Loading 25-06 cast lead...

[steve-in-kville]

I've been away from the cast lead scene for a few years. In fact, my shooting came to a standstill in the past 18 months. In that period of time, I aquired a Ruger No. 1 in 25-06. The 25-06 cartidge has always been a personal favorite since I owned one many years ago and foolishly traded it off.

I would like some help/direction in loading lead for this cartridge. I no longer cast myself (since I have small children in the house now) but I have sources to aquire these bullets. I just want to develope a light load for short-range varmints and plinking.

Any help is appreciated.

steve

[9.3X62AL]

Welcome aboard, Steve. The 25-06 is not a chambering I have any experience with, cast or jacketed. I DO load 25-20, 25-35, and 250 Savage though--so quarter-bores live at my house. Dunno if you've done a search here on the site or not, I don't recall any past commentary on the 25-06 here. My recollections are anything but comprehensive, however.

The RCBS Cast Bullet Manual (Omark, 1986) gives a little data for that company's two boolit designs--a 100 grain flatnose and 120 grain spitzer. I had some samples of the 120 grainer a few years ago that I ran in my 25-35 and its 1-8" twist. Following the advice of 6.5 x 55 Swede shooters--a caliber with very fast twists as well--I kept velocities at or under 1600 FPS, and these boolits shot very well for me.

I have had GREAT results from the RCBS 6mm/95 grain boolit in my 243. Like the 25/120, it is a spitzer bore-rider design, and I seat boolits so that the front drive band makes contact with the chamber leade/rifling origin. The nose has a light friction fit between the lands. This boolit has an accuracy sweet spot between 1550-1750 FPS, and it cartwheels ground squirrels adroitly.

Looking at the data in the Manual for the 25-06 and the 120 grain spitzer, Alliant 2400 powder, 19.0 grains gives 1914 FPS and 21.0 grains gives 2127 FPS. 2400 is a long favorite cast boolit rifle and revolver powder of mine. It would seem that every 1.0 grain of powder in this case/boolit combination gives 100 FPS, so I would be inclined to start at 15.0 grains for a start load, working up 0.5 grains at a time in search of a sweet spot. The usual 1-10" twist in 25-06 barrels is kinder to boolits than the 1-8" of my 25-35, but go slowly as you raise powder weights and watch for accuracy to fall off as speed increases. It might not, but each rifle is kind of a law unto itself in that regard.

Good luck on this project, and keep us posted as the project continues.

[steve-in-kville]

Thanks for the reply and the data. I had a 25-06 many years ago, before I handloaded. It was a "pet" cartrdge if I ever had one. Foolishly, I traded it off. A few years ago, I took a Ruger No. 1 in a trade chambered for 25-06. I am getting it scoped and want to shoot some lead over the summer for critter control and the like.

steve

[jhalcott]

Steve, the 25-06 is a finicky round with cast SOME TIMES!You CAn get high velocity ,up to 2900 fps, with some powders.A 90 grain cast gas checked bullet.
I'd try 2400 4759 imr4198 and 748 powders and start around 2100 t0 2200 fps. Accuracy can go away fast at higher speeds. For Jword bullets this is a real flat shooting round. I wont tell you how FAR you can take deer and coyotes with 100 grain j bullets,BUT you need to pack a luch AFTER THE SHOT.

[steve-in-kville]

I actually don't want anything really fast... or loud!! I want something I can wack a few groundhogs with just for the kicks-n-giggles. Once big-game season rolls around, we'll switch to the jacketed (aka - condom) bullets again.

BTW- all my guns are bought for groundhogs... I have a 45-70 that sees nothing but cast lead and a few 'chucks have fallen to that gun. Gotta love those slow moving hunks of lead!

steve

[JohnH]

Steve, I'm shooting cast in a 25-06 Encore and having better results than I think I ought to. 18 grains of 5744 under the RCBS 120 is quiet, gives me right at 1700 fps and shoots 1 1/2" groups easily for as long as I care to shoot. I had been a fan in past of big bores, but lately I'm really enjoying a Savage 340 in 30-30, this 25-06 and am tooling up to shoot a 243. Deputy Al sent me some of the 95 grian 243 boolits he shoots a few years ago to try in a friends 243. I found the cartridge responded easily to cast, far more readily than some big bores I've shot. My 25-06 has simply surprised me at how easily it shot cast and has become my favorite afternoon plinker. The 25-06 is prolly a sleeper as cast goes. Keep us informed.