By Jeff Johnston
In my neck of the woods–Southern Oklahoma and Northern Texas–the .25-06 Rem. is one of the best pure whitetail calibers available because it hits the small-bodied bucks like a sledge, yet it’s flat shooting, light recoiling and so prolific that it can be found at plenty of country quick stops where you might get your ass kicked if you ask for a box of 6.5 Creedmoor and a bottle of Perrier.
However, there’s one wildcard that I must consider when choosing the ideal bullet for the 25-06, and that’s the proliferation of wild hogs in my area.
While the .25-06 will kill any wild hog on the face of the Earth under most circumstances, the biggest boars at very close distances can wreak havoc on fragile bullets moving in excess of 3,000 fps. (The 25-06 is capable of over 3200.). I’ve seen varmint and target bullets blow up on a boar’s shield like the Space Shuttle Challenger. So I hedge my bet by using Federal Premium’s fantastic 100-grain Barnes TSX load, and just shoot everything—from coyotes and deer to the biggest of boars–directly through both shoulders. This shot anchors them instantly for easy-to-non-existent tracking jobs. Texas heart shots? No problem with the monolithic, all-copper Barnes that penetrates like no other controlled-expansion bullet.
This load averages 3180 fps from my 24-inch barrel and drops just 5.6 inches at 300 yards with a 200 yard zero, all while carrying over 1000 ft.-lbs. energy to 500 yards. More importantly, the load is, to date, the most accurate I’ve ever tested in my specific rifle—turning out .85-inch groups in the Oklahoma wind. This is a testament to Federal Premium’s precision loading process, consistent powders, its quality control, and the TSX’s inherent concentricity.
Fact of the matter is, if Federal didn’t make this TSX load, I might reach for my 7mm-08 Rem., 270 Win, .308 Win. or .30-06 with more regularity during deer season when big hogs are playing musical chairs from one corn feeder to the next. But with it, in my experience the caliber just performs better than perhaps it should on both large- and small-sized game animals. In sum, it’s the perfect all-around deer hunting round. $58
*Editor’s note: If .25-06 is not your caliber of choice, rest assured Federal Premium makes its vaunted Barnes TSX factory load for many of America’s favorite calibers … including the Lord’s Caliber (.300 Win. Mag.) and yes, even your sister’s 6.5 Creedmoor.
