25-06 AI Build

[gerpwaller]

Hey guys,

I'm new to the world of custom rifles and have a few questions for those more experienced. I've wanted a 25-06 for years as the round has intrigued me for a long time. I've also always been intrigued by the work of P. O. Ackley and always thought it would be neat to have an AI rifle so I'm killing 2 bird with 1 stone and building a Tikka t3 in 25-06 AI. With the new blackjack 131 ace I'm looking to do a 1-7.5" twist barrel in a magnum profile or a heavy magnum fluted barrel (same weight after fluting). The question I have is regarding the reamer. Miles from black jack has stated that anything between 0.130-0.170" free bore should be fine. When ordering a reamer from PTG they ask you to specify how much free bore you want them to build the reamer for. Given that how much free bore do you guys feel would be optimum for this rifle. I'm also open to input on how many grooves I should get the rifling done in and why? Also, is it worth the $200 or so to get the heavy magnum barrel fluted vs just going with the standard magnum profile? My overall plan for the rifle is to get the action trued, get a JC Custom barrel (I have one on a target 260 and it's fantastic plus I'm Canadian and like supporting local when I can), bed it in a greyboe Terrain stock with an AICS style bottom metal and a Leupold VX-5 3-15 optic with CDS. This will primarily be a hunting rifle that I will also use to practice long range target shooting as far as I am able to find. Any input is appreciated, I've been following the forums on this site for a few years now and have found a lot of useful and interesting information here.

 

[L.Sherm]

I would get some bullets and seat them at the neck shoulder junction send a dummy round to JGS or Manson for a reamer.
Next I would make sure the C.O.A.L is not over 3.390 a tikka max box is 3.4 if I'm not mistaken and a im not sure that may be on the outside.

 

[jasonco]

Welcome to the "257 Fast Twist Cadre"! Now that I'v a "mild" 25 Creed, time get a fast one, gonna see how your 25-06AI turns out?!

Haven't made a choice just yet?

 

[newmexkid]

I have a feeling that 25-06AI will create a monster with the BJ 131 gr. bullets.

 

[Deleted member 103481]

I would get some bullets and seat them at the neck shoulder junction send a dummy round to JGS or Manson for a reamer.
Next I would make sure the C.O.A.L is not over 3.390 a tikka max box is 3.4 if I'm not mistaken and a im not sure that may be on the outside.

Do this.

If you email Manson he's gonna tell you to do this.

Example, the last time I emailed Manson asking about a reamer

...I suggest you make up one or two dummy rounds--prepared exactly as you intend to shoot them--and send them to us for measurement. Yours may be similar to others we've done in the past, or it may be a bit different. Whatever the case, we'll generate a set of proposed reamer/chamber dimensions for your review...

 

[ksshooter]

I bought a lightly used model 70 custom in 25-06AI on gunbroker a few years ago. Was told it is a shilen barrel. I assume it's a 10twist. I put a Mcmillan stock on it and now I have about $850 in it. I'm shooting 115 Berger vld. Will consistently put them well under a half MOA. You will love it!!! Would be happy to share the load if you are interested.

 

[lancetkenyon]

I ran a 28" 1:10" .25-06 for about 15 years. Built it specifically for antelope. Rebarreled it 2 years ago to .280AI....because I STILL have not drawn that AZ antelope tag in 25 years!

But I laid some mule deer down with it.
I was running a 115 Berger, because it was the best bullet at the time, and worked great in a 1:10" twist. I could push them at 3450fps. A 100 TTSX @ 3600+ also. Laser beam.

Well, now that the 131 Blackjack is out....I got the .25 itch again. Also, I have a spare Manners EH1 SA DBM stock....so I am currently building a 25SST to go in it! If it was a LA, I would build another .25-06AI with a fast twist.

Going to be a deer/antelope slaying machine!

 

[gerpwaller]

I would get some bullets and seat them at the neck shoulder junction send a dummy round to JGS or Manson for a reamer.
Next I would make sure the C.O.A.L is not over 3.390 a tikka max box is 3.4 if I'm not mistaken and a im not sure that may be on the outside.

I am planning on changing the bottom metal over to AICS style bottom metal which would allow me to go full length on the bullets. I have a Tikka T3 in 270 Win already and found that out while trying to develop a load for the Hornady eld-x bullets. I found either I couldn't seat them long enough to get acceptable accuracy or the barrel just doesn't spin them fast enough.

 

[gerpwaller]

Do this.

If you email Manson he's gonna tell you to do this.

Example, the last time I emailed Manson asking about a reamer

...I suggest you make up one or two dummy rounds--prepared exactly as you intend to shoot them--and send them to us for measurement. Yours may be similar to others we've done in the past, or it may be a bit different. Whatever the case, we'll generate a set of proposed reamer/chamber dimensions for your review...

The Challenge in this would be creating dummy rounds without having a chamber to fire form 25-06 brass into 25-06 AI brass wouldn't it? Would it not make more sense to have a reamer made to specs that will work and just go from there?

 

[gerpwaller]

I ran a 28" 1:10" .25-06 for about 15 years. Built it specifically for antelope. Rebarreled it 2 years ago to .280AI....because I STILL have not drawn that AZ antelope tag in 25 years!

But I laid some mule deer down with it.
I was running a 115 Berger, because it was the best bullet at the time, and worked great in a 1:10" twist. I could push them at 3450fps. A 100 TTSX @ 3600+ also. Laser beam.

Well, now that the 131 Blackjack is out....I got the .25 itch again. Also, I have a spare Manners EH1 SA DBM stock....so I am currently building a 25SST to go in it! If it was a LA, I would build another .25-06AI with a fast twist.

Going to be a deer/antelope slaying machine!

A 115 berger @3450 would be a great antelope bullet. I'm hoping for a good node anywhere from 3000-3200 fps with the black jack 131. I'm planning on trying H-1000 first and possible Rl-22 (I've had good results with it in my 270)

 

[gerpwaller]

I bought a lightly used model 70 custom in 25-06AI on gunbroker a few years ago. Was told it is a shilen barrel. I assume it's a 10twist. I put a Mcmillan stock on it and now I have about $850 in it. I'm shooting 115 Berger vld. Will consistently put them well under a half MOA. You will love it!!! Would be happy to share the load if you are interested.

Thanks, I'm hoping to use the Black jack 131gr bullets but if they don't pan out for some reason I'm keeping the berger or hornady eld-x as a back up.

 

[Deleted member 103481]

Good point, forgot you were looking for an improved reamer you don't have brass for. I imagine someone on here would send you a piece.

 

[L.Sherm]

The Challenge in this would be creating dummy rounds without having a chamber to fire form 25-06 brass into 25-06 AI brass wouldn't it? Would it not make more sense to have a reamer made to specs that will work and just go from there?

You dont need a AI case for a dummy round if your just moving the shoulder forward. Freebore and O.A.L will still be the same as a non- AI case.
I've did it several times.

 

[CUTTER1]

I have a 25-06AI I built several years ago for antelope and deer and its a10 twist. Runs about anything 100-120gr less than 1/2". Lent my reamer out and it came back toasted! Ordered a new reamer with a 0.175 freebore by mistake (was supposed to be 0.125) and its been in my tool chest for five years. A fellow shooter ordered an 8 twist 5R barrel and then chose to do a 10 twist and after having listened to him whine about it for 3 yrs I traded him an old Douglas 22 cal 14 twist. So this winter one of my farm shop projects will be to build an 8" twist AI.