Favorite powders for 120 PT in 25-06?

NYDAN

Handloader
Sep 17, 2013
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I accepted a project to reload some 120 Partitions in a M70 25-06. What are some of your favorite powders for the heavy bullets in 25-06?
 
Rl22 used to be one of my favorites, RL25 would work, as would 7828, 4831, Retumbo, H1000 or RL26/23. I’ve tried them all at one time or another. I like slow stuff in the 25-06 myself especially with 120’s.

What do you have available to you Dan?
 
Rl22 used to be one of my favorites, RL25 would work, as would 7828, 4831, Retumbo, H1000 or RL26/23. I’ve tried them all at one time or another. I like slow stuff in the 25-06 myself especially with 120’s.

What do you have available to you Dan?

Scotty,
I am being given IMR 4831 to work with. I DO NOT plan to use irreplaceable powders from my personal stash (i.e. Re-23, Re-26, Re-16). Since this is a time sensitive project (finish before I leave for Montana) I will be limited to what is currently available at the LGS - probably some of the IMR and Ramshot powders.

I don't know what primers I will be given to work with either. I also have to find out if speed or accuracy is more important to rifle's owner. I was told that 1-1/2 MOA would be acceptable.

I will find some of this out tomorrow when I pick up the rifle.
 
+1 to Scotty’s comment …. 25-06 and 120 s are slow powder territory. That said you s/b able to find something acceptable with IMR4831…. Maybe not quite the velocity of Retumbo, R26, etc but still a nice load.

IMR4831 has been very good to me in a number of 270 s with 130 gr bullets 👍
 
Scotty,
I am being given IMR 4831 to work with. I DO NOT plan to use irreplaceable powders from my personal stash (i.e. Re-23, Re-26, Re-16). Since this is a time sensitive project (finish before I leave for Montana) I will be limited to what is currently available at the LGS - probably some of the IMR and Ramshot powders.

I don't know what primers I will be given to work with either. I also have to find out if speed or accuracy is more important to rifle's owner. I was told that 1-1/2 MOA would be acceptable.

I will find some of this out tomorrow when I pick up the rifle.
Looks like Ramshot Grand is the best for 120 grain but Magnum is not bad and Hunter just under 3000FPS.

You can get good deals on all three at Midway right now nut I guess depends on how much time you actually have before you need to leave.
 
I just got some Staball HD, plan to use that on the 2506, not sure if Im going to do 120s or 115s. In the past have used H4831sc, and RL22.
Interested to hear how it goes
 
For years I shot 120 grain bullets (factory and handloaded) for everything in my .25-06! They work marvelously for all around use.

Curiosity and the acquisition of a .270 changed all of that for me. I have only been shooting bullets weighing 100 grains and lighter as the .257-120 grain bullets do nothing a .277-130 grain bullet cannot do as well or better.

In fact I have been playing around with the 80 grain TTSX on top of Hunter lately. Accurate, very fast and should work excellent on practically anything.
 
For years I shot 120 grain bullets (factory and handloaded) for everything in my .25-06! They work marvelously for all around use.

Curiosity and the acquisition of a .270 changed all of that for me. I have only been shooting bullets weighing 100 grains and lighter as the .257-120 grain bullets do nothing a .277-130 grain bullet cannot do as well or better.

In fact I have been playing around with the 80 grain TTSX on top of Hunter lately. Accurate, very fast and should work excellent on practically anything.
That 80gr TTSX is wicked on deer.
 
I've had excellent success with 110 - 120 gr bullets using Retumbo. Velocity for the 115's is about 3150 - 3190 fps with good accuracy. I've taken mule deer out to 400 yards with the 115's. Haven't loaded 120's in quite a few years but they should do just fine.

IMR 8133 also worked well, but it's become unavailable. With the heavier 115, 117 and 120 gr bullets look hard at the slower burning powders such as Retumbo.

With 100's H4350 is excellent and can break 3300 fps. A 100 gr mono-metal bullet at 3340 fps did real well for me too.

Regards, Guy
 
In my wifes 25-06 I used IMR 4350 with 120 gr. Nosler Partitions. The load was 49.0 grs. that chronographed at 3000 fps in her Remington 700 Mountain rifle with the 22' barrel. It shot well with no pressure issues and long case life. Worked on lots of antelope, deer, and a couple of elk.
 
I DO NOT plan to use irreplaceable powders from my personal stash (i.e. Re-23, Re-26, Re-16).
I don't blame you at all for that, I was going to say RL26 as it gives me the best accuracy and velocity with 115g and 120g. I tried several other powders and Magpro, IMR4831 and IMR7828ssc all did well in my 24" barrel M70.
 
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