25/06 powder selections

So have a couple of hundred cases to anneal, prep and sort tonight, have a couple hundred 90gr Sierra gameking projectiles, a box of Swift Scirocco II still to play with.

The rifle is a Ruger M77 that was trued up by Harvey Westland many many moons ago, it then was suppressed by Robbie and in doing so had the barrel reduced to just a tad over 20 inches.

Looking through the Sierra load data that the hunting load is the Viht N150 @49.2 giving 3500 which is great, given i would expect to achieve less, but is no use to me for say the 100 or should i look to go to the 117gr / 120gr range

However IMR4831 has a bit off application over a wider range of projectiles, has anyone else used this as a go to for the 25/06 over a number of projectile weights?

I found the light Sierras flew to bits and caused flesh wounds on big game. IMR4831 is a good choice with light projectiles. The 110 AB is the best big game bullet I have used. 4831 would be ok with heavier bullets but other slower powders would be better.

Personally Id go a heavier projectile with a high BC, and a slower powder
Like 130 - 140 Gr and 2217/ Reloder 22

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Originally Posted by Bos

Personally Id go a heavier projectile with a high BC, and a slower powder
Like 130 - 140 Gr and 2217/ Reloder 22

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sorry probably didn't make it clear, ive just under 200 90gr HPBT Gamekings and just under 100 Bonded 100gr Scirocco's with a shortened barrel, 4 inches shorter, with a 1/10 twist so im trying to make it work with what i have. also can you tell me what brand your using and your rate of twist on your rifle to help stabilise those rounds?

@Moa Hunter thanks the 90gr would not be for what i would call big game, but i did see that sierra did give their "hunting load" with IMR 4831 achieving 3100 in the 117 - 120 range?

I use Reloader 22 56 grs 120 speer btsp (about the best for BC) in 21.5" barrel. Does around the 3000fps at reasonable pressures.

big pills (110 - 120gn) and slow burn powders (2217, RL22,23 or 25, N560 etc) are the way to go with the 1/4 bore on bigger game.

I wouldn't use the sierra 117's if that is what you were thinking. If you already have the IMR 4831 and a short barrel then staying with the 100gr scirocco projectiles or a Barnes would be the best option.
The guys getting really high velocity in 2506 use 26" barrels and slower powder like N560 and RL22.

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Originally Posted by Moa Hunter

I wouldn't use the sierra 117's if that is what you were thinking. If you already have the IMR 4831 and a short barrel then staying with the 100gr scirocco projectiles or a Barnes would be the best option.
The guys getting really high velocity in 2506 use 26" barrels and slower powder like N560 and RL22.

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@Moa Hunter yeah i think i am rather limited in going heavy given the reduction in barrel length, (regretting that modification a tad, but still) and yes i was thinking of barnes later, but i would be curious what @Bundook are you able to achieve in accuracy, i don't need cloverleaf (happy to achieve though!) but i would like to place shots where i would like them to go!

I get fantastic groups but I shoot a Blaser R93 and its boring to develop loads for my barrels (25-06 and 8x57) as they both shoot so good. A good problem to have :).

AR2213sc works just great... same rifle as yours... still working on accuracy
use your 100grn for big game and keep your 90s for everything else.
we decided after much head scratching to just use factory 117 grn federal for deer...and reload for everything else.... cant see an issue with that choice yet.

Now that you have fucked a perfectly good 25/06 by making it a shortarse, pop the barrel back off and turn it into a .257 Roberts, you get similar performance, use less powder, get rid of some recoil and a shitload of noise - no downside really.

I love 25/06, in a 24" barrel...........

thought for the day........ we have seen huge amount of barrels chopped in last few years...and folks are starting to question wisdom of doing so....I wonder if circumcision's will undergo same critique ????

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

thought for the day........ we have seen huge amount of barrels chopped in last few years...and folks are starting to question wisdom of doing so....I wonder if circumcision's will undergo same critique ????

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@Micky Duck - Not letting you stand anywhere close to me ever again, the trust is gone...... keep your hands where I can see em bud! Fitting a metal detector in my gate now........

I've been a great believer in long case, long barrel particularly in 'overbore' cartridges like 2506, 270, 257 Weatherby etc. The 308 case is great for chopping but 20 inch 2506, 270's etc i dont get it.

Any .257 cal projectiles under 100 grains are varmit pills regardless of make at 06 speeds. Given the short tube I’d use 2209 but imr4831 should be ok if you have it. I’m guessing 3200 fps to 3300 fps should be pretty doable.

Used to use 52g 2213 in my tikka with the 110 AB, never put it over a chrony but it was an awesome little round.

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Originally Posted by nor-west

I've been a great believer in long case, long barrel particularly in 'overbore' cartridges like 2506, 270, 257 Weatherby etc. The 308 case is great for chopping but 20 inch 2506, 270's etc i dont get it.

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in the 80s and early 90s the manufactures were MAKING them that length.....eg my model 70 lightweight poohseventy left factory at 21" as did many many others.... heck fellas on this forum are chopping magnums..... funny really...or not depending how you look at it... gunsmiths and chop shops will be rubbing their hands together,they get $$$$$ anywhich way you alter rifle...and possibly 2nd suck of tit when it onsells and new owner wants to change it again.

