My tried and true load for over 20 years in my two 25-06's was with IMR4831 and a 120 grain bullet of your choice. About the time the 2nd rifle hit 2500 rounds down the pipe things started going south.
I ran through the usual list of powders - 7828, RL 22 (didn't like it due to temp sensitivity - we go from 20 degrees to over 100 and it caused pressure problems in my rifles), 4350 etc.
Changed bullets and found a load for one with RL 19, then the temp problems came in again. Tried RL 23 and 26 with no luck there.
Then a friend gave me some IMR7977. I've worked up to 61 gr in both and have speed but accuracy was off. Backed them down to 59.5gr, Norma brass, BR2 primers set .1 off the lands and print nice little bug-hole-ish groups of .5-.7" at 3150fps in one rifle and 60 gr with Hornady brass and WLR primers at .05 off the lands for .6-.8" groups in the other. Both are over the 3100 mark so I guess on the older one (first-year production 700 ADL)I don't have to re-barrel it just yet.
I started at 57 grains and worked my way up.
