25-06 120 gr speer BTSP

[Calvin45]

All I can say is those cheap and ugly Speer bullets are the projectile of choice in my old savage 99 .243. The tips can be visibly skewed or out of round and the accuracy department didn't get the memo I guess. Nothing shoots better than the 100 grain Speer btsp for handloading in that rifle. This has been with rl19 and imr 4350.

 

[RCMSTER]

I've had crap luck with R-19 in every rifle I've tried it in. Same with IMR 4064. I've given up on both of those powders. R-17 and H4831SC seem to be the 2 powders I can count on for most everything I shoot. For everything else I have, its A2520. It's just awesome stuff in my 338 RCM, 338 MX, and my 35 Whelen.

 

[Calvin45]

I've had crap luck with R-19 in every rifle I've tried it in. Same with IMR 4064. I've given up on both of those powders. R-17 and H4831SC seem to be the 2 powders I can count on for most everything I shoot. For everything else I have, its A2520. It's just awesome stuff in my 338 RCM, 338 MX, and my 35 Whelen.

That's surprising to me, not the rl 19 but the 4064 has sometimes been a "problem solver" in picky rifles (most notably an especially disagreeable 220 swift - shot like the laser it was meant to be at sub 1/2 moa only with 55 grain flat base bullets (any brand) and 4064, couldn't get under 2 moa with anything else. Crazy.

 

[RCMSTER]

Perhaps it's the calibers I've tried them in. 2 different 25-06's, 257 Robert's, 35 Whelen, and 375 ruger. Seems with 4064, I get a weird flier in every, or almost every 3 shot group. I'd really like to blame shooter malfunction, but the fliers seem to disappear with a powder change. Beats me what's going on.

 

[GLTaylor]

Nomosendero,
I have a 25-06 AI and a 25-284 i want to try R-25 in with 121gr Hammers. Anybody got any starting load recommendations?
Thanks all

 

[West Calamus]

I've had crap luck with R-19 in every rifle I've tried it in. Same with IMR 4064. I've given up on both of those powders. R-17 and H4831SC seem to be the 2 powders I can count on for most everything I shoot. For everything else I have, its A2520. It's just awesome stuff in my 338 RCM, 338 MX, and my 35 Whelen.

The only bullet rifle combination I found that IMR4064 work great in was 55 gr. Nosler bal tips in a 243 running at a tad over 3800 fps with really good grouping. Has not worked in any other loads for me.

 

[redneckdan]

I've had good luck accuracy wise with 4064 in 168 or 175 smk loads in the 308 and a 69smk load in the .223. Picture is 20rds of 69 smks @ 200yds. Vertical is from verifying dope. Leftward thrown shots are from my poor technique.

Also used in in 375 H&H for close range black bear load No real claim to accuracy there, zeroed the Irons at 100yds and let 'er buck.

 

[Raudy707]

Nomosendero,
I have a 25-06 AI and a 25-284 i want to try R-25 in with 121gr Hammers. Anybody got any starting load recommendations?
Thanks all

I have a 257 AI but not a 25-06. I've read a ton of literature on AI's and own a 280 AI as well. My understanding is take the highest load data for the 25-06 in the 120 grain bullet and start reloading from there. So for RL 25 start at 53 grains and work up. You might get to 57 or 58 grains before you see excessive pressure signs in the AI. Good luck. Just talked with my buddy who has a 25-06 AI. He uses 59.3 grains of RL 25 for the 115 Bergers. Shoots really good and beats my 25-06 by 150 fps. He gets 3350 with that load. 30-06 Lapua brass necked down and fire formed. He has a long tube 27 or 28 inches.

 

[GLTaylor]

Thanks Raudy! Will start tomorrow, weather permitting

 

[35 Whelen]

My brother had a Ruger #1 in 25-06. I loaded some 120gr. Speer's for him with IMR 7828, I don't remember what powder charge now. I never saw his groups, but he said they shot very well. He shot several deer with them, with good performance.

I've had crap luck with R-19 in every rifle I've tried it in. Same with IMR 4064. I've given up on both of those powders. R-17 and H4831SC seem to be the 2 powders I can count on for most everything I shoot. For everything else I have, its A2520. It's just awesome stuff in my 338 RCM, 338 MX, and my 35 Whelen.

I load Nosler 225gr. partions and accubonds with IMR4064 with very good accuracy out of two 35 Whelens. The partions shoot the best with all most same hole, the accubonds group is slightly bigger but all bullet holes still touching. I'm using57.1gr powder charge, more than that and the group starts opening up a little bigger.

 

[RCMSTER]

Well 35whelen, perhaps it's just the bullets I'm using. In my 35 whelen, I loaded 180 grain speer flat points, and then 203 grain sledgehammers. With 4064, I'd get 2 of 3 shots that were 5/8-3/4" apart, and 1 of 3 shots that were 2-3 inches away. That was with almost every group. I switched to A2520, and almost every group with both bullets were <1" with 3 of 3 shots. The rifle is an H & R heavy barrel single shot. Laugh if you want, but them rifles will shoot very well. I'd like to blame shooter(me), but when I switched to A2520, the fliers disappeared. It was the same story with my 375 ruger. Using 235 grain spears, 2 of 3 were <1" and 1 of 3 was a flier. Switch to H100V or R-15, and the fliers disappeared. Only conclusion I can come to, is the powder just isn't working.

 

[Nomosendero]

I have a 257 AI but not a 25-06. I've read a ton of literature on AI's and own a 280 AI as well. My understanding is take the highest load data for the 25-06 in the 120 grain bullet and start reloading from there. So for RL 25 start at 53 grains and work up. You might get to 57 or 58 grains before you see excessive pressure signs in the AI. Good luck. Just talked with my buddy who has a 25-06 AI. He uses 59.3 grains of RL 25 for the 115 Bergers. Shoots really good and beats my 25-06 by 150 fps. He gets 3350 with that load. 30-06 Lapua brass necked down and fire formed. He has a long tube 27 or 28 inches.

That's pretty close to my results, I am loading only "slightly" hotter, but every rifle has it's own personality, please work up!

 

[Double Dropper]

RETUMBO under 115 and 110 grain Nosler bullets (59.0 grs) has been excellent and very consistent, never tried 120 grains but....

 

[35 Whelen]

Well 35whelen, perhaps it's just the bullets I'm using. In my 35 whelen, I loaded 180 grain speer flat points, and then 203 grain sledgehammers. With 4064, I'd get 2 of 3 shots that were 5/8-3/4" apart, and 1 of 3 shots that were 2-3 inches away. That was with almost every group. I switched to A2520, and almost every group with both bullets were <1" with 3 of 3 shots. The rifle is an H & R heavy barrel single shot. Laugh if you want, but them rifles will shoot very well. I'd like to blame shooter(me), but when I switched to A2520, the fliers disappeared. It was the same story with my 375 ruger. Using 235 grain spears, 2 of 3 were <1" and 1 of 3 was a flier. Switch to H100V or R-15, and the fliers disappeared. Only conclusion I can come to, is the powder just isn't working.

Each rifle, bullet, powder combination can be very different. The main thing is we both found loads that work for us. I all so have a third 35 Whelen, it is a H & R , I think it is same as yours. Grate little rifle. The only load I have shot in it so far is Speer 220gr. with RL-15, shoots it very accurate.