25-06 120 gr speer BTSP

[West Calamus]

Anyone having any luck getting 120 gr. Speer BTSP to group out of there 25-06. If so what is your powder, velocity and jump. Can get the 117 gr sst and 100gr varmitier to shoot good groups but not the 120's. 24 inch barrel. Thx for any helpful input in advance.

 

[Catahoula]

I have a LOT of experience with the 25-06. Killed everything from p-dogs to a B&C bison with one. Probably 80% of my elk have been killed with a 25-06 and 100 grain partitions. For 90-120 grainers I use IMR 4831. For everything lighter I go to H 414. I'm wanting to try some of the new Enduron powders but have'nt yet. R 22, R 19, IMR 7977, H 4831, and either 4356 should work out. Hope this helps! Let us know.
Thanks, Kirk

 

[Nomosendero]

I have achieved very good velocities with RL25 with bullets of 115gr & heavier. I will try RL25 next which should be very slightly better.

 

[Raudy707]

Have (5) 25-06 in my family and they all shoot very well with IMR4831 or H4831. 50 grains of IMR and 52 of Hodgdon. Always 120 grain bullets. Speer have been very good for all deer and hogs a few bear. Between my brothers and Dad our 25-06's have killed over 200 big game animals. Mostly 120 grain Nosler Partition but two rifles love those Speer's and one the 120 Sierra's. Good luck. Winchester brass, CCI 200 primers. SAAMI length.

 

[Nomosendero]

Raudy, those 120 grain Partitions have been very decisive for me!

 

[Raudy707]

Recovered like 3 in my life. The partitions just keep going and going and going. Shot a hog in the forehead one time at 227 yds and recovered it in the hip. Drove straight line and broke like 6 vertebrae in it's path. Sometimes I think the low BC and sectional density just don't matter. Bullet design is of more importance.

 

[YZ-80]

I run 115 Noslers in mine on top of 51.0 grains of IMR 4831. Can also use the 117 Sierra with this charge. .5 MOA all day. Have used 100 grain Speers in the .243 with good results but I stocked up on the Noslers and Sierras a while back and don't need to add any more pills for this gun!

 

[DocDoc]

The usual 1/10 twist can be marginally stable with 120 grain bullets. The Berger twist gives 1.32 for their 115 grain at 3000 fps in .257.

 

[YZ-80]

Sounds like somebody needs a Sherman!

 

[Raudy707]

Docdoc you are right but I think it's probably that low stability at 0 elevation. I'm running this bullet right now on the west coast at 900 feet elev and they are shooting just fine. I'm at 3200 fps so mine might be closer to 1.40 but the 25-06 with a 26" bbl can achieve these velocities. Most people probably will be at 3000 feet plus elevation and they will be 1.48 to 1.5 and considered stable at that point. I shot yesterday at 1005 yds and my Ruger No. 1 registered 2 hits out of 3 on a 12"x12" plate. I blew the wind call on the first shot and missed 6 inches right. But the stability and BC has not been an issue. You might be right about the 120 grain bullets being an issue but I know the 120 partition and Speer are both bullets with lead tips and are shorter than the 115 Berger so I'm not sure why. Maybe it's the boattail on the Speer. Or maybe his rifle just doesn't like them? He didn't state his twist rate or powder so maybe those are factors. We need more info. I attached a picture of left to right Berger 115, Nosler Partition 120 and Speer 120 boattail for some comparisons.

 

[West Calamus]

The rifle is a 1:10 twist, the S.G. on the 120 speer boat tail is 1.81. No key holing evident. Running 50.2 gr. of IMR 4831 with a velocity of 2870. Feel like the velocity is low according to published load data. The 117 sst are running at 3050 with IMR 4350. Did find throat erosion (probably from when I ran a 7mm-08 down the pipe of the 25-06, yea I know poor safety protocol). Any way next loads will be 50.6 imr at .015 jump so I have a new COL. Thx for input.

 

[cape cove]

I've had a few 25/06's and with 100-120 gr bullets as others have mentioned IMR 4831 has been real good for velocity and accuracy. In one I owned Norma MRP was great also.

 

[RT2506]

I have not shot the 120 Speer BT but have shot the old 120 Grand Slam and 49 grs IMR 4350 was a tack driver. It ran in the high 2900s fps out of my 26" barrel. This bullet would be the one that I would use if I ever went after elk with my 25-06 but feel it was a bit too tough of a bullet for the deer I was shooting with it. 117 Sierra Pro Hunters with the same charge of IMR 4350 is also a tack driver and is WICKED on deer.

 

[West Calamus]

I do like the idea of going to the accubonds on those big Sandhill bucks I hunt (field dress at 220 to a tad under 300lbs. Last year hit one with a eld-x at 270 yrds front on slightly quartering in the shoulder and bullet came apart but luckily a fragment took off the top quarter of the heart with no lung damage evident and no fragments found. Most of my shots in that country will be 250 to 400 yards so the accubounds ought to work well. Only drawback is it will double the cost per round reloading especially with the #'s I shoot with all my rifles/year. I'm just a poor country boy. Thx again everybody.