.25-06 Bullet Weights

[madmike]

I have a Mule Deer tag for Colorado this fall after 14 years of waiting and applying. I plan on taking my .25-06. I have a 100 gr. load that I have used for years that is dropping about 3.5" @ 300 yards and if I'm on is giving me <2.5" groups at 300 yards. I want to go up to the Nosler 115gr Partitions to give alittle more bullet weight. Anyone have a good load for this round using IMR 4831? My thinking is I'm not dropping very much and I'd feel better with a little more weight and bullet length on this hunt.

 

[6mm Remington]

You didn't say what kind of bullet you were using right now, but if it's something like the 100 gr. Nosler Partition you would be fine. That's great accuracy and it's probably smoking right along. IMR4831 would be a good powder for the 115 or 120 gr. Partition. I load a 120 gr. Partition in my wife's 25-06 that has a 22" barrel. Her load is 49.0 grs. of IMR4350 and the 120 gr. Partition. It chronogh's right at 3000 fps. Either of those bullets would work fantastic as would the 110 gr. Nosler Accubond. It's a really tough bullet.

H4831SC and H4350 would be worth considering also. Hard to beat less than a 3" group at 300 yards though. If your bullets a good one, I might just stick with that. It's always fun to explore though! Good luck on your trip and your load work.
David

 

[bluedunn0]

I have shot three elk with 115 partitions, 49 gr IMR 4350. All three have dropped in their tracks. All shots between 100 and 200 yards. Hard to beat in my opinion.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

There is a good thread on 25-06 reloading in the catagory. Go back to "Guns, Muzzleloaders, etc" and scroll to the next to the last item.

 

[Drhorsepower]

Like what 6mm said, if it's a good bullet, I wouldn't hesitate with a 100gr bullet. I "harvested" my first couple deer with 100 gr rem soft points out of a .243. It was plenty for the job.

 

[6mm Remington]

I have shot three elk with 115 partitions, 49 gr IMR 4350. All three have dropped in their tracks. All shots between 100 and 200 yards. Hard to beat in my opinion.

Boys first elk and first hunt of any kind ever and he shot his cow at 250 yards with my wife's 25-06 and ONE 120 gr. Nosler Partition behind 49.0 grs. of IMR4350. She was quartered away and he hit her perfectly on the left side where shown and it "exited" tight behind her right shoulder. She went 40 yards and dropped. That's his father and my son in the picture with them. A good 100 gr. will work just perfectly though too!
David

 

[BobT]

I am shooting the 115 grain Ballistic tip ahead of 50 grains of IMR 4350 in Norma brass with federal 210 primers. I got a little better accuracy from the 4350 than IMR 4831. I would think the load would work pretty well with the Partition too, just work up carefully if you use it. It is perfectly safe in my rifle but is a grain over the publish max load (Nosler data). I can look up my notes on IMR 4831 if you would like the data I used, it was an accurate load too just slightly edged by the 4350 load.

I think you made an excellent choice of bullet Congrats on the tag!!!

Bob

 

[Rock 2.0]

Like what 6mm said, if it's a good bullet, I wouldn't hesitate with a 100gr bullet. I "harvested" my first couple deer with 100 gr rem soft points out of a .243. It was plenty for the job.

What Dr said. I have taken deer with both a 100gr bullet out my .243 and .250 savage with no problems whatsoever. Sounds lke you have a great load set up with that rifle, why change what works....

 

[HuskyMusky]

100gr Tipped-TSX is my suggestion


Almost no need for more than 100gr in a .25-06 if you ask me, sure if hunting elk, but a .25-06 isn't my elk rifle, we're talking antelope/mule deer.

 

[Timberstalker]

I've shot deer and elk with 100 gr in mine. For some reason my rifle loves the 100 gr bullet. I can get the 120gr to shoot good but not like 100 gr so thats what I lean toward. there is no need to go heavier than 100 gr for deer. The last animal I killed with it was my Bighorn, I used 110 gr Accu-bond, it did the job too.

 

[canvsbk]

I've had a couple different .25-06's before this current Ruger and they've all liked their very own loads. I find them to be a bit picky and all different.
I sure do like the 110 accubonds, accurate and as tough as partitions.

 

[mcseal2]

Maybe a 100gr partition or Swift scirocco II if they shoot well with your current powder. A neighbor gets good results with the 100gr Sierra also, but I'd prefer the tougher bullets in the 100gr weight. If you are used to your drop and drift holds with the current load it might be best to leave it alone.

Darn hard to argue with the guys suggesting the accubond if you change bullet weights though. I load them for a neighbor's 257 weatherby. They did a great job on the shoulders of his last buck at 80yds with a starting velocity of 3400fps. They have excellent toughness and terminal performance. I load accubonds in pretty much everything.

 

[Colorado Cowboy]

I've owned and shot 25-06's since before they were a factory load. I've shot over 50 deer and probably as many antelope with this caliber. Almost all were with Sierra 117 gr boattails. Never once have I experienced anything but great bullet performance from it. When I first started loading this in the early 60's, 120gr was as big as you could get. I like the Sierra because of the BT. Still shoot it today even tho I do shoot 100 gr Nosler ballistic tip in boattails for my antelope load now.

 

[Booner]

Sneak that little 100 grain bullet behind any deers shoulder and he will have trouble taking his last few steps if any. I used to shoot 115 grain nosler ballistic tips out of my dads old remington 700. I used 52 grains of imr 4831 and it was a really good load. I use 100 grain nosler ballistic tips in mine now with impressive performance.