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25.06 load question

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25 February 2005, 20:03
chola
25.06 load question
I just picked up a weatherby vanguard...I was using IMR 4831..51 grains..100 grain Speer SPBT and Nosler 115 grain ballistic tips..got this recipe from a few fellas here...the best group I could get was 3 by 3 inches at 50 yards...I tried different scopes,I checked bases and rings to make sure everything was secure,checked all action screws.......reloaded a few more rounds..52 grains this time with the same bullets,same results.....no two holes were even close to one another..looked like a shotgun.....could the powder and bullet combo cause this problem that severe,I don't know the round count throught this particular rifle.....I am new to reloading and am just looking for a few tips and advice.......thanks
25 February 2005, 20:36
squeeze
Chola,

I would start with cleaning the bore thoroughly, including
a good soaking/scrubbing with a good copper fowling
solvent. And maybe try a different scope, just to elimnate
that possibility. While mounting a known good scope,
check all base and ring mounting screws for tightness.

Then I'd check the crown, bore, and chamber for damage,
or excessive wear. Without seeing the rifle, I would guess
something is amiss. Most Vanguard/Howas are excellent
shooters, so this one is atypical. Which is what has me
wondering what is up with this one. With 6 MOA
something I am going to guess something is horribly out
of wack here, and I don't think ammo changes are going to
help. I would just get some cheap factory ammo, or load
some inexpensive bullets, in some plain jane loads.
Something in the 3000 fps range , with 100 gr bullets, to
get down to 1-3 MOA, for problem isolation. Once you
correct the gross issues, then start back on dialing in
favorite loads.

This is how I would address this issue. I recently
went through something like this with an Encore,
and I know how frustrating this can be. Since this
was a new .308 Win barrel, using this same process,
and finding no cure, the barrel went back to T/C, with
targets, where I shot their suggested factory ammo.
We shall see how they address a barrel that shoots
patterns rather than groups.

Squeeze


Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety.

Benjamin Franklin, Historical Review of Pennsylvania, 1759
01 March 2005, 12:25
muzr257
Ive got a weatherby mark 5 ultra lightweight in 25-06 - it took a bit to make it shoot.I had to free float it and glass bed it - they need to be glass bedded like a Sako.
Squeeze is giving you good advice - shooting groups of that size at fifty would have me cranky - are the holes in the target round in shape? - check to make sure that they are not starting to tumble - you may have to try it at 100y to make sure that they are not keyholing.
Check the muzzle very carefully for any marks - if you cant return the firearm to who you bought it from a trip to your gunsmith may be in order -he may suggest a recrowning job.
Muzr
01 March 2005, 19:54
Scota4570
Aside from all that advice, I would shoot some factory ammo. If it shoots as bad, I wold return the rifle, if possible. Life is too short to mess with dogs like that. I think something is very wrong, not just a bedding tweak. Loose scope, crooked crown, defective bore, crooked chamber, something like that. Jeese, my Turk mausers shoot better.
02 March 2005, 19:25
Boofhead
I agree with with Scota4570.

Try some factory loads through a clean barrel first. At least this will eliminate a problem with your reloading equipment/proceedure.

Most 25.06's will shoot Winchester 90gr soft points less than 1.5 MOA.
If it still gives you grief and everything is tight, get the scope checked.

Cheers
Boof...
07 March 2005, 09:27
Cal Sibley
My last 3 new rifles have required glass bedding, barrel floating and trigger adjustments to make them shoot well, about $200. cost. I suspect yours is no different. It seems we're actually buying rifle kits today that are only complete when we shell out the extra bucks. I personally feel it's another way to put the screws to the buying public. Savage might be the exception to this nonsense. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal


Cal Sibley
10 March 2005, 02:58
vapodog
quote:
Originally posted by muzr257:I had to free float it and glass bed it -

That's about the only thing that can cause that much problem......almost any ammo will shoot 3" at 100 yards even if its really bad....
I agree....it's bedding


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