25-06 max load question

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Borden811

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Here's the situation. Earlier this summer, I worked up a load in my browning x-bolt using 85 gr nosler ballistic tips. I had to load close to max to get a good group. Using winchester brass, winchester large rifle primers, and 55gr of IMR-4831 I get .7in groups at 100, and 1.5 in groups at 200. If I go up to 55.5gr I get slight cratering of the primer. At 55gr on super hot days, I will get cratering, and twice I've had a very slight ejector mark. I think I may drop this load back to 54gr just to be safe. When I was working up the loads for the 85gr, I started at 50gr and worked up. The groups got smaller as the loads got hotter. So, I figured I would use the 100gr noslers for my deer loads, seat them the same, and hope accuracy was close to the same. I started at 49 gr of IMR-4831 and got a 2 inch group at 100. 51gr got me to about 1.5 in at 100, and 53gr got me to just under .80 at 100. My nosler manual lists 53.5 as max load. My primers are a bit flat at 53.gr, but there is no cratering, and that's the only sign of pressure there is. I don't have a chrony, so I don't know what my velocity is. I didn't expect to only be loading 2gr less than I am in the 85gr load. Should a I go a half grain more and see if it tightens up the groups even more, or just let things well enough alone? I didn't get a chance to test them at 200 yet, but hope to do that later this week.
 
id try some different powder try some of the rl 22. i use the H4831 and am getting good groups and no pressure signs with 100gr hpbt at max load.
 
You should try RL 19, Nosler #6 list it as the most accurate powder they tried in the 25-06 with their 85 grain Ballistic Tip. They list 53.0 as the starting load at 3360 fps.,55.0 as their mid load at 3480 fps., and 57.0 as their maximum load at 3600 fps.

RL 19 also works best with the 100 grain Ballistic Tips acording to Nosler #6. 50.5 as the starting, 52.5 as the mid., and 54.5 as the maximum.

With the 85's the 57.0 grains was the maximum in my rifle but the velocity was only 3490 fps. (WW case). Like yours the faster I shoot them the better the groups. WW cases no pressure signs, but with Remington cases, primers start to flatten just a tad, but velocity was 3555.
 
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Originally Posted By: Borden811Here's the situation. Earlier this summer, I worked up a load in my browning x-bolt using 85 gr nosler ballistic tips. I had to load close to max to get a good group. Using winchester brass, winchester large rifle primers, and 55gr of IMR-4831 I get .7in groups at 100, and 1.5 in groups at 200. If I go up to 55.5gr I get slight cratering of the primer. At 55gr on super hot days, I will get cratering, and twice I've had a very slight ejector mark. I think I may drop this load back to 54gr just to be safe. When I was working up the loads for the 85gr, I started at 50gr and worked up. The groups got smaller as the loads got hotter. So, I figured I would use the 100gr noslers for my deer loads, seat them the same, and hope accuracy was close to the same. I started at 49 gr of IMR-4831 and got a 2 inch group at 100. 51gr got me to about 1.5 in at 100, and 53gr got me to just under .80 at 100. My nosler manual lists 53.5 as max load. My primers are a bit flat at 53.gr, but there is no cratering, and that's the only sign of pressure there is. I don't have a chrony, so I don't know what my velocity is. I didn't expect to only be loading 2gr less than I am in the 85gr load. Should a I go a half grain more and see if it tightens up the groups even more, or just let things well enough alone? I didn't get a chance to test them at 200 yet, but hope to do that later this week.

Sounds like you have an over size firing pin hole, which helps the cratering.

I had a 257 Weatherby custom that cratered primers on every shot...I learned to ignore it. I do not accept bolt head scuffing, however.

Good luck
 
Yeah, the bolt head scuffing only happened on two different days, one shot each day. it was about 95 degrees those days. I had worked the load up when it was about 70 degrees outside. That's why I was considering dropping back that load 1gr, just to be on the safe side.
 
I'm going to second RL19 with the 85 gr bullet. I used IMR4350 for 25 years before trying RL19. I got better accuracy and more velocity.

And if you think that's neat I tried RL17 recently and got over 3650 fps with the 85 gr bullet and just as accurate as RL19.

You also noticed something about the .25-06 that many never figure out. It gives its best accuracy at pretty much maximum loads.

 
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I've shot 54 grains of IMR-4350 in all 3 of my 25-06's shoots 3/8-5/8 in all the guns. I'm shooting a sierra 100gr flat base though. Good combination to try.
 
IF you really want that 25.06 to shine go buy some RL17 the others may be good but 17 is tops in mine I get 3490 fps with 100 gr nosler bts
 
With the 85 gr. bullet in the 25/06, you may be better off with other powders than IMR 4831....try IMR 4350 (as noted by others) , Norma MRP, or Ramshot Hunter.

MRP did very well in my 25/06 w/ lighter bullets.

However, as you are shooting just 4831 with both the 85 and 100 gr. bullets, it appears your developed loads, respectively, are plenty good enough accuracy-wise for practice and hunting.
 
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