25-06 with 115 PT

[wisconsinteacher]

I am going to try setting up my 25-06 to shoot 115 PTs. I hope to use them for deer and antelope. I tried RL19 this fall without much luck. Most of my groups were around 2" I was wondering if anyone has used IMR or H 4350 with this bullet in the 25-06? Also, would you use standard or mag primers?

 

[JD338]

Try some slower powders like RL22, RL25 and even Retumbo.

JD338

 

[Wincheringen]

50-52 grains of RL 22 and standard primers. My rifle won't let me touch the lands so I seat them out to mag box length, 3.25".

IMR 4350 also works well, RL22 gave me better groups and meters significantly better.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I don't have any RL22 on hand and I don't think the local store has any. Darn.

 

[wildgene]

...IMR-4831 has been a pretty consistent performer w/ the heavier 115-120gr. bullets in my .25-06...

 

[Guy Miner]

Have been using Retumbo with good success. Excellent accuracy and 3100 - 3200 fps mv (depending on bullet & charge) for the 115's.

I've been using the 115 Ballistic Tips lately, but also have 400 - 500 of the 115 Partitions. They are accurate, and well, they perform like a Partition bullet should!

RL-22 also worked well, but Retumbo edged it in my rifle.

I reserve H4350 for the 100 gr bullets.

Best of luck! Guy

 

[6mm Remington]

I use IMR4350 with Federal 210 primers in my wife's 25-06 using the 120 gr. Partition. It seems to work well. Good luck.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I did try some IMR4350 and shot a 1.38" group this fall. I am going to try that again and see what happens. Is it worth trying the H4350? I will look for some 4831 and RL22. What else would you use the RL22 and 4831 for? (270, 7mm???)

 

[1Shot]

49 grs IMR 4350 in a Remington case and use a CCI 250 Mag primer 20 thousands off the lands. It runs 3000 fps from my 26" barrel and averages just under 1". Partitions are not really target accurate but minute of deer shoulder works every time. BANG FLOP. Same load with a 117 Sierra flat base pro hunter shoots bug holes and also really kills deer BANG FLOP.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

My goal is a simple 1 MOA. If I can get that, I will be ready to hunt. I have 87 grain Sierras shooting really well out of this rifle. I just want a deer/antelope round.

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Ive found IMR-7828 to always be a close second with several bullet types in the 25-06.

 

[6mm Remington]

I did try some IMR4350 and shot a 1.38" group this fall. I am going to try that again and see what happens. Is it worth trying the H4350? I will look for some 4831 and RL22. What else would you use the RL22 and 4831 for? (270, 7mm???)

I would try again with the IMR4350 since you were almost there with that one, and I'd try the H4350 also. It would be worth trying the H4831SC also and with that one I personally would use magnum primers and work up my load with it and see what it does.

 

[wisconsinteacher]

I just went up town and the local store had 2 cans of H4831SC. Their prices are a few bucks higher than the big name stores an hour away but, it beats driving 2 hours total and spending the money on gas. I will try it with the 115 and maybe someday in a 270 or 7mm if I can buy them from my mother in law.

I will also try the IMR4350 again.

 

[Guy Miner]

BTW, a good 100 grain bullet also does a fine job on deer... If your rifle shoots the 100's better, it might be worth a try. I shot several mulies with 100's before switching to the 115's.

The 100's easily hit 3340 fps using H4350, with good accuracy, from my 24" Rem 700.

H4831 didn't produce quite as much velocity from my rifle, but I did see the very tightest groups, I've ever shot from a .25-06, using a 100 gr Sierra SPBT and H4831... Worth a try!

Guy

 

[SJB358]

I had to mess with the seating depth quite alot from my wife's 25-06 with the 115 PT's and RL19, but accuracy was very good when I found the spot it wanted to shoot..

Had to do the same with the 120 A-Frames and 115 BT's as well. It came together quick, but it did take some time with seating to really see the potential of the loads.

