25-06 groups ?????

Mrwalleye3

New member
Need an expert opinion.I've had great success loading 75grn Vmaxes in my 25-06 but it seems that I can't find a load for 120grn bullets that will group under 2.5 inches at 100 yrds. I've tried the whole range of loads from min to max with a couple different powders as well as bullets.Do you guys think that possibly it's the bullet weight? I want a load that will be good for deer as I think the 75's are a bit small. Would a smaller bullet such as a 100grn. possibly group better? I'm shooting a rem700 BDL. I know theres nothing wrong with the scope or rifle because I'm getting .5in groups with the 75's. Any suggestions????? /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
What powder are you using? I use IMR4350 under 115grn ctbt it groups at about .75 at 100yds. I use this load for deer and antelope.
 
Well, I'm not an expert, but I can tell you what I have found with my 25-06 - a Browning Composite Stalker.

I have tried a variety of bullets and two powders. I shot 120 gr. Remington Core Locks and IMR-4350 to 1 1/4" 3-shot groups. That was the norm, give or take a little.

Then I tried both Sierra and Hornady 117 gr. Both loads were shooting about 1" to 1 1/4", again, that's 3- shot groups. I used IMR 4350 on the Sierra and H4831 with the Hornady.

I read an article one time by the late Bob Milek, wherein he talked about H4831 and the 25-06. He favored H4831. I had been experimenting with IMR-4350.

Finally I went to a lighter bullet; a Speer 100 gr., and BINGO ! Using those bullets and H4831, it will shoot consistently between 1/2", 5/8" and definitely under 3/4" groups all day long. Again, that's 3-shot groups.

Probably you will need to just do some time at the reloading and shooting benches. After some experimenting, you will most likely find that pet load that your rifle prefers. Seems that it already likes 75 gr. bullets, so you might want to give a 100 gr. a try. The fact that you can shoot 1/2" groups with the 75 gr. bullets seems to indicate that the rifle is capable of good groups. It may favor lighter bullets.

As to 100 gr. Speer performance; well, that's all I use now. I have taken 5 Wyoming antelope with that load, the last one being a 300 yard shot. The bullet has performed great. I have also taken a mule deer with that load, a Corsican ram, not to mention various crows and groundhogs, all with the 100 gr. bullet. Some may say that bullet is too light. I say whatever works, works. It works for me and puts deer and antelope size animals down without a problem.

I treated my brass with care, going the extra mile you might say, in hopes of obtaining accuracy. Seems that it paid off. First, I hand-weighed all cases and separated them into groups of like-weight, with none being more than .3 of grain difference, most less than that. Then, I deburred the flash hole in the case. I also turned the necks very slightly, and I use Lee Collet dies to neck-size. I hand-weigh each powder charge. That may not be necessary, but I do it with all my loads anyway.

I can't argue with the results. It's a great rifle / load combination, and I love it.

Just stay after it and you will find what your gun likes. If, after quite a lot of time and effort, it still won't perform, then you have the option of trying other things, such as free-floating the barrel, or recrowning. If that doesn't work, you can always rebarrel, or help it to find a new home. I'm not convinced that these things are your problems, though, again since your rifle will shoot 75 gr. bullets well.

I had a Ruger .257 Roberts one time that would just not perform the way it should, and I really wanted to make that rifle shoot, because I liked it. I tried everything from various powders, bullet brands and weights, free-floating, changed to a synthetic stock, glass bedded it, recrowned - well, you get the idea. It found a new home since it just would not peform the way I thought it should. I could have rebarreled it, but by that time, after all that effort and expense, I was quite worn out with it and just wanted it out of my sight. Besides, rebarreling doesn't come cheap. In hindsight, I could have probably rebarreled it as cheaply as I did all the other stuff.

Sorry if I rambled on too much. Just thought I would share my own experiences. Hopefully that has given you more to think about.


Good shooting and keep us posted.
 
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6mm06 probably has the problem nailed. Your rifle just doesn't like the heavier bullets. Try lighter ones, I'll bet your groups tighten up.
 
