I need a 25-06 sure thing

[joelkdouglas]

Gents,

Finally got the 25-06 smithed up, after about a year waiting on a 25 cal Rock barrel, McMillan stock, etc. I will try to get some photos up of her before long…

But for now, I don't have much time, and I need a respectable hunting load for this year. I wasn't going to use her this year since I just got her back, but my buddy's rifle got separated from its detachable magazine, and one of us may need to carry her this year (I only have my sole trustworthy 30-06 in addition to the 25-06).

Here's what I have on hand: Nosler and Rem virgin 25-06 brass. CCI LR, LR benchrest, and LR magnum primers. H4350, IMR4350, H4831, Varget, Hunter, H4895, IMR4320, and Big Game for powders. I don't have much Big Game. 100 gr Ballistic Tips, 100 gr Partitions, 110 gr Accubonds, 100 gr Interlocks for bullets. I have about 500 x 100 grain Partitions and 250 x 110 Accubonds if that gives you any indication of the bullets I intend to use.

My preference for loads would be some combo of H4350 or H4831 with 100 Partitions or 110 Accubonds. I need the load to shoot 2 MOA this year, and I can rework as necessary over the winter and next year.

So what say you, any sure things out there? I was thinking of loading 52/52.5/53 grains H4350, 100 grain PTs 0.02 off the lands, adjusting scope, and picking the best of the three charges. Am I off base?

 

[bobnob]

I would be going straight into the 4831 and 110 ABs, with the Nosler brass and benchrest primers. If that doesn't work the next try would be the 4350.

Load to mag length and see what they do.

I'd be surprised if you don't have a keeper of a load within 20 shots with those components.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

My load was 110g AB with 53g H4831, fed 210, win case, 3.250"

3100fps and 1/2 MOA out to 600.

This from a model 70 classic sporter.

Enjoy!

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

My load with 100g NPs is either 52g IMR4350 or 55g H4831

Good for 3300fps and 1/2-3/4 MOA.

Again from my model 70 classic spotter.

 

[Vince]

I shoot a 25-06 with 100 Grain Partitions and IMR 4350.
It gives me half inch groups all day long. My "go to" powder for the 25-06 is the IMR 4350. Your rifle may be different.

 

[Guy Miner]

So what say you, any sure things out there? I was thinking of loading 52/52.5/53 grains H4350, 100 grain PTs 0.02 off the lands, adjusting scope, and picking the best of the three charges. Am I off base?

You're tracking just fine. 52-53 grains of H4350 and a good 100 gr bullet is a great, well-known combo that shoots just fine in many different .25-06 rifles. Usually about 3300 - 3350 fps with good accuracy.

Guy

 

[joelkdouglas]

Thanks all for your suggestions. As I have come to expect, you guys are full of helpful, timely, and respectful insight.

 

[1Shot]

100 partitions and 52 grs IMR 4350 and CCI Br primers. Works really well.

 

[SJB358]

So what say you, any sure things out there? I was thinking of loading 52/52.5/53 grains H4350, 100 grain PTs 0.02 off the lands, adjusting scope, and picking the best of the three charges. Am I off base?

I think you'll have a hunting load fast.. Plus, that'll be a deer killing machine.. Good luck. Post up your targets, I am betting they will all be good and well under 2 MOA..

 

[ElmerThud]

I'd say you're in the right ball park & my tuppenceworth is:
53gns IMR4350 produced best consistency in my rifle with a Sierra ProHunter 1620 bullet seated .040" from the lands (2.875" comparator measurement) & Rem 9 1/2 primer. Consistently delivering 1/4" MOA at 100yds. The cases F/L sized at 2.050" headspace using the Hornady guage.

52.5gns of H4350 worked pretty much the same but the POI changed somewhat. All other details identical to above.
Chrono tests showed the IMR4350 faster at 3,297 fps MV. 22fps ES.

The Nosler 110gn AB works in my rifle with 53gns IMR4831, Fed210 M primers with the bullet seating depth at 2.870" comparator measurement - .045" from the lands. All other case prep is similar.
This produces at least 1/2" MOA @ 100yds often better.
Chrono tests showed 3,120 fps MV. 31fps ES.

The chrono test are not under lab. conditions, just a chrony in a field.
My barrel is 20" - 22" incl. breech/chamber with 1 in 10 twist. Cheers, ET

 

[joelkdouglas]

Thanks!

