Anyone Load 25-06?

[Doc Bob]

I won a Browning X-Bolt in 25-06 at a fireman's raffle last week. It is a nice rifle for a $20 ticket. What are favorite brass, powder type, primer, and bullet combos being used?

Looking for an accurate 300 yard combination for skinny deer.

Thanks,

 

[bozo699]

Doc Bob,
Welcome to the forum, That is a very nice and should be a very accurate hunting rifle.
For Skinny deer I use winchester cases or neck down Lapua 30-06 brass I do complete brass prep work just like I would for competition work. I have been using cci BR primers because I can get them easier than I can 210M. I use 117 grain hornady BT interlocks behind a heavy load of H-4831, it will shoot well under 1/2" @ 100 yds and can easily take deer and coyotes @ 300yds. Bob I don't like giving out powder chg weights, but the charge I use is on a one pound can of H-4831, there prescribed dose worked great for me I never looked further. Good luck friend.
Wayne.

 

[billmo]

Doc Bob, 54 gr. of IMR-4831 underneath a 100 gr. Nosler BT sparked by a Fed Match primer always worked good for me and a few of my shooting friends. The 30-06 Lapua brass is always better but the run of mill brass will do o k as well. I hope this helps. Bill

PLEASE WORK UP YOUR LOAD FROM 50.0 GR. REMEMBER: SAFETY FIRST EVERYTIME

 

[Doc Bob]

My Hornady and Sierra manuals lean towards H4831 and Reloder 22, but H4831 seems to be the consensus.

It is an embarrassing question but in my 25 years of hand loading I have never necked down any cartridge case. Is this done with a neck size only die? Do you have trouble with neck thickness after doing so?

My first thought was to buy specific 25-06 brass, but I do have a ton of 30-06 around including dies.

-Doc

 

[1000yardstare]

My Rem 700 SPS stainless in .25-06 puts three 100 gr Sierra spbt into 2 inches at 200 metres (220 yds) using 52 gr RL19. Chronos at 3100 fps. Fine cartridge.

The local gun shop tells me the .25-06 is a fav cartridge for Mohawks on the nearby Reserve. They must have a lot of long shots at coyotes.

 

[LarryDScott]

Doc
I'm not sure if a neck size only will work. I have always used a FL die, because thats all I have. Size the 30-06 case as usual w/the 25-06 die. Doesnt get any simplier.
I have 2 loads:
100gr sierra MK over 55.5 gr H4831sc
75gr Vmax over 48gr IMR 4064

Point of impact for these 2 loads is within less than one inch of each other at a 100 yds. Larry in western Ky.

 

[bozo699]

Doc,
I don't know what kind of accuracy you are looking for, Me I am a accuracy freak and have burned many barrels up in rifles of all kinds looking for that perfect load.
( Its not going to happen w/a factory hunting rifle) But I continue to try anyways
With that said sounds like you own a 06 as well, using your 06 brass could lead to problems as things could get mixed up Norma makes good brass and winchester isn't to bad, it's a crap shoot but sometimes you can get great nosler brass and sometimes it's about half as good as remington. I think all the powder choices mentioned will work fine I have used all mentioned w/good results w/the best for heavier bullets being H-4831 and for the 75 gr v-maxs Mine likes IMR-4831 a little better followed by RL-22.By the way it's tough to beat a good shooting 25-06 loaded w/75 gr v-maxs out to 400 yds or so for coyotes, just about turns them inside out. Hopes this helps.
Wayne.

 

[playersc]

I have a Remington 700 Sendero and I shoot what the Sierra manual has for max load with a 117gr SPBT, IMR4350, Fed210, set .030" jump. This load shoots great, these items are what I had on hand so no other testing has been done, not yet that is.

 

[2506]

For around 20 years I have used what was the accuracy load out of the 50th anniversary edition of the Sierra manual as the accuracy load. 49 grs IMR 4350 with the 117 Sierra Pro Hunter in a Rem case and a CCI 250 primer. 1/4 MOA accuracy and it runs 3000 fps out of my 26" barrel. On deer out to a little over 500 yards 99.9% of the time it is bang flop.

 

[bozo699]

99.9%, very impressive! Mine won't do that but it works pretty well.

