25-06/115g VLD's/400 yards

RETUMBO!!!!

Don't know how many times I have to say it... if you're shooting the heavies in the .25-06 Retumbo is your Huckleberry... 60% of the time it works every time!!
 
I'm working up a load with that same bullet and the same powder for this .257 weatherby.

Great 400yd results!

I was told these bullets really show their accuracy at longer ranges. Now I'm believing that after seeing what you did.

Good shooting.
 
It goes in fine... there's room to spare with the 115s. I shoot 58.5 grains and a WRLM primer behind the 115 Bergers. I've shot as much as 63 grains behind the 100 grainers with excellent accuracy... I'm just not much of a 100 grain guy anymore with the .25-06.
 
I actually have a tad bit of Retumbo laying around from my previous 300 RUM. I think I"ll try a few loads with that Retumbo and see how she does. Its almost a definate I'll see a faster MV, but I would like to stay around 1/2 MOA as well at longer range.

Heck, I'd stay with 1/4-1/2 MOA, even if it does shoot 100-200fps slower. Dont think a coyote will notice the difference one bit from 3025fps to 3150fps-3200fps.

Its definately worth a shot though. I"ll load some up tonite with Retumbo and hopefully shoot them in the morning if the wind isn't to bad. Stay tuned!!!

I"ve played with H4831sc with some 100g NBT's, 110g AB, and 117g SBT's. The 110g AB and 117g shot AWESOME with it, but the 100g didn't fare so well. This was out of my winchester though, so no telling how this Rem will do. H4831sc is definately another powder to try though as its very close to RL-22 in burn rate.
 
Good luck, Flybuster! I think that the secret is not to try and push them as hard as I am. I would try some IMR 4831 first and your velocity will be in the 3250 range.

Quarterbored, I don't know how long the brass will last. I have a set of 50 that I have fired 15+ times.

I do believe that the key to long brass life is to neck size when ever possible, then graduate to a shoulder bumper die (forester neck sizer) bumping the shoulder back .002, then full length size when the base gets swolen to where the bolt is tight to close.

You know, lot# of powders can vary greatly. When I get a new keg of R#19, I will back off 3g and work up to what ever is the most accurate. 57.5g in the next lot that I get may be way too hot!

When I was talking about getting 3650 out of the 100's, it was in a custom, minimum spec SAAMI spec match chamber, with tight throat(.0005 over bullet dia), and zero freebore with a 26" barrel. There is a gunsmith in Texas that makes a good living chambering nothing but this caliber with this type of reamer.
By using a chamber like this, you trap all the gas behind the bullet working for you in higher velocity with extreme accuracy.

The key to R#25 is Winchester brass and a Federal Magnum 215 Primer. R#25 without the 215 yields terrible groups.
 
Quote:
You use a drop tube to get all that Retumbo in there with the heavies???

How is your 257 doing??? Accuracy/velocity??


Here's the load:

.257wby factory brass
Berger VLD 115gr
Re22 68gr
CCI250

So far I've shot just one group. Not sure exactly where velocity is but from what I can tell by the target board they hit at the same POI that my factory level 100gr loads are shooting. Probably 3400.

Grouping isnt where it should be. I need to back off on the load and see if it helps tighten the groups. The first group shot .96" at 112yds.
 
I am shooting 115 VLD's getting .3 moa in my custom Savage 25-06 AI with 60.0 of R22 and Winchester primers at 3375 fps. Will try longer ranges when I get time, maybe after hunting season.

Rick
 
I loaded up another batch of 115g VLD's with Retumbo at 57.5, 58, and 58.5 with Fed 210's and shot them the other day.

At 400 yards, 58.5g shot the best at 2.5" and was going 3260fps. ES of 10.

I shot the 50g RL-22 w/cci primer again, it shot 2" this time around. Still 1/4 to 1/2 MOA aint bad.

I might work with the Retumbo load, and shoot the 58.5g load again, maybe try a CCI primer as I loaded them with Fed 210's. I'll take the extra 250fps if I can stay at 1/2 MOA.

All this range work has been done with the trigger at 5 lbs as well. I finally got the screws broke loose yesterday and worked it down to a nice glass break at 1.5 lbs. So hopefully I can get a little better groups consistency wise anyways.
 
I shoot the 58.5 grain load... with WLR primers. Ran them over the clock on Tuesday night... they were right at 3200 and some change. I thought they were a little slower... but I'll take it. They shot just under MOA at 600 yards with 9x glass.



Oh yeah, about the Retumbo... TOLD YA!!!
 
Thanks for the powder suggestion. I probly woulda just left well enough alone, but I always love speed and accuracy. Retumbo gave me an extra 250fps!!

As for accuracy, I still need to shoot more groups with each combo to see whats more consistent for me to determine what I'll settle on.

Hopefully its the Retumbo because at 250fps faster, it gives quite a bit better ballistics.
 
kyotekiller25, to loosen up those stuck screws, try applying a little heat to them. Try using a soldering iron held on the screw head for a bit. Not sure how long, 10-30 seconds (not too long), it should loosen up the lock-tite a bit. You don't want to overheat the metal, also it will expand when hot which does not help, but the main thing is to loosen/soften whatever bonding agent is on the threads.
 
Quote:

Here's the load:

.257wby factory brass
Berger VLD 115gr
Re22 68gr
CCI250

So far I've shot just one group. Not sure exactly where velocity is but from what I can tell by the target board they hit at the same POI that my factory level 100gr loads are shooting. Probably 3400.

Grouping isnt where it should be. I need to back off on the load and see if it helps tighten the groups. The first group shot .96" at 112yds.



How far are you seating the Bergers out? I have a box and will be working on loads possibly for this fall.
 
"Are VLD's worth trying for deer if I would probably never have a shot over 300yds"

No. Bergers are great long range bullets. 300 yards isn't exactly long range. You'd be better served with a controlled expansion bullet. If your shots are no closer then 300, then yes it would be worth your time to try them. Bergers use very thin J4 jackets which DO NOT hold up well to close range shots. Sure they'll still work under 300 yards, but you best not hit the shoulder...
 
Quote:
"Are VLD's worth trying for deer if I would probably never have a shot over 300yds"

No. Bergers are great long range bullets. 300 yards isn't exactly long range. You'd be better served with a controlled expansion bullet. If your shots are no closer then 300, then yes it would be worth your time to try them. Bergers use very thin J4 jackets which DO NOT hold up well to close range shots. Sure they'll still work under 300 yards, but you best not hit the shoulder...



That makes alot of sense to me.
 
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