Are cci br2 primers a bad choice with Retumbo?

[jaycoux]

Hi all,

New to this forum. I am loading 25-06 with Berger 115 vld's. I did everything I was told on this site as far as getting the right seating depth and so on.

My rifle likes (doing ocw test at 100 yards) 59.6 grains retumbo and a jump of 0.09. Accuracy has been pretty good at 0.4" to 0.5" but I am having a difficult time getting the velocity to be consistent. All of my ocw charges were all over the place, in some cases 90 fps between 3 shots. I also tried HSM's loading of the berger 115's and they vary by about 50 fps.

Chrono is an oehler 35-P. I did my test in mild conditions, temp was about 50 but very humid. Charges were weighed on 2 separate scales-RCBS chargemaster, then on a regular balance scale. All brass was virgin Nosler Custom neck sized on a redding competition die.

I realize these variations are not such a problem at 100 yards but at 600 it will be a different story. Do you think it's my choice of primer (cci br2)? Perhaps the primer isn't hot enough with a slow burner like retumbo? I was thinking of going to WLR primers, then maybe a magnum primer like a cci 250. Should I back off my load more than 1 grain when switching to WLR? I would probably start from scratch if I had to go to a magnum primer.

Any thoughts or advice?

jay

 

[Firecat]

I'm in no way an expert on the matter however, I will give you some ideas. I would not hesitate to try different powders. It is amazing just how different your results can be. I would also consider trying some different primers if you have them available. If going to a Magnum Primer from a standard, I would back off the load at least one to one and a half grains. The 25-06 does like slow burning powders but Retumbo may be just a little too slow. I would try something in the 4831 or R19 range. They are slow but not as slow as the Retumbo.

 

[TORCHRIDER]

My .25-06 shot decently with 115 grainers, Retumbo and magnum primers. However, when I switched to H4831SC and normal primers my groups tightened up considerably and became much more consistent. Each rifle is different, but a slightly faster powder improved things for me. H4831SC is my heavy bullet favorite in the .25-06. H4350 works amazingly with the lighter bullets.

 

[SBruce]

I am also thinking that Retumbo is maybe a little too slow for the 25-06.

I used 4831 in mine with very good results (115 -117 bullets), but even 4831 was a little too slow for 85 grain bullets in mine (26" barrel too).

Don't be afraid to try 4831, it's been the "go to" powder for 25-06 for many years.

 

[jaycoux]

I also tried imr 4350 with similar results. I have 4831 on hand so I may try that. I am definitely trying wlr primers.

 

[roninflag]

i would try 210m primers with your retumbo load and wlrm. and then i would try 4831.

 

[johnnyk]

I got an average velocity of 3044 fps and accuracy at .390" with the 115gn Bergers pushed by 51.0gn of RL22 and 9.5M (OAL: 2.7730"). Rifle was the SF Sendero. JohnnyK.

 

[smoked]

i just test fired some rounds with rl-22 and rl-25 all with br-2 primers and 30 deg when fired from a 695 tikka 25-06 22 inch barrel, some of this is book but most is over use with caution,


115 gr nosler RL-22
52gr -3040-3027
52.3gr-3065-3089
52.5gr-3071-3088
52.7gr-3096-3109
52.9gr-3093-3094
53.1gr-3115-3100

115gr nosler rl-25
56gr-3024-3012
56.2gr-3029-3016
56.5gr-3028-3040
56.8gr-3054-3054
57gr 3 shots- 3075-3083-3080

120 sierra bt rl-25 br-2
58gr-3084-3069-3065 note the 3084 was on the high side of the scale

 

[Nomosendero]

My best results in the 25-06 has been CCI250 mag primers & RL25. You may want to try the primers first, back off the charge a little & work up.

 

[Hollywood]

I shoot BR2 primers and H4831sc in a 25-06 sendero with 115 gr ballistic tips with one hole groups. I tried all sorts of powders with that combo and could not get under .75 but when I tried the H4831 it all my test loads were tighter than that try
51.5gr or 52 of the H4831sc. gun)

 

[RT2506]

I have owned a number of 25-06s and have found that with 24" barrels 52 grs H4831, CCI-BR2, 117 Sierra in Rem cases is a shooter and deer killer par-excellence. With 26" barrels 49 grs IMR or AA 4350 with CCI 250 Mag primers, 117 Sierra, Rem case does the same. Both will average 3000 fps or so. I too think Retumbo may be just a touch too slow burning especially with a 22" barrel in a 25-06. I would take a loooooog look at one of the 4350s if I were you.

 

[bkondeff]

I shot the 115 berger in my Tikka 22" and tried like heck to make the Retumbo work, since I had a bunch. Ultimately it was IMR 4831 that worked best. 52 grains behind Fed210. After a couple of bad experiences with the berger on 3 deer, I tried 100 gr tsx and 110 accubonds. Again, after trying r15, r17, r19, r22, imr4350, and Retumbo, I found that 4831 was the best for both. All loads are sub-moa past 200 yards, with some groups down into the .3-.5 range. Velocity on 51.0 grains pushing the 110 accubond ~3020, which is a little slow.

 

[Mikecr]

All brass was virgin Nosler

You'd immediately reduce ES by using fireformed brass over new.