post your pet loads for the 25-06

[ccoker]

About to start load development for my Cooper 25-06

What are some of you pet loads?
Deer and Varmint type...

While the 110 AB is a pretty obvious choice for deer, I run the 140s in my 280AI

In honor of my dad and in keeping with his "light and fast" mindset I will run 75-100g max.

I know that growing up he ran 75 to 90g for Texas whitetails and it was the hammer of Thor.
He would run heavier bullets and use the 25-06 on Elk just to piss off people it wasn't enough gun..
He killed a metric ton of deer and pigs with a 22-250 and firmly believed shot placement trumps everything. Our deer, even a big "trophy" buck are thin skinned and just aren't that hard to kill.

Obviously, shooting a light varmint bullet at 3500 FPS into the shoulder of a big buck at 30 yards isn't smart..

 

[Guy Miner]

100 gr with a good dose of H4350 for 3340 fps

115 gr with a good dose of Retumbo for 3120 - 3200 fps (depending)

Those two have done just fine on mule deer from 20 yards to an honest 400 yards, holding on hair.

Also just peachy on smaller stuff like coyotes & rockchucks.

 

[JD338]

I would use the 100 gr BT for both deer and varmints/predators.
IMR 4350 and RL 19 would be good powders to look at.

IMHO, the 110 gr AB is an excellent all around choice and Retumbo would be my first pick powder.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

Looking forward to seeing the results from your Cooper! It ought to be one outstanding rifle.

Regards, Guy

 

[JD338]

Nice work Guy.
Those Blue tipped bullets sure look pretty cool.

JD338

 

[Wincheringen]

I also like the 115 BT, but with 50.5 grains of Reloder 22 and a Rem 9 1/2 primer in RP brass.

I have several 25/06s and my primary one shoots everything from the 90 grain Barnes solid to the 120 PT very well. I haven't spent much time with the 75-85 grain bullets, none have shown much potential. I shoot smaller cartridges for varmints. The 90 grain Barnes is my go to for coyote pelt hunting.

 

[Oldtrader3]

I used the 120 grain Partition in my .25-06 Winchester Model 70 Sporter loaded with 55.0 grains of IMR 7828 and a Fed 215 primer. I never chrono'ed it but it was a fast load.

 

[FOTIS]

100 gr BT 56 gr rl 22 3300 fps or so

110 AB 57 gr rl25 3280 fps

Both in 26" tube both well under MOA

 

[DrMike]

Great looking loads, Guy; and they appear to perform very well, indeed.

 

[SJB358]

I have done well with RL19 and the 115 PT







These run about 3050, and I made them up to be a lighter recoiling load for my wife.

RL25 will scream a 115 BT along at 3200 pretty easily..



I have some 120 grain Swift A-Frames loaded up right now with RL22. Haven't shot them yet, but I should have a range report pretty quickly. Seems like RL19/22/25 have all worked well in my wife's, which is a 24" barreled Model 70 Sporter.

Good luck, it is a fun rifle. I am hoping the 120's shoot well, as Lori will probably use them this Fall for some elk hunting.

 

[ccoker]

Thanks guys!
Keep em coming

 

[Guy Miner]

Here's a good thread on the .25-06 that we did, not long ago:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=23346

And another one:

viewtopic.php?f=4&t=22791

Also, there's quite a bit of .25-06 load data/info in the .257" bullet test section.

 

[1Shot]

I have used for years the accuracy load as far as the powder and charge go from one of the older Sierra manuals. I use 49 grs IMR or AA 4350, Remington case, CCI 250 mag primer, 117 Sierra Pro Hunter flat base bullet 3000 fps from 26" barrel. I have found that the same charge of IMR and AA 4350 shoots the same for me in my 25-06. This load is extremely accurate and well over 100 WT deer one shot kills with most dead in their tracks can attest to it's terminal effect.

52 grs IMR 4350 with 100 gr. bullets is usually very accurate
52 grs H-4831 with 115-117 gr bullets is usually very accurate.

 

[ccoker]

BTW
Here is the gun..
Running a different scope on it, I put my S&B on it.

 

[joelkdouglas]

Is that a Serengeti, now Kilimanjaro Rifle?

 

[R Flowers]

Since I live in the middle of California I have had to switch to "non-lead" bullets. So, I have pretty much settled on the Barnes bullets for use in my 25-06.

For deer and antelope (both here and out of state) I have been shooting the 80 grain Barnes Tipped TSX over a max load if IMR 4831 for 3600 fps. This load shoots flat and drops game like a bolt of lightning.

We do hunt hogs here as well and for that I pretty much use a 100 grain Barnes TSX over another max load of IMR 4831. This load gives about 3350 fps and shoots clear through even quite large wild boars.

I have never recovered any of the Barnes bullets, complete penetration so far.

 

[ccoker]

No sir, custom Cooper I had built
I wanted a lightweight model

 

[joelkdouglas]

Sorry--missed that in the first post.

Nice rifle!

 

[Guy Miner]

Cocker - it really is a great looking rifle and I expect you'll be seeing excellent accuracy from it. The cartridge has very good accuracy potential.

R Flowers, I used the 100 gr Barnes TSX on a couple of mule deer, and you're right, it penetrates like a carbide drill! Ever try the no-lead Nosler E-Tip?

 

[SJB358]

R Flowers, I used the 100 gr Barnes TSX on a couple of mule deer, and you're right, it penetrates like a carbide drill! Ever try the no-lead Nosler E-Tip?

I might give them a try soon. I know David had excellent luck with them in the 6mm Rem and I gotta think they would crush shoulders and be very speedy in a 25-06 pushed up around 3300 or so.