.25-06AI

[Prairie Traveler]

This may have been asked before, if so I can't find the link: has anyone re-chambered a .25-06 Rem to .25-06 AI? How did it turn out? I'd like to do one on a commercial Mauser, or maybe a Howa.

 

[horsey300]

This may have been asked before, if so I can't find the link: has anyone re-chambered a .25-06 Rem to .25-06 AI? How did it turn out? I'd like to do one on a commercial Mauser, or maybe a Howa.

The ONLY benefit I see on this one would be sizing brass/case life, and I'm a big ai fan! If it were the ol .250-3000, plenty of reason to ai it! At this point I don't see a big increase in speed, a light decrease in barrel life (which is already not stellar), and more powder consumed per firing.
That being said, if this barrel had a fast twist, the ai concept might be beneficial with the 130ish bullets available (looking at ace and blackjack).
If brass sizing/life alone is worth it for you, then that's all that matters, go for it!

 

[sage5907]

I had a 25-06 improved built on a FN Mauser DeLuxe action with a 27 inch medium weight #3 barrel. I remember firing 25 consecutive shots at a 100 yard target and 24 of the shots were in a quarter size group with one shot about an inch out of the group. Maybe it was the cold bore shot. I was loading really heavy with IMR 4831 powder with 120 grain bullets and the load was really hard on cases especially the case necks. It would burn holes in the necks and I had a lot of split necks. Case life was three or four shots. So, I would not recommend the improved version over the standard 25-06 chamber. The 25-06 is already an overbored cartridge and with new powders like Reloader 22 it is really an efficient cartridge with long case life. I now have two standard 25-06 rifles and I wouldn't do the improved version again. My favorite load is with 51 grains of Reloader 22 with the Sierra 117 GameKing bullet. 55 grains of Reloader 22 give a case fill of 98% with a Berger 115 grain bullet. The case capacity of the standard version is large and powders like Reloader 22 and Reloader 25 fill a larger portion of the case capacity so I can see no advantage to getting the improved version.

 

[MachIVshooter]

I would tend to agree with @sage5907. The round is quite overbore and capable of very high velocity in its standard form. I never felt the need to AI mine, 120s @ 3,100 from a 24" tube is plenty fast.

 

[sage5907]

I would tend to agree with @sage5907. The round is quite overbore and capable of very high velocity in its standard form. I never felt the need to AI mine, 120s @ 3,100 from a 24" tube is plenty fast.

Yes, I've shot a many 117 and 120 grain bullets with 56 grains of Reloader 25. I have always thought of it as being the "velocity king" of the 25-06.