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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 732
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 732 |
I've been away from the 'Fire and hunting in general for a bit. A few years ago my brother and I got into precision rifle shooting, and I had sold off most of my hunting rigs to fund some precision equipment. I have also been busy with my new baby girl. I caught a late season whitetail hunt with a friend this past winter, and it revived my interest in shooting critters. Well, a few weeks ago I was perusing a local high-end outfitter, and came across a few 85 Finnlights in the corner. I asked the clerk to see them hoping one was a 6.5x55. No such luck, but one was the venerable .25-06 Remington (the other a .270). Having previously owned a .25-06 M77, I'm very familiar with the cartridge and understand it will serve me well hunting anything in the Southeast...mainly whitetail, hogs, and coyote. The salesman said the owner would probably make me a very good deal because Sako's had fallen out of favor since they started carrying Bergara and Christensen rifles. No matter, I like a Sako 85 just fine. He was right, I did get a very good deal, and they threw in a set of optilock bases and my choice of rings. When we got home I dug out the NIB Meopta 3-9x40 #4 that I had stashed away from a sale and got everything cleaned, mounted, and torqued. Here is the end result! I bought a box Hornady Precision hunter 110gr ELDX, but once I get some dies I was thinking of starting with 100gr partitions. What .25-06 loads are serving everyone well on whitetail? What powder seems to work well? I've only begun reloading since I started precision rifle, so my experience is limited with .308s, 6.5x47, and the 6mm short action rounds.
-JW
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Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,183
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 21,183 |
Badazz rifles and tough to whoop.....
Ping pong balls for the win. Once you've wrestled everything else in life is easy. Dan Gable I keep my circle small, I’d rather have 4 quarters than 100 pennies.
Ain’t easy havin pals.
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 17,272
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 17,272 |
Cycle that action. Make sure cartridge ejection is as it should be and not straight up into your scope.
Nice rifle gun there!
"I have sworn upon the altar of God, eternal hostility against every form of tyranny over the mind of man." Thomas Jefferson
GeoW, The "Unwoke" ...Let's go Brandon!
"A Well Regulated Militia" Life Member
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Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 10,068
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jun 2012
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Mercy ceases to be a virtue when it enables further injustice. -Brent Weeks
~Molɔ̀ːn Labé Skýla~
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Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 732
Campfire Regular
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OP
Campfire Regular
Joined: Jul 2011
Posts: 732 |
Cycle that action. Make sure cartridge ejection is as it should be and not straight up into your scope.
Nice rifle gun there! Thanks for the heads up. I thought of this when I got the extra low rings. I’ve already pulled a bullet and tested with an empty case. I’m getting a pretty consistent 45-ish degree ejection with varying speed. 1 out of 10 looks like it might barely kiss the edge of the windage knob, but it’s not making any marks. Time will tell. I’m sure a scope with larger turret caps might have an issue with this low setup.
-JW
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Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,069
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Dec 2015
Posts: 8,069 |
Congrats. My Sako 85s have become my favorite go-to rifles.
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Joined: May 2012
Posts: 1,417
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: May 2012
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That’s a nice rig. Let us know how she shoots.
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Joined: Oct 2017
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Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,305
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 15,305 |
I use RL26 and a 100 grain Swift Scirocco in my 25-06. It’s accurate and pretty quick.
Great looking set up!
Semper Fi
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,299 Likes: 2
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 4,299 Likes: 2 |
I use IMR4831 under a 100 gr TSX. It has been my go to powder for 25-06 for over 20 yrs.
CK
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Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 961
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 961 |
Sorry,I drank the Sako-Aid.My opinion may be biased. bh444
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Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,856 Likes: 3
Campfire 'Bwana
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Campfire 'Bwana
Joined: Jun 2004
Posts: 44,856 Likes: 3 |
Whitetail? I'd get some 100 grain Ballistic Tips and start cooking with gas!
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Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Jan 2005
Posts: 22,884 |
I'd be very wary of the ejection issue. It will dump an empty case off the scope and back in the port at some point when you least expect it. It was a poor design.
Other than that, you've got a nice setup.
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Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,216
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2003
Posts: 4,216 |
I'd consider using a 100 gr cup and core bullet and H4350 for whitetail ought to do the trick. I have used 80gr TTSX and 100gr TTSX for antelope and mule deer, but truth be told, a Sierra, Hornady, Nosler, etc standard bullet would do them all. Last antelope I shot was with a 117gr Sierra, at about 80 yards if I remember correctly.
You have a fine rifle there.
Regards,
Tom
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Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 864
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jan 2018
Posts: 864 |
Nice setup. I have used IMR4350 and 115 grain Nosler BTs or 117 grain Sierra GKs for a number of years. A flat shooting, deadly combination.
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,761
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 8,761 |
i have been using The Hornady 100 grain spire point along with the Hornady 120 gr hollow point, both bullets have been discontinued by Hornady. I was inclined to work up a new load for the 25-06 I would select the Hornady 110 gr ELD=X using H=4350 or H-4831sc and call it a day.
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Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,643
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 8,643 |
Congrats on a fine deer smackin' rifle!
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Joined: Apr 2018
Posts: 819
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
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Posts: 819 |
That is one fine rifle! Love Sako rifles. A carbon lite is next on my list.
Dont eat the big white mint!
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Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 4,057
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Dec 2003
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RL26 under 100 grain TTSX will take care of you.
"Before you criticize someone, walk a mile in their shoes. That way, you'll be a mile from them, and you'll have their shoes."
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,263
Campfire Tracker
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Campfire Tracker
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 7,263 |
Ditto for R26 and 117 Interlokts.
"When you disarm the people, you commence to offend them and show that you distrust them either through cowardice or lack of confidence, and both of these opinions generate hatred." Niccolo Machiavelli
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