25-06 Reminigton info please

[Land Rover]

Hi Guys, with the help of my gunsmith I have converted a P17 (M17) action to a 25 06 Remington. The top of the action has been machined flat and Leupold Duel Dovetail mounts with a Leupold VX1 4x12x40 Scope. 25" barrel re-crowned and blued, timney trigger, a hand made Walnut stock with a Anshutz type check rest and a Harris bi-pod. It still has the six shot magazine. I am looking for any comments or load data or suggested projectiles etc Basically any info anyone has to share about this cartridge. It is not a popular round here in New Zealand but from what I have read it will handle any of the game we have. I also want to compete in the local deer stalkers association range shoots.
I am wanting a Varmint round and a deer round. I already have 87gr Sierra Varmints, 90 gr Sierra Blitzkings, 90 gr Sierra Gamekings and 100gr and 117gr Sierra ProHunters. These are what I load and shoot with my .303-25 so it would be good to use them in my 25-06.
I am keen on Long range varminting for Bunnies as we have heaps of them where I live and hunting Ferral Goats, Pigs and deer- Fallow and Reds.
Any info would be much appreciated. Cheers Land Rover gun)

 

[mrbigtexan]

i am having good luck with 120 gr speers and h1000

 

[johnnyk]

My current load is the 115gn Berger Hunting VLD, pushed by 54.0gn of RL22, lit by the CCI BR2 and rolled up in Remington cases. This load produces under 1/2 MOA all the way out to 900yds, which is as far and I have tried it. It is leaving my Sendero's 26" barrel at an average speed of 3104fps. This thing is a "death-ray" for anything in its path! Love the .25-06. JohnnyK.

 

[Clay Target Guy]

I am running Winchester LR primers 53.5 gr (max book load) of IMR 4831 pushing a Nosler BT right at 3300 FPS (hope to double check FPS this weekend). I have not played with seating depths yet but right now I am touching the lands and getting .46 groups.
This is out of a Rem 700 with a 24" barrel.

 

[RT2506]

I have been a 25-06 man for a Looooooooog time. Here is what I have found to work in most 25-06 rifles.
Work up to these loads.
This is the load that I use in my current rifle for white tail deer.
With 117 Sierra Pro hunter. 49 grs IMR 4350, Remington case, CCI 250 mag primer, from my 26" Shilen barrel it does 3000 fps.

This load shoots great in most 25-06s and is the one that I would try first.
With 117 Sierra Pro hunter. 52 grs H-4831, Remington case, CCI BR-2 primer.
It does not get much much better as WT deer killing loads than these. BANG FLOP.

For 100 gr Sierra Game Kings 52 grs IMR 4350 has always shot well.

This is my varmint load for ground hogs/wood chucks.
For 87 gr Sierra 52.2 grs IMR 4350, Remington case, CCI 250 mag primer, this does 3400 fps from my 26" barrel.
This load will scatter pieces and red mist most varmints it hits.

I have found that most Sierra bullets shoot pretty well about 20 thousands off the lands.

I think you will fall in love with your 25-06 once you start shooting game with it. I have killed hundreds of WT deer with this caliber. I used to do crop damage control on a big farm in North Carolina USA. I shot deer with most calibers between 22 lr up to 45-70 and the 25-06 is the pic of the litter. 99% of the time a deer drops in it's tracks. Good luck and good shooting.

 

[jkupper]

I bought a 25-06 for my wife several years ago, and the gun is a killer. She has taken several whitetail deer and mule deer with the gun out to 250 yards. I am loading the 115 gr ballistic silver tips for those purposes.

For varmints she is shooting the 75 gr V-max.

I wish I could help you out a bit more with your load question, but I just wanted to let you know that you are going to love the gun! Happy hunting!

 

[MudRunner2005]

You could always ream that chamber out to .25-06 A.I. and get near .257 Wby Mag velocities out of a standard case. Sure, the A.I. makes it a little more difficult to load for, since it requires 1 extra step (fire-forming the brass). But from the results I am convinced that it will be worth it, especially since you can load and shoot regular cheap .25-06 Rem shells into it, and when you fire it, out comes a perfectly formed .25-06 A.I. brass. Which would be the best and easiest route to go.

