Every had a bullet you just could not get to work?

[Peter M. Eick]

My nemesis is the sierra 90 grn BTHP in 25 caliber.

I have two 25-06's and this should be a great bullet for all around target shooting and varmint use. So, I have now tried 8 different powders, different seating lengths, different rifles and the best I can do is 2" patterns. The patterns are fairly uniform with no real grouping to them. So far I have done imr4350, retumbo, imr4831, imr4064, h4831sc, imr4895, MRP, imr4320, and H4831

Now, you might think it is the gun (or me) but with 100 grn Sierra BTHP's I get 3/4" groups. With 87 grn Spitzers I get 1" groups, 117 grn Sierra spire's do 1" or less.

So two guns, lots of different reloads and no joy. This is bad because I still have 300 bullets from the same lot.

The lesson I learned from this is to buy a 100 bullets and make sure they work first before you stock up on one bullet.

So, I am sure I am not the only one to find a bullet they just could not get to work. What was your solution to the problem?

 

[rcmodel]

Not exactly.

But I do have a 25-06 I built a year before it became a factory loaded caliber in 1969.

And it has always been a finicky eater, so I feel your pain.

When a 25-06 load is good, it is very good.
But the reverse is also true it seems.

rc

 

[BADUNAME37]

At least you have some that you KNOW WORK!

I once had two 220 Swift Rifles that I had to work up loads for. I tried about 29 different combinations, through two IDENTICAL rifles and I ended up finally SELLING BOTH RIFLES! That was the ONLY time I could not work up an accurate load, and I have worked up accurate loads for many rifles and many revolvers, semi-automatics, etc.

Be glad you have the 3/4" group - that is the one I would stick with!

 

[NCsmitty]

If you have truly given in to the notion that they will not work for you, I'm sure that someone will be willing to buy them from you.
It's hard to believe that you cannot get a Sierra brand bullet to work for you, but anything's possible.

Offer them on the ad section of THR, someone will want them.



NCsmitty

 

[R.W.Dale]

Yes

168 match .308" bthp bullets in 30/06

I've not had an 06 that would do much better than vomit these at the target and yet thes same guns would shoot like a house afire with SP hunting bullets.

 

[qajaq59]

Not quite. I had a cast bullet for my .308 that drove me up the walls for a long, long time until someone suggested a powder and a load that I had not thought of. I tried it and after some tweeking it now shoots pretty well. Maybe someone will have an idea that will help, so don't give up quite yet.

 

[Peter M. Eick]

Thanks guys. It is nice to hear that others have had these troubles.

My natural stubborn streak does not want me to admit defeat but I am really close to it. I can set good groups out of other bullets so I will just try different ones. It bothers me that I cannot get the BTHP to work out the 25-06 as I expected to use both rifles as long range shooters and the boat tail should have helped the ballistics.

I was thinking of calling Sierra and just see what they say. I have little to lose now.

 

[BADUNAME37]

Guns are just that way, perhaps that is part of the "mystique" that keeps us interested in continuing with them!

Like you say, you hate to give in to the bullets not working, I know just how you feel, I've been there many times myself, when I had to recognize that no matter what I do, this is just NOT going to WORK!

That exact bullet may work great in the gun that was made before yours, or even in the gun that was made right after yours. But, as we all know, every gun is different, even when they are "identical!"

I read your post and answered my own question!

 

[NCsmitty]

If you intend to persevere, I noticed that you have used mostly Hodgdon powders, IMR & H. I suggest some Alliant powders like Rel-22, it might make a difference.
I use Rel-22 in my 6.5x55 with good results, and have a good supply of Hodgdon and Alliant powders for my other endeavors.
It would seem that a mid-weight bullet like that would be ideal.



NCsmitty

 

[JimKirk]

I have had good results with Reloder 17 and some 87 gr bullets, not that it would be the answer to your problem. My Winchester M70 25/06 would not shoot Hornadys for crap... my A-Bolt 25/06 loves them. Who knows?

Jimmy K

 

[qajaq59]

I was thinking of calling Sierra and just see what they say. I have little to lose now.

I'd say that's very good idea!

 

[HankB]

Barnes X-Bullets and my .30/06 M70 are a bad combination. Good bullets (e.g., Nosler 180 BT, Sierra 168 MKG, Sierra 180 Spitzer flat base) are all good for sub-MOA groups.

When I tried them, Barnes X-Bullets delivered groups on the order of 4 MOA.

Typically, 3 or 4 would cluster in a tight group, but one or two fliers - which could occur anywhere in the string - would open the group up drastically. (They also fouled the bore something fierce.)

 

[Heavies]

I had very bad luck with Sierra's 150 grain gameking .30-06. Tried all kinds of powders seating depth, etc. Couldn't get them to shoot worth a squat. 2" at best at 100 and any further than that who know where those guys are headed.
I figured my rifle didn't like light bullets, so for a long time I didn't try anything lighter than 175's.
Boy was I wrong. Got some 155 amax's on sale at midway, and 3/4" at 100, 5 shots (Including a flier that busted up that group). That's with an initial charge of varget I pulled from the book.
Can't wait to see what it'll do with some tweeking.