The 25-06

[GooseGestapo]

The only problem with the Speer 120 BT is it ISNT a HotCor bullet.
They have the reputation of being "soft", and actual bc less than advertised.
I've used the 120gr "HotCor" in my .257wby and really liked them. Accurate and hold together.
For under 400yds I've never seen the boat-tail to be an advantage.
My favorite however is the Sierra 120gr GameKing.

 

[joed]

I have heard of Mod. 700 Varmint Specials in .25-06 but never saw one until now. They must be rare indeed.

I never really thought of it as rare but I guess it is. I remember looking in the Remington catalog a few years later and it was no longer cataloged in the VS.

 

[rizbunk77]

The only problem with the Speer 120 BT is it ISNT a HotCor bullet.
They have the reputation of being "soft", and actual bc less than advertised.
I've used the 120gr "HotCor" in my .257wby and really liked them. Accurate and hold together.
For under 400yds I've never seen the boat-tail to be an advantage.
My favorite however is the Sierra 120gr GameKing.

Do you mean 117 gr. Sierra Game King? or HP?

 

[GooseGestapo]

120gr GameKing is a hollow point. However, it has a substantially heavier jacket than the 117gr GK. It's a boattail, but doesn't expand as fast as the soft points.
I've recovered a few soft points (GK's) but never a GK Hollow Point. (.257", .270", .284", .308"
Never have experienced a core separation with a Sierra, either, though many report such.

 

[someguy2800]

120gr GameKing is a hollow point. However, it has a substantially heavier jacket than the 117gr GK. It's a boattail, but doesn't expand as fast as the soft points.
I've recovered a few soft points (GK's) but never a GK Hollow Point. (.257", .270", .284", .308"
Never have experienced a core separation with a Sierra, either, though many report such.

Good info, thanks for posting that.

 

[rizbunk77]

Years ago I was reloading for a 25-06 Ruger 26" barrel. With Nosler 75gr. pills was a real screamer.
What is up with all the twenty something powders from Alliant? There's 25-06 data from RL17 all the way up to RL 26. RL 22,23,25. Which one is best suited for 25-06?

 

[MachIVshooter]

Years ago I was reloading for a 25-06 Ruger 26" barrel. With Nosler 75gr. pills was a real screamer.
What is up with all the twenty something powders from Alliant? There's 25-06 data from RL17 all the way up to RL 26. RL 22,23,25. Which one is best suited for 25-06?

Unless you're running light bullets or a really long barrel, RL19 or RL22 are the best match. Faster for varmint bullets, or you could use the slow RL25 if your rifle has a 28" tube on it.

Powders with similar burn rates to IMR-4831 are really where it's at for 100-120 gr. bullets in 22"-26" barrels, ~120-133 on the chart:

http://www.wwpowder.com/PDF/Burn Rates - 2015-2016.pdf

It's a bit of an over bore cartridge with significant powder capacity, but the big magnum powders like RL25, H1000 or Retumbo are a bit on the slow side for any cartridge with a 50-60 gr. actual powder capacity. I use those in my .375 Ultra, which has charges near or sometimes over 100 grs.

 

[rizbunk77]

So RL19 for lighter bullets and RL22 for heavier bullets?

 

[joed]

So RL19 for lighter bullets and RL22 for heavier bullets?

I use RL19 for the 85 to 90 gr bullets. With a 24" barrel I see velocity just over 3600 fps. I have RL22 for the heavier bullets.

The RL powders are a big improvement over IMR 4350 and 4831.

 

[someguy2800]

I have great results from RL19. Never tried any of the slower reloader powders. My testing showed it to be faster and more accurate with 120's than H4831sc and also less temp sensitive in sub zero temps. I still load H4831sc with 87's as its more accurate in that loading at least in my sample of one.

