double-check my 25-06 retumbo loads

[bob_dobalina]

I don't have the newest nosler book so I wrote down the loads at the store and have loaded all three up for the range. I am shooting 120 grain partitions - does this match the latest manual:

120 grain Partition
Retumbo
53.5 gr, 89%, 3038 fps * most accurate
55.5 gr, 92%, 3112 fps
57.5 gr, 95%, 3175 fps

Thanks

 

[DrMike]

You got the data, and it is correct.

 

[bob_dobalina]

great thanks

 

[bob_dobalina]

so I am inclined to agree with nosler on this one - the 53.5 grain load does appear to be the most accurate. does anyone see any harm in trying 51.5 grains? how do you know the lower limit - by minimum pressure? most people are not trying to load the bottom or the suggested loads, usually the opposite.

 

[SJB358]

Not sure Bob, but man, Retumbo and the 25-06 seems pretty darned good with the 115/120's. That is screaming for that little bullet. Good luck with your load work, but I don't think you will get alot of accuracy at the lower case fills with Retumbo, seems to work better for me as a slightly compressed case fill.. Again, I could be way off on this, just my experience with it.

 

[Guy Miner]

Hodgdon lists a max of 60.5 gr Retumbo with a 117 gr bullet for 3079 fps and 50,700 CUP.

That's a little warmer than Nosler's manual, but worth noting, and I used it as my guide when I was working up 115 gr loads for my .25-06 rifle. Found very good accuracy up near or at Hodgdon's listed maximum, and typically I'll load 60 gr of Retumbo with most 115 gr bullets.

Have had no problems with this. Brass life is decent, for a high intensity cartridge. Primers look good. Velocity is over what Hodgdon predicts (I'm seeing 3190 fps) so I'm sure it is producing higher pressure than shown, in my rifle. Have been using the load for at least four years now, and several hundred rounds.

I would note that it's worth carefully working up to - when I recently tried the same load with the 115 Ballistic Tips, velocity was considerably higher, leading me to believe that pressures were likely unacceptable. Despite the brass looking good and the load shooting well.

I think there are probably better powders for reduced loads. Retumbo in my experience, likes to run at the upper end. Of course Nosler does show it most accurate at the lower end - which is contrary to what I've seen. Just shows that rifles too, are individuals.

FWIW, Guy