Who uses a 25-06 Rem?
- Thread starter harv3589
- Start date
I haven't hunted with a .25-06 yet. I have a custom .257 AI that has a headspace problem.. Bought it that way unfortunately...Anyway I am hoping to have it re-chambered to .25-06 soon here.
You, Sir, are a blessed man! Because of the blown out case of the 257 AI, you won't be able to rechamber to a standard 25-06 without setting the barrel back quite a bit.
You can just leave the barrel as is and have it rechambered to 25-06 Ackley. No fuss, no muss, no bother, and believe me when I tell you it has a lot more sting than the standard cartridge. Think about shooting 100 gr bullets at way more than 3600 fps, 120s at 3200plus, and both loads with good case life and excellent accuracy.
Ted
Last edited:
The 257AI is a great round, it maybe as cool as the 25-06. Can't hold a candle to the 06 quarter bore AI though.
I may need one someday though, the 257AI.
I keep hearing great things about this bullet. Going to have to grab a couple of boxes next trip to Russells.
I've also been meaning to try the 100 TSX. Little hard on the wallet though.
25 cal
Rob my first rifle was a Stevens in 25-06 and it killed the 3 deer that I shot with it very well. My next 25-06 is a Sako Varmint in a heavy barrel and it is an even better shooting rifle, although I don't think I'd want to carry it too far on a hunt.
The gun I'm currently working up a load for is a Win model 70 feather in a 257 Ackley Improved, with 100 grain bullets is proving to have tremendous accuracy as well. FS
Rob my first rifle was a Stevens in 25-06 and it killed the 3 deer that I shot with it very well. My next 25-06 is a Sako Varmint in a heavy barrel and it is an even better shooting rifle, although I don't think I'd want to carry it too far on a hunt.
The gun I'm currently working up a load for is a Win model 70 feather in a 257 Ackley Improved, with 100 grain bullets is proving to have tremendous accuracy as well. FS
Think about shooting 100 gr bullets at way more than 3600 fps, 120s at 3200plus, and both loads with good case life and excellent accuracy.
Ted
Ted,
Sounds like you've a bit of experience with the 25-06 AI. Would you be willing to share some loads with an AI rookie.
I received a call today from 'the nice man with the freezer' and he says I should be shooting mine within a couple of weeks.
Look out Bambi.LBL,
I have had more than a dozen Ackley Imp chambered rifles over the past forty years. My experience in 25 cal has been that the 25-06 AI is one of the easiest Imps to load for.
I have had two 250-3000AIs, one 25 Souper and two 25-06 AIs. All of them worked very well, but the 25-06 just sang. 120s with H870 drives them close to 3300 fps. The powder fouling was bad, however, so switched to Re22 and that was taken care of. A stomach full of H450 will get 100 gr bullets going past 3650. Unfortunately, this powder is hard to find today, but H4831 does almost as well and burns cleaner.
The best way to work up loads for your Ackley is to start with max loads listed in your reloading manual for the standard 25-06 and go from there. Do not use reduced loads for fireforming brass. Doing so will just create headspace problems. The 25-06 Ackley is as accurate fireforming as it is with formed cases. I have hunted with fireforming loads, and never gave it a thought. Just be sure to keep your brass!
My last 25-06 Ackley had a 27" Shilen barrel One of the CGN guys here is shooting it today. It gets about 100 fps more than the earlier one at 24". My latest excursion into this arena will be a rechambered Stevens with its 22 inch factory barrel..... just to see how it works. I have a feeling it is not going to be much of a disappointment at all.
Ted
We'll let you know when it gets back from the 'smith.
I have had more than a dozen Ackley Imp chambered rifles over the past forty years. My experience in 25 cal has been that the 25-06 AI is one of the easiest Imps to load for.
I have had two 250-3000AIs, one 25 Souper and two 25-06 AIs. All of them worked very well, but the 25-06 just sang. 120s with H870 drives them close to 3300 fps. The powder fouling was bad, however, so switched to Re22 and that was taken care of. A stomach full of H450 will get 100 gr bullets going past 3650. Unfortunately, this powder is hard to find today, but H4831 does almost as well and burns cleaner.
The best way to work up loads for your Ackley is to start with max loads listed in your reloading manual for the standard 25-06 and go from there. Do not use reduced loads for fireforming brass. Doing so will just create headspace problems. The 25-06 Ackley is as accurate fireforming as it is with formed cases. I have hunted with fireforming loads, and never gave it a thought. Just be sure to keep your brass!
