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.25-06 and accuracy

22K views 20 replies 15 participants last post by  big dan 
#1 ·
I recently purchased a Mossberg 4X4 in 25-06. I was hesitant at first, but ready rave reviews for the rifle and it's tackdriving accuracy. well, at 100 yards i'm doing good to get 2 inch groups with 87grain bullets and near max loads with Re19, and these were the most accurate loads so far. The rifle has been sent back to the factory twice because the barrel rubbed on one side of the fore end and had a large gap on the opposite side (apparently they couldn't figure out that a floated barrel wasn't supposed to touch the fore end on EITHER side). Well, with that problem finally taken care groups improved, but still no better than 2 inch. Am I missing something? I've read that the caliber is capable of much better, but I'm not getting it. Has anybody heard of any other problems with the Mossberg 4X4? I'm currently looking at cutting my losses and trying a different rifle in .25-06.
Thanks,
Russ
 
#2 ·
Well, I never had much luck making one shoot to my satisfaction-and it was probably my only trying one bullet weight-many brands but on the heavy end (117-120). Could have been a stabilization issue. I loaded for a No.1 V and then a Sendero-for years. I finally gave up.

If I ever have another quarter-bore it'll be 250 Savage or some variation of 257 Roberts or maybe a 25 Copperhead (25-222).

BUT I'M SURE that there are plenty of shooters loving this cartridge.

My suggestion is to try different bullets--once the RIFLE issues are ironed out.

Another "problem" that kept me from loving the 25-06 is that I was shooting 5-shot strings like all my favorite gun writer gurus. :rolleyes:

As far as any production rifle/cartridge combo out there today-I say keep the shooters and trade the rest. Never trade off a sweet shooter unless baby REALLY needs a new pair of shoes.

HI YALL! my first post. Be back later-have to go work up some venison.:D
 
#3 ·
Welcome to the forum Okiediver. Rules are simple, be nice and join in.

That's about the best accuracy I could get out of my friends new Mossberg 270. You may have to try some different bullets to better it.

How's the trigger? After I adjusted his down to three pounds it was much easier to shoot better groups. I know it's supposed to be non adjustable, but it can be made so.
 
#4 ·
i'd try some different bullets, i have a remington 700 classic in 300 savage and it was mediocre at best but i'd been listening to everybody run down remingtons barrels as of late and just figured that it was a dud barrel. well, i decided to try some bullets from a different manufacturer, same bullet wt. same powder charge everything the same except the bullets... the rifle went from 2"-3" groups down to sub 1". i didn't even adjust the seating die. sometimes rifles just have preferences.
 
#6 ·
OK...My very first gun was a Remington 700 BDL given to me on my 18th Birthday in 1971.
After a day a the range loading with different powers and bullets and seading....I found the 54 grains of 4831 with a 100 gr spear to be the best....I now shoot this load in both the Remington and a T/C Encore and can cover 5 shots with a quarter....This year alone the Encore in 25-06 has taken five wild hogs and one ten point buck....In the past it has downed everything from Elk cows to Prong horn...In fact I have only lost one animal since I was 19 with the 25-06.

jay
 
#8 ·
Okie,
I don't know anything about the Mossberg, but I do have a post-'64 push-feed Mod 70 XTR in 25-06. It hasn't been very particular about the ammo, getting good accuracy (1/2" - 1 1/2" groups) from 75 gr Hornady HP's to 120 gr Nosler partitions. You've gotten good advice to try some different bullets, but also try some different seating depths in some favored bullets to see if that improves accuracy. Then, try some different powders. I've had good results with IMR-4350, and IMR-7828 in the 120's. IMR-4064 has worked well for me in the lighter bullets.

As Bob indicated, your trigger will have a big impact on accuracy. If you have a heavy pull, you might look into an aftermarket trigger if the one that came with the gun isn't adjustable. Good luck.
 
#9 ·
Some guns need more tuning than others and some are more temperature sensitive than others. Have you tried shooting a couple of fouling shots, then letting the gun cool a couple of minutes between each shot for record? Also, search for threads on accuracy tuning procedures. Most guns have particular barrel times at which they work best, and you likely need to find them for yours.
 
#10 ·
Had 2 different Ruger #1's chambered in 25-06. Later a Browning A-Bolt. Sadly, all were traded for something else.

My favorite loadings in all three was the 115 -117 grain bullets with IMR4831 as a powder. Great accuracy with all of them.
 
#12 ·
Sure, the cartridge was "legitimized" in 1962 or therebouts. I'm sure there are many great shooters out there. I just had two duds and both happened to be varmint style rigs. To be specific I never got either of those guns to go under 1.25 or 1.5" at 100. I have sporter bbl'd 7's and 30's that shoot circles around that without a fuss. My 375 probably does too, but nobody will bench it for 5!;)

I just spent too long trying to dial those guns in-AND they happened to be 25-06. WAY too many cartridges I haven't tried to diddle with that one again. I'm going wildcat eventually.:D
 
#13 ·
I've had two 25-06s, one was a Mark X and the other is a Remington Sendero. The hammer forged Mark X barrel would produce startling small groups using Speer 100 hollow points. The Sendero does OK but not close to the Mark X.
I never got less then one inch groups with the 117 and 120 grain bullets out of my Mark X. But 100 grain Speer, with IMR 4831, CCI mag primers were outstanding. I seated the bullets to just bearly kiss the rifling. The cases were sized to just fit the chamber, trimmed and neck turned.
I enjoy a challenge, so here's what I'm doing with the Sendero, when I get back to it.
1st I'm getting a gunsmith to install a new recoil lug.
2nd I'm glass bedding the new lug into the stock.
3rd I'm for lapping the barrel. I don't think Remington barrels are as slick as this caliber requires.

Jim
 
#16 ·
Okiediver, I don't have anything to say about a *5-06 ( the two isn't working on my laptop), I just had to post for another okie. I guess that you do some diving in Kaw Lake. I think that the easy way would be to trade for another gun if you don't like the accuracy. I would have to give a Savage a shot or two or several hundred shots. It is most likly the rifle or the load-rifle combo. The low prices on the Mossberg may be partially due to lower quality standards. I am sure that you can find a *5-06 that shoots.
 
#17 ·
Thank you all for the info. I'm still working on it and giving it a chance, but I also found a Savage Model11 BTH and a Model 110GXP. Wifey said I the only way I could have one of those is and retain some semblance of marital harmony is to cull one of the others. I'm basically waiting until after Christmas to decide what to do. Again thank you all for the help.
Russ
 
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