Author Topic: Bullet Weights in the 25-06 (Read 7385 times)

Crow Juice · « **on:** April 28, 2010, 05:32:53 AM »

Just got a new Stevens with a 1 in 10 twist .I would like to use 120 gr bullets but I would like to know from somebody with a lot 0f 25-06 reloading experience what they have had the best luck with based on bullet weight.The reason I ask is I have several buddys with 25-06's and there guns seem to like the lighter bullets .This may be because they like lighter bullets so I thought I would get your thoughts. I am going to use this gun for whitetails and the average deer in west Tennessee is less than 120 lbs .

tjrod · « **Reply #1 on:** April 28, 2010, 07:43:54 AM »

The 120 gr in my 25-06 has always produced cloverleaf groups and does quite a number on the whitetail. 117 just as good. I use a 6mm for the light stuff.

yukondog · « **Reply #2 on:** April 28, 2010, 08:13:12 AM »

I'v got sav. also and it shoots real good,the 120's do pretty good and so do the 117 but were mine realy shines is with 110 accubuds.

thetrio · « **Reply #3 on:** April 28, 2010, 02:00:13 PM »

I like lighter bullets myself.

I normally use 100 grain BT for varmints and Barnes TSX for "big game". I have shot both small mule deer and antelope with those 100 grain bullets and most are 1 shot kills. I see nothing wrong with the 120 grain bullets but I like the 100 grain ballistics better.

I only shot one hog with the 25-06 (100 grain Barnes) at 200 yards and it was a one shot kill.

Ultimately, shoot what your rifle likes and meets the needs of the game you are after.

OLDHandgunner · « **Reply #4 on:** April 28, 2010, 02:05:01 PM »

For 20+ years after I bought my old Ruger model 77 in 25-06. I used 100gr Hornady bullets. Used it for woodchucks to whitetails with great accuracy & results.
I only owed a few guns back then. Then as I got a few more rifles for small game I moved the the 25-06 bullets up to 117 & 120gr with the same great accuracy & results for whitetails.

the jigger · « **Reply #5 on:** April 30, 2010, 05:05:16 AM »

I have two 25/06's, one Savage 110fp and a Weatherby Vanguard. Neither likes 120gr bullets.
I tried Partitions and Sierra 120gr HPBT with IMR4831,RL17,RL19,RL22, and IMR4350.
With 100gr Sierra HPBT MK in the 110fp it gets .75" groups at 200yds. Sometimes better if I do my part.
The Vanguard shoots 100gr Partitions into cloverleafs at 100yds with IMR4831.
I am in the process of load development with 110gr Accubonds. Don't know what I will find.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!!!!

84Jim · « **Reply #6 on:** April 30, 2010, 06:50:04 AM »

My Rem 700 shoots 87's, 117's and 120's great. I've tried 100 partitions, but never could get good groups. Probably didn't try hard enough to get the right combination. But I prefer the heaver bullets for deer anyway...

Jim

wallypedal · « **Reply #7 on:** April 30, 2010, 07:24:33 AM »

1:10 seems to be the standard and about ideal for 25-06. My Encore shoots everything from 75 to 120 pretty well. Almost any of the cup and core bullets in the 100 -120 range should work on those Tenn. whitetails just fine, without the expense of bonded bullets. I settled on the Hornady 120 HP for accuracy, BC, price and bullet construction. Although it's a HP, it is constructed heavily with big game in mind, it is a good flyer and the tips are tough. Twenty cents a bullet cost between the two types is nothing while shooting at game, but the economy difference encourages a guy to get in more range time while familiarizing with the gun, load, trajectory, etc. I find myself shooting up thirty or so from a 50 count box of premium bullets, then thinking I need to save the last 20 for hunting loads.
I'm figuring you might have got the Stevens with economy being a factor, and I think it's a great value. If so, you will get more satisfaction shooting - and more shooting - with lower cost bullets that will do the job. Save the premium bullet purchases for elk, bears, and once-in-a-lifetime trips.
As far as the difference in ballistics between 100gr. and 120gr., if they are each loaded to standard velocities and zero is 250 yds. the 100's drop 3.00" w/ 1434 ft-lbs energy at 300 yds., and the 120's drop 3.34" and have 1581 ft-lbs of energy. I'd take that additional 150 ft-lbs over a 1/3 inch difference in trajectory!
Elkeater2