My last 25-06 Ackley had a 27" Shilen barrel One of the CGN guys here is shooting it today. It gets about 100 fps more than the earlier one at 24". My latest excursion into this arena will be a rechambered Stevens with its 22 inch factory barrel..... just to see how it works. I have a feeling it is not going to be much of a disappointment at all.
Ted
We'll let you know when it gets back from the 'smith.
Last edited:
I bet it looked something like this one
Only now its got a McMillan stock, matte blued action, and a bead blasted barrel. 100 gr tsx's are speeding when they leave the barrel, but I'm going to try some 75 gr v-max's soon, I want to use them on wolves and coyotes this winter.
Heavier bullets, better on bigger game. I shoot both, and prefer the 6.5-06. - dan
Had a 6.5-06 for a while, nice cartridge. With heavier bullets it's almost as good as a 270, and it hasn't got as nice a selection of light bullets as a 25-06.
For deer I used the 125 NP at something over 3100 fps. Indistinguishable for a 25-06 or a 270, but what else would we expect?
For deer I used the 125 NP at something over 3100 fps. Indistinguishable for a 25-06 or a 270, but what else would we expect?
LBL,
I have had more than a dozen Ackley Imp chambered rifles over the past forty years. My experience in 25 cal has been that the 25-06 AI is one of the easiest Imps to load for.
I have had two 250-3000AIs, one 25 Souper and two 25-06 AIs. All of them worked very well, but the 25-06 just sang. 120s with H870 drives them close to 3300 fps. The powder fouling was bad, however, so switched to Re22 and that was taken care of. A stomach full of H450 will get 100 gr bullets going past 3650. Unfortunately, this powder is hard to find today, but H4831 does almost as well and burns cleaner.
The best way to work up loads for your Ackley is to start with max loads listed in your reloading manual for the standard 25-06 and go from there. Do not use reduced loads for fireforming brass. Doing so will just create headspace problems. The 25-06 Ackley is as accurate fireforming as it is with formed cases. I have hunted with fireforming loads, and never gave it a thought. Just be sure to keep your brass!
My last 25-06 Ackley had a 27" Shilen barrel One of the CGN guys here is shooting it today. It gets about 100 fps more than the earlier one at 24". My latest excursion into this arena will be a rechambered Stevens with its 22 inch factory barrel..... just to see how it works. I have a feeling it is not going to be much of a disappointment at all.
Ted
We'll let you know when it gets back from the 'smith.
Ted,
Do you mean a Steven's 200? Hey, even I could probably afford one of those! That might be a great way to get myself "Bit" by the .25-06 bug.
Jeff.
25-06 is a nice cartridge but if you handload the 6.5-06 is much cooler, and much more effective
Even cooler than the 6.5/06 is a 6.5/06 AI....which I've got a reamer, action, and stock for, its just a project that I need to finish yet.
I have a ruger mkII in the safe, SS, laminate that I have yet to take any game with. Just purchased it brand new this spring, sporting a leupold VXII 3x9x40. I have had it to the range and it has been the most accurate rifle with factory cartridges that I have ever owned. First sight in at 25 yards and you couldn't tell that I had fired 3 shots. 100 yard clover leafs no problem. That was with the Rem coreloks 120. I can hardly wait for the November monsoons to take her hunting here on the wetcoast!
Blair
Blair
Why not?
Ted,
Thank you for your input.
Should be fun experimenting with this one. The barrel will be in the 26-27" range. My preference would be for a slow 'H' powder ie: H1000, Retumbo. Although I do have some IMR7828 on hand, which gets positive reports from other AI shooters. I'll be trying to stick with Hodgons though as I like their product and philosophy.
Again, thanks.
David
Ted,
Thank you for your input.
Should be fun experimenting with this one. The barrel will be in the 26-27" range. My preference would be for a slow 'H' powder ie: H1000, Retumbo. Although I do have some IMR7828 on hand, which gets positive reports from other AI shooters. I'll be trying to stick with Hodgons though as I like their product and philosophy.
Again, thanks.
David
Ted,
Do you mean a Steven's 200? Hey, even I could probably afford one of those! That might be a great way to get myself "Bit" by the .25-06 bug.
Jeff.
Yep, Stevens 200! You can buy one brand new for less than $380 shipped, spend an equal amount on a good scope, and be in the 25 cal business.
Another $250 and you can be shooting it in Ackley Improved, with Redding dies included.
Ted
Yep, Stevens 200! You can buy one brand new for less than $380 shipped, spend an equal amount on a good scope, and be in the 25 cal business.
Another $250 and you can be shooting it in Ackley Improved, with Redding dies included.
Ted
Farout, man!
I may just have to do this, Ted.