You've got to cart them around. 20 inches with a suppressor on it is long enough for me. Animals don't seem to know much about ballistics and still fall over.

Many moons ago reloaded a couple 25-06s. 2209 was a great powder - 50gn hot load - and 100gn Hornadys. Shot a fantastic stag up the Crow River with it. I had one of the Browning A-Bolts with the parallel bolt flutes.

Thanks all for the comments regarding powder options, ive annealed a couple hundred cases, trimmed to length, Sinclair vld chamfered, debured flash holes, prepped primer pockets, had a hunt around in man cave and even found a pretty much ful tub of H4831 and about 40% of AR2213sc so i will use that to test for the 90’s and 100’s

Might even get either some ‘N560 or Re-22’ given i “found” some spare powder, thank you @Puffin

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Originally Posted by Tertle

Thanks all for the comments regarding powder options, ive annealed a couple hundred cases, trimmed to length, Sinclair vld chamfered, debured flash holes, prepped primer pockets, had a hunt around in man cave and even found a pretty much ful tub of H4831 and about 40% of AR2213sc so i will use that to test for the 90’s and 100’s

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The 2213 is ok but wont be as good as IMR 4831
Out of nine powders tested by a friend 2213 gave the lowest velocities with 110 AB's - 56gr 3143. I have used it to fireform AI cases 55 gr behind a 110 AB = 3000 fps
In 2506 AI 58gr IMR 4831 and a 100gr bullet = 3441 fps ( 26" barrel)
In my friends tests N560 and RL 22 were excellent - 3300 and 3308 fps with 110 AB

Imr4831 or H4831, because my reloading books give rather different load data and ranges

IMR 4831 ( Note, in an AI ). If H4831 were used I would write 2213 to avoid confusion.

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Originally Posted by Tertle

Imr4831 or H4831, because my reloading books give rather different load data and ranges

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yes AND no..... depends on loads ,projectile weights and where you getting data from... if you are a couple of grains below maximum for the hogdgon version you be close to max for the IMR version.... so if unsure as to which it is...find load that is safe in either....
well thats what I decided after looking and looking in poohseventy data....for my 140grn loads it looks to be fine either way.
my rifle happily sits 2-3grns ABOVE book max so Ive got wiggle room.

A few mentions of RE22 as a good option here, but I caution against it. I used it in my .25-06 with a variety of pills including: 100 and 115 NBT, 110 Accubond, 115 VLD and 117 SST. It’s a good powder and gives high velocity, but is very temperature sensitive. I can’t remember the numbers, but I did velocity tests at a variety of temps in the US when I bought a chono and the range was huge.

The best powder I used in my 25-06 was N160 it used to be real cheap and great powder.
I'm sure there are better ones now I would try RL26.

Sent from my CPH1903 using Tapatalk

My friend who did a big comparison test found N160 was better than RL26 which was surprising. Personally if the OP has IMR 4831 and some donated N160 I think he is in good shape.

Of the five 25-06 rifles I load for, all with various 100 grain pills 1 likes Reloader 17 and Nosler Partitions at 3200 fps. Two favour Reloader 22 at 3171 fps (24") and 3273 fps (26") with Sierra GK. The other two like Reloader 23, both are 24" and both shoot at 3150fps with Sierra Pro Hunter and GKs.

Greetings All,
Just a note to clear up any confusion.
H4831 is the version offered by Hodgdon now manufactured by ADI.
AR2213 was made by ADI only for the Australian market from around 1985 to 2000. This is faster than H4831. AR2213 is not H4831.
IMR4831 was originally made by Dupont and marketed from around 1974. IMR 4831 is faster than either of the above powders.
AR2213SC Is made by ADI for Hodgdons as H4831SC and also sold direct by ADI. AR2213SC and H4831SC are reported to be the same speed as H4831.
Can we all please be careful to identify the exact powder we are talking about as there are three different powders all with different speeds, plus the difference in lots.
Regards Grandpamac.

Thinking on it. N560 can be a bit temp sensitive, if I had a 25-06 again I'd be keen to try RE26... goes great in the 280AI.

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Originally Posted by grandpamac

Greetings All,
Just a note to clear up any confusion.
H4831 is the version offered by Hodgdon now manufactured by ADI.
AR2213 was made by ADI only for the Australian market from around 1985 to 2000. This is faster than H4831. AR2213 is not H4831.
IMR4831 was originally made by Dupont and marketed from around 1974. IMR 4831 is faster than either of the above powders.
AR2213SC Is made by ADI for Hodgdons as H4831SC and also sold direct by ADI. AR2213SC and H4831SC are reported to be the same speed as H4831.
Can we all please be careful to identify the exact powder we are talking about as there are three different powders all with different speeds, plus the difference in lots.
Regards Grandpamac.

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Personally I think that because the OP has IMR 4831 and has shortened his barrel it would be a good choice. Agree faster than H4831. IMR stands for improved military rifle and military 4831 was available from after WW11, the Dupont being slightly different again adds more to the wise advice to start low.