25-06 -- 117 gr Sierra PH Test Loads

M7025-06 · Aug 31, 2014

Made a trip to the range this morning to test some 117 gr Sierra Pro Hunters in the 'ol 25-06. I had tried these bullets a couple of years ago and stopped at 53 gr of R-22 with fairly poor results, so I started at 53 gr and worked up to 55.8 gr., stepping up by 0.3 gr. after I hit 54.5 gr. Lyman's #49 shows a max load of 53.5 gr while Sierra's #6 shows 50.5 gr.

For some reason the last 2 rounds of the last 3-shot group would not chamber. I measured the 2 rounds when I got home and the only thing that was different was the cases for these 2 rounds was 0.007'' longer than the rest...the measurement to the ogive was exactly where it should be (all rounds were seated to 2.738''/0.030'' off the lands), same with the measurement with the headspace gauge. The bullets looked liked they had rifling marks on them, so I don't know what happened to there.

To the good stuff (all shot @ 200 yds)...group F (55.0 gr) showed some good promise printing a nice 1.40'' clover-leaf. Group G (55.3 gr) was a little better @ 1.135'' (not quite a perfect clover-leaf). Group H had the biggest spread @ 1.568'', still not bad though.

Something I found interesting. I ran this load through quick load and looked at an OBT chart I found online. Node #5 (24'' barrel) showed 1.228 ms. At 55.3 gr, QL showed a barrel time of 1.228 ms, which was the best group of the set.

I'll load up 10-20 of group G and test them again next time out...hopefully with the same results.

Group F:

Group G:

Group H:

FOTIS · Aug 31, 2014

nice shooting

Gm weatherby man · Aug 31, 2014

Great shooting

1Shot · Aug 31, 2014

I have found that the 117 Sierra likes to really shoot well 20 thousands off the lands in a number of different rifles. You might try that with your most accurate load and see what happens.

Alderman · Aug 31, 2014

I would shoot some more of each load before settling on a load. One group can sometimes be deceiving. I think they all look good enough for another try.

filmjunkie4ever · Sep 2, 2014

I have never had great luck with Sierra bullets in my .25-06 Remington 700 personally. Speer, Hornady and Nosler have all worked for sure. Looks like you have cast the proper spells and bewitched a good shooting load here!

Thats what I love about this forum, we're all students in the same study, constantly sharing notes!

Thanks for the post!

M7025-06 · Sep 2, 2014

filmjunkie4ever":343iqeg1 said:
I have never had great luck with Sierra bullets in my .25-06 Remington 700 personally. Speer, Hornady and Nosler have all worked for sure. Looks like you have cast the proper spells and bewitched a good shooting load here!

Thats what I love about this forum, we're all students in the same study, constantly sharing notes!

Thanks for the post!

I know what you mean. 2 years ago, I tried everything under the sun (so I though anyway) to get the 117 gr Gameking's to shoot out of this rifle and I couldn't get a darn thing to work. I've still got about 1/2 a box sitting on the shelf and now I'm half-tempted to try them again.

I'm definitely going to try this load again next time out and maybe tweak the seating depth a tad to see if the groups shrink up a little.

Guy Miner · Sep 2, 2014

We define "cloverleaf" differently, but that's okay.

Your loads are good. Anywhere from about 1" - 1.5" at 200 yards. That's a deer killing load, and what I'd expect out of a .25-06, which I've found to be very easy to get to shoot well.

Congrats! I'd sight that rascal in, practice a bit and go fill tags.

Guy

M7025-06 · Sep 2, 2014

Guy Miner":1c7cg9n6 said:
We define "cloverleaf" differently, but that's okay.

Your loads are good. Anywhere from about 1" - 1.5" at 200 yards. That's a deer killing load, and what I'd expect out of a .25-06, which I've found to be very easy to get to shoot well.

Congrats! I'd sight that rascal in, practice a bit and go fill tags.

Guy

OK...how about a really big cloverleaf? :mrgreen:

I probably should of said "a nice triangle with the potential of a cloverleaf".

Guy Miner · Sep 2, 2014

Hey, it's shooting good. You're shooting good. Season is coming. That rifle can fill freezers, many freezers, with venison.

Call the group what you will. It will flat out work!

Enjoy.

Alderman · Sep 2, 2014

If any of the three do that well on a consistent basis I'd have plenty of confidence to go hunting with them.

SJB358 · Sep 4, 2014

I'd be pretty happy with any of those at 200 yards. Like Guy said, looks like dead deer to me!

magothy1 · Sep 4, 2014

That bullet is what my Vanguard likes better than any other bullet over 100 gr. I run it with 52 gr of IMR 4831, not a hot load, but it will put the cold barrel shot right there every time if I do my part.
It does ok with 55 gr of 7828, too, but that first load will repeat that cold barrel shot every time. It's done well on whitetails for me.

filmjunkie4ever · Sep 5, 2014

Hmm 7828 that does sound like a good idea.

M7025-06 · Sep 5, 2014

I'm gonna play with the seating depth a little on all 3 loads...the tinkerer in me won't let me to leave it alone, so we'll see what happens the next time out. The plan is to try 0.020'' & 0.040'' off the lands along with these loads again.

M7025-06 · Oct 13, 2014

I finally got out to re-test this load yesterday. It was hovering in the mid 40's with a stiff 15-20 mph south wind (directly at my back). The results were a little disappointing.

I shot 6-3 shot groups:

55.3 gr (R-22): 0.20'' off lands / 0.30'' off lands / 0.40'' off lands
55.5 gr (R-22): 0.20'' off lands / 0.30'' off lands / 0.40'' off lands

The best groupings I could get were right at 2.0''-2.25'' @ 200 yards (0.40'' jump). At a 0.30'' jump, my groups were right around 3''. The last time out 55.3 gr. & 55.5 gr. with a 0.30'' jump were all printing a 1.1''-1.5'' group @ 200 yds. I don't have my book in front of me but a think the temps were hovering in the low to mid 60's the last time I was out, so I'm wondering if that has a little to do with it or I just had an off day.

I'm thinking about adding a little powder with a .040'' jump to see what they'll do and retest 55.3 gr & 55.5 gr. with the same seating depth.

With a 0.20'' jump, those were all over the place, grouping anywhere from 3.3''-4.5''.

I don't know...any suggestions?

I'll get some pics of the targets up tonight.

Edit for pics:

Dwh7271 · Oct 13, 2014

Sounds good.
Just for grins, you might try shortening the best one a hair more. I know it seems like a big jump but it sounds to me like it's tightening up the shorter you go. Maybe try a few at 45 and a few at 50 if you're even able to do that? You might be surprised. JMO.

M7025-06 · Oct 13, 2014

Dwh7271":3oh574fr said:
Sounds good.
Just for grins, you might try shortening the best one a hair more. I know it seems like a big jump but it sounds to me like it's tightening up the shorter you go. Maybe try a few at 45 and a few at 50 if you're even able to do that? You might be surprised. JMO.

Sounds like a good idea too me. I'll give that a shot.

1Shot · Oct 14, 2014

Easiest thing to do is to try 52 grs or H4831 or 49 grs IMR 4350 with those 117 Sierras. I have not seen a 25-06 that did not shoot GREAT with one of these loads. Usually the H4831 is the one.

wildgene · Oct 14, 2014

...you need to check your data, Sierra's showing a Max load of 50.5grs. of RL-22, Alliant shows 52grs. in the 117-120gr. loads. I've had good luck w/ both IMR 4350 & 4831 behind the 117gr. Sierras...