Mark,
The problem with the 100gn Hornady is, that it concludes argument.
John
Very well said my friend
Dober
I miss Mark, he was still is a great contributor and a man of both knowledge and experience, but also had a polite and courteous exchange which drew the best out of people in adding a little more to their argument rather that the current format some seem to thrive on here.
To add to my respect for him and to provide additional information for those that really want to know more, here are some of my findings in my rifles, both of which had 26 inch barrels...........
PLEASE NOTE:
My .240 Weatherby was an original full sized 9 lug action with 26 inch Number 2 profiled barrel.
The .240 Weatherby is one of 2 Weatherby chamberings that does NOT have a freebore! (The other being the .416 Weatherby)
My .25/06 is a blue printed Model 70 action fitted with a custom Tobler Match Grade barrel, also 26 inches, Number 5 Profiled SS fluted barrel. It “IS FREE BORED” to accept full usage of the Model 70 Magazine OAL.
WARNING – My loads are my loads, they are reference material to provide interesting reading, comparison if you want it and can be considered MAXIMUM loads in “MY” custom barrel only.
Use your preferred starting loads and not those as quoted.
70gn Nosler Solid Base - 240 Wby
I found 3 powders that worked well being IMR 4831, 760 and AR 2209 which is H 4350 in the US.
57gn IMR 4831 produced 3876fps
53gn 760 yielded 3768fps
55gn of AR 2209 produced 3855
Let me highlight a few facts,
1. AR 2209 when originally produced was a little faster than IMR 4350 which it was designed to emulate. IT was eventually reformulated, grain sign changed and made slower so that the current powder is far lighter granulated that the chunky cut yellow hued original made at that time by Mulwex.
2. Win 760 has always varied a little in burn rate. 30 years ago is was slower than many batches today and I have commonly dropped around 2 grains on my loads from back then to achieve the same velocities. (Even with standard cartridges like the .30/06) Weather that was intentional or just a further example of variation I cannot say, but I was burning more than 30 pounds of powder a year testing loads, reviewing rifles and killing animals, so I noticed.
3. There was no such thing as temperature stability in my background as the continent is called the “Arid Country” for a reason, it is hot and dry with summer lasting 8-10 months by American standards so forget fluctuations relating to hunting under 0 degrees F, there is no such thing there.
With these caveats to digest and consider, work up from lower levels or follow your preferred reloading manuals.
75gn Barnes X - .25/06
Best powders tried included IMR 3031, AR 2206 (Similar to H 4895) AR 2209, H 4350 (Modern) 760 and IMR 4350.
50gn 3031 = 3574fps
50gn 2206 = 3705fps
57gn 2209 = 3831fps
58gn H 4350 = 3659fps (a good demonstration of how H 4350 has been made slower where more powder equals less velocity over earlier batched of AR 2209)
58gn 760 = 3770fps
59gn IMR 4350 = 3807
85gn Nosler Solid Base - 240 Wby
Surplus H 4831, IMR 4320, IMR 4064 and Rel 19
55gn H 4831 = 3330fps
48gn IMR 4320 = 3422fps
47gn IMR 4064 = 4365fps (Both 46gn and 47gn shot the best groups in my Weatherby Mark V 9 Lug.
53gn Rel 19 = 3378fps
85gn Nosler Ballistic Tip - .25/06
H 4350, 760, H 4320 and IMR 4350.
57gn H 4350 = 3562fps (Both this load and 56gn produced the best accuracy in my Model 70 (Custom Tobler Match Grade barrel)
55gn 760 = 3497fps
51gn IMR 4320 = 3402fps ( also a top performer for accuracy with best group @ .287”
57gn IMR 4350 = 3562fps (Another good load which is a compliment to the bullet which shot well)
87gn Hornady SP – 240 Wby
AR 2209, Rel 19, 760, IMR 4831and Rel 22.
