Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Reloader 22 - Nosler 115's - 25/06

I am in "quick mode" trying to gear-up a new Ruger 77 V/T in caliber 25/06 Remington for the upcoming Antelope season here in Montana!
I have Reloader 22 powder in mind along with 115 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips.
I have both Remington and Winchester cases but only Federal 210 M (match) primers.
Any information on this combo of components for a 26" barreled Rifle would be greatly appreciated.
I have about 9 days to get this rig shooting.
Thanks in advance for any starting loads, maximum loads or in betweens.
Nosler's manuals do not show RE 22 for their 115 grain bullets.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have not used Ballistics Tips yet but I tested 115 Bergers and RE22 in my 25-06 with a 25" barrel. Started at 51gr and worked up to 55.5gr at 3100fps with good good but not great results. This was close to max with my rifle. Ended up trying Retumbo and got better better accuracy and velocity. Try it out if the RE22 does not work out for you.

Botill: Thank you very much for the info and the tip on RETUMBO.
That is one powder I have not used as yet in anything.
By the way have you Hunted with those Berger 115's as yet?
How did they do on game?
Thanks again.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

Have only taken two whitetail with them to date. One around 100yds and the other at 375yds. Neither took a step. Not a lot of experience yet but like what I have seen so far.

Retumbo is a very good powder in the 25-06!
Have used it 120gr bullets[Hornady & Partitions]
But, for 115 BT's, 51.0-52.0 RL 22 worked lights out.
Switched over to H-4831sc if it got really cold.

I use Retumbo in my 25-06 w/ 100gr TTSX. It shoots 3300fps and I get 5/8in groups. I do use 61gr which is slightly above book.

VG, I found the following load to work very well for me.
Re-worked Mauser with 26 inch ER Shaw barrel.
115 Nosler Partiton, 52.5gr RL22, W-W cases, Rem 9.5 standard primer, Velocity at 15 feet 3125fps. Loaded over all length was 3.245 inch placing the bullet .015 off the rifling. This was max in this rifle with one more grain of powder causing sticky bolt lift. I suspect the Fed. 210M primer to be a good substitute for the Rem. primer. Sorry haven't owned a 26 inch 25-06 since the 115 B.T. has come out.

Quarterboredave: Thank you for that load recipe!
And thanks to everyone else.
I am awaiting calm air - maybe I will make up some more loads and take the cleaning equipment with me to the range when it calms down.
Normally I just shoot 15 to 20 rounds a session and then clean at home. But time is short and I better get crackin or I'll have to use an old standby this season.
Thanks again all.
Hold into the wind
Varmintguy

I really liked RL-17 with the 115gr Berger VLD at 3085fps and sub-MOA groups...

VG - my M700 25-06 likes 59.0 grains of Retumbo under a 115 Nosler, lit by a WLR. Magnum (60.5) worked well too.

Good luck. 115 Noslers were a bit finicky in my rifle.

Bwinters: Thank you for the info - it turns out after a minimum amount of load testing with the "finicky" Nosler 115 grain Ballistic Tips that my first load testing of the Nosler 100 grain Ballistic Tips gave me a 5 shot grouping at 100 yards measuring .661".
And that loading with RE 22 and the 100 grainers will be my load for the upcoming Antelope Hunt!
The 115 grain Noslers were grouping (5 shots at 100 yards) in the 1.100" range.
I will do more load testing for my Rifle this winter after the Antelope season is over.
I think I will have to look up and buy some Retumbo powder also.
Thanks again.
Hold into the wind
VarmintGuy

I have used 115gr BT's in the past but can't remember the load right off. I know I did use H4831 and it was very accurate, did a number on deer too.
I use the 100gr Hornady Interlock now and also have good accuracy with H4831.
I wouldn't worry one bit about using 100BT's on antelope or deer either.

Good deal VG!

I don't imagine you'll need any more penetration than a 100 gr BT. Have shot a few N. PA whitetails with the 115 Nosler from my 25-06 - still looking to recover one.

Another idea is to try RE17. My 700 with 117 Sierras shoots pretty well with the best velocity out of everything I tried - IMR4831 (runner up), H4831SC, RE22, Retumbo, IMR4350, H4350. I have not tried the Noslers in this caliber so I can't comment on those. Good luck on the hunt.

Those 100s will work dandy on them VG.

BTW, I had better luck with 7828(55grns) pushing the 115s vs R22 in my 25-06s. Kirby is building me a 25-06 now, so I'll be tinkering with loads in it before too long. 7828 and R22 will most likely be where I start.

Good Luck,

loder

+1 on the retumbo in the 25-06 with 115's. My nephew currently shoots Bergers over a stiff ,but book load of retumbo in Win. cases and lit by cci 250 primers. Results so far on whitetails from 50yds. on out to 325 or so have been impressive bordering on spectacular.

7828 is the powder I'd try first, but if R22 is perking then rock on.

Dober

7828 worked up to 55.5gr with the 115 NBT is magic.

I also have a Ruger 77 V/T in 2506. I've never gotten exceptional accuracy from it with the 115gr+ bullets. Reloader 22 and the 100gr BT do fairly well though. I believer 55.5 grs was the sweet spot.

My brother borrowed it to shoot Fclass with last summer, he said it did well with the 115gr Bergers (target) and H4350, but I've never shot those loads myself.....

