Currently looking at options for a long range Tahr and Chamois rifle i.e. what in the States you would call a good sheep and goat rifle.
A 25.06 Ackley Improved available, a Ruger M77 action with a stainless 26" barrel in a B&C stock. Complete with dies, fireformed new cases, some loaded rounds and load recipe using Hornady 117gr Interlocks, chronographed at 3,400fps. Flat shooting tack driver which shot into 1" black at 200m according to owner whose eyesight is not up to it now.

That load is right up to a 257 Weatherby Magnum level so seems a good fast, and accurate, barrel.

Any experience/comments on this rig/cartridge.

Should knock them dead

I'm loading RL22 with 100gr Sierra Pro Hunter bullets. Very accurate and running about 3500fps. I shot a pronghorn with it at 250yds and it took 2 steps backwards and rolled over.

quote:

Hornady 117gr Interlocks, chronographed at 3,400fps

I built a wildcat using my blown out 280 case. It gave me a volume increase of over 8% vs a normal AI gain of 4%. I could not reach 3400 with a 115gr Nosler.3300 no problem. I'm sure not saying he didn't read 3400 but everything needs to be working in his favor. Even 3250-3300 will beat 257 Wby factory but not a good handload. The Wby has an extra 20% +/- case capacity.

I would be tickled for a rifle that would give me 1" at 200m and velocity over 3250fps

Yeah, I suspect that 3400 with a 117 grain bullet is "optimistic", to put it delicately. The 26" barrel certainly helps, but that's probably a hundred FPS or so above the velocity you can get with sustainable pressures. If you don't mind a sticky bolt lift and using your brass only once, then be my guest.

Many years ago a friend had a custom .25-284 built using a barrel that was right at 27 inches. It would spit out 117 grain Sierras at an honest 3300 fps using a load of surplus 4831 with no signs of excessive pressure. I still have the load data and chronograph readings in my archives.

However, there is nothing wrong with "only" 3300 fps coupled with pinpoint accuracy. The goat won't be able to tell the difference.

Thanks for the replies. I am an experienced reloader and have had a 6.5-06 before, just used 25.06 cases seating boat-tail projectiles without the need for expanding the necks before hand.
Did shoot some tahr with it but at 3000fps with a 140gr bullet it didn't do any more than our current crop of 7mm-08s do.

Keen on the higher velocity of the 25.06AI combined with a good dial up scope. We all got bull tahr with our 7mm-08s last trip but sometimes the biggest bulls are at longer range and need some pin point accuracy to place the bullet in the right place i.e. flat trajectory, quality dial up scope, velocity to anchor the animal and not too much recoil. My three sons do not have the experience with big magnums but are good steady shots otherwise.

My brother shot a lot of red deer with a little Mauser K in 250-3000 back in our heydays of hunting, the 250 performed well for a small cartridge so I have some liking for this calibre.

I'm leaning heavily to set the AI up with quality optics as a long range rig, even if not 3400fps, 3300fps MV with a 117 grainer should perform.

Before you buy that gun i'd recommend you read P O Ackley's write-up on it. It's been years but if memory serves me correctly ( and I had a buddy while in college buy one) there's some unusual pressure issue's with the 25-06 AI that for whatever reason do not exist with the 25-06 or other improved round's. In fact I believe that PO Ackley actually recommended against this particular improved round because of the pressure issues.

Had a change of mind and got a good deal on a Browning X Bolt 7mm WSM. Came with 80 rounds factory ammo, 120 primed cases, primers, tin of powder, reloading dies, magnum suppressor and a Leupold VX3i scope. My three sons all use suppressors so better for their hearing to have one on this magnum.
They are the ones wanting something a bit better for shooting longer range big bull tahr than the 7mm-08's they all currently use. They have good success with the 08's out to 300m but need something with flatter trajectory and a bit more oomph for the elusive big trophies.