25-06 120 gr speer BTSP

[West Calamus]

I have not shot the 120 Speer BT but have shot the old 120 Grand Slam and 49 grs IMR 4350 was a tack driver. It ran in the high 2900s fps out of my 26" barrel. This bullet would be the one that I would use if I ever went after elk with my 25-06 but feel it was a bit too tough of a bullet for the deer I was shooting with it. 117 Sierra Pro Hunters with the same charge of IMR 4350 is also a tack driver and is WICKED on deer.

Yea I really thinking of switching to the IMR 4350 since it worked so good on the 117 sst. The 120 grand slam and 120 speer are a similar constructed bullet.

 

[Raudy707]

Yes the grand slams are pretty tough for deer. I think the 117 Hornady Interlock, Sierra 120 Match King and Speer BTSP are all good for deer but too soft for large muleys and elk. That's where the Barnes and Partition's have shined for me. Oh and the 110 Hornady Interbond is very good for large deer and bears. If either of the 4831's won't work try Reloder 22 or Reloder 16. Both will push bullets very fast and print little groups for me in certain rifles. Reloder 22 is temperature sensitive but that may not matter depending where you are.

 

[RCMSTER]

This 1" group came from my Winchester 70 in 25-06 and Hammer 116 grain sledgehammers. Considering they aren't suppose to shoot in a 1-10 twist, I'm happy. Load is federal 210 match primers, 54.5 grains of magpro, and seated to 3.050". I can't get nosler partitions to shoot worth a hoot out of this rifle, and it seems to me, I can't get any flat base bullet to shoot very good.

 

[doubledoc]

With Retumbo, My 24" Sako will nudge 3100 with the 120 NP. I plan on trying it with the 120 Speer BT also. I just started experimenting with 7977. Preliminary loads of around 57gr are 3000+ both in the Sako and my Kimber. I'll get back on here when the load development is completed... RL25 is next up.
Thanks everybody, for the data sharing.

 

[mpayne]

My old Rem 700 loves 59.5 Retunbo with the 115 Burger. Nothing at all has been done to this gun at all and with this load combo it's shooting in the .2s and my daughter is liking it also

 

[redneckdan]

120gr spbt speer, 52gr H4831, running 3050 out of a 26" barrel.

 

[West Calamus]

"Wow" didn't realize so many of us shot that old outdated 25-06 cartridge!!!! A lot of good useful info posted. mpayne that is a nice buck your daughter got in the rocks. Redneckdan, if I could get your velocity and grouping I would be a smiling and start fine tuning the next rifle up. Looks like you have her sighted in for 200 yards dead on.

 

[redneckdan]

"Wow" didn't realize so many of us shot that old outdated 25-06 cartridge!!!! A lot of good useful info posted. mpayne that is a nice buck your daughter got in the rocks. Redneckdan, if I could get your velocity and grouping I would be a smiling and start fine tuning the next rifle up. Looks like you have her sighted in for 200 yards dead on.

I decided to try the .25-06 since I had a bunch of .270 brass with nothing to shoot it in and it was available in the 700 LR. So far I like it.

Supose to be 300 yds dead on, havent shot it much to say for sure. I might go back to a 100yds zero and dial every shot. Once the access road to the range melts out I need to work with it more.

I heard the 25-06 likes to be run hard so I loaded up 3rd round groups increasing in charge to check for pressure and used them for break in. Once I hit book max I started testing for accuracy. Mine likes .010 off the lands.

I'm tempted to try the 8133 powder to pick up an extra 200fps, if the powder ever becomes available.

 

[Glenn Tullius]

Anyone having any luck getting 120 gr. Speer BTSP to group out of there 25-06. If so what is your powder, velocity and jump. Can get the 117 gr sst and 100gr varmitier to shoot good groups but not the 120's. 24 inch barrel. Thx for any helpful input in advance.

I know this isn't exactly the same, but I am having excellent accuracy with those 120 Speers in my 6.5 PRC with 53 grains of Accurate Arms 4350. They are holding a solid 1/2 moa at 300 yards! One day last week I shot a .25 ctc group at 100 yards with my new CA Ridgeline! Good luck!

 

[Raudy707]

Seems sacrilegious to sight in a 25-06 at 100 yds, but if you dial your scope I get it. I'm sighted in 1.3 inches high at 100 hitting dead on at 200. That is an awesome group with the Speer bullets. Mine likes a number of different bullets so I'm very lucky. These are 115 Ballistic Silvertip CT over 53.1 grains of H4831. 3160 fps. 26 bbl

 

[Glenn Tullius]

Seems sacrilegious to sight in a 25-06 at 100 yds, but if you dial your scope I get it. I'm sighted in 1.3 inches high at 100 hitting dead on at 200. That is an awesome group with the Speer bullets. Mine likes a number of different bullets so I'm very lucky. These are 115 Ballistic Silvertip CT over 53.1 grains of H4831. 3160 fps. 26 bbl

I was actually still doing the CA recommended barrel break in prodcedure, and when I did zero for 200, they were just like yours, just over a inch high at 100. I snagged 3 boxes of Nosler 125 partitions for $50 at a gun show that wasn't canceled yesterday. Going to shoot some this week.

 

[Ol' Red]

I've had great luck with H4831 SC and Speer 120's. Also played around with Hornady and Sierra 120's. Someday I'll try a different powder, but they all average under .5 MOA at 100 yards.

 

[fmuguira]

I ve always had good velocity and accuracy in 06 based cases with IMR4831. 270, 30-06, 280. Would think it d do nice in the 25-06 or 6.5-06 also.

Believe it or not Nosler shows Retumbo performing very well with 25-06 and heavier bullets.

 

[RCMSTER]

I found 2 loadings I did with speer 120 btsp's. One load with 49.0 grains of R-17 yielded a 5/8" grouping @ 100, and also 48.5 grains of R-17 gave me a 3/4" group @ 100. Both seated to an OAL of 3.160". I also did a load of 50.0 grains of 4831SC with speer 120's and best I could do was a group of .875. My Winchester 70 is nothing special at all. Changed out the trigger spring, pillar bedded the stock, and floated the barrel. I also have a Ruger no 1AH in 25-06, and it is a way different animal from my Winchester. Seems like what one shoots good, the other shoots mediocre at best.

My Winchester will shoot the hornady 117 interlocks into a 3/8-1/2 " all day, but after shooting them into milk jugs and seeing them come completely apart, decided the heck with them.