I made it to the range and fired some of the new loads I worked up using Win Brass, H4831 SC, Win LG Primer, and 115 Grain Nosler Ballistic Tips. The loads look promising starting with 48.0 grains and worked up to 51.0 The 48 and 48.5 were awesome and it liked the 50 and 51.0 grains as well. I have to make some more up to verify my results but looks great. I also have some Varget and H414 to try as well if things don't workout? I want to get this load finished up. Post pictures later.

Try Retumbo. Once you do you will never consider another powder for that bullet.

Try Retumbo. But if that ain't it try RL-22. And play with some different bullets and find what your barrel likes. You may even wind up using a different bullet and back to using 4831.

Thanks, would anyone have a load with Varget? I want to tinker with Varget since I use it in my 223 and it would be one powder less I have to buy? I found some 117 grain loads starting at 37-41. at 3.165. If I use this load info with a 3.175.

Varget is too fast burning for this application. Won't get you the velocity you want. You want powders that burn like a yule log for 115 grain 25-06 loads. I use H1000.

Varget is way to fast of a powder for that combo. Be like pizzing into the wind. 51 to 52 grs RL22 and 117 gr Sierra GK or Pro Hunter is a pretty good ticket to buy. Works pretty darn well with 115 BT and 110 Accu bonds too.

Swifty

Thanks Swifty52 and all that replied.

I went against the norm and worked up my own loads using RE25. I have the 'Pressure TraceII' system to help with load development.
I was unable to reach 65,000psi with any load, but came very close with most bullet weights of 100gr or more.
The velocity is off the charts, well over 100fps more than any other powder!
I get 3430fps from 100gr BT's, 3310fps from 110gr AB's and 3280fps from 115gr PT's!

I had to come up with a powder pouring scheme to allow me to get the powder in the case below the shoulder/neck juncture. I used the 'swirl charge' technique, which is 'swirling' the powder down the funnel into the case, it works and, I can pack the powder in to the desired level without excessive compression.

If you would like the recipe's, PM me, I will be glad to pass them on, if interested.

Cheers.

Thanks 416Rigby, at the moment I think I'm good but if I do, I will pm you. Esox357.

I've made some for my buddy that was Nosler 115gr BT with 47.5gr of R19 and CCI #200 primers in his Ruger M77 MKII. Groups were unreal! .291" @ 100 yards.

http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq59/Esox3006/061.jpg

http://i433.photobucket.com/albums/qq59/Esox3006/062.jpg

Here is what H4831 SC and 115's did for me looks good thus far, verifying them in a day or two.

yup thats H4831 for ya! looks good.

Thanks, don't know what the groups size is but it is pretty tight.

I have been using 48.5-49 grains of H4350 under 115 BTs and 117 Hornady soft points for 25 years or so. Good accuracy and velocity runs about 3350 fps out of a 24 inch tube. The deer don't like it much. They tend to fold up in their tracks.

Esox:

Norma MRP may work well for that bullet weight in the 25/06; it worked very well in my 25/06 with the lighter weight bullets.

Noted. Thanks Buckeye and LeonHitch.

is that a typo?

Gotta be, its only about 500fps over all the data I can find for that bullet weight, and that powder. Either that or hes got a super fast tube.

Swifty

Finally was able to get out on a day cool enough to shoot my pair of 25.06s. The load was 115 NBT, 51.5 grs RL22, federal champion primer, RP cases. The bullets were seated 3.165 This is a group from a Rem 700 BDL with aprox. 500 rounds down the tube. Winds were variable left to right at 3 to 15. Temp 50 degrees.



This is the first 3 shots seeings how people on here only shoot 3 shot groups. Next pic is all 5.



The next group was from a Win Mod 70 that has approx. 3465 rounds down the tube after this outing. Exact same load.



The first 3 shots were just about as tight as the remmy, but let the wind get me on a couple to open it up worse. But considering the round count out of it, it still shot well. As an aside to this, Cooper arms uses a 117gr Sierra and RL22 to shoot the groups in their 25.06s. One would be wise to at least consider RL22 in this round.

Swifty

I always have used Hodgons powders, heard that reloader was temp sensitive and didn't want to have mishap, but may have to try reloader 22 for sure.

