I have been a 25-06 fan for 20 years and shot 30 plus whitetails with it. I have decided to build a 25-06ai! It is my first ai is there any tips or tricks I need to know for fire forming? Would you go with creme a wheat method or get a hornady hydro former or shot bullet to form case? Going with a Remington 700 trued action, Bartlien barrel, finished at 26". A lot of people hate the 10 twist. Would you go with a 8 or 9 twist? Berger twist calculator says a 9 twist for 110 accubond or 115 Berger would be ok, would a 8 twist hurt much. Are there going to be more bullets like blackjack 131 gr. Be produced? If so a 8 twist would be nice!!!!
25-06 ai
- Thread starter Rem81
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elkaholic
Well-Known Member
You can use c o w or just load and shoot with a bullet. I prefer jamming the bullet a little the first firing and keeping the load 4-5 grains below max.
There will no doubt be more high bc bullets before long so I would go with a faster twist.
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
I had a .25-06AI for years. Killed a lot of deer with it.
I had a 28" 1:10" and ran the 115 Bergers just fine @ 3450fps.
I now have a 25SST w. 26" 1:7.5" built to run the 131s. I can get 3250 pretty easily with H1000.
I am really hoping Berger jumps on the .257" heavy bandwagon. I think they would sell the heck out of a 130 Elite Hunter. Even if it was "only" a .650 G1 BC +/-. I hope they see they resurgence in the quarter bores that Blackjack has brought on and add another option to the high BC .257 bullet selection.
Blackjack suggests 1:7" for the 25CM, 25x47L, .250AI type of rounds capable of 2900-3000fps range.
1:7.5" for 3000-3300fps velocity range.
1:8" for 3300+fps due to rotational distortion.
I think the .25-06AI would be best served with a 1:7.5" to 1:8" twist rate. I think 3250-3350+ would be easily attainable with a 131 Blackjack.
I had a 28" 1:10" and ran the 115 Bergers just fine @ 3450fps.
I now have a 25SST w. 26" 1:7.5" built to run the 131s. I can get 3250 pretty easily with H1000.
I am really hoping Berger jumps on the .257" heavy bandwagon. I think they would sell the heck out of a 130 Elite Hunter. Even if it was "only" a .650 G1 BC +/-. I hope they see they resurgence in the quarter bores that Blackjack has brought on and add another option to the high BC .257 bullet selection.
Blackjack suggests 1:7" for the 25CM, 25x47L, .250AI type of rounds capable of 2900-3000fps range.
1:7.5" for 3000-3300fps velocity range.
1:8" for 3300+fps due to rotational distortion.
I think the .25-06AI would be best served with a 1:7.5" to 1:8" twist rate. I think 3250-3350+ would be easily attainable with a 131 Blackjack.
I inherited a 25-06AI over twenty years ago from my father. I have to agree with what Lance said, that it is a deer killing machine. He had the rifle built by Shilen and it is a 10 twist @ 24 inches long. Ive shot 90 grain Sierra BTHP's all the way up to the 120's and they all shoot great. I havent killed anything beyond about 400 yards with it, but it is a laser for sure. Im not sure if Hornady makes them anymore but their 100 grain interlock always seemed to shoot the tighest groups with devastating kills on whitetails. H4831 and N165 produced the highest velocity in my rifle. If I ever rebarrel it I will go with a quicker twist to utilize the newer high BC bullets that have become available.
flyinstroke
Well-Known Member
I just finished load development on my 25-06 AI with the 131 Black Jacks. I have a 7 twist 26 inch barrel on a Savage action. I am getting 3206 pretty easy out of the bullets so far. Havent shot anything with it yet.
Flyinstroke what powder are you using? I have a 25-06AI that shoots the 115 Berger great at 3350 FPS. But thinking of a rebarrel. Mine likes H1000. Just wish there were more high BC Bullets out. Or at least a hunting version from Blackjack.
cjhunts_alot
Well-Known Member
+1 more for a fast twist barrel and the 131 blackjack. Just run the numbers for it at 3200 vs the 115vld at 3350. It's not even close. The Blackjack bullet is outstanding.
Hammer makes a 128gr hunting bullet I believe.
lancetkenyon
Well-Known Member
RL23 will get you a bit better speeds over H1000 at slightly lower charge weights.
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
They make a 128 and also a 124
different profile and twist requirement
elkaholic
Well-Known Member
7.5 or even 7.25, especially if you are shooting at lower elevation
