Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats What's the best powder for a 25-06?

And a 115g ballistic tip?
Dave

H1000 or H4831 would be hard to beat. R22 gives good results but I quit using it when the temp sensitivity became the topic of discussion. I always use Fed 215 primers to light.

YMMV

David

I've used H4831 in various 25-06s since 1965. I've tried other powders but always go back to H4831. You may give up a little velocity in comparison with some newer powders, but accuracy has always been excellent with H4831, whether it was the war surplus stuff or the newer mixtures.

I would probably try Retumbo or IMR7828 with a 115gr.

Thanks guys.
I have rel23 , rel26 , imr7828 , and Norma mrp.
I'm short on h4831...
I'm just looken around should be getting the gun in a week or so.
Dave

Actually have h1000 as well
Dave

Dave, I’ve used a few of those with 115 and 120’s and honestly they’ve all worked excellent. RL23 or 26 should be really good. I use 26 with the 100 grain Scirocco for 3400 and it’s real accurate and pretty deadly.

beretzs
When I get this going I'll write it up
Your going to get a kick out of it.
I have not messed with a 25-06 in over 30 years.
Thought it was time for a revisit.
Should be fun.. It's like a 1980s retro build.
Dave

Bigstick would have told me to build a creedmire
Dave

I've had good (best) luck with H4350 and 115 gr NBT and Hornady 117 gr I/L.

I also use H4831 (SC, lately) and Fed 215s. Works well in my rifle. That's with 115 Partitions, which have performed brilliantly on game over the years. Never shot anything bigger than a real big mulie, though some folks kill elk with them.
Best of luck,
Rex

I've used RL22 with 115 and 120 gr bullets in my 25-06 since 1991. Works great.

I use IMR 4350, accurate, not the fastest.

My go to powders for the 25.06 and 115 / 120gr bullets is RL25 & RL22, both shoot great but i get a little more velocity with 25. I've always heard and read articles on the temp sensitivity of these powders but i have honestly never had any issues with either here in NC. Both these powders have been very accurate and consistent for me and i've been using both for as long as i can remember. We don't have big temp swings in this part (southeastern) of the state so maybe that's why. I'm sure there's something to the temp sensitivity claims there's to many for there not to be but like i said i've personally never experienced it myself. I've also had pretty good results with Retumbo and the heavier bullets but not as good as with 25 & 22.

IMR 4831 is my Huckleberry

What's the best get's asked about everything. Truth is there is no best of anything that I know of. Come's to powder in a 25-06 one guy likes one powder best and another guy something else, Which one is right. Now I have a system I've used for years for picking powder's. Seem's heavier for cal bullet's like slower powder better. I pick the bullet I want and look for the powder that gives the highest velocity with it. In my 25-06 the bullet is a 117gr Hornady Interlock. Off the top of my hear I think it's RL-22 I use with it. But I'm sure I could use a different powder and get results I could easily live with. But when no clue where to start, I simply look for where I get top velocity. Generally speaking, heavier bullet's in a cartridge usually use a slower powder to produce top velocities. If you don't care about velocity, just pick anything easy to find near home and go for it. Which ever you choose you'll probably find a suitable load.

The 25/06 is quite amazing, imo. Recently, I used RL 25 with mine, RL 26 is very good also.
In the 80's I used mine for Bull Elk and Moose, 120 NP's
performed very well over IMR 4831.
Great chambering, an overachiever

50g of IMR 4831 with the 115 is one heck of a load for Remingtons, 3000 fps...bug hole accurate and deer flop. The 117g Sierra btsp is another fine bullet to use with this same load.

Never forget the 120g speer hot core that is a flat base in this weight range...you will become a True Believer in this bullet, and if you can find any, the 117g Hornady flat base thinks it is a partition.

We played with some faster loads with R#25 and federal 215's, use Winchester brass only, accuracy was great and velocity was 3150fps with the 117g Sierra BTSP and 3300 fps with a hot load of R#25 in a custom 10T Shilen barrel.

Few try them, the 100g Partition in 25 caliber is the most accurate partition I have ever shot, 1/2" in Remingtons is normal.

The 25/06 is perhaps one of the most under rated calibers for deer on the market.

For years, I hunted coyotes with Sierra 90g HP and loaded IMR 3031 at 3500 fps that shot tiny groups.

Thanks guys.
Not that worried about temperature senativity.
I consider it a talking point for the sales force.
Pretty much load develop and check drops close to season. So the temps are not that much different.
Have extensive experience with Rel 22 in the 300 win mag.
Never a problem.
The copper fouling attivies in the powders I've messed with ,, Rel 26, AR COMP. N550, Staball. All lay down alot of black cchitt. That requires more elbow grease to remove.
Less copper ,yes. But more work to remove, clean.
I was just looking for a little collective wisdom on the fire.
For a cartridge I have not messed with for a very long time

Dave

Mine runs on 100gr bullets and RL17. 3,350fps shoots flat.