53gn 2209 = 3555fps
56gn Rel 19 = 3550fps
51gn 760 = 3578fps
54gn IMR 4831 = 3623fps
57gn Rel 22 = 3603fps
87gn Hornady SP = .25/06
H 414 and H 4350 used
56gn H 414 = 3619fps
56gn H 4350 = 3458fps
90gn Speer SP – 240 Wby
55gn H 4831 (Surplus) = 3305fps. (So good I stopped there)
100gn Nosler Partition, Hornady Interlock, Corelokt and Sierra Flat Base - .240 Wby
IMR 7828, IMR 4831, AR 2209, AR 2213 (H 4831),H 4831 (Current),H 4831 (Original) Rel 19 and Rel 22.
Best loads were……
100gn Hornady Interlock
54gn 7828 = 3257fps
53gn H 4831 = 3370fps ( I settled on 52gn for 3301fps)
48gn AR 2209 = 3154fps
100gn Nosler Partition
50gn AR 2209 = 3323fps (Best load)
52gn AR 2213 = 3304fps (Same as H 4381 current)
100gn Remington Corelokt
55gn H 4831 = 3333fps (So good I stopped there)
100gn Sierra Flat Base
55gn H 4831 = 3327fps
55gn Rel 19 = 3464fps MAX ( my best load used 54gn for 3417fps)
53gn Rel 22 = 3382fps
Now, some of you will wonder why I used less Reloder 22 than the Reloder 19 charges?
The reason is that I use a chronograph to work up loads. This means as long as the velocity is there, the pressure is there also. Watch for this as it can provide protection for you, your rifle and your brass from pushing things too far. Once the known and accepted top velocity is reached, if you are below recorded charges from any source, STOP. You have reached the velocity potential of the cartridge for that bullet and…….your powder batch.
100gn Barnes TTSX, Barnes XBT, Barnes TSX, Barnes TTSX, Nosler Ballistic Tip, Hornady Interlock, Nosler Partition - .25/06
Lets lump these in together because I achieved very similar performance with same loads suffice to say that powders used included Rel 17 and 22, Retumbo, H 4350 and IMR 4350, H 414 and 760 (Different batches) and WMR.
54gn H 414 = 3490fps
57gn WMR = 3369fps
54gn 760 = 3422fps
54gn IMR 4350 = 3348fps
54gn H 4350 = 3400fps
53gn Rel 17 = 3440fps
55gn Rel 22 = 3490fps
All else is .25/06 Data ( There was nothing heavier available in 6mm during my usage)
115gn Nosler Ballistic Tip – 25/06
53gn 760 = 3215fps
55gn H 4831 = 3097fps (I found this powder considerably slower than previous batches)
52gn IMR 4350 = 3086fps
51gn AR 2209 = 3114fps
115gn Barnes TSX – 25/06
51gn IMR 4350 = 3080fps
54gn AR 2213 = 3048fps
57gn Rel 25 = 3164fps (A very good contender in the .25/06)
57.5gn Retumbo = 3018fps
51gn 760 = 3173fps (Highest velocity I experience with this bullet in the .25/06)
117gn Hornady BT - .25/06
H 414, 760, H 4350, H 4831sc, Rel 17, 22, 26, and Retumbo
51gn H 414 = 3241fps (Very good accuracy in my rifle)
53gn H 4350 = 3220fps
51gn Rel 17 = 3214fps (Good accuracy)
57gn H 4831sc = 3165fps
53gn Rel 22 = 3267fps
57gn Rel 26 = 3189fps (Very Accurate with groups between .341” and .631”)
57gn Retumbo = 2966fps (Miserable and too slow by comparison) (Though the game won’t know)
120gn Speer SP - .25/06
52gn IMR 4350 = 3100fps
52gn AR 2209 = 3169fps
120gn Nosler Partition - .25/06
51gn H 414 = 3175fps
53gn H 4350 = 3167fps
51gn Rel 17 = 3224fps
57gn H 4831sc = 3148fps
57gn Retumbo = 3078fps
53gn Rel 22 = 3150fps (One of the better sub .5 MOA loads)
57gn Rel 26 = 3147fps (Consistent .5 MOA performer where 58 gn was also tried for 3212fps but groups opened up to MOA which is unacceptable in a heavy barreled rifle.
Hope you are entertained by this……