 

[eagleI]

For around 20 years I have used what was the accuracy load out of the 50th anniversary edition of the Sierra manual as the accuracy load. 49 grs IMR 4350 with the 117 Sierra Pro Hunter in a Rem case and a CCI 250 primer. 1/4 MOA accuracy and it runs 3000 fps out of my 26" barrel. On deer out to a little over 500 yards 99.9% of the time it is bang flop.

+1 on this load.

 

[2506]

If you shoot them in the center of the front shoulder with that 117 Sierra 99.9% of the time the ground jumps up and smacks them. I have used a lot of different bullets in the 25-06 but the 117 Sierra is the best killer in my book. The 115 Nosler partition runs a close second.

 

[wapiti25]

IMR 4350 with a 100gr bullet is a good start. I do like 117 flat base Sierra's with a heavy dose of H-1000. I would go get 50 win cases to start, the necking down gets into annealing, turning, ect. If you neck down 06 go first with 30-06 with no expander, anneal then 270 win no expander, then 25-06. This has given me the most uniform necks but it is a lot of work. I have also turned the necks as you can get a "Donut" from necking down.

 

[bozo699]

If you shoot them in the center of the front shoulder with that 117 Sierra 99.9% of the time the ground jumps up and smacks them. I have used a lot of different bullets in the 25-06 but the 117 Sierra is the best killer in my book. The 115 Nosler partition runs a close second.

2506,
I as well use 117s only I use Hornady interlocks,they work good for me. In a pinch I have bought Federal Premium loaded w/177 sierra and they work satisfactory. I have found mine just isn't to picky it will shoot anything from 75-120 grain bullets fairly well, of course it does have its pet loads.
Wayne.

 

[Bulseyetom]

I have been shooting a 25-06 single shot for about 10 years now and have had great luck with all 100 grain pills I have tried on large mule deer and antelope. I have settled on the Nosler 110 grain Accubond with Re 25 (58.5 gr but that is a warm load) using necked down Lapua 30-06 brass, but have used Winchester brass as well. Nosler brass seemed a little soft and the primer pockets loosened up after 4 or 5 loadings. I used Re 22 for most of my 100 grain bullet loads but H4350 gave very accurate loads as well. I have about decided to use H4350 for all of my rifles as it just seems to be the most accurate and the loss of 100 fps or so over other powders doesn't matter to me. I use it in my 270, 270 Weatherby, 6x47 Lapua and 7-08 and so I just order an 8 pound keg. I have used Sierra 100 grain bullets, Nosler partition and ballistic tip, Barnes TSX and now the 110 grain Nosler Accubond and have never had to shoot an animal twice with any of them. The light recoil of the 25-06 makes me a better shot in the field I am convinced. Tom

 

[jgileseasttx]

I use 48gr IMR-4350, Berger 115 touching the lands, Remington primers, Federal brass. 90 percent of all 25-06 reloaders have found best results with 4350. With that said stick with that powder and play with other factors

 

[Doc Bob]

Pics of the raffle rifle (I am giving it to my Brother for Christmas, my nieces pitched in for a Leupold Euro 3x9.)

Deer Season cold...Range temperature on Sunday 15 F.

I tried H4831 with CCI 250 primer, 47.5 gr being best for group with weights to 49.5 in 0.5 increments, 110 Gr Nosler Accubond. I thought it odd that lowest charge performed best for the day.

 

[CaptainMal]

Boy that range sure looks like one near Saltsburg, Pa. and Kenny Bee's Gun Shop. Used to live near there before retiring here in Florida.

Sub MOA with my "worked" Sendero and 55 gr. IMR 4350 and 115 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips. Do moly those bullets myself so that may be a factor to note. Use mag primers also.

What's that white stuff on the ground? Saw some of that during the Steeler game yesterday. Cold heh?

 

[Doc Bob]

I was in Gainesville, FL last week for work, and it was pretty damn cold down there too!

I was on the fence between IMR4350 and H4831, may try and work that into future loads.

PS: This is the Dormont-Mt Lebanon Sportsman's Club in South Strabane Township, near Washington, PA. Funny, most ranges up here all look the same...

 

[CaptainMal]

Coached the Penn Hills High School rifle team for years. Think we went there one Summer to shoot against Mt. Lebanon and Trinity.

Memories. Thanks.