When I decided to buy a rifle the supplement my meager two rifle stable, I opted for the 25-06. I had a 30-06 and a 22-250 so my thought was to buy something as a crossover. Use it for deer and varmints.
When I first acquired the 25-06 a very good friend from Kansas told me, based on his life long experience with his multiple 25-06, to shot a Sierra 117-120 grain bullet with
H-4831. Being on a life style budget, low income and three kids, I tried some yard sale 87 grain Hornady bullets and a powder other than H-4831. Group looked like a shotgun group. My friend chewed my butt for wasting time on a loading that didn't work.
I went to the Sierra manual, picked a middle of the road load using H-4831 and 117 grain GameKings. Looking through my scope as I was shooting the group, I was really unhappy because only one shot was on the paper at a hundred yards. When I finished the string I walked down to the target and got the surprise of the year. That group was a measured, outside to outside, .367. I didn't realize at that time in my shooting that you measured center to center. I am, as someone else said, of the opinion, Isn't broken, don't fix it.
The rifle I was using was a used Ruger 77 with the tang safety of unknown round count. I did glass bed it and free float the barrel. I was using a Leupold 12 power scope with adjustable objective. I loaded those rounds, and continue to do so, with standard old RCBS dies. I still have the rifle and it still shoots itty, bitty groups.
There are other powders out there that are probably as good a choice as H-4831 but I really don't have any interest in trying to find a different load.
It has been my experience with Barnes bullets that bullet seating depth is really finicky. Once you find the correct COAL they will shoot. Factory seating may not be the best for your rifle.