mcseal2
WKR
- Joined
- May 8, 2014
- Messages
- 2,719
I just picked up a project the gunsmith has been working on for a while. I had a Winchester 70 built several years ago in 270 win with a B&C Alaskan stock, #3 fluted Pac-Nor barrel. The barrel proved to be very accurate but the smith left it 25" long instead of 23" as I asked him to. With the fairly long length of pull stock it stuck out several inches above my head in my Eberlestock scabbard and the gun didn't end up quite as light as I'd hoped. The gun ended up staying in the safe most of the time. Recently I picked up a Kimber 84L Montana in 280 Ackley that I can't get to group worth a darn. I made the decision to have the #3 Pac-Nor barrel in 270 switched over to this Kimber and cut back to 23" to create the mountain rifle I want. Hopefully it works out and I have a mountain rifle that will see a lot of use instead of sitting in the safe.
Anyway, the gunsmith had a barrel he'd ordered in several years ago for a personal project he never got completed in 25 caliber sitting in inventory he wanted to cut me a deal on. Now the Winchester 70 has a new cryo-accurized McGowan 24" #4 barrel installed. I got the barrel broke in yesterday and it proved to be a bit picky on loads but the factory Barnes VOR-TX 100gr loads with the tipped TSX bullet turned in 3 shot groups of .6 and .75". Other factory loads were all 1.5-2". I had several partial boxes of ammo on hand from helping a friend who doesn't handload try to find a good factory load for his 25-06, he gave me the partial boxes of ammo his gun didn't like. The factory loads I tried were the Hornady Superformance 90gr GMX, Hornady 117gr SST Superformance load, the Barnes 100gr load mentioned above, and the Remington 120gr Core-lokt.
I have no experience with the Barnes bullet. The box shows the bullet to be moving 3225fps so there is room for more velocity with a 100gr bullet. I didn't have enough ammo left after shooting groups to chronograph. The Barnes ammo carries a pretty good price tag at $37-42 per box online. This 25-06 will get more use on coyotes than deer, but I want to use a tougher bullet that can handle both. If I ever have the 25-06 in hand and call in a bobcat I'd rather put a hole in him with a controlled expansion bullet than blow him up with a 75-90gr varmint bullet. My wife already likes the new rifle and will likely be using it on out next antelope hunt. Anyway I wondered if anyone has experience with this bullet or has some other favorite dual-purpose bullets in 25 cal I should try. I am considering trying the 100gr Scirocco or 110gr Accubond if I go to handloads, just trying to decide if I should spend money on dies, brass, and bullets, and experimenting or just stick with the factory load that shoots well.
Anyway, the gunsmith had a barrel he'd ordered in several years ago for a personal project he never got completed in 25 caliber sitting in inventory he wanted to cut me a deal on. Now the Winchester 70 has a new cryo-accurized McGowan 24" #4 barrel installed. I got the barrel broke in yesterday and it proved to be a bit picky on loads but the factory Barnes VOR-TX 100gr loads with the tipped TSX bullet turned in 3 shot groups of .6 and .75". Other factory loads were all 1.5-2". I had several partial boxes of ammo on hand from helping a friend who doesn't handload try to find a good factory load for his 25-06, he gave me the partial boxes of ammo his gun didn't like. The factory loads I tried were the Hornady Superformance 90gr GMX, Hornady 117gr SST Superformance load, the Barnes 100gr load mentioned above, and the Remington 120gr Core-lokt.
I have no experience with the Barnes bullet. The box shows the bullet to be moving 3225fps so there is room for more velocity with a 100gr bullet. I didn't have enough ammo left after shooting groups to chronograph. The Barnes ammo carries a pretty good price tag at $37-42 per box online. This 25-06 will get more use on coyotes than deer, but I want to use a tougher bullet that can handle both. If I ever have the 25-06 in hand and call in a bobcat I'd rather put a hole in him with a controlled expansion bullet than blow him up with a 75-90gr varmint bullet. My wife already likes the new rifle and will likely be using it on out next antelope hunt. Anyway I wondered if anyone has experience with this bullet or has some other favorite dual-purpose bullets in 25 cal I should try. I am considering trying the 100gr Scirocco or 110gr Accubond if I go to handloads, just trying to decide if I should spend money on dies, brass, and bullets, and experimenting or just stick with the factory load that shoots well.