I have tried both 117 btsp hornadays and 100 sp sierras. the powders I have tried are imr 4350 and H4831,both .5 at a time from min to max. I have varied seating depth from .010,.020,and .030 from the lands. best group was 1.25 3 shot @100 yds. I think the rifle is capable of more(I had .5 groups with blue dot fire forming brass). Should I try a different powder? bullet? both? rifle is a used but v-good condition 700 BDL, early 80's model,24in barrel. I has been bedded and floated plus the trigger set at 3#. should I live with it or rebarrel to a 6.5-06,6.5-284?

I've had three of them (all Mausers) and love the Hornady 120 HP for deer and most other things.

Use H-4350 or equivalent powder and run toward top pressures!!!

That thing should be capable of 1" groups...but it's your gun!!!

If you do rebarrel, the 6.5-06 is as good as it gets for an all around rifle of smaller caliber. It's deserving of commercial loading.....but no one listens to us on the forums!!!

H4831SC is the most accurate powder in my 25-06. I use 117 gr Sierra Gamekings and Fed210M primers. I'm sure you'll hear people recommending RE22 as well. S40

For what it's worth both of my 24-06s liked 100 grain bullets with IMR 4831 and CCI primers.
Never could get the 117- 120 to shoot to my satisfaction.
Jim

Go over to the Longrangehunting .com and get into the Reloading Forum ,ask the question believe me you will get the answer you are loking for.

I use the 110gn Accubonds over H4831 and am geeting real good (3/4 X 5 shot @ 200yd) groups from my Tikka T3. Haven't tried to many other bullets, Sierra - Speer in different weights, but had the best from Nosler!

My Ruger 77 (early 70's model) loves the W-W factory ammo with 120-gr Positive Expanding Points, but it likes Hornady 120 gr HPs on top of a charge of I4831 about as well. Doesn't like H4831 as well, and simply shoots patterns (blown ones at that) with any kind of ReLoader propellants. Go figure?

thanks guys,ill keep plugging away and using some of your suggestions.

Hey Lenny, I was having a similar type problem with my model 700 bdl. Here is a post from earlier today after a weekend trip to the range. Hope this helps.

I just got back from a trip to the range with my 25-06. The gun is a rem 700 BDL with 24" barrel. I had tried several powder and bullet combos in this gun, but the best I could do on several occasions was 2" @ 100 yds. I was almost to the point of selling it, when I decided to work up a load consisting of a 100 gr. ballistic tip in front of a charge of 52.1 gr. of IMR 4831. I shot a 5 shot group at 100 yds. that measured a little less than .5" from center to center. Just goes to show that each rifle is unique, but I have never encountered a rifle this finicky. BTW, if anyone wishes to try this load, it is a grain or two under max listed by hornady, but as always, you should reduce and work up to it. Have a Merry Christmas.

thanks molar,I think I will pick up some nosler bts. I am not a huge BT fan,but if it will shoot it what the heck. I am also going to try different primers even though that usually doesnt work for me.also thanks to all the others that posted!this site is great.

FWIW My 2506 shoots sierra 100 gr sbt and 100 gr matchkings to the same poa at 100 yds. I've tried many loads and found h4831 hard to beat. I load either bullet .020 off lands with 54gr powder. Good luck.

lenny,
stay away from NBT'S in your 25, mine always gave explosive results at close range (under100yds)!
The best load i ever had was 3150fps with 120gn hornady and H4831sc or Rel 19..
That was after trying Barnes,Nosler Sierra,CT.
Of course every gun is different, but bullets are bullets and the NBT'S have let me down several times. I had a fallow run past me at 40yds so shot him in the shoulder only to have the bullet blow upon impact, should have known better! I also found that meat damage was far more than with any other bullet, down range I'm sure that they would come into their own.
I gave the half used to box to friend to try,I couldn't print what he called me after getting a couple of runners..

regards
griff

You might try IMR-7828 for the heavier bullets in the .25-06. I use 54.5 gr. with the Nosler 115 gr. Partition, Rem. brass, and Fed. 215 primer, and have had excellent results on about 20 animals (antelope, mule deer, and 2 elk). My rifle is a Rem. 700 Classic. This load has also worked well in several other M700s owned by friends. For the 100 gr. Nosler, I had good results with 56.0 gr. of H-4831.

My 1972 Model 700 was a problem until i found the bullets were seated very cooked. I sent the seating die back the new one worked as it should.
It went from an 1.5" at 100 yards with some loads rifle to shooting 1 to 1.25 inch groups at 200 yards.
The load that I use is 52 grain of IMR 4350 with the 100 grain Sierra flat base. Not a max load.