I'm just breaking in my Sendero and it seems to love the 75 grain V-MAX. A buddy of mine told me that shooting this bullet behind a full charge of 4831 would greatly reduce the life of my barrel. Is he right? He suggest the 85 grain ballistic tip instead. Unfortunately the ballistic tip doesn't shoot nearly as flat, as the 75 grainer can be pushed to 3750. What to do?-- this is my primary LR varmint getter.

I don't think the weight of the bullet has much to do with throat erosion in any cartridge.

Try not to fire rapid fire. If you wanted to melt steel that's what you would do!

Just use the bullet that you want to.

I have a .25-06 and have researched the handloading of it a bit. From what I have been able to learn, it appears as though it is the quantity of powder that is used that may contribute to any possible throat erosion. I have mostly been shooting 117 and 120 grain bullets with IMR 4831 and H-450. Half inch groups are not unusual. I have tried some Hornady 75 grain spitzers but actually get smaller groups with the heavier bullets. BTW the rifle is a Ruger M77 Mk II. You might try a faster powder such as 4350. Then you could use a bit less of it.

One would have to shoot a lot of rounds before accuracy would deteriorate significantly.

I also think that more barrels are damaged by clumsy cleaning than by slow, careful shooting.

Unfortunately any bullet/bore combo that moves a bullet over 3000fps is going to cause you throat/bbl. wear. This is especially true if you don't allow the bbl. to cool btwn. shots. The price one pays for the speed. Then again, a new bbl. isn't that expensive.

Well, it would seem to me that your buddy has his wires crossed. Let's face it, you are not going to use "THAT" much less powder with the 85 grain BT than with the 75 V-Max. They are both varmint bullets and for long range use in the 25-06 you will want to zip them out there. Your barrel will never know the difference.

As the others have stated, the best way to shoot out a 25-06 barrel (or any other) is to get it too hot. If you keep shooting once your barrel is over heated you WILL shorten the usable life.

R F

MOA, I have one in the Sendero S.F. I like VVN 140 or W760 with 75grn. S.H.P. Have used R.L. 19, and gotten great velocity but accuracy was poor. Always thought 4831 was a little too slow for the 75's. Just my thought though. Never used it. Eric

My 25-06 likes the 75 V max also . shoot it until it quits then rebarrel it . rifles are recycleable .