Rl-23 25-06

[lee31]

Just curious if anyone has tried this combo l. I did last week and had some good results. Ended up settling on 55 grains with a 215m and 115 Bergers. Went up to 55.5 but started to get slight ejector marks on cases. Shot a .288 3 shot group at 100. The 3 shots were 3260 3272 and 3284 through the chrono. Not great but I hardly ever shoot this rifle past 600 yards. I also shot 3 3 shot groups at 500 yards with it they averaged around 2 inches,with the smallest being 1.75. Rifle is a Savage 112 FVSS with a bedded Boyd's tactical stock.

 

[WildRose]

I'm not surprised. My early results using RL23 in the .260 are extremely encouraging.

 

[lee31]

I'm not surprised. My early results using RL23 in the .260 are extremely encouraging.

When I picked it up I thought it would be about perfect for the 25-06. I have been using N-160 but I think I'm gonna stick with the RL-23 for a while. I really haven't heard of many people trying it in their 25's so I thought I would share my experiences.

 

[Dosh]

31, very nice groups. RL-23 looks like a winner. We've had similar groups with Retumbo in a couple 25-06's, but may give the RL-23 a try since Retumbo can be a little bitchey when increasing load too much.

 

[AKGuide]

I am just finishing up some workups using IMR7977 in the same rifle in a boyds thumbhole. Figured slower powder was the way to go with the 26" tube. With virgin Norma brass, CCI BR-2's, 115VLD's jammed 0.005" and 59 grains of IMR7977 my rifle averaged 3257 over 12 shots. I dropped the charge to 58.5 and averaged 3212 with a better SD while checking for better groups with OAL change. Going to try 0.005" jump to 0.020" jump in 0.005" increments as 0.015" looked really good with 2 @ 0.291" and a called pulled shot opening up to 0.685". Hoping this stuff is all it says it is. So far it does help with copper fouling just need to see if the loads stay safe when the weather warms up.

Reuben

 

[lee31]

31, very nice groups. RL-23 looks like a winner. We've had similar groups with Retumbo in a couple 25-06's, but may give the RL-23 a try since Retumbo can be a little bitchey when increasing load too much.

I used to shoot Retumbo through it I believe 58.5 grains. It's shot around 1/2moa at 3290fps. Then my buddies grandpa gave me 2lbs of N160 so I tried it and it works pretty dang good too around 1/2moa also. I also had some tiny groups at 100 with IMR 4350 but when I shot it at 500 it wasn't very good and I wasn't getting the speed I wanted. My rifle doesn't seem to be to picky even shoots 75 grain v max's into really small groups. I'm thinking for the 115's that RL23 is gonna be thee powder for me going forward though.

 

[lee31]

I am just finishing up some workups using IMR7977 in the same rifle in a boyds thumbhole. Figured slower powder was the way to go with the 26" tube. With virgin Norma brass, CCI BR-2's, 115VLD's jammed 0.005" and 59 grains of IMR7977 my rifle averaged 3257 over 12 shots. I dropped the charge to 58.5 and averaged 3212 with a better SD while checking for better groups with OAL change. Going to try 0.005" jump to 0.020" jump in 0.005" increments as 0.015" looked really good with 2 @ 0.291" and a called pulled shot opening up to 0.685". Hoping this stuff is all it says it is. So far it does help with copper fouling just need to see if the loads stay safe when the weather warms up.

Reuben

Cool I shoot mine right at COAL seems to preform the best there for me. I've never tried to jam them. Good luck my rifle shoots everything I throw at it pretty dang good it's the least fussy rifle I've ever owned. Everything from 75 grain VMax's to 115 VLD's

 

[cape cove]

Just curious if anyone has tried this combo l. I did last week and had some good results. Ended up settling on 55 grains with a 215m and 115 Bergers. Went up to 55.5 but started to get slight ejector marks on cases. Shot a .288 3 shot group at 100. The 3 shots were 3260 3272 and 3284 through the chrono. Not great but I hardly ever shoot this rifle past 600 yards. I also shot 3 3 shot groups at 500 yards with it they averaged around 2 inches,with the smallest being 1.75. Rifle is a Savage 112 FVSS with a bedded Boyd's tactical stock.

I would think that the vel you are getting is real good. In fact my 257 WM Vanguard (24" barrel) will only get about 100 ft/sec more that your 25/06 with the 115 Berger. I will give RL-23 a try in my 25/06 also. What length of barrel do you have on your 25/06.

 

[lee31]

I would think that the vel you are getting is real good. In fact my 257 WM Vanguard (24" barrel) will only get about 100 ft/sec more that your 25/06 with the 115 Berger. I will give RL-23 a try in my 25/06 also. What length of barrel do you have on your 25/06.

It has a 26 inch. I've hit over 3300 with 115s and Retumbo but the accuracy wasn't great

 

[cape cove]

Thanks. I've used Retumbo in mine with the Sierra 117 Gameking with good results, but not the kind of vel you are getting. I always figured I had a slow barrel, but a pretty accurate one. In mine IMR 4831 has always been a good powder combining decent vel with good accuracy.

 

[WildRose]

I used to shoot Retumbo through it I believe 58.5 grains. It's shot around 1/2moa at 3290fps. Then my buddies grandpa gave me 2lbs of N160 so I tried it and it works pretty dang good too around 1/2moa also. I also had some tiny groups at 100 with IMR 4350 but when I shot it at 500 it wasn't very good and I wasn't getting the speed I wanted. My rifle doesn't seem to be to picky even shoots 75 grain v max's into really small groups. I'm thinking for the 115's that RL23 is gonna be thee powder for me going forward though.

RL23 will probably give you a 100-150fps gain in velocity over H4350. I'm also finding it burns very cleanly and helps reduce copper fouling as well. It should be ideal for the 06 size case too.

 

[AKGuide]

Cool I shoot mine right at COAL seems to preform the best there for me. I've never tried to jam them. Good luck my rifle shoots everything I throw at it pretty dang good it's the least fussy rifle I've ever owned. Everything from 75 grain VMax's to 115 VLD's

Just finished up tests with different jumps and settled on 0.010" jump. This barrel is picky i guess.

 

[WildRose]

Just finished up tests with different jumps and settled on 0.010" jump. This barrel is picky i guess.

Pretty nice shooting there Reuben.

Is this rifle primarily a Caribou gun for you?

 

[AKGuide]

Yep mostly a caribou gun. Just about perfect for them thin skinned critters.

Reuben