.25-06 powders?

[Hegland]

You quarter-bore guys, would you mind sharing your preferred propellants for this cartridge? A co-worker is wanting to get into reloading this for his son. Whitetail/mulie/antelope will be the game he's after. The 100 BT, PT and 110 AB would be options.

I'm assuming something around a 4831 burn rate would be a place to start, is that correct?

Thanks in advance for your help!

 

[joelkdouglas]

Great topic, I am also all ears. My 25 cal barrel has been on order since April!

 

[Wincheringen]

I've used RL22 with great success for the 115 grain bullets. RL19 puts up good numbers with the lighter bullets.

Some guys are using Retumbo but I've never gotten good accuracy with it.

 

[Guy Miner]

I've had three different .25-06 rifles. One (a beautiful Winchester Model 70) wouldn't shoot a decent group. The other two though have been very accurate. The cartridge can certainly produce accuracy!

H4831 and the 100 gr Sierra gave superb groups in the .2's at 100 yards from a Ruger Number One varmint rifle. Wow... Very good shooting rifle. Had to sell it when times were tough. Dang.

For the past eight years or so I've been using a Rem 700 CDL, with a 24" barrel. Good accuracy, and it's taken mule deer from 20 yards to 400 yards.

100 gr w/H4350 = 3340 fps with sub MOA accuracy

115 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip w/Retumbo for 3120 fps and excellent accuracy - this is the load I used this year in Wyoming.

Coyote @ 420 yds
Mule deer @ 260 yds
Pronghorn @ 160 yds

100 yard target from the bipod, 115 gr Nosler B-Tips:

Generally I use either Winchester or Remington brass and simply neck size. This year I also spoiled myself and bought some Nosler brass. Wow - nice stuff!

Federal 210 match primers, neck sized brass, good Nosler bullets and a slowish burning powder should have you set with your .25-06 loading. I did try some RL-22 with favorable results too.

Regards, Guy

 

[Mountain Goat]

4350 is magic with 100gr bullets. 4831 is never a poor choice in the 25-06, but 7828ssc, RL22 and Retumbo are the powders for 119-120gr bullets. I don't suspect you will have any trouble finding an accurate load, for the 25-06 acts like most other 30-06 based cartridges when it comes to load development.

 

[JD338]

Slow powders for the 25-06.
IMR 4831, RL22, RL25 and Retumbo all shoot very well.

JD338

 

[HTDUCK]

H 1000 will surprise you with 110 ABs

 

[Wincheringen]

I was just looking through my load notes and I see that AA 3100 delivered the tightest groups with the 100 and 110 grain bullets. Its a discontinued powder though. IMR 4350 was a close second.

 

[HomerOz]

G'Day Fella's,

Hegland, I have only recently purchased a new Kimber Montana 84L in .25-06, its a great cartridge!

I have had a Rem 700 in this caliber (see the Top rifle, in the attached image) for many decades and have always reloaded this with either IMR 4831 or ADI AR-2213 powder.
In initially I was a bit of a Hot Rodder and used to run 87 and 90grn bullets at 3590fps!
But apart from "Kit Forming" a lot of small furry creatures, all it really done, was wreck the barrel!!!

These days I only use 100grn Nosler B/Tip and Barnes X type bullets but will be relying on the above powder, in the new Kimber!

Hope that helps

Doh!
Homer

 

[Hegland]

Thank you men. A wealth of knowledge, this forum!

 

[SJB358]

Hegland, I probably have the least 25-06 experience of anyone here, but I have had excellent results with RL25 and the 115 BT. I haven't tried another combo yet, but plan to work with the 115 PT and RL25 as well. I did have to run CCI250's. BR2's didn't work out so hot..

I plan to work more with the rifle in the future, but so far, with the 115-120's, I'll be working with the slower magnum powders. I wanna say these 115's chrono'ed at around 3200 and everything seems to be very slick. I still gotta get it out and stretch it's legs some, but the 115 BT at 3200 seems like pretty serious medicine for what you mentioned.

 

[wbyfan1]

H-4831sc has been THE most accurate and consistent powder I've ever used in my 25-06. RL's give you the speed, but lot to lot consistency is horrible.

 

[R Flowers]

Good responses here, but I guess I will add my two cents worth.

I have been shooting a 25-06 for along time now, my current one is on its second barrel.

I have tried all sorts of powders, bullets, primers, etc. etc.

I keep coming back to IMR 4831 behind any bulllet from 75 to 100 grains, fired up with a Fed 210 or WLR primer.

With bullets of over 100 grains I use IMR 7828 and Fed 215M primers.

 

[clearwater]

Reduced loads

IMR 3031 36.4 grains 117 Hornady round nose 2400 fps.
SR4759 13 grains . 75 grain cast bullets 1200 fps.

 

[Hegland]

I probably have the least 25-06 experience of anyone here

You've got way more than I do, bud.

Thanks everybody for the help, I appreciate it. And for the reduced loads, always good to have in your back pocket, especially for kids!

 

[SJB358]

I probably have the least 25-06 experience of anyone here

You've got way more than I do, bud.

Thanks everybody for the help, I appreciate it. And for the reduced loads, always good to have in your back pocket, especially for kids!

I am still learning everytime I log on here.

I do think you'll have fun with the 25-06. Mine came together very quickly, and man, it is nice only getting bumped when you squeeze the trigger and those little 3 holed knots it prints on the target...

 

[Oldtrader3]

I have only owned one .25-06 but I killed a few deer with it and the 120 Partition. I used IMR 4350 for the 100 grain Partition and IMR 7828 for the 120 partitions. My MV for the 120 Partitions was just over 3050 fps with 55 grains of IMR 7828.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

any of the 4350s or 4831s, Rl19, 22, and 25, h1000, 7828, retumbo all work well with 100g+ bullets.

for speed and accuracy i tested all powders above with 100g nbts from my win model 70 classic sporter and RL22 was by far and away the clear winner for both speed and accuracy. 3375-3400fps and 1/2 MOA or under at 100 yards for 3 shots from a bench. Using Remington cases, Winchester LR primers, seated .005" off lands.

No other powder broke 3300fps or 1/2 MOA...Most were in the 3200-3250fps range and .6"-.8" MOA

This was with little load testing, just few of upper loads with each powder to get an idea of what powder to work with my goals in mind, which was 3350fps and 1/2 MOA

The 115g NBT at 3200 is great for deer and antelope. My bullet of choice and one I've had great success with over the years out to 600 yards.

 

[Hegland]

Thanks! All these comments leave me wondering how a rifle so chambered hasn't yet found its way into my safe...

 

[DrMike]

Thanks! All these comments leave me wondering how a rifle so chambered hasn't yet found its way into my safe...

FWIW, Hegland, I've never owned a 25-06. I've gone to the store specifically to pick one up on a couple of occasions, only to return home with something else that seemed just what I needed at the time. :?