Author Topic: 25.06 reloads (Read 617 times)

dildine · « **on:** October 30, 2004, 05:16:43 PM »

I aquired some reloads (I know, I know, don't shoot anyone else's reloads!!! No sermons please) from the family of a gunsmith who had passed away. He was a 25.06 man to the core. I am a very conscientious reloader myself for many years. What piqued my interest was that about 900 of them were loaded with W760 powder. I deloaded quite a few and checked the loads. They were loaded with 36 grains of W760 with a Sierra 117 BT. I hunted high and low before I found any data for 760 in a 25.06 117 gr. It showed a range of 45 to 49 grains with a 100 gr. bullet and nothing for the 117. I'm a little buggered about firing any of these. Does this load make sense to anyone. By looking at his equipment and what he had, I believe the man really knew about his business. He also had some Hornady 60 gr sp loaded with H4831.. Haven't found any data for them either!!!! I can deload all of them if necessary, but I can't help but wonder if he knew something I don't!
Any Ideas?

?

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #1 on:** October 31, 2004, 01:41:12 AM »

I used W760 in a 6.5 X 55 that had a short 20" barrel. As you know the 6.5x55 and the 25-06 have similar burn rates and bore to capacity characteristics. My powder of choice for the 25-06 is H4831 but I have a 26" barrel. If this fellow had a 25-06 with a barrel of 22" or shorter he may have been adjusting the burn rate by using a powder that would give him top velocity from his barrel length. I stumbled on the W760 powder while experimenting with a 18" barrel rifle in .243. I got top velocity and accuracy with W760. The 6.5x55 20" rile also liked it. I would think a short barrel 25-06 would as well. I would thin that a 25-06 with a barrel of 24" or longer would rather have a slower powder.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #2 on:** October 31, 2004, 06:37:43 AM »

The 60 grain loads are easily explained. You can't get enough H 4831 in the .25-06 case to hurt anything with a 60 grain bullet. If those bullets are pointed rather than the current blunt version, he settled on that load back when H 4831 was dirt cheap. That bullet was discontinued 25-30 years ago.

That WW 760 load has me puzzled. It's way low. Even if it's safe, which I don't know, it would be about a starting load in a .257 Roberts.

Price of bullets being what it is today, I'd buy me a collet bullet puller and start pulling.

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #3 on:** October 31, 2004, 06:56:15 AM »

You know what just struck me is whay would ANYONE have 900 rounds of 25-06 loaded unless he was selling them?
I agree that the best course would be to start pulling bullets and reuse the componets. I doubt I would reuse the powder but the bullets and cases would be still good.
I must admit I would be interested in seeing what these rounds would do speed and accuracy wise. There must be a reason he had so many loaded.

dildine · « **Reply #4 on:** October 31, 2004, 08:31:08 AM »

These were loaded in 2000, 2001 and 2002 according to the stickers he put on them. There were 3 ammo boxes, several metal cans with lids and even a double bread sack full!!! This has really puzzled me.
I have ordered a puller last week (the old hammer pulled burned me out quick!)
The other loads with the H4831 were all loaded 'by the book'..
They weren't packaged like he was going to sell them.
Such a shame that all that 'good savvy' passed on. I'll probably also save the powder since the loads are not that old, but don't know what I'll do with that much 760.
These loads will go thru my new Ruger #1 that I saved forever to buy, so I don't want to take any chances.
Is the H4831 the best for the 60 gr Hornady? I don't expect much from them due to the rifling in my gun, but wouldn't that be great???

riddleofsteel · « **Reply #5 on:** October 31, 2004, 08:52:35 AM »

The trouble with using the powder is can you be SURE it is W760 beyond a doubt. Anything you shoot it in will be subject to damage if it is not.

BE SAFE

jhalcott · « **Reply #6 on:** October 31, 2004, 03:51:16 PM »

Some years ago I was at an NRA convention and asked about WW760 in the 25-06. The WW rep told me NOT to use 760 in the 25-06. They had reports of pressure excursions with 760.It works great in the 22-250 and 6mm's. I remember reading about this,but can't find the literature now.
to be safe I'd pull them and save the components.It probably IS 760 if he was as good a 'smith as you say. You MUST have a use for 4 1/2 pounds of 760.Maybe you just need a new gun!

dildine · « **Reply #7 on:** November 01, 2004, 03:07:51 PM »

I've already started breaking them down!
I appreciate all the help and advice.

Thanks, BJ