So What Do You Guys Think?

[jduckhunter]

A couple of days ago my son and my oldest daughter went to the range to get in a little trigger time. We all took a turn shooting my long range setup, a Ruger Mod. 77 V in 25-06. There was just the slightest breeze blowing from right to left, it's hard to even call it a breeze, it wasn't even moving the leaves on the trees. It was just a great morning for shooting. Any way we shot a 5 shot group between the 3 of us, 2 in a 1 1/2" bull and 3 just left and south, I'm blaming those on my daughters inability to read the wind. lol My question is, should I just leave it alone and settle on this load to hunt antelope with or should I continue driving myself nuts looking for the holy grail? Oh, they are hand loaded using Berger 115 gr. VLD hunting bullets and IMR 4831. So what do you think? The 6th hole is from my 30-06 Guide Gun.

 

[cpr0312]

I would that says good by me! Of course take a few more shots, but I would tweak it too much unless absolutely necessary

 

[Clayton]

That's good grouping but I'd have to keep experimenting. I'd probably try IMR-4320 or maybe IMR-4350 with your 115 grain Bergers. The 4831 was always slow for everything except the heavier bullets in whatever round I was working with.

 

[jduckhunter]

That's good grouping but I'd have to keep experimenting. I'd probably try IMR-4320 or maybe IMR-4350 with your 115 grain Bergers. The 4831 was always slow for everything except the heavier bullets in whatever round I was working with.

I've tried 4350 both in IMR and H, I've also tried Reloader 22 and a couple of other powders. So far I've gotten the best accuracy from the IMR4831, maybe it has something to do with the long barrel and the slower burning rate, I'm not sure. I'll probably continue to tinker with it but with less stress because I know that I have a pretty good load to fall back on. Thanks!

 

[Clayton]

I've tried 4350 both in IMR and H, I've also tried Reloader 22 and a couple of other powders. So far I've gotten the best accuracy from the IMR4831, maybe it has something to do with the long barrel and the slower burning rate, I'm not sure. I'll probably continue to tinker with it but with less stress because I know that I have a pretty good load to fall back on. Thanks!

That being the case, I'd run with it. Unless you have a lot of money tied up in a Benchrest Gun, a 36X scope, and a high dollar rest, you really can't complain about that group from a hunting rifle. Go get your Antelope.

 

[petrusg]

The 25-06 is a great calibre and if you spend some more time on loads you should shoot them through the same hole.....that being said, the group you shot there is good enough for hunting at that range.
Just want to add that its best that 1 person shoot the 5 shot group, but not bad results for 3 different shooters.

 

[LivingTheDream]

Yeah I would take that group and run.

 

[jduckhunter]

Thanks guys. I know that it's best for one person to shoot a group and we really didn't start out with the intentions of shooting a group. We were just having some fun and seeing what we could do. It wasn't till after we all shot that I started thinking about what we had just done. If three different shooters could shoot almost a 1" group at 300 yards then I figured the gun and the load were pretty much up to snuff. I didn't post a photo of the unbelievably dumb groundhog that decided to stroll out onto the range at about the 250 yd. mark, because I don't believe in posting pics of overkill. My daughter was getting ready to shoot her second shot and there he came, walking around like nothing was going on. She turned the gun over to me and I just grinned and put one right behind his ear, you guys can imagine what that looked like.

 

[CAustin]

I would say it gives a clear indication that some varmints are going to perish.

 

[375 Ruger Fan]

When I looked at the target I thought it was a very good grouping for 100 yards. But you're saying this was the grouping at 300 yards??? Wow! That is outstanding!

 

[jduckhunter]

When I looked at the target I thought it was a very good grouping for 100 yards. But you're saying this was the grouping at 300 yards??? Wow! That is outstanding!

Oops, I just went back and read my original post and I did forget to mention that we were shooting at 300 yards. My bad, yeah at 100 yards it's damn near a one holer.

 

[Grady]

At 300 yards, I would definitely call that good, even at 100 yards I would call that good!....if you want to try something else, I would look at the seating depth of the bullet. I had a similar situation with my daughter shooting the .308 (only out to 200 yards). She would shoot very good groups with Varget pushing a 168gr TTSX. I adjusted the seating depth and her groups got a little better.

My daughter can definitely "Almost" out shoot her old dad...but I had to remind her, that I taught her everything she knows about shooting.....but I did not teach her everything I know about shooting.....Being the 17 yo that thinks she knows everything, she just rolled her eyes.....

Now that you know what the gun/bullet combination is capable of at 300, its time to get off the bench and practice like you will be hunting. Off the sticks, laying on the ground, what ever situation you think you will face in the field.

 

[jduckhunter]

I would call that good....if you want to try something else, I would look at the seating depth of the bullet. I had a similar situation with my daughter shooting the .308. She would shoot very good groups with Varget pushing a 168gr TTSX. I adjusted the seating depth and her groups got a little better.

She can definitely "Almost" out shoot her old dad...but I had to remind her, that I taught her everything she knows about shooting.....but I did not teach her everything I know about shooting.....Being the 17 yo that thinks she knows everything, she just rolled her eyes.....

That's great Grady, being 17 I'm sure she knows everything about everything. The bullets at present are seated as far out as they can go, the Berger's seem to like that. My little girl is now a 38 yo and finally figured out that she doesn't know everything, but she is learning.

 

[petrusg]

Well if it was at 300 then i wouldn't change a thing!

 

[PHOENIX PHIL]

Your load development is complete, stop messing with it. Use your range time for practice or anything but screwing around with this load.

 

[enysse]

Excellent grouping!

 

[Code4]

Great group. If its repeatable then definantly a keeper. Probably a keeper anyway. I have a Ruger 77 VT in 25-06AI. Great varmint guns.

 

[cpr0312]

Yeah certainly at 300 its good by me also

 

[Shootist43]

When I looked at the original post I was thinking it was shot at 100 yards since there was no mention of distance. I also thought that you needed a little more load development. After reading further and finding that this was at 300 yards my perspective changed entirely. For a fact you are good to go!!

 

[ChrisG]

I would say that this is MORE than adequate for a hunting rifle. That is way more precision than you will ever get in the field and it is easily accurate enough to take anything that the .25-06 is suitable for, at any range anyone should reasonably shooting at game with the rifle (less than 350-400 yards). Thats a great group!