25-06 | Low Pressure??

[68lemans462]

I went out and tested some loads today with a recently acquired 25-06 Sporterized Mauser. The cases are dirty well down past the neck (see picture).

Recipe:
Remington Brass, reloaded once and neck sized
CCI 200 Large Rifle Primer
Bullets: Sierra 90GR HP/Hornady 87 GR SP
Powder: IMR 4831.
I loaded samples with 51/52/53/54 grains with both bullets shown above.

Everything worked fine. Accuracy was disappointing, 1 1/2" at 100 yards. Are these cases trying to tell me something??

 

[rg1]

Does look like signs of low pressure. I get a little powder deposits on my 25-06 cases in a Remington Sendero 24" barrel at 54.9 grains of IMR 4831 with Hornady's 87 SP. Even at 54.9 grains it's a mild load. I use RP cases and RP 9 1/2 primers. CCI 200's in my experience are a little milder primer than RP or Win LR primers. I get around 3260 fps at 54.9 grains of IMR 4831 with the 87 Horn. SP in the 24" barrel which is 100-150 fps less than most published maximums. Also make sure your chamber is clean and dry. I do think the 25-06 tends to leave dirty cases worse than some other rifle calibers at least in my experience. I found my best load with the 87 SP's and played with seating oal's and found for some reason .030" off the rifling in my rifle shot the best groups? Definitely better groups at .030" from the rifling than 50-40-20 or 10 thousandths off the rifling with the powder charge that showed the most promise. Iv'e read a lot of info that says some 25-06 rifles prefer heavier weight bullets while some shoot lighter bullets better.

 

[68lemans462]

RG1, thanks for the input! Now on to the next question... What would you guys do to fix this? Different primer? Heavier powder load? Different powder? I plan to try heavier bullets as well but this is all I could find when I went to the store a couple months ago.... Thanks guys!

 

[Jcinnb]

All rifles are different, buy my Mauser converted to 25-06 does not do well with the smaller (shorter) bullets. I think it is a throat issue, but I don't know.

I would suggest some 100 and 110gr. You can get them online, no hazmat, so availability should not be a problem.

Good Luck.

 

[GooseGestapo]

For those bullet weights you'll be better served with IMR or H4350. I've had much better results with the slightly faster powder with the light bullets. You might even try IMR4064 or Varget for accuracy, but velocities will be about 100fps slower than the 4350's.

With 100gr bullets, H4350 will still be better than the "4831's". With 117-120's, you'll get real good results with the 4821, and you should try RL22 and RL25 for even better velocities, though perhaps not better accuracy.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

I agree 4350 is probably a better choice for your loads than 4831. About that brass, you said it's reloaded once and neck sized. The marks on that brass look like more than would be deposited by firing. They look old. Also, once fired in which rifle? If it wasn't your rifle you should full length size that brass before you start neck sizing only.

 

[gamestalker]

Those definitely appear to be low pressure loads. Are the primers backed out at all? usually primers will try to back out with an excessively low pressure load too.

GS

 

[243winxb]

You didn't say what the COL is. Full contact of the bullets bearing surface on the case neck may get a better burn. Dont seat the bullets long, trying to reach the rifling. Bullet jump is OK. Bullet base at the case neck/shoulder junction is best, if it works with your combinition of components.

 

[68lemans462]

Primers are not backed out at all... This brass I bought new and have fired only through this gun. I full length sized the first time of course. OAL was 3.14" on these... Cartridges were within spec, but I dont have numbers on 'em...

 

[Tolkachi Robotnik]

My 25-06 does better with heavier bullets.

You could try heavier bullets, or a little different powder. I agree with many of the above that say try slightly faster powders until you get to the heavier bullets for 25-06. I do not use the same powder for the smaller bullets in my rifle, but have not settled on any one powder for 75 grain only because none have impressed me to date. I have not investigated this enough to decide I cannot get good accuracy, but have not found anything to recommend to date in smaller bullets.

My specimen does best with 117 and 120 grain bullets. If used for deer this is best size anyway.

Most all lighter fodder I have made or bought as factory loads have not been as accurate as the heavier bullets.

You will get some bullet jump regardless with the lighter bullets.

If I got 1.5 inches with the lighter bullets I would be happy enough. The bigger bullets will do better than that.

 

[SlowFuse]

Most all lighter fodder I have made or bought as factory loads have not been as accurate as the heavier bullets.

I agree with this, I only have 1 25-06 that shoots 75-85 gr projectiles well. The others prefer 100+ gr.