25-06 load help

[abiggdan]

I was wondering if anyone here loads for a 25-06 ? I have started to get all the components together for my new 25-06 rifle. I have not reloaded for this caliber before. I want to shoot varmints with it using the light bullets ...say 75 grain. I have done a lot of looking and am still no closer to making my mind up on what to start with. I have a tight budget restraint right now and, did not want to spend money experimenting. I know that i have to work up a load but, what powder will most likely get me close to good accuracy ? the rifle is a tang safety ruger m77 factory bull barrel . Also.... i have been told that i might need to crimp these light bullets. I have never crimped any bullet on a rifle round...... any validity to this ? I thought that maybe some of you guys may have some experience with the 25-06 ..... Thanks

 

[MQ1]

Big D,

Lots of choices. I have found in a number do 25-06 rifles that the 75 gr pills were OK, but for varmints I always found the 85 Nosler to be tops. You also have the choice for a 100gr Speer TNT, which I have not played with yet, but in my 6mm calibers the TNT has always performed exceptionally well for the money.

IMR 4350 and H4350 have always done well for me, as well as IMR4895 for the light weight bullets.

Go to Hodgdon's Website and check their powder and bullet combinations to get started.

I never crimped, and don't have an opinion in the caliber.

MQ1

 

[Clod-NC]

Hi Abiggdan

I am just like you,except I'm still waiting for the project rifle to be completed yet...As to your problem why don't you check with Sierra?They have a very useful and practical manual where you can pick up the loads(they have a free call number if you want to discuss with a technician) you want for the calibers you use,you could also check Hodgdon,or Accurate Arms,there are heaps of useful sites to go and check;powders like H4350 or IMR4350 or H4831 or R22 will be the ones that will work,and for varmint hunting I believe Sierra 75gr boat tails or Nosler BT in 75gr,will do just fine,of course you can try 90gr too,but if you're on a budget,start slow...25/06 seems to be the good choice anyway,I can't wait to get mine.I hope it helps,good luck with your quest.

 

[abiggdan]

thanks for the input. I have looked in all my load books as i would for any other caliber. a lot of what im reading in the books is contrary to what i read on the forums. the people on this forum usually have a very good handle on the info. they put a lot of time in behind the trigger..... as opposed to the guy that shoots once in awhile and, from that once a year range session thinks he knows all the variables. one example is ..... a lot of guys online are saying that they are using H4831 with a Hornady 75 grain vmax. The hornady book doesn't even show it as a recommended powder for that bullet. I also think it is too slow but, maybe someone here has explored its use in this application. this kind of thing can save you loads of money and, time.

 

[dnirode]

My favorite load for long range varminting in the .25-06 is 58.0 grains of H4831 or 58.0 grains of AA 3100 and an 85 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. Work up to that load in your rifle and find the seating depth that gives the best accuracy. In my rifle (a stock Remington 700) either of those loads shoot under 1/2 m.o.a. and reach well over 400 yards in the Ohio farm country. Hope this helps you out.

dcn

 

[kyreloader]

I sent you a PM.

 

[Clod-NC]

Hi again Abiggdan
Considering your answer and the way you question things that you read apparently(not a bad thing in itself,far from it...)I believe you should check the Knowledge base from a New Zealand based site run by Mr Nathan Foster,and go straight to the 25/06 study,the site is called ballistics research.com,or ballisticsstudies,it's got nearly every caliber looked through and checked on a real hunt basis and approach...Just give it a go,I'm sure it'll help you some.Good luck to you,and hang on to it,you'll make it...

 

[abiggdan]

thank you .... the ballistics research has a lot of info about a lot of different things..... is some good reading. thanks for everyone's help

 

[quartermaster]

IMR 4831 and 100 Gr nosler BTs have always worked good for me. The bts worked great for both varmints and whitetails. I had 3 25-06s at one point in time and the amount of powder varied with each one as well as the seating depth. It seems to me that I used mag primers for one also. All shot great when the right load was realized. I never crimped any of my rifle reloads.

Good luck with your load workup. For some reason this caliber is very easy to load hot. Use care!!

QM

 

[wapiti25]

I would go to the 100's using IMR 4350. They will work better at long range. I would not crimp. You may want to try the 115 Berger with H1000 for the long range shooting.

 

[Larryh128]

H4831 is a good starting powder that will work with everything from 85 gr to 120 gr bullets. I would look seriously at the 85 gr Ballistic Tip as recommended by others as well. The 85's have been very accurate in my rifle but when you drop down to 75gr it's a case of maybe. You're on the edge & some barrels will stabilize it & some won't. 100 fps doesn't mean anything.