Okay, so here is the deal. I just bought 300 Sierra BTHPs for use in the 25-06. I have H-4831,H-4895, H-414 and H-380 on hand. I also have IMR-3031, 4320,4350,4064 and 4895. I have CCI #250 mag primers, CCI #200LR primers, CCI BR-2, FED 215 LRM, Fed GM215mag and Winchester Large rifle primers. I also have some 100 grain Sierra spitzers on hand though only 100.

So, I thought that I would start with the 90 grain Sierra BTHPs, a CCI #250 mag primer and app. 55.5-56.0 grains of H-4831. I thought I might also try the same combo with 52-53 grains of IMR-4350. I have loaded for the 25-06 in the past but I was using the 117 grain Sierra BTsptz back then. What do you guys think of my starting choices. Using the components that I have on hand, do you think there are better options. If you have a more specific charge weight for any of the powders mentioned I would be happy to listen. By the way, my rifle is a Savgae BVSS and, I think it has a 1 in 12" twist, though I am not sure.

I have a Ruger M77 tang safety in 25/06 and the only load I have found for it that gives exceptional accuracy is 50.5 grains IMR4350 behind 120 grain Speer SPBT bullets and Winchestr WLR primers. On a good day it will shoot one ragged hole and on a not so good day it will group .25-.30". I have not used any of the bullets you have mentioned, but I have tried Hornady and Rem C/L. All other loads including factory loads gave a 1.5"-2.5" group. I had started to think it needed a new barrel but as long as this load continues to shoot good I'll leave it as is.

Hey CZ,
I think your choice is probably perfect. When Nosler first came out with their 100 grain Ballistic Tips, I tried the only powder I had on hand. I loaded them with 56.5 grains of IMR4831 and put the first three shots into one itty-bitty hole. I stopped right there and have been shooting that same load ever since- over 20 years now - the only load I've ever shot in that gun. It's dropped several dozens of deer and antelope, none requiring more than one shot and only one deer ran more than 30 yards. It's killed countless rockchucks and groundhogs, many way beyond 500 yards. I've never seen the need to load heavier bullets.
This summer while I was working up some loads for another gun I decided to chrono it out of curiosity. It clocked 3,525 average and put all three shots into one little hole.

Wayne

Doctor D, Your load is about three grains over the max on the Nosler manual and 1/2 grain over on just about everybody elses loading books.

It's not safe. I started under your load, but I worked up and later shot one of your loads. I had a very hard time opening the bolt after and the spent primer was gone. This load is too hot and exceeds the max load in every load book that I have.

Alfredo

i load the 120 speer or sierra 117 both with 50.0 grs. imr 4350 or 51.0 imr 4831 the imr 4831 shoots a tighter group .750

Also have the tang safety Ruger and it shoots great w/H4350, 52 gr and 100 gr partition.

Work up.

Mine is a Win 70 but isn't real picky. I've gotten good groups with H4831sc, IMR4350, RL19. RL22 & IMR7828 seemed to slow and bigger groups, although RL22 wasn't bad with 120's.

My fav is 117gr Hornady over H4831sc with WLR primers. Nate

You should find a sweet spot with IMR-4350 at 53 to 54 grains using the 90gr Sierra. No need for magnum primers.

quote:

Originally posted by Alfredo Morrell:
Doctor D, Your load is about three grains over the max on the Nosler manual and 1/2 grain over on just about everybody elses loading books.

It's not safe. I started under your load, but I worked up and later shot one of your loads. I had a very hard time opening the bolt after and the spent primer was gone. This load is too hot and exceeds the max load in every load book that I have.

Alfredo

Well now, Alfredo, I don't know where I originally got that load, and I'm in a hotel room and don't have access to my manuals right now, but I did get it from one of my loading manuals when I first got my rifle in 1988. It was not over the manual. I did not have a chrono at the time so I NEVER went over the book max. I have been shooting that same load for 20 years now in that Rem 700 and about 15 years in another one and have had zero pressure indications.

Work up SLOWLY when getting close to max.

Wayne

I looked in all my old Nosler manuals and none of them go over 53.5 IMR 4831 with 100gr nosler bullet. My old Sierra, with 100gr Sierra bullet IMR 4831 max is 54.6. But that is a Sierra 100gr not a Nosler.

Hello everyone. 1st post been reading for sometime .
I have a Speer #6 manual copywright 1964(got it with my 1 st reloading set when i was 13)it lists .25/06 100gr sp 4831 powder 60 gr. max
in Speer # 10 (1 st print 1979) it lists 25-06 remington 100 gr imr 4831 56 max
Speer # 13(1st print 1998) 100 gr imr 4831 56 max
56.5gr RL22 with 100 gr Hornady SP works real well for me in the 4 different 25-06's i've tried it in.

cz 223,
i see no need for magnum primers also,unless your shooting in -50-60 below weather. ive never been a h-4831 fan,but ive burned imr 4350 to know it flat works great!in my 25-06.
your 90s 100,115,117,120 should all work fine.
i'd betta-ya your savage twist is 1-10 though. olrvrat great post and Welcome aboard our forum one word of Caution H-4831 is Not the same as IMR-4831 treat them as different powders cause they are! regards

Thanks.
I had a Savage 112 bvss, one of the most accurate rifles i ever owned. Real tight chamber, had to be careful working up loads never did meet max on charge real fast loads.
75 gr vmax with imr 4350 is another accurate mix for me. I use winchester WLR primers.

DR.D that load works in 2 of the rifles i have loaded for with good effect.RL 19 is also a good powder for the 25-06

Olrvrat, I have the Speer #10 manual, your right it does show that load. But again that is with a speer bullet. I never have had any luck with anything from Speer, have you?

I used my 25-06 as a 'way out yonder' groundhog killer. My favorite load was 50 some odd grains IMR 4831 or H 4831, using CCI mag primers with Speer's hollow point spitzer.
This bullet would open up letting day light all the way through. At 400-500 yards.
Jim

The only speer bullets i've used are the TNT"s. 125 gr in my 308 makes for some fun shootin 3200 fps.
87 gr TNT with RL19 was accurate in the savage 112 bvss 3600 fps. The TNT's have a max on velocity or they come apart. I use mainly hornady, nosler, & barnes bullets. I'm thinkin about tryin Bergers, they look interesting.

Yep,
Thats a prety stiff load the DR is using.
But what the hell. It would seem his rifle handels it.
But the velocity of 3500 with a 100 grain bullets can only mean HIGH PREASURE.
If you are loading for another rifle, I hope it for a liberal.
My custom 25,06 likes IMR-4350 RL-19.
And IMR-4831.
The most acurate bullet so far has been a 120 grain sierra HP game king.
That 90 grainer is good for most folks.
Not me. I can't get it to feed im one of my Roberts unless I seat it about like a full wadcutter 38 special...tj3006

I own two 25/06's. Both like the Sierra 117SBT, amd IMR 4831. With max loads (51grs), and a CCI250, I get 3050ft/sec with my 24" Parker Hale, and 2990ft/sec from my Smith & Wesson with it's 22' tube. Both guns shoot sub MOA.I have also used IMR 7828, RL22, H 4831, IMR & H 4350, and some others. All are good but IMR 4831 is the best in my guns.