I would think that just about any of the powders you mentioned would be excellent with the 115 PT. I would try and pull Nosler's most accurate powder, if you can find it and work with that some.

Also just run standard primers with those. I am thinking you won't have any trouble with ignition with those powder loads.

Here are a few profiles to look at as well.

Cartridge : .25-06 Rem.
Bullet : .257, 115, Nosler PART SP 16318
Useable Case Capaci: 60.756 grain H2O = 3.945 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.250 inch = 82.55 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Hodgdon H4831 SC

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 79 44.80 2478 1568 31442 9800 87.2 1.525
-18.0 81 45.92 2541 1648 33598 10135 88.6 1.484
-16.0 83 47.04 2604 1732 35902 10462 89.9 1.445
-14.0 85 48.16 2668 1817 38372 10780 91.2 1.402
-12.0 87 49.28 2731 1905 41016 11088 92.4 1.359
-10.0 89 50.40 2795 1995 43847 11383 93.6 1.317
-08.0 91 51.52 2860 2088 46883 11666 94.6 1.276
-06.0 93 52.64 2924 2183 50141 11933 95.6 1.237
-04.0 95 53.76 2988 2280 53615 12185 96.4 1.200
-02.0 97 54.88 3052 2379 57320 12419 97.2 1.163 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 99 56.00 3116 2480 61295 12634 97.9 1.128 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 101 57.12 3181 2583 65562 12829 98.5 1.094 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 103 58.24 3245 2688 70150 13003 99.0 1.062 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 105 59.36 3308 2795 75087 13154 99.4 1.030 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 107 60.48 3372 2904 80409 13281 99.7 1.000 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 109 61.60 3436 3014 86153 13384 99.9 0.970 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 99 56.00 3262 2718 72834 12478 100.0 1.047 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 99 56.00 2922 2181 50084 12158 91.7 1.234


Cartridge : .25-06 Rem.
Bullet : .257, 115, Nosler PART SP 16318
Useable Case Capaci: 60.756 grain H2O = 3.945 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.250 inch = 82.55 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Hodgdon H4350

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 77 42.40 2551 1661 35001 9790 93.6 1.466
-18.0 79 43.46 2609 1738 37220 10064 94.6 1.432
-16.0 81 44.52 2667 1817 39568 10327 95.6 1.390
-14.0 83 45.58 2725 1897 42052 10579 96.4 1.350
-12.0 85 46.64 2783 1978 44679 10817 97.1 1.312
-10.0 87 47.70 2840 2060 47458 11042 97.8 1.275
-08.0 89 48.76 2898 2144 50398 11252 98.4 1.239
-06.0 91 49.82 2954 2229 53509 11447 98.9 1.206
-04.0 93 50.88 3011 2314 56802 11625 99.3 1.173 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 95 51.94 3066 2401 60287 11787 99.6 1.141 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 97 53.00 3122 2489 63980 11930 99.8 1.111 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 99 54.06 3177 2577 67892 12054 100.0 1.082 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 101 55.12 3231 2666 72041 12160 100.0 1.053 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 103 56.18 3285 2755 76442 12255 100.0 1.026 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 104 57.24 3338 2846 81116 12346 100.0 1.000 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 106 58.30 3391 2936 86082 12435 100.0 0.975 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 97 53.00 3230 2664 74337 11550 100.0 1.040 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 97 53.00 2966 2247 53632 11906 96.5 1.204


Cartridge : .25-06 Rem.
Bullet : .257, 115, Nosler PART SP 16318
Useable Case Capaci: 60.756 grain H2O = 3.945 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.250 inch = 82.55 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : IMR 4350

