Is the 25-06 good for deer? Ask around any deer camp in open country and you will hear a lot of yeses. The reason shows up in its 25-06 ballistics: quarter-inch bullets moving fast, with recoil most hunters can handle all day. The Hornady Superformance 117 grain SST lists 3,110 fps and 2,512 ft-lbs, a fair snapshot of what this round does.
This page covers the published speed and energy of the 25-06 loads we stock. It also shows how to read those figures and which bullet weight suits varmints, deer and pronghorn.
What Is a 25-06?
The 25-06 Remington is the .30-06 case necked down to hold a .257-inch bullet. Wildcatters shot it for decades before Remington made it a factory round in 1969. Since it comes from the .30-06, it needs a standard long action.
What is a 25-06 compared to?
Think of it as the middle step between the .243 Winchester and the .270 Winchester. It fires a heavier bullet than the .243 and a lighter one than the .270. Many hunters pick it for that balance: flat flight with modest kick. See our 243 Winchester guide and 270 Winchester guide to compare.
25-06 Ballistics Table
These are the makers’ published muzzle figures for our 25-06 ammo, sorted from light to heavy.
| Load | Bullet | Grain | Muzzle velocity (fps) | Muzzle energy (ft-lbs) | Pack |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winchester Varmint 25-06 85 Grain Polymer Tip | Polymer Tip | 85 | 3,470 | 2,273 | 20-round box |
| Hornady 25-06 90 Grain CX Superformance Lead-Free | Hornady CX Polymer Tip (monolithic copper) | 90 | 3,350 | 2,243 | 20-round box |
| PPU 25-06 90 Grain JHP | Jacketed Hollow Point | 90 | 3,428 | 2,338 | 20-round box |
| Winchester Super X 25-06 90 Grain Hollow Point | Jacketed Hollow Point | 90 | 3,440 | 2,364 | 20-round box |
| Barnes VOR-TX 25-06 100 Grain TTSX Lead-Free | Barnes Tipped Triple-Shock X (TTSX) Polymer Tip | 100 | 3,225 | 2,309 | 20-round box |
| Nosler Trophy Grade 25-06 100 Grain Partition | Nosler Partition Jacketed Soft Point | 100 | 3,300 | 2,417 | 20-round box |
| Nosler E-Tip 25-06 100 Grain Lead-Free | Nosler E-Tip Polymer Tip (lead-free) | 100 | 3,200 | 2,273 | 20-round box |
| Remington Core-Lokt 25-06 100 Grain Soft Point | Core-Lokt Jacketed Soft Point | 100 | 3,230 | 2,316 | 20-round box |
| Underwood 25-06 Controlled Chaos 102 Grain Lead-Free | Lehigh Controlled Chaos Fragmenting Hollow Point (lead-free copper) | 102 | 3,300 | 2,466 | 20-round box |
| Hornady Precision Hunter 25-06 110 Grain ELD-X | Hornady ELD-X Polymer Tip | 110 | 3,140 | 2,408 | 20-round box |
| Underwood 25-06 AccuBond 110 Grain | Nosler AccuBond Polymer Tip | 110 | 3,250 | 2,580 | 20-round box |
| Nosler Ballistic Tip 25-06 115 Grain | Nosler Ballistic Tip Polymer Tip | 115 | 3,000 | 2,298 | 20-round box |
| Winchester Ballistic Silvertip 25-06 115 Grain | Ballistic Silvertip Polymer Tip | 115 | 3,060 | 2,392 | 20-round box |
| HSM Trophy Gold 25-06 115 Grain Berger VLD | Berger Hunting VLD Jacketed Hollow Point | 115 | 3,165 | 2,559 | 20-round box |
| Hornady American Whitetail 25-06 117 Grain InterLock SP | Hornady InterLock Jacketed Soft Point | 117 | 2,990 | 2,322 | 20-round box |
| Hornady Superformance 25-06 117 Grain SST | Hornady SST Polymer Tip | 117 | 3,110 | 2,512 | 20-round box |
| Winchester Deer Season XP 25-06 117 Grain | Winchester Extreme Point Polymer Tip | 117 | 3,100 | 2,496 | 20-round box |
| Fiocchi Field Dynamics 25-06 117 Grain InterLock | Hornady InterLock Jacketed Soft Point | 117 | 2,975 | 2,299 | 20-round box |
| Remington Core-Lokt 25-06 120 Grain Soft Point | Core-Lokt Jacketed Soft Point | 120 | 2,990 | 2,382 | 20-round box |
| Federal Fusion 25-06 120 Grain Bonded | Bonded Round Nose | 120 | 2,980 | 2,365 | 20-round box |
| Winchester Super X 25-06 120 Grain Hollow Point | Jacketed Hollow Point | 120 | 2,990 | 2,382 | 20-round box |
The fastest load here, the Winchester Varmint 85 grain polymer tip, lists 3,470 fps. At the heavy end, the 117 to 120 grain hunting loads run near 3,000 feet per second and carry more energy.