Whats the max load for reloader 22? Thanks Esox357.

This is typical of my Retumbo load. This target was at 150 yards with my Ruger #1V shooting off the hood of my pickup.

It is always interesting to read a thread like this, involving a long list of powders that have produced tiny groups in a bunch of different rifles.

My experience with the .25-06 isn't as great as with some other rounds (though I own two at the moment), but the experience I have indicates that that the .25-06 may just be one of those inherently accurate cartridges that, according to some people, aren't supposed to exist.

I would add Ramshot Magnum to the long list of slow-burning powders that work extremely well in the .25-06 with 115-120 grain bullets.

Man those groups with Reloader 22 and Retumbo make me want to start all over my load development. ;0) With retumbo what was you starting and max load for the 115 grains?

I'm going to be making the powder companies very happy with all these powders. ;0)

Thanks

Retumbo and 115 gr Berger VLD's or 115 gr Nosler Partitions has worked real well from my .25-06, with a 24" Remington factory barrel. Haven't tried the 115 Ballistic Tip yet. The .25-06 is terrific on mule deer!

I use Hodgdon's recommended 117 gr load data for Retumbo. Hodgdon recommends 56 - 60.5 grains.

One of these days I'll get around to the RL-22 and 115 B-Tip combo.

Guy

Alliant lists 52 grs as max. with 120, and 115 gr.
Sierra lists 50.5 with their 117s
Hodgdon is 52.5 with 117 and 120s
Speer is 52 with 120s

Start at 50.5 and work it up. but 51.5 is 97% case fill, and works well.
Good luck

Swifty

Lots of very good loads here for the 25-06, so I'll include mine:
120gr Hornady hp[very stout bullet!],
51.0gr H-4831sc,
Win cases,
Fed 210 primers. Perfection!
At least in my rifle.

Oh,BTW, rifle is a Ruger MkII S/S, very accurate load in that rifle.
MV over the screens avg. is 2925-2950. Which is plenty for its intended use. Mainly antelope and muledeer.

Hunting mule deer and coyotes steered me to the .25-06 several years ago. It's been GREAT. Hope to use it on pronghorn one of these years too.

Excellent combination of low recoil, good accuracy, flat trajectory and lethal impact.

There are of course other good rifle cartridges, but the .25-06 is one of my favorites. Sad that I overlooked it for so many years. Just yesterday I was handloading more 115 gr Nosler Partitions over Retumbo. They look mule deer ready!

Gave up that bullet in the 25 about 95, 96. Had this buck out about 175-190 yrds according to measured landmarks. Perfect shot, saw a fur puff right in the shoulder. Critter dropped and kicked. Surprise, he got up and ran, Second shot got him. This is only 1 of the 2 times I have had to shoot twice with my 25s.
Reason for him running i.e 120 gr Hornady HP, rem brass, CCI primer, MV 2970. Recovered bullet from first shot.







Never hit bone, blew up on impact. You can still see a couple of hairs in the first pic, used to be filled with hide. Stopped just inside the shoulder to chest skin area. The other time was a Nosler 115BT, but thats another story.
Good that they work for you, but I will still use the Sierra 117 pro-hunter. Good bullet on goats and whitetails.

Swifty

Hot damn a 5 shot group! Well done, especially out of a #1. I own one, and they can be finicky, too say the least.

For the giggles of it gonna post a couple of pics of 117 Sierras, but I backed off 1/2gr of RL22. Same seating depth 3.165 Tip to base,these were shot yesterday.





2 diffrent bullets same load,same seating depth, same cases. Both put 5 in an honest 3/4" group (-.257)outside to outside. Both put 4 into an honest 1/2", and 3 into a 1/4". What more could ya ask from a factory barrel. 700 BDL, 100 yrds.

Next up 110 Accubonds.


Swifty

Very nice, I love it when it comes together like that.

Retumbo likes Federal 215's!!!

After not getting consistent results with the H4831sc as hoped, I purchased Retumbo and Reloader 22. See what kind of loads I can make up. I'm using winchester large primers at the moment but may try the Federals.

