87 grain plinking loads in 25-06

[gr8ful]

Ok so I was thinking it would be great to have some quiet low powered loads for practice and small game hunting for my 25-06.  I have 500+ Speer 87 gr soft point bullets meant for 25-20.  I also found several loads for 30-06 and .308 using 110 gr bullets and Unique for 1100-1500 fps.  Does anyone have any experience with these type of loads in 25-06?

[keith44]

It's been 15 years since I stopped using my 25'06, but from my notes Speers 87 grain tnt hp launched by 13.5 grains of IMR's SR 4759 gave a velocity of 1,540 fps.  Accuracy from my Savage 110 was ok, but nothing to brag about.  Very destructive on anything smaller than a raccoon

[gr8ful]

I'm thinking pushing those little pills at around 1000 fps would be great for small game without being to destructive.  I loaded some .303 British rounds with 6 grains of Unique and a OO buckshot that thumped rabbits and squirrels and was nearly silent guieter than my Benjamin.  Just never tried it with a jacketed bullet.

[keith44]

as long as you're not sticking a bullet in the bore, go for it.  Velocities much below 1,200 fps from an '06 based cartridge just are not that interesting to me.

[Dee]

I started loading for the 25-06 in 1972, and have, off and on, been loading for it ever since. I have owned 7 rifles in that caliber, and they all shot very well. 4 shot match grade when I finished them. I have a lot of data for that cartridge, BUT! The slowest I have is 30 grains of Winchester 748 for a 90 grain gas checked cast bullet, at 2127fps.
The one thing one must first realize is the difference between case capacity, and case mouth diameter. In the 25-06, case pressure can zoom way high in certain circumstances. This load I gave you is safe with your intended 87 grain bullet, but the bullet was intended for a much slower cartridge. I suspect it will expand dramatically at the velocity I gave you. The 25-06 is what it is. One of the finest rounds ever developed, but it performs as intended. It is a premium race car with inherent accuracy at long range.

[keith44]

...
The 25-06 is what it is. One of the finest rounds ever developed, but it performs as intended. It is a premium race car with inherent accuracy at long range.

+1