
I have had very good luck with the Speer 100 grain in both mine and my son’s 25-06. Taken deer, hogs, coyotes and pronghorn with no issues.
 
Yellowhammer, that is a very good bullet. I have used that one since 1994. It’s accurate too, in my rifle at least, a Browning Composite Stalker. Since I have two rifles in 25-06, I have dedicated the other one to coyotes with 70 gr. Blitz Kings, though the Speer 100 is a good all around bullet. The 25-06 is a great cartridge. Though I don’t have one (yet), I believe the 25 Creedmoor is a good one too. I have been contemplating that one.
 
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