I haven't used the 25-06 on deer and antelope as much as the 243 and 30-06. But, from my experience it combines the best of both and overcomes the worst of both. When I have used it, it has been totally satisfactory.
Regarding the bullets, in about 50 years of hunting I have shot just one deer with a 165 grain spitzer of name brand with the 30-06. That bullet came apart and I found the lead in the rear ham and the jacket under the opposite side ribs. I had dogged it for 2 miles and it was looking back for me so it was a quartering shot from the front. I ended up tracking it for another 1/2 mile in the snow and then dragging it back that much further.
Every other deer or antelope that I have ever shot, in my life, with a riffle, has been shot with a Nosler Partition. We took 33 deer & antelope in 3 days hunting on one trip in Wyoming. Could have legally taken 11 more but didn't really know what we would do with them. I have shot them at about every range from 15 yards to 600 yard with both the 243 & 30-06. Used the 100 grain in 243, 120 grain in 25-06 and 165 grain in 30-06. In every single deer and antelope that I have shot the Nosler Partition did exactly the same thing. It enters the size of the caliber and exits the size of a quarter. It destroys everything within that quarter from the entrance to the exit. I have never had extensive meat damage no matter how close the shot.
One doe deer taken in the Idaho Selway was shot through the shoulders at 600 yards with the 30-06. On getting in to it a buck jumped up at about 20 yards and I shot it broadside through both front shoulder bones. Both deer had identical wounds. Near Salmon, Idaho I ended up tracking a good sized buck that was wounded in the front leg. I chased it for about 2 miles and came to a deep ravine. It was climbing the other side, going almost straight up and about 620 yards away. I held about 36" above the top of his rack with a 100 grain Nosler Partition in the 243. The bullet entered between his shoulder blades and came out the brisket. Same wound channel as all the rest. It took out the spine and the breastbone.
Needless to say, I am a little biased with the Nosler Partiition to the point that it is my exclusive hunting bullet. Up until recently it was a total reload situation. Now, fortunately, it is available in commercial loads.
So, based on my limited experience, I would opt for the best shooting load that uses the Nosler Partition. I know that there are others out there that have duplicated the concept of the Partition and I am sure that they are excellent bullets. If I could not get the Nosler Partition, I would find a comparable bullet that has the same concept and virtually guarantees that it will expand the same whether it is at the muzzle or at the extreme range of the rifle.