41 mag · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2010, 01:25:02 AM »

Quote from: Crow Juice on April 28, 2010, 05:32:53 AM

Just got a new Stevens with a 1 in 10 twist .I would like to use 120 gr bullets but I would like to know from somebody with a lot 0f 25-06 reloading experience what they have had the best luck with based on bullet weight.The reason I ask is I have several buddys with 25-06's and there guns seem to like the lighter bullets .This may be because they like lighter bullets so I thought I would get your thoughts. I am going to use this gun for whitetails and the average deer in west Tennessee is less than 120 lbs .

Crow,

I have loaded just about all of the standard 100 - 120gr bullets made by the major manufacturers. What I found over the years was that they all can shoot very accurately and will kill a deer quite dead.

I did however switch over to the 115gr Partitions for the most part from my previous 25-06 simply because it shot so very well, and did just as good at 400yds as it did at 20. Some of the 100gr loads were simply too much for my taste when it came time to clean a deer. They were however very impressive on varmints. My previous rifle in this caliber has got to be one of, if not the most accurate off the shelf rifle I have ever shot. I passed it over to my daughter who now is shooting the 110gr AB's as she likes the bit lighter recoil. With that particular rifle I stoked it up to top end loads, and when switching over to the AB I simply swapped out the Partition for the lighter AB. Velocity is running about 3200fps which for that bullet seems to be a good compromise. It has shown an equal affinity for the accuracy we have come to expect from this rifle easily shooting 5 shots into .5" at 200yds. Bottom line is pick a tick and squeeze the trigger. If you missed it, it ain't the rifles fault.

With my newly built 25-06 AI I am working with several different bullets and powders right now. I have found that some 120gr Remington CL's work very well even at the higher velocities I am getting. I am also using some older Nosler 120gr Solid Base bullets which have groups in under 2" out to 300yds so far.

With the deer your looking at I would suggest finding a load that shoots accurately for you and have a ball. You might find as I did with the 100's that they do a bit more than necessary on a deer, but then again, that will be determined by the velocity and where you ht them as well. Where I hunt my shots might be anywhere from 5yds to as far as I felt comfortable, and I went with a bullet which would do the job under every circumstance. Bottom line is I compromised with the 115's on the best velocity and bullet weight I could get for this particular rifle. While all of the 120's I tried shot very well, I could not get but right at 300fps from the best load and even then the accuracy was not up to the 115's. So I went with the best of both worlds.

Good luck with yours, I figure you will find out how much fun they are, especially with an accurate load. Powders for the 100gr loads should be in the IMR-4831 range and for the heavier 115-120gr loads I found RL-22, and H-4831 to be the best overall. The Sierra 100gr bulet is the only one I ever had an issue with, and after calling them I found that their accuracy load was just that, and easily kept up with anything else I fed it.

backstrap · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2010, 06:10:48 PM »

After i bought my Browning A bolt in 25 06 i started buy factory ammo in diffrant grains of bullet weight to see which 1 it like, From 100gr up to 120gr it didnt like the 100gr bullets but shot the 115 ,117 and 120grain bullets the best.I reload 120 speer hotcore bullet for my 25 and it shoots 3 shoot group size of a quarter at a 100 yards good enough for my deer rifle,Thats why i bought the rifle to use for deer hunting and it works great, the speer Hot Core bullet will make a pass through every time,I have other rifles for shooting lighter bullets.

nomosendero · « **Reply #10 on:** May 03, 2010, 04:43:17 PM »

For the Deer mentioned & at leastout to 400yds. & less, it doesn't matter much. I have used MANY different
bullets from 100gr through 125gr. Wildcats & for your situation you need to see what groups well.