 

[Clay Target Guy]

I am running Winchester LR primers 53.5 gr (max book load) of IMR 4831 pushing a Nosler BT right at 3300 FPS (hope to double check FPS this weekend). I have not played with seating depths yet but right now I am touching the lands and getting .46 groups.
This is out of a Rem 700 with a 24" barrel.

Should have said that I am shooting 100 gr Nosler BT.

 

[flashhole]

What is your barrel twist? If 1:14 you might have accuracy issues with the heavier bullets. If 1:10 you should be able to shoot most anyting. My Ruger #1V with the heavy bull barrel is 1:10 twist and is a joy to shoot. Great cartridge.

For bullets lighter than 100 grains I use H4831 (great 87 grain bullet combo).

For bullets 100 grains and heavier I use Retumbo (great 115 grain BT combo).

 

[beretzs]

My 25-06 really isn't "mine". It is the wife's. So far, I have used 115 BT's with RL25, excellent speed and accuracy. Pretty easy to touch on 3200 with that load and it seemed to come together real quick.

Next load, was a milder shooting load with RL19 using a 115 PT. I wanted something zipping along at 3000FPS with good accuracy. So far, that one is probably my favorite, low recoil and pretty good ballistics.

The final load I have for the rifle is the 120 A-Frame, using RL22. This load runs 3140 out of her Model 70 and stacks them. Really a great load and kinda intended for her to use when she hunts elk with me. She wouldn't be shooting overly far with them, probably around 300 yards max, but it seems like the 25-06 is very easy to load for and very easy on the shooter. I am actually thinking of giving it a shot on deer this Fall if my wife lets me carry it.

 

[MontanaRifleman]

Rl17 pushing 115 CT's produced 3400 fps in a Sendero. I think it would make a great deer and varmint load.

 

[Land Rover]

What is your barrel twist? If 1:14 you might have accuracy issues with the heavier bullets. If 1:10 you should be able to shoot most anyting. My Ruger #1V with the heavy bull barrel is 1:10 twist and is a joy to shoot. Great cartridge.

For bullets lighter than 100 grains I use H4831 (great 87 grain bullet combo).

For bullets 100 grains and heavier I use Retumbo (great 115 grain BT combo).

Hi Flashhole, My barrel twist is about 1:11 - 1:12.( I need to do another check)
I tried some factory Federal 117gr sp and I managed three shots in 14mm but groups after that started to spread a bit. Two close shots then the third a flyer 1 1/2 inch group. I am hoping handloads with a bit more speed may stabilise the 117gr projectiles better in my slower twist barrel. I expect the 90gr and 100gr to do better. Just waiting for my dies to arrive.

 

[Land Rover]

I have been a 25-06 man for a Looooooooog time. Here is what I have found to work in most 25-06 rifles.
Work up to these loads.
This is the load that I use in my current rifle for white tail deer.
With 117 Sierra Pro hunter. 49 grs IMR 4350, Remington case, CCI 250 mag primer, from my 26" Shilen barrel it does 3000 fps.

This load shoots great in most 25-06s and is the one that I would try first.
With 117 Sierra Pro hunter. 52 grs H-4831, Remington case, CCI BR-2 primer.
It does not get much much better as WT deer killing loads than these. BANG FLOP.

For 100 gr Sierra Game Kings 52 grs IMR 4350 has always shot well.

This is my varmint load for ground hogs/wood chucks.
For 87 gr Sierra 52.2 grs IMR 4350, Remington case, CCI 250 mag primer, this does 3400 fps from my 26" barrel.
This load will scatter pieces and red mist most varmints it hits.

I have found that most Sierra bullets shoot pretty well about 20 thousands off the lands.

I think you will fall in love with your 25-06 once you start shooting game with it. I have killed hundreds of WT deer with this caliber. I used to do crop damage control on a big farm in North Carolina USA. I shot deer with most calibers between 22 lr up to 45-70 and the 25-06 is the pic of the litter. 99% of the time a deer drops in it's tracks. Good luck and good shooting.

Thanks RT2506, I have printed a conversion chart for powders as I have ADI powders. There should be ones that are close to yours for me to try.

 

[Nomosendero]

Rl17 pushing 115 CT's produced 3400 fps in a Sendero. I think it would make a great deer and varmint load.

That's factory .257 Wea. speed with a 115BT!! Makes me wonder what my 25-06AI Sendero can do!