Esox,

Winchester, Federal, or CCI will work just fine. The main reason I used the federals is that when primers were scarce its all I could find when the cupboard was bare. But I have used all of the ones mentioned, and got really good results.
When I first developed this load for my first 25.06, Winchester was all that I used as my dealer was a Winchester and Ruger distributer. Plus I only paid 7 bucks a thou. Cheap and works well was fine with me.
For the most part, all my chrony readings are pretty much the same with all 3 brands, but for consistency my ranking are as follows in the 25. Federal,Winchester then CCI.
Consistency between the 3 are 25 to 50 FPS high or low on average velocity for 10 shots. Which taken into context aint much.
Good luck

Swifty

Thanks Swifty, I'm heading to the range wednesday, hope to post back good results like you fellas have. Esox357.

I use the largest Lee Dipper Cup (4.3cc), one tap on the side of the powder canister to settle the powder then scrape it flat with a toothpick before dumping it into the case. I played with the seating depth a bit, my Ruger likes about .005" off the lands. I made a dummy round with a bullet seated at the optimum depth so setting up my seating die takes about 10 seconds. It was not difficult to get this Ruger to get to shoot well. Same with my 45-70, 221 Fireball and 7mm Rem Mag, not difficult to get them to shoot well, but my Kimber 223 was a real challenge.

I like Reloader #22 too (Reloader #25 better) but found #22 to be a bit temperature sensitive.

Made it to the range today. I didn't have quite the luck I had hoped. My gun seemed to like the R-22 better. Retumbo had one or two groups to try and see if I can't improve on them? Back to the bench. I'm starting to wonder if the scope or action screws need to be tightened? I also need to adjust the trigger. Well can't say I will be bored. Thanks

What kind of a rest are you using? When I do load development I use a heavy butterfly rest and a rear bag to try and make it as steady and repeatable as possible. I pay a lot of attention to placing the gun in the same position each time I pull the trigger. This is my bag.

My 25-06 loves Rel 22 with the Nosler 100 gr BT and the 110 gr Accubond.

I am using a front rest bag only, so it is possible I could be pulling the shots but usually don't have that problem? I will be buying a different rest though just to take one more factor out of the equation. Thanks.

Esox, dont get discouraged, saw a guy shooting and Excalibur(Cooper) in 25.06. 4 shots went 1.25"

Swifty

Thanks Swifty, I haven't given up hope and now playing with the OAL to figure out it may be real sensitive to seating length. I will chime back when I get it to the range.

You are on the right track, as mine were both erratic until seating depth was correct, but slicking up the trigger pull didnt hurt either.

Swifty

how fast can retumbo push a 115 ballistic tip. It would seem that 3200 isn't out of the question?

I had a custom rem 700 in 25/06 for a short time with a 26" shilen barrel. I shot a load of 58g of R#25 with a FEd 215 in a Winchester case with a Sierra 117g for a velocity of 3350.

This load was at the top end of pressure for this rifle, Winchester cases and Fed 215's are a must, and I got 1/2" accuracy.

If you try this load, start off at 54g or R#25 and work up, my best accuracy was right at the point where I had to full length size the brass after every firing or use a Forester NEck sizer to bump the shoulder back.

Good luck!

keith,

Alliant lists 56 grains of R25 as max with a 115--which is why you're getting such fancy velocities.

For some reason the .25-06 brings out the hot-rodder in a lot of reloaders.

Along with R25, Retumbo and Ramshot Magnum will get a 115 to 3150-3200 or so, safely, in a 24" barrel.

John, honestly when I had the gun built, Alliant did not list R#25 for the 25/06. I took the recommendation from the gunsmith that built the gun...I have no idea where he got the info from. My rifle had a 26" barrel, minimum spec chamber, .2575 throat, short freebore, all which lead to more velocity, not to mention that it may have been a fast barrel, fast lot of powder, etc.

A Texican friend had to have the rifle after seeing it shoot, I built a custom 257 Weatherby with zero freebore.

are there any other powders that will get a 115 grain bullet to 3200 fps. How will imr 4831 and 7828 do? Can anyone quick load that data for me.

Thanks
drew

I'm not sure the velocity since I don't own a chronograph but H4831SC seems to get good velocity from talking with my buddies who use it and do have access to a chronograph.