Crow Juice · « **Reply #11 on:** May 05, 2010, 05:49:56 AM »

Hey guys thanks for the responses. It might help if I give you guys a little more infotmation . I ask the question because a friend has a A-bolt in 25-06 and it will not shoot anything over 100grs and I was wondering if this was a common problem with 25-06's .I went with the Stevens because they are good shooters and I don't like the accutrigger on Savages for hunting .I have a Savage 12fss (7-08)and a Model 40(22H) with accutriggers and I think they break your concentration when your squeezing the trigger . At the range they are fine.The Stevens/Savages are good shooters for the money and there are a ton of aftermarket parts for them . I have already ordered and Rifle Basix trigger and at some point I will have a boyds thumbhole stock for it (maybe in some snazy color).

wallypedal: I am a big time reloader and shooter and have yet to shoot a premium bullet (except for one box of Partitons in my 243 in 1974).All this bullet BS that the Bullet company's are selling is just marketing . When I started reloading I found out quick Hornaday Spire Points and Remington Corelokts are good enough for anything we have in the US .Over the last 5 years or so I have been shooting a lot of Speer bullets because of quality and cost .If you haven't shot any Rem Coreloks lately they are ugly but they shoot. Just so you know I have about 7000 bullets in inventory right now and 4 reloading presses .I loaded my first shell in Oct.1974 and was wanting a 25-06 then . I Just got around to it .

41 Mag: My first pistol was a Black Hawk in 41 purchased in 1977. Used it for years and sold it . Couldn't get it back so I bought another one in the mid 80's . Had it out last week and have 200 rounds going through production as we speek.

backstrap · « **Reply #12 on:** May 06, 2010, 02:19:36 PM »

Is your freind shooting factory ammo or your reloads??My A bolt didnt like light bullets.It likes the heaveyer bullets,When i bought it i wasnt a reloader but i tryied factory loads in 100gr rem cor lok it didnt like them at all,bought some 117gr winchester factory ammo it shoot them well ,and bought some factory federal 120 with the speer hot core bullet it shoot them very well also.You might need to try some diffrant powders ,I reload now and have reloaded the silver balistic tip in 115gr and it shot them well, but i didnt want to shoot them because i herd how hard it is to clean your barrel after shooting the lubalex in a rifle barrel,so i started reloading the 120gr speer hot core bullet like the factory feds were that i tryed.All i can say is try diffrant types of powders,maybe primers and diffrant bullet makers Good luck

Brithunter · « **Reply #13 on:** May 07, 2010, 02:13:01 AM »

Oh how wonderful it would be if all barrels/rifles liked the same recipes

however let's face it ain't never gonna happen. My own 25-06 seems to like the Speer 120's but of course they just quit making them

. I only picked this rifle up last November used and it's been frustratiing to say the least. I am now trying some Sierra 100 grn SPBT's but theya re not shooting as well as I would like

.

I think flat based bullets will do better. We now know that the first 9" of the bore has quite severe heat crazing but it's not worn out the rifling is still string and the bore is a little tight. Cannot use top loads as it gives excessive pressure signs such as losening primer pockets.

With the 95 grain BT's and Reloader 19 it gave some delayed ignition symptoms so switched to CCI 250 Magnum primes and that's a thing o the past now. For the 100 grn Sierras I brought a tub of H4831.

