Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles What next?

I was trying new loads today in my wife's 25-06 and could not get a group smaller than 1.25". What is my next step? Should I try a different powder or a different bullet?

Rifle-Tikka 25-06
Powder- Hybrid 100
Bullet- 100 gr Nosler Partition

If it were me, and I really wanted to know my rifles potential, I would shoot a NBT thru it. In my limited experience, if a rifle is going to shoot, it will shoot the NBT accurately.

Now in my 25-06 I use a 100gr TTSX w/ a load of Retumbo.

Shoot some match bullets thru it, if they dont shoot youll just have to live with whatever accuracy toure getting.

Without extensive tweaking, I'd say you're doing pretty good for a hunting rifle. It's just me but I'd try a different powder first. What powder and bullet are you using?

Try 53gr of IMR4350 and the 100gr MK or 100gr TTSX and see how it does...

Yeah already been said... NBTs & SMKs are your friend if you're looking for pure potential. H4831SC or IMR-4350 would be good powders to try. I think they're both a bit slower than the Hybrid 100V.

On the other hand, as has also been said, you've got a plenty accurate hunting rifle as-is.

When you said you were trying out some new loads for the rifle, it makes my mind race with questions. I don't want you to get the wrong impression but you didn't tell us much of anything. You didn't even mention the load.

There are many things to ask: Are these the first loads ever developed for this rifle? Did you ever shoot factory loads? I ask so we can establish some sort of a baseline.

If these are the first loads of any kind put through the rifle then there are more items to address. Is the rifle sound with a good barrel in clean condition? Is it bedded? The barreled action should be properly tightened in the stock. Is the barrel touching the barrel channel? How is the crown? You didn't mention any of these things.


Next comes the load. We have no way of knowing exactly what you did so we can help you figure out what you SHOULD do next.
Did you work up a load by shooting several different incrementally larger charges of powder? What sort of reloading proceedures did you do to prep the brass and put the load together? Was it new brass or previously fired


Give us the details then we can help you tweak your load.

This is a 1" gun with factory 120 gr Fusions, so I know it is accurate. I thought if it can shoot that well with factory it could do better with handloads. I know it is good enough for a hunting rifle, but isn't it in us all that we always want a little tighter groups.

I really like the partition, so I tried them first. And the Hybrid 100 I use for my Roberts with SGK. I do have some H4350 and IMR4350 I could try.

Powder charges ranged from 48.0 gr to 52.0 gr, all in .5 gr increments. 50.0 gr was the most accurate at 1 1/4", and nothing else was within 1 3/4". Brass was new Nosler with Federal 210 primers.

Thanks for the details. So the rifle can shoot, that helps a great deal.

I suppose you could try a different powder first. Is your seating depth out as far as mag length will allow? I would imagine it doesn't touch the rifling.

After you try another powder, I'd suggest you try seating depth changes. It is a pain to do unless you have a comp seating die. I have done it on several occasions. I make a dummy round of each seating depth. I use a comparator to duplicate the ogive to base distance later on when I find a seating depth that works.

I would suggest you move the bullet deeper into the case in .005" increments to see if there is a trend towards tighter groups sizes.

A few others may contribute with more ideas.

Let us know your results.

I have had trouble getting the NBTs under 1" in both of my 25-06s. My most accurate 100g bullets are the Hornady Interbond and the Sierra Game King. I like the SGKs for long range shooting because the tips don't deform as easily as the Interbonds but the Interbonds are superior for penetration inside of 400 yards. I recommend you try IMR 4831 (53g is best in my rifles). It has consistently been more accurate with 100 bullets. SGK 100s and IMR 4831 should get you near max accuracy in that rifle. Hornady 75g VMax still shoots the absolute best for me in 25-06 at 58g. Your wife might enjoy the 75g bullets for target shooting and varmints... very mild recoil, lots of speed and deadly accurate.

7828 is a sleeper powder in the 25-06. powdr

You said it's a 1" rifle with 120gr Fusions. How about trying 120gr Nosler Partitions? Maybe it likes 120s better than 100s.

I don't reload 25-06 very much and only 120's at that but for me H4831sc works like it was made for it. Of the two powders you mentioned having on hand I'd go with IMR 4350 first.

I loaded some with 48-51 grains of IMR 4350. I found a keeper with 50.5. I shot 3 groups with three shots each. Groups averaged a little under 3/4" at 100 yds. I'm satisfied with that for now. I'll adjust the seating depth and groups may tighten a little more.