Author Topic: 25-06 / 223 Bull...Range report. (Read 720 times)

lik2hunt · « **on:** July 17, 2004, 07:55:01 AM »

Got out to the range this morning for a few hours with the Ultra w/ 25-06 and .223 Bull barrels. The '06 did real well with my handloads in two recipes; 42.2 gr. IMR 4350 w/ 117 gr. Sierra spitzer and Win primers. This load gave about a 1" group with two in the same hole. Pretty minimal velocities though. Same powder and bullet at 46.3 gr. offered a 1.5" group and with 47.7gr. a 1.5" group also. I'll keep working with the 47.7 gr. load and possibly go up to as much as 49.0 gr. and will probably stop there. I only have the Lee Improved dipper set for now to work with so I can't get to precise. I was shooting at about 80 yds.
The 223 Bull still likes the 55gr. UMC the best. But after firing the last hree of those that I had then I began using the Win Varmint 45gr. JHP to zero my scope at 100 yds. Good groups at around 1" and put one right in a 1" bull. I'm happy, but after the 45gr. are gone I'm going back to the UMC.
After a few bugs having to be worked out at the factory, it's made two trips, this gun has turned into a shooter with a light, crisp trigger. Cases show minimal chamber pressure markings on the '06 and both calibers are easy on the shoulder. Coyotes, whitetail, and hogs BEWARE!

MSP Ret · « **Reply #1 on:** July 17, 2004, 09:16:23 AM »

lik2hunt, happy to hear the problems have been solved. Don't worry about precise "weights" of powder. There are some, about 50%, of shooters that think powder should be measured by volume not weight, and many of those are highly successful target shooters. Your dippers do just that, measure by volume. Consistency is the key more than anything else. Measure all your charges the same exact way, depth pushed into the powder container, number of shakes or taps to level etc, be consistent in every facet of your reloading and accuracy will result with the proper load.....<><.... :grin:

lik2hunt · « **Reply #2 on:** July 17, 2004, 12:09:31 PM »

MSPR - Target shooting is fine and I have learned a lot from the guys here on this forum. Someday I'll post some of my first posts from the old forum that I have saved and you'll see just how much. When October rolls around target shooting will be no more for me for a while. Heck I'll never be in any competition anyway, just like to know I can hit what I'm aiming at with some consistency. 2" or better groups at 100 yds. are all I really am after and anything better than that is a bonus in my books. I'll just keep reading and posting though and someday I just might be the guy who wins one of the postal matches. Until then plenty meat in the freezer will work for me. :wink:
I have made it a practice to duplicate my loading procedures each time I load a new batch as to keep things as consistent and accurate as possible. I like the little Lee Loader and am having fun with it as you can tell. The dipper set has been a real nice addition and will allow me to work on loads more and cut the cost of ammo substantially. Can't wait to try some of the 75 gr. HP's in the '06. May not even need the Bull Barrel .223 for coyotes if they work as well as I hope.

ScatterGunner · « **Reply #3 on:** July 17, 2004, 01:06:03 PM »

i like the lee dippers, you can also make dippers out of shells.

i used a sawed off 6ppc case with a handle soldered to it for benchrest loading. i never set any world records but i thought it was a bit more sane than the guys who used to spend most of their weekday evenings counting individual grains (pieces) of powder for each load (who also did no better than me !!!)

sg