.25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

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.25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by solarpak » 03 Aug 2019, 9:41 pm

Currently shooting a batch of .25-05 hand-loads i bought with a previous Rem 700 through my Tikka T3. Shoot adequately for hunting deer out to 300-m but will be looking at tailoring the next lot to the T3 seating the projectiles ~ 30 thou off the lands (as a staring point)

Just need to see what projectiles other 25-06 hand-loaders are using in the 117-120 gr weight. I know Sierra have the Game King / Pro Hunter and Speer the Grand Slam Soft Point , as Hornady a 117 gr SP............anything else recommended???

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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by juano86 » 05 Aug 2019, 8:21 am

I was running Barnes 100gr TSX's and the 117gr hornady SST's out of my .25-06 both grouped really well. the Barnes are a good thing on deer / goats / pigs.
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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by straightshooter » 05 Aug 2019, 9:13 am

I am using up my stock of 100gn Nosler Partition bullets and when they are gone then I will use up my stock of 115gn Nosler Partition bullets.
The 100 grainers shoot about 1.5 moa groups out of a custom barrel but I don't see that as a problem as most game doesn't care if it is shot by a 0.5 moa rifle or a 1.5 moa rifle. All that is required is that your group is correctly centered on the vertical axis of your scope and your zero is selected for the most beneficially flat trajectory. A 100 gn projectile seems to occupy a sweet spot as far as the 25-06's trajectory and MV are concerned.
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What benefits do you expect to gain from seating 30 thou off the lands?
Smooth and reliable feeding is far more important in a hunting rifle.
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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by Member-Deleted » 05 Aug 2019, 11:21 am

As straightshooter has said I found that my 25-06 had a sweet spot with 100 - 105gr projectiles I used to shoot wild cattle with mine with good shot placement my rifle didn't like 110gr to 120gr it would need a different twist rate to do so on saying that I think a 100grainer would knock any deer that you want to shoot once you work up a load and get them going
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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by snag » 05 Aug 2019, 5:13 pm

My 25-06 also shoots best with 100 grainers. All I load now and cleans up red deer no problem at all.
The pen may be mightier than the sword, but personally I prefer the .30/30 Winchester.
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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by GQshayne » 05 Aug 2019, 7:28 pm

Interesting comments here. I have never had a 25-06, but always figured that projectiles bigger than 100 would be the best suited. I guess not!
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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by solarpak » 05 Aug 2019, 8:35 pm

Thanks to all thus far for the invaluable advice.

Regarding bullet seating depth, i intend to seat the projectile 30 thou of the lands to start with and see how this goes - I am taking this advice from a friend who hand-loads . He said some hand-loaders start with the bullet just touching the lands and work their way back.

That aside, the 117 or 120 gr will my preferred projectile - but do know that a lighter monolithic or a partition will also work.....

Thanks for the advice all - much appreciated.
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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by SCJ429 » 05 Aug 2019, 8:57 pm

straightshooter wrote:What benefits do you expect to gain from seating 30 thou off the lands?
Smooth and reliable feeding is far more important in a hunting rifle.


I think he wants to start there as it fits nicely in his magazine and it is a good place to start.
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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by madang55 » 30 Aug 2023, 8:58 pm

Been a while since the last reloading comments here. Have any of you guys used the 87gr Bertrams? Whats the go to powder for all projectile weights on the 25-06? I recently picked up a Howa with a Hogue rubber stock and replaced it with a Walnut. I think will do much better now.
Walnut.jpg
I replaced the rubber stock with a Walnut
Walnut.jpg (287.46 KiB) Viewed 944 times

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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by No1Mk3 » 30 Aug 2023, 9:11 pm

I use 2217, currently Hornady 117g A-Max
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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by deye243 » 30 Aug 2023, 10:14 pm

No1Mk3 wrote:I use 2217, currently Hornady 117g A-Max

Yep I still have a heap of 115 Berger vld loaded with 2217 very effective with the heavys .
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Re: .25-06 hunting loads with 117-120 gr projectile

Post by madang55 » 03 Sep 2023, 9:34 am

deye243 wrote:
No1Mk3 wrote:I use 2217, currently Hornady 117g A-Max

Yep I still have a heap of 115 Berger vld loaded with 2217 very effective with the heavys .

Yeah, but, has anyone used B E R T R A M projectiles?
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