I've been loading IMR 4831 in my 25-06. It shoots everything from 75 gr to 120 gr bullets well. I'm sure there are other powders that work well in this caliber but I have a lot of this stuff on hand and it works. When I first built this rifle, it wouldn't shoot decent groups until I started worked my loads up to maximum. The one exception being 120 gr speers. I had to drop this one a grain below max because of pressure signs. I'm using the 1982 vintage Horandy manual.
RL22 is the way to go for 100 grain bullets, if you have at least a 22" barrel. In my 26" barrel the 100 gr bullet behind 58 gr (MAX LOAD) is going beyond 3450 fps with excellent accuracy.
I have experimented with the 25-06 a good deal and have finally settled on two powders to cover all bullet weights.
If I am loading 75 to 100 grain bullets I use IMR 4831. If I am loading anything heavier (115, 117, 120) I use IMR 7828.
My favorite loads for the 25-06 consist of 54 grains of IMR 4831 behind a 100 grain Nosler Partition for use on deer, antelope, hogs, etc. The same load behind a 100 grain Sierra spitzer makes for a good inexpensive long range varmint load and sure drops coyotes in their tracks.
R F
Posts: 1220 | Location: Hanford, CA, USA | Registered: 12 November 2000
I use IMR 4831 under 115 Nosler Ballistic Tips. In fact I just picked up a pound of it yesterday. I consistently get .5 MOA out of my Sako 25-06 using this combination with CCI primers and Winchester brass.
Posts: 3318 | Location: USA | Registered: 15 November 2001