Oh well I have just ordered a couple of Boxes of the Federal Fusion factory ammunition to try through it as it has a good reputation for shootign well ............................................ we will see how it does and a week or two once it arrives.

backstrap · « **Reply #14 on:** May 07, 2010, 06:23:01 PM »

You can still get the speer 120gr bullets there still out there.. I think the new Line of hot core bullets buy speer are called deep curl,, But the old hot cores are still around

Brithunter · « **Reply #15 on:** May 07, 2010, 11:34:13 PM »

Quote from: backstrap on May 07, 2010, 06:23:01 PM

You can still get the speer 120gr bullets there still out there.. I think the new Line of hot core bullets buy speer are called deep curl,, But the old hot cores are still around

I wish that was true but I cannot locate any this side of the Pond so far. It's hampered by the stupidity of the laws which says that Expanding bullets are so dangerous they cannot be sent my mail only secure carrier and that means armoured car

No I kid you not

so if I did manage to locate some it might proove too far to travel and get them. However the importers it's seems have none left. I enquired about ordering soem from the local gunshop and that's what we got back from them.

Due to the stupidity about shipping I cannot even order from abroad and pay the shipping ...................... Not allowed you see

and that's just componant bullets not loaded cartridges.

Coyote Hunter · « **Reply #16 on:** May 14, 2010, 04:41:43 AM »

120g A-Frames are tack drivers in my .257 Roberts at +P velocities. Have to think they would work well in a .25-06 just as well.

huntswithdogs · « **Reply #17 on:** May 14, 2010, 07:00:22 AM »

When I had my 25/06 Encore, it didn't car a whit for lite weight bullets. 115, 117 and 120 grain bullets were all it would shoot accurately. I found out in, my rifle at least, that it preferred slower burning powders. H4831, H1000 and IMR7828 were the best for mine in front of a mag primer.

HWD

SHOOTALL · « **Reply #18 on:** May 14, 2010, 08:56:10 AM »

I use 100 gr BT for everything -deer , groundhogs , varmits ............

deerandduck · « **Reply #19 on:** May 17, 2010, 09:38:28 AM »

I've got a stevens 25-06 that really likes the Sierra 117 SBTs over Re22 powder. I never got it to like the Hor 117 BTSPs.
My memory says about 50 grs but be best to check. I use RP brass and WLR primers.
I ditched the stevens grey syn stock and replaced it with a savage laminated stock.
I really like this gun, but it has only killed a couple of WTs so far. Both Bang-Flops. Just not enough time in the woods...
thanks,
Deerandduck

shot1 · « **Reply #20 on:** May 18, 2010, 12:56:53 PM »

My hunting buddy and I have killed more deer with a 25-06 than a lot of people have ever seen. My buddy worked as a control hunter for over 25 years and I helped him for 15 of those years. We had to kill 100 deer a year off this big farm in NC. We shot deer with about everything from a bow through a 45-70. We both love the 25-06 and it is our main deer killer. For the deer size your are talking about 100 to 117 gr bullets are the ticket. We both have settled on the 117 gr Sierra. I shoot the flat base because my rifle does not like BT bullets. The two most accurate loads we have found with the 117 gr Sierra are 52 grs H-4831 and 49 grs IMR 4350. I use the 49 grs IMR 4350, CCI 250 primer in a Rem case with the 117 Sierra Pro Hunter FB bullet OAL 3.150 which is a bit off the lands but it really shoots there, one hole groups at 100 yards and 3/4" at 300 yards. I average 3000 fps from my Shilen SS 26" barrel. When you put one of these bullets into a shoulder of a deer it drops it in it's tracks 99.9% of the time.

I have experimented with many bullets in the 25-06 and I found that the 120 Speer Grand Slam bullet is a little too tough for the 100 to 150 lb class deer. It would be my choice for BIG deer or elk.

bubbinator · « **Reply #21 on:** May 28, 2010, 08:17:37 PM »

My Rem 700 25-06 loves Nosler Ballistic Tip 100gr. bullets. Worked up the load in 1981 when I got the gun and been using it ever since. Can't remember how many deer I killed with it, I do remember none walked away! I tried Federal 117s and WW 120s w/o enough success to continue. Shoots +/- 3200 fps with groups under an inch @ 100 yds. Good luck, that is a great caliber for deer and varmints. (Note: not much bigger to hunt in AL)

the jigger · « **Reply #22 on:** May 29, 2010, 05:00:46 AM »