I agree with the previous two posters and have to add that my particular 25-06 likes h4831sc as well as the regular h4831
I don't know what it is but it likes it so that is what I use
Good luck
 
I shoot a 700bdl. The load mine likes the best is 49gr of 4350, winchester LR primer pushing a 117gr sierra BT.
The gun will shoot 3 shot groups all day under and inch and a lot of them if I do my part under 1/2 inch at 100 yards.
Like with any rifle though you will have to find what yours likes.
 
my encore likes 49.0 of imr4350 with hornady 120s and my ruger 77(tang) likes 52.0 of imr4831 with the hornadys. velocity out of both is around 3050fps.
 
R#19 really makes a 25/06 come alive. I shoot the 100g Speer BT with 57.5-58.0g of R#19 with a Win case, Win large rifle primer with the bullet seated .040 off the lands. The 24" Stainless 700 sporter barrel shoots the 100g Speer BT at 3450 into 1 1/2" groups at 300 yards with my 6-24 Pentax.

What is very unusual is that I have tried several different 100g bullets and the Speer 100g BT shoots 1/2 the group size of other 100g Bullets.
 
H-4831 is probably the standard powder for the 25-06. The difference between the H-4831 and the H-4831sc is just that they cut the powder into finer particles for better measuring. CAUTION---do not confuse either H-4831 with IMR-4831, the IMR is much hotter.

Not that I can quote a group size but the last couple of years I've be reloading the Nosler 115gr Ballistic Tips to good effect.

The twist in most 25-06s should stabilize bullets in the 75gr to 120gr range without a problem. It's being able to shoot the heavier weight bullets that makes the 25-06 better than the 243/6 which usually tops out at 100gr. Though I must admit that 100gr bullets in 257 caliber seem to be very popular. With 100gr slugs, the 25-06 is ballistically very similar to the 22-250 but the heavier weight bullets allow you to reach out further.
 
100 gr nosler BT 51 gr IMR4350.
700 adl - shoots under an inch
killed alot of deer and pigs. only negative is the meat damage if you hit the front shoulder.
 
The most consistantly accurate non custom gun I ever owned was a 25-06 in a Model 77 tang safty. It loved the IMR 4831. Your twist may be too slow for the 120's. The deadliest bullet I found for deer out of mine was a 100 Nosler Partition. I used 100 grain BT for everything else including coyotes. With those two bullets and the same powder charge I was getting 3300+FPS. If your rifle doesnt like the 120's and you are after deer sized game, give the partitions a try.
 

If you look at the Barnes 100 gr. Triple Shock(TSX), you won't
need a 115-120 grain bullet. And my Tikka M695 shoots
some pretty impressive groups with 100 gr. TSX bullets,
driven by Reloader 19.

Good case prep is always a good plan, too.

Squeeze
 
Thanks for all the info guys, I started reloading about 3 or 4 months ago and am so happy I found this site.Good people and lots of good info.Thanks again.
 
I just got a Savage 116BGH 25-06 and am starting load development. It shoots 85gr bal. silvertips very well, but I can't get the Hornady 117gr to shoot worth a #@*& with IMR 4831. I am going to try 100gr Nosler Partitions and see what they can do. Will IMR 4831 work or would Reloader22 be a better option? This would be a primary deer/goat load.

Sorry for the hyjack!

Jason
 
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I've had Federal Premium 100gr. NBT's shoot under and inch as well. Lots of guys I hunt with use that 87gr SP foe deer. Even in the .257 Weatherby Mag.
 
I had my first sendero 25-06. It shot everything from 75gr to 117gr very well. Had to send it in. Due to chamber being egg shaped. Sent me a whole new gun and now it will only shoot 100gr and lighter. Don't do any deer hunting with it. So no big deal about the lighter bullets. Great long range yote gun. But it way to heavy to carry any length of time. That is unless I can find someone to be my pack mule. Any offers?
 
I have a Tikka T3 in a 25-06 and it didn't group 115 gr bullets under 1.5 inch at 100 yds, but when I went with 100 gr partitioned my groups went down to .5 inch groups. I use it for coues deer hunting and 100 gr partitioned bullet work just fine for their size...should also work fine for any whitetail deer.

Deaddogwalkin: good luck finding someone to carry 15 lb gun for you...get your two boys on a weight lifting program and have them be your pack mule. Your youngest is stubborn enough to be a mule! /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif
 


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