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 76 42.40 2556 1669 35224 9808 93.9 1.463
-18.0 78 43.46 2615 1746 37458 10080 94.9 1.429
-16.0 80 44.52 2673 1825 39821 10341 95.8 1.386
-14.0 82 45.58 2731 1905 42321 10590 96.6 1.346
-12.0 84 46.64 2789 1986 44966 10826 97.3 1.308
-10.0 86 47.70 2846 2068 47762 11048 98.0 1.271
-08.0 88 48.76 2903 2152 50721 11255 98.5 1.236
-06.0 89 49.82 2960 2237 53851 11446 99.0 1.202
-04.0 91 50.88 3016 2323 57163 11621 99.4 1.169 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 93 51.94 3072 2409 60670 11779 99.7 1.138 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 95 53.00 3127 2497 64385 11918 99.9 1.108 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 97 54.06 3182 2585 68321 12039 100.0 1.079 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 99 55.12 3236 2674 72494 12142 100.0 1.051 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 101 56.18 3289 2763 76921 12237 100.0 1.023 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 103 57.24 3343 2853 81621 12329 100.0 0.997 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 105 58.30 3395 2944 86616 12417 100.0 0.972 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 95 53.00 3234 2670 74778 11536 100.0 1.037 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 95 53.00 2973 2257 53992 11918 96.7 1.200

 

[ElmerThud]

I'd agree with Guy, 100gn bullets do the business on thin skinned large game especially with H4350/IMR4350. Most .25-06 rifles utilise a 1-10 twist and become less happy and more fussy as bullet weight increases. With all barrels being different in other respects, there's no hard and fast rule so once moving past the 100gn bullet weight I believe different propellant choices need to be made.

You chaps on here helped me a lot when I took on the task of making the 110gn AB work in my rifle & the powder switch to make it happen was IMR4831. Since that time I haven't needed to look for a heavier weight bullet.
Best of luck, cheers ET

http://www.ballisticstudies.com/Knowled ... ngton.html
A quote from the above link - a worthwhile read:
'As to the question of which bullet weight is best suited to medium game, many authorities assume that the heavier 117 to 120 grain bullets are the only choice. While this bullet weight is usually the most reliable, there are several 100 grain projectiles which when driven at full velocities are simply dynamite on medium game'.

'Nosler’s 100 and 115 grain Ballistic Tip projectiles perform exactly like the Sierra .257” projectiles on impact creating violent, fast bleeding, fast killing wounds. For lighter medium game, these are spectacular performers. The only difference between the Nosler BT and Sierra GK is that the Ballistic Tip projectiles have higher BC’s although the differences aren’t huge.

The 100 grain Nosler Partition fired from the .25-06 should never be under-estimated for use on medium game. The Partition is ideal for game weighing up to 90kg (200lb) but is also adequate for heavier animals in a pinch. The Partition is cheap in comparison to new premium projectile designs yet it is reliable in both its ability to produce fast expansion, wide wounding and adequate penetration. The Partition is also available in the weights 115 and 120 grains, both are adequate for game weighing up to 180kg (400lb). The Partition projectiles are truly the go-to bullets for reliable performance on larger medium game in the .25-06.

As has already been described, the 110 grain Nosler AccuBond also optimizes the performance of the .25-06. This is a rather expensive projectile but its cost is well justified. The AccuBond has a very high (for .257’) BC of .418 resulting in high retained velocity for excellent down range wounding. A higher BC is the only major difference between the AccuBond and the older Partition projectiles. Apart from this, penetration and wounding are the same.

Both the AccuBond and Partition bullets have the potential to produce exit wounds on medium game providing suitable bullet weights are chosen. Exit wounding is not only helpful for creating a blood trail but also prevents vacuum locking and clotting in the chest cavities of game. Single side wounds can often result in animals escaping large distances of between 100 and 300 yards, suffice to say, the Nosler projectiles aid fast, clean killing immensely'.

 

[1100 Remington Man]

Deer are not tough, just thin skin. I would load H4831 & a Nosler BT or AB & any bullet over 100 gr will do. If you think you might get a shot under 100 yds I would look to 110 or 115 gr bullett.