I was loading up some 25-06 shells last night for a friend

He has RL19 powder, and I found the highest max load for the 115 gr. bulet at 52 grs. This sounded really low to me, I had to double check to see I wasn't looking at the 257 Roberts data. Why is it we could shoot 59.0 grs. in his 30-06/168 gr., but only 52.0 grs. in his 25-06?

The load density is pretty low. The slower burners, say, past 7828, don't seem to give the velocity that the 4831's/RL22's do.

What gives? I'm using almost the same amount in my wee 'lil 260.

Wimpy? I think not! Try my load. 65gr of IMR 7828 with Fed 215br caps rem brass and 117 Hornady bt. My velocity is 3200 fps + and shoots superbly. Check out the Hornady #4 manual with 7828. They list 59 gr but it can not be done in my experience. With the above load do not use it with any other bullet. Only the Hornady 117 BT is "slippery" enough not to boost pressures! This is the only bullet I use for my 25-06 for everything.

"Whimpy"? I think not!!


This group measured around 0.489-inch, for 5-shots at 200-yards
It was fired using a Ruger 77R in .25-06 Remington with Leupold 10x optics
Case: Remington
Primer: Winchester WLR
Powder: 52.5 grains of H-4831
Bullet: Sierra 120 grain Hollow Point Boat Tail
Velocity 15' from muzzle: 2922 fps


This group, which measured somewhere around 0.717-inches for 5-shots at 200-yards.
It was fired using a Ruger 77R in .25-06 Remington with Leupold 10x optics
Case: Remington
Primer: Winchester WLR
Powder: 53.3 grains of H-4831
Bullet: Nosler 120 grain Spitzer Point Boat Tail
Velocity 15' from muzzle: 3076 fps

Up until two years ago the Sierra loading held my personal record for a one-shot kill ... 704 yards on an antelope!

It was surpassed at that time by my 7mm Remington Magnum load, 750 yards on an antelope.

The .25-06 is NOT a "whimpy" cartridge!!

POP,
65.0 grs. of 7828, that's WAY over any book I've ever seen. How many loads do you get before the cases are done? What do you mean by 59.0 grs. can not be done? What do you mean "slippery"?

I didn't say the 25-06 couldn't kill stuff, or shoot small groups, I just thought the load data was a little low in the powder charge dept.

I think POP means 56.0 grains of 7828, not 65.0.

George

It all comes down to pressure limits. Even though it is essentially the same case as the 30-06 the loading data is much different because of bore size. In fact even 6 grains under the 06 load the 25-06 is probably still making more pressure. The SAAMI max pressure for the 30-06 is 50,000 cup, the 25-06 is 53,000 cup. Whimpy you say?

Hornady 5`th edition.117BTSP 7828 56.6 grs max at 3000 is what they give.RL 22 is 56.1 at 3100.
I`ve gotten over 3200 fps with the sierra 117 SBT and A-3100.But really prefere the 100 gr bullets at 3400 with 4831.

I truly apologize. I did mean 56 gr. The Hornady #4 did mention 59 gr (7828) with a standard primer as max but it can not be done. The sierra 117 can not be loaded with these charges due to different jacket construction and bearing surface. This is what I mean by slippery.

[ 08-08-2002, 15:14: Message edited by: POP ]

I don't have a .25/'06 any more but did have a Ruger No.1V .25/'06 that would produce over 3200 FPS, and shoot close to .5 MOA, with 117 grain Sierra PSPBT's. This load used 58 grains of a certain lot of Norma N205, which shortly thereafter disappeared from the market!! I don't consider the .25/'06 to be "wimpy". I like it better than the .257 Weatherby!!

I can get 3200 with Hornady 120 hp's and H1000 (#1 26" bbl). Re19 is not the best choice for the 25-06. I have not tried Re25 yet but would expect it to work well also.
C.G.B.

What powders should he try in his 25-06?

He uses RL19 because it works in his 30-06 too. I would think H4831, RL22, IMR7828, and H1000 would give high velocity with 100-120 gr. bullets, and fill up some of that case capacity too.

I have 2 25-06's.Both have 26 in barrels.In one top vel and best accuracy is with RL 22. The other gives top vel with RL 22 but groups better with 7828. H4831 is a respectable performer and RL 25 should be OK with the 120 gr slugs