Question for 25-06 reloaders
 

I'm new to reloading the 25-06 rem. I fact I'm so new that the redding dies haven't arrived yet! I've got 75 gr. & 87 gr. bullets coming also. I'm wondering what powder(s) produce the highest velocities from a 24" barrel? Which bullets / weights are likely to give the best accuracies? I'm not new to reloading, and I'm not about to just load something because someone said .... I'll start low and work my way up. I'm just interested in powder / bullet combinations that others have had good success with to shorten my learning curve. I just purchased a new browning A-Bolt.

Just so some of you feel a little more comfortable about sharing some info: I've been loading for 8 years now and have worked up some really accurate loads in 204 ruger, 225 win., 22-250, 270 win., 7mm-08, 30-30, and 30-06.

I'd appreciate hearing from you 25-06ers.

Thanks

The 25 is my favorite. I have had very good results with this combo in all of my 25's. I like H4831SC and Nosler bullets. I load 55grains of powder with the 100gr ballistic tip and this load does awesome. It is not only my target load for this gun it also is my hunting load as well. I've played with a lot of different powders and bullets over the years but this one just seems to hold true. Good luck with the 25, it is a great round!

onetohunt, Thanks for the reply. That's just the type of info I'm looking for. Anyone else got a pet load they're willing to share?

I have had my .25-06 shoot very good groups with 87 gr HP bullets, but have settled on the 100 gr Nosler BT for a hunting bullet.
The most consistent accurate load in my rifle uses IMR 4350 to push the bullet over my chronograph at just over 3,100 fps with a small shot-to-shot variation that is somewhere around 11 - 15 fps for 5 shot strings. Group size with this load is a bit under .75". Hotter loads have produced higher SDs and more inconsistent groups for me.

H4831 is a classic powder for the 25-06....

In my 25-06 it was accurate with both 100 grain and 115-120 grain bullets, however I got more instant kills with the 100 grain.. The Nosler BT in this weight is an excellent deer bullet.. I no longer have my 25-06 and never tried the Barnes TSX when I had it, but I suspect that the 100 grain TSX would work well also, and probably be less destructive to the eatin' meat...

I run 75gr Hdy HPs with Varget---I really like those 75s as just a general purpose bullet; I bought a bunch when they were $13 a box. So far they will work from paper to deer. For heavier bullets I run some varget or h4831 but mostly just RL22. I'm liking the 115gr NBTs and have had great groups from sierra 117gr btsps and others.

As a rule of thumb, my A-Bolt 25-06 prefers heavier bullets and slower burning powder like H4831 or RE22. With lighter bullets you may want a faster burning powder.

I use 75gr V-Max and imr 4831, fast and accurate:party0005:

117 gr. hornady sst -41.5 gr. IMR4064
75 gr, hornady v-max - 41 gr varget

50 grains of IMR 4350 behind Hornady 117 grain BTSPs is getting me under 3/4 MOA at about 3000 FPS and they have been deadly on antelope in my Ruger M77.