I loaded up 51 and 52 grains of H4831 with some 110 ABs, along with 52.0/52.5/53.0 grains H4350 with 100 PTs. Now I just need some time to go to the range...

But you're the second to mention 53 grains of H4831 with 110 ABs. 2 grains over book max was more than I wanted to try with the limited number of rounds I loaded, but I will definitely try it out this winter.

Safety edit: I did also load some "pressure test" lower charge rounds, as always.

v/r
Joel

 

[FOTIS]

I shoot a 25-06 with 100 Grain Partitions and IMR 4350.
It gives me half inch groups all day long. My "go to" powder for the 25-06 is the IMR 4350. Your rifle may be different.

load and velocity ?

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Can't see it being much different then 51-53g of 4350 at 3200-3350..kinda standard 100g load that produces good velocity and great accuracy in most 25s...

You should have something at or under MOA I'm thinking. 25s are pretty easy to get to shoot, especially with your components.

 

[ElmerThud]

It's just my personal view, but I think the 1-10 twist on the .25-06 'prefers' a lighter weight bullet & 100gn would seem perfect.
Sometimes however, the extra downrange energy the 110gn bullet gives is worth having.
That's the reason I developed the two loads I listed which work in my rifle.

Of course other rifles will be different and so the usual safety must be observed developing your load.

Incidentally, 51gn max IMR4831 is the Nosler data. There are other considerations though & you will see my cartridge data is different and produces a longer OAL. Also, there is info in the Lee manual suggesting only 1gn max difference between 100 & 117gn bullet weights with IMR4831.
Also, some guys using this site were very helpful with info getting my loads worked up.
Cheers, ATB ET

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

My Winchester classic model 70 shoots everything from 75 vmax on up to the 125g wildcats and 115g vlds and everything inbetween under MOA with ease.

Have played with a few 25s over years and never had any problems getting them to shoot the 115 NBT which is my favorite longer range bullet for the 25/06.

 

[YoteSmoker]

115 ballistic tip is what I intend to use on a late season doe and long range coyotes this winter. I found a very accurate load using 47 grains imr4350 with fed 215 magnum primer.

 

[SJB358]

115 ballistic tip is what I intend to use on a late season doe and long range coyotes this winter. I found a very accurate load using 47 grains imr4350 with fed 215 magnum primer.

YS, just asking, but why 47 grains? Seems on the slow side for a 25-06.

 

[YoteSmoker]

Scotty, according to nosler #6, 49 grains is the max recommendation. 47 produced the tightest group in my ritle and shooluld be around 3000 fps with the 28" barrel. I do need to run it over the chrono to verify though.

 

[SJB358]

That'll sure get it done out of the 28" barrel though..

Cartridge : .25-06 Rem.
Bullet : .257, 115, Nosler BalTip 25115
Useable Case Capaci: 60.107 grain H2O = 3.903 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.250 inch = 82.55 mm
Barrel Length : 28.0 inch = 711.2 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 68 37.60 2411 1485 26914 7266 90.8 1.763
-18.0 70 38.54 2465 1552 28492 7485 91.9 1.726
-16.0 72 39.48 2519 1620 30136 7698 92.9 1.689
-14.0 73 40.42 2572 1689 31864 7905 93.9 1.653
-12.0 75 41.36 2625 1760 33682 8106 94.7 1.618
-10.0 77 42.30 2678 1831 35595 8299 95.6 1.584
-08.0 78 43.24 2731 1904 37607 8484 96.3 1.549
-06.0 80 44.18 2783 1978 39724 8660 97.0 1.510
-04.0 82 45.12 2835 2053 41950 8828 97.6 1.472
-02.0 84 46.06 2887 2128 44291 8986 98.2 1.435
+00.0 85 47.00 2938 2205 46752 9134 98.7 1.400
+02.0 87 47.94 2989 2282 49342 9272 99.1 1.366
+04.0 89 48.88 3040 2360 52065 9398 99.4 1.333
+06.0 90 49.82 3090 2439 54930 9513 99.7 1.301
+08.0 92 50.76 3140 2518 57946 9616 99.8 1.271 ! Near Maximum !
+10.0 94 51.70 3189 2597 61120 9707 100.0 1.241 ! Near Maximum !

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 85 47.00 3058 2389 54469 8953 100.0 1.308
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 85 47.00 2777 1969 39164 8902 93.5 1.519

 

[Oldtrader3]

Joel, I always used 100 gr Partitions and 53 grains of IMR 4350 in my .25-06. Accurate and hot but I never chrono'ed it.