.25-06 with 75-87 grain bullets

[filmjunkie4ever]

I have two .25-06 rifles and have decided to load up some more coyote medicine for the Remington which has the longer 24" barrel.

85 grain BTs have not shot well traditionally but came into a supply of the 75 gr Hornady and 87 gr Sierras lately that am anxious to try.

Not going to try to go faster than 3300-3400 fps as I dont want to burn the barrel. Just a nice accurate mild coyote load that will occasionally see use on chucks as well.

The 90 grain W-W HP load I used to buy shot quite well in this particular rifle, going to try to duplicate it more or less.

Thanks -

FJ4E

 

[1Shot]

Try some IMR4350. Always shoots great for me with 75 to 117 gr bullets. Those 87 gr Sierras are very accurate and VERY explosive. They red mist and scatter pieces of groundhogs. Hope you are not trying to save pelts.

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Nope not going to save pelts, just want to reduce the varmint population in the area. I have a .22-250 I use very frequently as well so this load will likely go along for those days when I need a second rifle to allow the first rifle's barrel to cool down.

I have a Simmons 4x12x40 on top right now and it shoots real straight, will eventually upgrade to something with a gold ring on the front though.

 

[wildgene]

...I started loading for the .25-06 back in the late '70's/ early 80's using IMR-4064 for 75gr. & 4350 for 87gr. Haven't really bothered to change. W/ the relatively low BC's of the lighter .25 bullets, TOF is the enemy so I tend to load 'em "warm", about 3650-3700fps w/ the 75gr. SHP &V-Max, 3550-3600fps w/ the 85gr. BT, 87gr. TNT & Sierras. The 90gr. Sierra BlitzKing is a definite step up in BC/ external ballistics, w/ less drop & drift...

 

[SJB358]

...I started loading for the .25-06 back in the late '70's/ early 80's using IMR-4064 for 75gr. & 4350 for 87gr. Haven't really bothered to change. W/ the relatively low BC's of the lighter .25 bullets, TOF is the enemy so I tend to load 'em "warm", about 3650-3700fps w/ the 75gr. SHP &V-Max, 3550-3600fps w/ the 85gr. BT, 87gr. TNT & Sierras. The 90gr. Sierra BlitzKing is a definite step up in BC/ external ballistics, w/ less drop & drift...

70's and 80's.... Jeeze buddy, you are danged old! :lol:

Secondly, all kidding aside, I'd love to here more about your favorite 90 grains BK loads. Got a 25-06 collecting dust. Need to see what it does!

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Loaded up ten rounds of 87 grain Sierras with 48 grains of H380 and WLR primers - according to the Sierra book I should be getting 3300+ fps out of a 24" barrel. Went to sight in today and noticed that the Simmons 4x12x40 scope that I have on top had something rattling around inside.

Looks like I need some new glass on top before I can shoot this load and see how it goes. Have my doubts as Ken Waters mentioned that H380 can have excessive muzzle blast in a .25-06. I have lots of 4064 and 4350 to fall back on if it doesn't work out.

 

[Guy Miner]

Huh. Never tried H380 in my .25-06 rifles.

Then again, it doesn't seem to be real popular anymore. I did use it, years ago, to build some very accurate loads for my .308 Win for target competition. Will be interesting to see how it works for your .25-06 with those light bullets!

Normally I don't mess around with bullets under 100 grains and the .25-06, will be watching developments here! I can tell you that a 115 gr Berger VLD at 3190 fps does a fine job on a coyote... As long as you don't want to save the pelt!

Regards, Guy

 

[filmjunkie4ever]

Guy -

I usually don't mess with bullets under 100 grains either in my .25-06s but now that I have two of them, I was just exploring the idea of a middle of the road rock chuck load in one to give it additional versatility. I plan to use the Mauser (22"bbl) for deer hunting this fall with one of my old standby loads, 100 grain BT and 52.5 grains of H4350. Even in that shorter barrel I am getting 3200 fps.

As for the H380/87 grain Sierra combination...I still haven't gotten to test these out yet.