25-06 Rem 115 Berger VLD's

[RT2506]

I have not tried the VLD's but with 117 Sierra pro hunters and 49 grs IMR 4350, Rem case, CCI 250 primer, OAL 3.150 I get 3050 fps from my 26" Shilen 1 in 10 twist and on a calm day 5 shot groups under 1 1/2" at 300 yards. This load will do a number on a deer out to around 600 yards as I have done so.

My buddy shoots a SS Sendero 25-06 and his load is 52 grs H-4831, Rem case, CCI-BR2, 117 Sierra game king. I am not sure on his OAL or velocity but I have seen him kill deer at some astounding ranges with it.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I shot the 117g Sierra gameking for a bit in my winchester model 70 sporter in 25-06. It was unreal accurate. So accurate in fact, its still my best 3 shot group to date at 100 yards .043".

Load was very similar to your guys.

53g H4831, win case, Fed 210, 3.150", 3035fps, 24".

Repeated the load the next day and it did a 3 shot .3". Shot a 5 shot group and it was .843", with 4 going into .293"

Shot around a 250lb black bear at 375 yards with this load about 4 years ago. Hit him behind the shoulder on the 1st shot and he was very hurt, he tried going up the hill at a slow pace and I shot him the 2nd time in the shoulder which dropped him and sent him tumbling down the canyon.

 

[bkondeff]

I have done load development for my Tikka stainless sythetic in 25-06, which is straight factory. Have put a half dozen groups under .50 inches with 52.0 gr IMR 4831 at 3050 with Fed 210 and Win Brass using Berger 115's seated to the lands. I think you would be asking an awful lot to get over 3200 fps with 115 gr bullets in a 25-06, maybe with a .257 Weatherby. Gun also likes imr4350, just not as much as 4831. Gun does not like Retumbo or R22, while many others have reported good results with the slower burning powders. Weather has dropped into the 20's-30's here in Idaho so I will be putting these loads through the chrony this weekend to see how they do as I prepare for my backpack hunt into 9000' in 10 days.

 

[RT2506]

When it comes to the 25-06 I have found that barrel length does matter a lot. The Tikka has a 570mm which comes out to 22 1/2" give or take a mm barrel. I can't believe how much difference 1 1/2" to make a 24" barrel of 3 1/2" to make a 26" barrel length will boost the velocity and dictate which powder is used. Retumbo and RL25 seem to do their thing in barrels 24" and longer.

 

[bkondeff]

At 3050 fps with the Berger's, my energy at 600 yards is over 1000 Ft Lbs, so I am satisfied. I could push this to 700 yards on deer and about 400 on Elk, but that is where my Sako comes out with the 7mm pushing 168 Bergers does the job. This gun makes a relatively inexpensive, lightweight backpacking rifle at 7.1lbs(rifle and scope) and it shoots quite well.

 

[RT2506]

remingtonman: I hope you have a great backpack hunt. I have found out that it really does not matter much how fast a bullet is moving 2500 to over 3000 fps muzzle velocity when it is a 100 to 117 gr .257 shot in anything from a 250 Savage on up inside 300 yards. Of course to stretch it on out in yardage you do need more velocity. They just plain kill deer size game dead when you put it where it is supposed to go. I call my 25-06 "Light Switch". When you turn the bang switch the lights go out.

 

[DKA]

My Remington 700 SPS 25 06 likes Nosler 115 BT and 55 Gr H 1000, 2925 fps and the most accurate load could get, 3 shot group @ .250"@ 100 yds.