How to Read Velocity and Energy
Velocity is speed at the muzzle in feet per second. It sets how flat the bullet flies early on. Energy is a figure in foot-pounds that blends speed and weight. Use it to rank loads against each other.
Neither number tells you how a bullet holds speed downrange. That is ballistic coefficient, or BC. The HSM Trophy Gold 115 grain Berger VLD lists 3,165 fps and 2,559 ft-lbs, and its long, sleek shape is made to keep speed far out. A blunt soft point may start just as fast but slow down sooner.
Also keep in mind that box data comes from a test barrel. A 24-inch or 26-inch barrel is common in 25-06 rifles. A short barrel will give up some speed.
Picking a Bullet by Use
Varmints and coyotes (85 to 90 grain)
Light, fast bullets that break up quick. The Winchester Varmint 85 grain and the PPU and Winchester Super X 90 grain hollow points fit this role. The Hornady 90 grain CX is copper and built to hold together, so it leans more toward deer than varmints.
Deer and pronghorn (100 to 117 grain)
This is the sweet spot for most hunters. The Nosler Partition 100 grain lists 3,300 fps and 2,417 ft-lbs. Polymer tips like the Ballistic Silvertip, Deer Season XP and Ballistic Tip open fast on deer-sized game.
Larger deer and long shots (115 to 120 grain)
Heavier bullets carry more energy and resist wind better. Bonded options like the Federal Fusion 120 grain and Underwood AccuBond 110 grain hold together on bigger bodies. Some hunters use the 25-06 on elk with tough bullets, but many states and guides prefer larger calibers. Check your state’s rules.
Lead-free
Barnes TTSX 100 grain, Nosler E-Tip 100 grain, Hornady CX 90 grain and Underwood Controlled Chaos 102 grain all fit lead-free zones.
Altitude, Temperature and Your Rifle
Air density changes 25-06 ballistics in the field. A high, warm hunt gives flatter flight than a cold hunt near sea level. Your rifle’s barrel, chamber and even the ammo lot also shift speed a little. The fix is simple: chronograph your load, enter the numbers in a ballistic app and confirm your holds on paper before season.
Shop 25-06 Ammo
See every load in our 25-06 Remington ammo section. Pick the bullet weight for your game first, then the bullet build, then zero with that exact load.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 25-06 good for deer?
Yes. The 25-06 is a strong deer round, especially in open country where shots run long. A 100 to 117 grain soft point or polymer tip opens well on deer and pronghorn. Recoil stays moderate, which helps with shot placement. Check your state’s hunting rules.
What caliber is a 25-06?
The 25-06 Remington fires a .257-inch bullet. The case is the .30-06 Springfield necked down. That makes it a long-action round. It shares its bullet size with the .257 Roberts and .257 Weatherby Magnum, so match your ammo to the exact cartridge stamped on your barrel.
What is 25-06 good for?
It covers varmints, predators, deer and pronghorn. Light 85 to 90 grain bullets suit coyotes and varmints. Weights from 100 to 120 grain suit deer-sized game. With tough bullets and close shots, some hunters take larger game, but check local rules first.
Is 25-06 a good caliber?
It is a good choice for hunters who want a flat-shooting deer rifle with moderate recoil. Ammo is less common than .270 or .30-06, so stock up on the load your rifle likes. It is not the best fit for very large game like elk or moose.