Kaiser Norton

7828 is a good powder in the 25-06&257AI.52.0-55.0grs.

7828 is a good powder in the 25-06&257AI.52.0-55.0grs.

I use 48.5 grains of IMR 4350. Great groups! I plan on trying some Reloader 22 soon.

52gr Reloader 22 Nosler brass Federal 210M primers is heck on big game. Tried IMR 7828 and it sucked accuracy wise

I've been reloading the 25.06 for 30yrs now and have tried and used lots of different powder and bullet combinations. As already mentioned there's some good combos out there to make the 25.06 really shine and reach it's full potential. RL22 is and has been my go to powder in the 25.06 for years, especially with bullets weighing 110-120grs.

I've owned several different rifles chambered in 25.06 and I've yet to own one that didn't love the stuff. I've always gotten great accuracy and good velocity with it. I've read where others say it's temp sensitive but I've personally never experienced that as it has always been very consistent for me. Here in my part of NC we don't have huge temp changes so maybe that has something to do with it i really don't know but like i said, it's just never been an issue with me. I don't think one can go wrong with RL22 in the 25.06 and it's always the first powder i recommend when ask about this caliber. Mike

I am using 59.0 grains of Reloader 26 with Nosler 115 grain Ballistic Tips. Velocity from my MagnetoSpeed was 3308, 3316 and 3309 for an average of 3311 fps. I've been getting 1/2 inch to 3/4 inch 100 yard groups from this load.

Second the thought on Retumbo. It is very impressive with 110-120 grain bullets in the 25-06. I get outstanding accuracy with the 110 grain accubond and 60.4 grains of Retumbo. Good for 3175 fps out of my 24" barrel.

tag

Tag

CAJUN RL 26 with WW case F 210 primer Nosler 115 GR BT went up to 59.5 GR 1 shot each looking for pressure and velocity. 24" Ruger 77 25-06 3250 with 59 GR of RL 26 . 6 F outside and ammo was cold.
So probably will show pressure in warmer weather. Velocity increase was gradual. Thanks Kurt

But wish some one would run Quick load to see what kind of pressures?

Alliant lists 56.6 gr with a 100 gr NBT--odds are good you're over max pressure with the above loads.

Alliant's published velocity with RL-26 in the 25-06 can be beat with other powders.

Would like quick load data before I try any more.

Kurt, I ran quickload before experimenting with Reloader 26. Here is my info from quickload keeping in mind I worked up to where I am on the powder charge.
At 59.0 grains I still haven't seen any pressure signs visual or by case measurements, but again all rifles are different. I shoot mine at 75 to 80 degrees without
pressure signs.

Cartridge : .25-06 Rem.
Bullet : .257, 115, Nosler BalTip 25115
Useable Case Capaci: 60.107 grain H2O = 3.903 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 3.250 inch = 82.55 mm
Barrel Length : 24.0 inch = 609.6 mm
Powder : Alliant Reloder-26

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 80 47.36 2579 1699 30650 11427 95.0 1.545
-18.0 81 48.54 2650 1793 32949 11761 96.3 1.504
-16.0 83 49.73 2721 1890 35436 12066 97.4 1.465
-14.0 85 50.91 2792 1990 38129 12341 98.3 1.421
-12.0 87 52.10 2862 2091 41044 12582 99.0 1.372
-10.0 89 53.28 2932 2195 44208 12787 99.5 1.326
-08.0 91 54.46 3001 2300 47645 12955 99.9 1.280
-06.0 93 55.65 3070 2407 51380 13083 100.0 1.237
-04.0 95 56.83 3138 2514 55430 13183 100.0 1.196
-02.0 97 58.02 3205 2623 59783 13276 100.0 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 99 59.20 3271 2733 64483 13366 100.0 1.117 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 101 60.38 3337 2843 69565 13450 100.0 1.080 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 103 61.57 3402 2956 75068 13529 100.0 1.045 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+06.0 105 62.75 3467 3069 81035 13602 100.0 1.011 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+08.0 107 63.94 3531 3184 87515 13670 100.0 0.978 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+10.0 109 65.12 3595 3301 94567 13731 100.0 0.946 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

Results caused by ± 10% powder lot-to-lot burning rate variation using nominal charge
Data for burning rate increased by 10% relative to nominal value:
+Ba 99 59.20 3408 2966 80611 12836 100.0 1.022 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
Data for burning rate decreased by 10% relative to nominal value:
-Ba 99 59.20 3059 2390 49510 13870 98.6 1.246

Thanks for the info

I shoot 56 gr. of rl 22 with 100 gr.nbt. at 3150 fast out of a 22 in barrel. They are very accurate
They also work really well on south Ala. deer

58 GR of RL 26 with CCI 200 Primer, WW Case, Nolsler 115 BT, right above 3200 FPS 1.1" group. In a 24"
25-06. Saw pressure at 59 Gr.

Going to play with seating depth have not found great accuracy with Nosler 115 GR BT.

Have 12# of RL 26 which I use when it works. Been great in 280 Rem, 270 Win, 6.5 Creedmoor,
243 Win, 7 MM Rem Mag & 22-250

Thanks for the QL data CAJAN

You are most welcomed Kurt. At the 3.25 col i too was 1 inch plus on my groups. I then loaded some at 3.22 oal and that did the trick for me. Good Luck