25-06 90BT Sierra

[Strikenmike]

Greetings:

I have 150 units of this bullet.  I would like to work up a good coyote load for it.  Accuracy is key.  I see a lot of load for 75, 85, 100 etc.  Who has had experience with the Sierra 90HPBT Gameking?  Please share your thoughts.  I have some loaded with 57 grains of H4831sc and they group OK, but I think I can do better perhaps with a different powder and a lighter load.  Please advise.

Thanks,
Strikenmike

[the jigger]

I have two 25/06 rifles. My go-to powder for both is IMR4831. I have used the 90gr Sierra and they shoot acceptably(not great) in one of my rifles. Having 150 on hand I'm not sure you want other suggestions, however, it has been my experience that the 25/06 prefers 100gr boat tail bullets; at least my two do.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

[84Jim]

I tried a box of them, using IMR 4831, and never could get them to shoot as good as other bullets I tried.  After they were gone I moved on to other stuff.  I don't shoot many varmits any more with the 25-06 and therefore use mainly 117 and 120's.  When my gun was new I had really good success with factory 80 gr. hollowpoints.  I found a couple of boxes of that bullet on sale and have plans to try to get a load that shoots as good as the factory stuff.  As far as those Sierra's it seems they should be dynamite but I never could find the right combination.  Good luck.

Jim

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Mike, over the years I have had several 25-06's, a .257 roberts, and several .257 Wea.'s I never got super acc. from the 90 grain bthp. In any of these rifles..Acceptable, but not great...My best varmit rounds have almost always been either the 87 grain Serria or 100 grain flat base...I have not shot any of the 100 grain BT by Serria..They may be fine, just haven't tried em. At other timess Nosler BTBT did very good. But the 87 and 100 Serria were ALWAYS as good or better...

[Strikenmike]

I kind of wanted to move down to the 75 V-Max, but I really should use these bullets up if I can.  Somebody out there must have solved this problem.  Keep the suggestions coming.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Mike, I have a bunch of the 75 grain Vmax...Shot quite a few coyotes with them...Especially in the spring and early fall...But I am moving up to 100 grain for most of my shooting..I think they do a better job at long range...Just my thoughts..I have taken coyotes at pretty long distance with the Vmax and they are killers..Got one day before yesterday with those bullets...He had decided he had looked long enough when I squeezed of the .25. It caught one hip and ranged forward and did not exit that I saw...He dropped like I had drilled him in the shoulders...I would guess it was between 250 to 300 yards...For my shooting beyond that distance, I like the 100's...I would guess it depends on how far one is shooting and how much wind you have to contend with.....

[Strikenmike]

Wyo, what bullet and recipe do you like for the 100 grains?  Here in central Illinois we get some long bean-field shots.  The whole point of using this 25-06 is for long shot setups.  I hope to buy something smaller for shots out to 200 yards.

[Wyo. Coyote Hunter]

  Mike, Serria told me IMR 4831 was a top powder for the .25-06....I load it, IMR 4350 and Re 22. I have a bunch of the last two powders....Only about 4 or 5 pounds of 4831...So I developed loads with all three, all are pretty close to top with each powder...With the IMR powders I used fed. 210 primers, but with 22 I used Rem. 9 1/2 mag. primers...I use 22 with my 110 and 115 grain loads, and had no acc. until I used the mag. primers...Back to the 100 grain...Serria was right, IMR 4831 shot super.  I only shoot 3 shot groups and all three would touch with this powder. Plus it shot just over 3400 fps... The accuracy with 22, and 4350 was almost as good and maybe just as good on an other day, but 22 shot 3375 fps. and 4350 3350fps...All are suitable, but I went with the fastest at least until I shoot all the 4831 away...My loads were not max. but above the middle loads...Hope this helps...If you are shooting varmit, I think this will be fine...I am going to try Partitions for my deer hunting in the future or maybe Accubonds...But for varmit this bullet is a dandy...It has taken a very, very nice mulie for me, but I would have perfered a better exit hole...I think only a frag. came out the off side....

[shot1]

This load comes right out of the 4th ed. Sierra loading manual as the accuracy load for the 87 & 90 gr bullets. 52.2 grs IMR 4350 . I used Rem cases & CCI BR-2 primers. It was very accurate. If you want to keep a hide don't use either of these bullets. The 90 gr is a little less destructive but still will blow big holes. The 87 is a BOMB. It will scatter parts and pieces of a groundhog all over the place.