25-06 Thomson Encore Pr Hunter

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Wendyj

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I laid this away a few weeks ago and am planning to pick it up tomorrow. I'm pretty much buying this caliber because it was used but barely. Has a great 2.5 pound trigger job and Thumbhole stock in stainless steel. I don't think I'm going to use the 25-06 very much but do have plans for a 35 Whelen barrel and a 460 barrel for it. I don't think I'm going to reload for this one lol. For right now. It's a 10 twist and I want some serious factory ammo to drop deer in their tracks. I've given the Hornady gmx some consideration but just wondered what you 25-06 owners think for anything from 25 yards to 350 yards. I would go with some Barnes ttsx but close range not sure how they would react. My best luck with them in all calibers has been 200 yards plus. I've never shot anything but paper with the sst so not sure how it does on game. From research I read that the 10 twist will stabilize anything from 75 grain to 120 but I have my doubts about that. Every rifle has its perfect bullet. That's what I'm asking the experts for.
PS. Doesn't have to be Hornady. Just mostly what's on store shelves.
 
With Barnes and any other solid copper bullet the closer you shoot game the better. With solid copper bullets speed is your best friend, it makes the bullet open and perform better. The longer range you get you're better off switching to a more traditional lead & copper bullet.

I'd look at the new Hornady American Whitetail ammunition with 117 grain Interlock bullets, Federal 115 grain Nosler BT, 117 Sierra Game King, and Fusion 120 grain load. I'd also trust any factory 100 grain or heavier bullet that grouped well to kill deer cleanly out to 350 yards. The .25-06 is one of those cartridges that put deer down fast, since you're basically shooting a "magnum" speed cartridge and deer aren't all that tough to kill.

When you can add a .45 or .50 cal muzzle loader barrel to your T/C. That's the neat thing about those rifles, changing barrels on a whim. Also do a search on the .460 barrel, there were a couple of guys not having any luck with that chambering in their Encores.
 
I appreciate that info. If and when I buy the 460 it will be only for the 454 casull at 100 and under. I will reload for it and don't have much interest in the 460 itself. Last time my son and I went straight Thompson I bought one and the 460s weren't much on groups. The 454 however shot great. Hopefully things haven't changed too much. I can't find a designated 454 barrel so this is only route I know to take. I know husband loves his Ruger hand gun in it. I don't understand the monolithic bullets at close up though. Last deer at close range it was in and out and not much blood trail. One taken at 210 mushroomed like crazy. I say we aren't going to reload for it but I'm probably only kidding myself. Factory ammo just can't touch good hand loads. I love the 50 cal muzzleloader in Thompson. It's what we bought years ago for our first one and seemed like it was a barrel a month.
 
Wendyj said:
I don't understand the monolithic bullets at close up though.
Click to expand...
Best way I can explain it is that monolithic bullets like Barnes TTSX/TSX, Nosler E-tip, and Hornady GMX is that they are tougher than traditional lead/copper bullets. Speed helps tough bullets deform better. Though I don't think you'll have any issues with 300+ yards with any solid copper bullet. I just don't think that solid copper is any better than what has worked in the .25-06 for years already unless you're going to use bullets lighter than 100 grains.
 
I agree with the speed. I wish swift had factory ammo in 120 grain in the scirocco. That one has to be reloaded and they are proud of the bullets according to Midway.
 
if you want to spend, the way to go is MGM barrels.
http://matchgrademachine.com/chambers/#458cal

they have the 460 and the 454. also they have a 35 whelen barrel. and boy do they shoot. i have four of them...20 vartarg(16 1/4"), 22-250ai(27"), 6.5 creedmoor(16 1/4") and the 444 marlin(23") and they shoot at 100 yards from .1 to .7".
444 marlin
 
I had totally forgot about the 444. Someone stole mine along with a 1895 original 44-40. 221 fireball pistol and 3 fox shotguns. That 444 even in Winchester lever was a real shooter. How do you like the 6.5 creedmore. I come close to going with one and landed a 260 Tikka for a good deal.
 
the 6.5 cm is just fun. i got it from MGM and it has a 16 1/4" barrel. it shoots groups in the .3" at 100 yards, it even does a couple of .2". i can shoot out to 300 yards, but the deer comes in at around 40-50 yards. next year i may get into a 25" MGM barrel and sell off the 16 1/4". i use the superformance and nosler 120gr ballistic tip. i might try the 140gr bt too. i shot a couple or more deer that where all under 50 yards and the furthest i had them go after being shot was 30-40 yards.
i really like the 6.5cm. i almost had a 260 rem, but i thought "what the heck. lets get somethin different." i'm glad i did.

this is a 20 vartarg(16 1/4"). my 6.5 cm(16 1/4") barrel is stainless steel.
 
Lot of my friends shoot the 6.5 cm in competition. I bought mine in a 20 inch Tikka CTR. It's 8 twist seems to allow its best shooting in 140 grain bullets of any kind. Only exception is Barnes LRX in 127 grain. I'm reloading for it. Factory ammo is $45.00 a box anywhere I find it. I might try to find a 6.5.cm. my guns drawback is that 10 round magazine hanging out the bottom of it. I do hear Beretta is in the plans of making a 5 round for it. At the bench I single feed any way.
 
Just got it this morning and picked up a box of 100 grain Barnes ttsx to try in it. Raining today so maybe tomorrow to zero it in. Wasn't going to reload for it but now I think I might. Went ahead and put a muzzleloader barrel and fore end back for it to pick up next week. Fore end is black but I probably won't use it over one week out of the year.
 
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Wendy, I assume you mean 6.5 Creedmoor when you say "6.5 CM." If so, ammo is available for it everywhere for $22 and change a box. The super high end stuff, is $35.
 
When I was picking up my ammo yesterday I saw the creedmore ammo all over the shelves. First I've seen here in a long time. They had 260 ammo also which when I bought mine I think maybe out of 10 stores there might have been 2 boxes. I was just referring to the 6.5 cm that it would be cheaper to reload. The 6.5 in everything is really got popular over the last year or so. It ballistic coefficient is really good.
 
I'm shooting the 100 grain Swift Scirocco in my .25-06. Getting 3380 and holes touching with it. The last Deer I shot with it was 390 yards. DRT. You probably have a 26" barrel...so much the better.
 
It was purchased as a26 inch barrel but man that owned it before me had it cut to 23 1/2 inches and inverted crown.
 
Encores give you a barrel (cartridge) collecting disease. :D

Don't overlook the .444Marlin as the disease progresses. Works great in my Encore for elk. For Deer I drop back to the .414 Supermagnum. I have several barrels from burners to thumpers and a 20g even. They are not legal for ML in CO, so I don't have any of those.

If you end up reloading for the .25-06, try the Hornady Interbond 110 grain. Works great.
 
I've ordered the dies. Didn't plan on it but I can't help myself. My husband loves the 444. He had a old Marlin in one and we got our house broken into and they stole all his guns. He put a muzzleloader back Friday to get this week and has ordered a mgm 460 barrel. He doesn't like the 460 but wants it for plinking with 45s and hunting with the 454 Casull. I think we have looked at 10 calibers this week we would like to have. He used to use his 444 for black bear hunting exclusively. Also wanting a 35 Whelen for it. Wouldn't be so bad but the optics are a killer. Then dies and bullets. I love it.
 
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