Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 25-06 , and 110gr accubond help

A buddy has a new built 25-06, and needs some help with choosing powder and loads.
He's just now diving into reloading, and instead of buying 10 different powders, so to speak, I thought I'd ask here to narrow it down.
He's narrowed it down to a 110gr Accubond's for deer, and antelope, and maybe an elk.
He just bought 200 from sps.

Thanks guys.

i would go with some of the new enduron powders from IMR...they are available and have been for months and they are temp. stable along with offering some of the higher velocities

I worked up a good load with the 110gr Accubond back in 05 and harvested some nice deer with. I've been loading for the 25.06 for about 25yrs and have had good luck with various powders. I haven't used any of the newer enduron powders so I can't comment on those. I've used RL22, IMR4831, IMR4350, IMR7828, Retumbo, H4831 as well as several others. Having said that, my go to powder for the 25.06 is RL22 and every 25.06 I've ever owned loved the stuff so I always start there when working up a load, especially when using bullets in the 110/120gr range. My favorite bullet for deer is the Speer 120gr Hot-Cor. Here's a few targets ......

Nosler 110gr Accubond & RL22


Speer 120gr HC & RL22


This is a 5 shot group of Sierra 117gr PH & RL22

I have two loads that go 1/2-3/4 MOA with the 110NAB in my Tikka. Nosler brass, RL22, Fed 210, 3.25 COAL. 52.5gr at 2840 and 58.0gr at 3160. POI shift of the 2 loads is about 1/2 inch vertically at 100yds so I don't have to adjust my scope when I swap loads.

Nosler's accuracy load for the 110gr Accubond is 47gr of IMR4831 for 2996 fps in a 24 inch barrel. Max velocity with 4831 is 51gr for 3177 fps.

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.

Using H4831, My starting load at 50gr shot very well. 51gr opened up some. 52gr was spot on again. Bullet set .010 off the lands.

I use 60.0 grs of Retumbo with the 110 AB in my 25-06. Averages around 1/2" @3200+ fps

Maybe not a powder for the highest velocities but IMR-4350 is usually a very accurate powder for the 25 with bullet weights from 100-117 grains for us.

RL-22 for the heavier 115-120. Top velocities with this powder as well.

I use IMR 4350 with the 110 accubonds. It may not give the absolute highest velocity, but will be very accurate. A deer wont tell anyone you hit him with bullet traveling 50 fps slower.

Great timing! Have a new Kimber Classic Select .25-06 and picked up some 110gr Accubonds this past weekend!