 

[rizbunk77]

Finally found a 1 moa load for this Ruger Hawkeye:
110 accubond, 52 gr. IMR4831WLR primer New Win. brass.View attachment 780866 View attachment 780867
Earlier test loads went 1.5 moa.
Been windy!
Ruger factory spec is 95 in. lbs. on the front screw! My tool only goes to 65. works decent though...
This is a factory stock Hawkeye, only cleaned and run about 20rds through the pipe. Potential! I think it is shooting good enough for my needs.

 

[joed]

Nice looking rifle. What is the tab on the rear of the receiver?

 

[someguy2800]

Nice looking rifle. What is the tab on the rear of the receiver?

Bolt release

 

[joed]

Interesting bolt release, at least you don't have to look for it.

 

[rizbunk77]

Yeah it is even more imposing in person. Ruger built like tank.

 

[Zeke/PA]

Rug

I have tried many, many loads, but I always come back to the 117 gr. Sierra Gameking over a heavy charge of IMR4831 for 3,150 FPS from my 24" 700 BDL that'll put those loads sub-MOA with boring monotony.

Oh, forgot about the optics. Runnning a Leupold VX-III 4.5-14x, has always worked well for everything from long range praire dog shooting to dark timber elk hunts.

My .25-'06 is a Ruger # 1 Varminter and a real favorite. My hunting load for Whitetails is like yours, a 117gr. Sierra Gameking over 51 grs. of IMR 4831 with which my rifle shoots close to MIA. A few years back, I took a Whitetail buck at a measured 320 yds. ( golfer did it) and aimed at and hit the deer in the neck. Shot was taken on a pipeline from an ironing board rest and sand bags. I shot other bucks at long range but this was , by far, my longest shot. I love my Ruger #1's especially the .25-'06 .
Zeke

 

[22250Rem]

Some .25-06's (like my Ruger Mod. 77) prefer the heavier 115-120 gr. bullets and won't be as accurate with the lighter stuff. I finally gave up on lighter bullets and stuck with one 117 gr. load for everything in mine; as the load I use is the most accurate I've ever had for that gun. But I've seen .25-06's that were absolute tack drivers with light bullets....... go figure; perhaps it's a barrel thing. Going after woodchucks with a friend this summer and my .25-06 is one of the rifles that's gonna see some usage. Using the same 117 gr. Sierra Pro-Hunter with RL-22 load that I used on my longest Pronghorn Antelope ( about 325 yds.) . 117 grs. sounds like overkill on woodchucks but the name of the game is being able to hit them, AKA, Accuracy. Therefore; the most accurate load gets picked. Always wanted to use that rifle on 'chucks but never got around to it due to playing with other rifles, or because I was working too much. Now that I'm retired I can finally get a chance to see what that load will do varmint -wise. E.T.A.... And if it seems that I'm "overgunned" for woodchucks my buddy has talked about using his 257 Weatherby on 'em this summer, as his has never taken a woodchuck either. This ought to be fun, LOL.

 

[joed]

Living in OH most of my use is groundhogs. The 700 is on the second barrel, a Krieger. I had this rifle built by Kelbly, a benchrest builder near me. It will pretty much put bullets that weigh 85 to 90 gr into 1/2" if I'm up to it. My favorites are the Nosler 85 gr or the Sierra 90 gr BK. With a charge of RL19 I've seen 3625 fps.

It has done so well with the lighter bullets that I just haven't tried anything heavier yet. The original barrel shot all weights well and I have no reason to believe the new barrel would not do the same.

I've used all weights on groundhogs but prefer the lighter ones. The heavy bullets tend to make a mess while the lighter ones usually leave 1 hole. What I always liked about the light bullets was even though you can't see the hits you can hear them. It sounds like a board being slapped on water.

Maybe someday I'll start using this rifle for hunting larger game again.

 

[someguy2800]

Interesting bolt release, at least you don't have to look for it.

Its actually pretty standard on mauser pattern rifles. I think pretty much all the mauser military and commercial rifles were that way. Even Arisaka's were that way. Springfields and model 70's are different.