Since I posted earlier in this thread I have compleated my development with the 110gr Accubond.
I was not surprised to find that my best result was with IMR4831. My Vanguard shoots the Accubonds into more than acceptable
groups.Because of the cost of this bullet and the fact that the rifle is a sporter weight I shoot 3 shot groups.
Group #1 .613
Group #2 .626
Group #3 .598
All groups were shot at 100yds and the rifle was allowed to cool between groups. This load was chronographed at 3006fps avg. for five shots.
GOOD LUCK and GOOD SHOOTING!!!

bubbinator · « **Reply #23 on:** June 06, 2010, 09:06:33 PM »

The IMR 4831 powder was what I used also.

bubba · « **Reply #24 on:** August 04, 2010, 06:28:54 PM »

my encore standard 24 inch barrel loves 115 grain nosler partitions with 52 grains of IMR 4831 with cci primers and winchester brass. Deadly on deer

RWK · « **Reply #25 on:** August 04, 2010, 06:42:27 PM »

A freind of mine shoots 110gr. accubonds, they shoot fantastic and do the job on deer size game.

poncaguy · « **Reply #26 on:** August 12, 2010, 04:47:10 PM »

I've found the 25-06 the most difficult to find the right ammo for. I got a new Marlin XL7 25-06 and it wouldn't do better than 2", then I tried some handloads I hade made up in the past and it shot 3/4". Now, I have to find what my reload was..ha

Lloyd Smale · « **Reply #27 on:** August 23, 2010, 03:44:22 AM »

I agree totaly. We to do crop damage shooting and probably use the 2506 and 257 weatherby more then anything. Weve used about every bullet made for the .25s and have about settled on the 117 sierra flat based spitzer. Pushed by 52 grains of 4831 short cut theres not a one of our 2506s that dont produce great accuracy. I also agree that the premium bullets like the grandslams and partitions and the bonded core bullets are a bit tough and dont drop them in there tracks like the sierras. Shooting crop damage deer dropping them in there tracks is more important then bruising a couple lbs of meat.

Quote from: shot1 on May 18, 2010, 12:56:53 PM

My hunting buddy and I have killed more deer with a 25-06 than a lot of people have ever seen. My buddy worked as a control hunter for over 25 years and I helped him for 15 of those years. We had to kill 100 deer a year off this big farm in NC. We shot deer with about everything from a bow through a 45-70. We both love the 25-06 and it is our main deer killer. For the deer size your are talking about 100 to 117 gr bullets are the ticket. We both have settled on the 117 gr Sierra. I shoot the flat base because my rifle does not like BT bullets. The two most accurate loads we have found with the 117 gr Sierra are 52 grs H-4831 and 49 grs IMR 4350. I use the 49 grs IMR 4350, CCI 250 primer in a Rem case with the 117 Sierra Pro Hunter FB bullet OAL 3.150 which is a bit off the lands but it really shoots there, one hole groups at 100 yards and 3/4" at 300 yards. I average 3000 fps from my Shilen SS 26" barrel. When you put one of these bullets into a shoulder of a deer it drops it in it's tracks 99.9% of the time.

I have experimented with many bullets in the 25-06 and I found that the 120 Speer Grand Slam bullet is a little too tough for the 100 to 150 lb class deer. It would be my choice for BIG deer or elk.

charles p · « **Reply #28 on:** September 13, 2010, 06:39:49 AM »

My 25-06 is an old Browning BBR from the first year of issue. It's taken a boat load of whitetails. I once took two doe with one shot using Hornaday 120 spire point. At the range, it shoots 100's slightly better but the deer drop where they stand from the 120's.

pozoutdoors · « **Reply #29 on:** September 13, 2010, 06:47:18 PM »

I shoot a factory tc encore barrel. The only bullet I have shot though it is the 85gr BT. I have shot 1" groups with it at 200 yds. I have shot lots of does here in Iowa and a big buck and doe in Missouri. This is my go-to gun and load for our doe season here in iowa.