IMR 7977 and the 25-06

I've been having trouble finding a good load for one of my 25-06's. After nailing a good sized axis doe at 75 yards and having the 100 gr CNC bullet not passing through and then tracking her for 125 yards, it was time. I switched to a 120 Speer cnc boattail, got a great group and commenced whacking whitetail doe with it. Then had the same thing happen with a young axis buck, no pass-through.
I switched to the 110 Accubond and started trying powders - IMR4831, H4831, IMR 4350, RL 23, RL 26, IMR7828ssc, RL 22 & 25 & 19. The only ones that gave me a decent group was the RL 26 but a max load was only 2600 fps, and, RL 19 which gave me a good group and decent velocity (2850) but when summertime came, the RL 19 load was blowing primers and leaving extractor marks on the brass, definitely too hot.
Enter IMR 7977. Ran loads up to 59gr in Hornady 1x fired brass, and got a 4 shot group (all I loaded) that measured just a tad under .5" @ 100. First two shots were .4 apart and the remaining 2 shots stacked into the first hole.
I then loaded up 12 more and shot them over the magnetospeed to find the group averaged 2985 with an SD of 15 or so.

Next, I'll load up a mess of them and start seeing how they'll do out to 500.

If this Enduron powder is as insensitive to temperature changes as advertised, I should be gtg!

Is 2985 fps a bit slow? It's been 20+ years since I reloaded for the 25-06 but I thought 3100+ was the norm for a 110 gr. Any pressure signs?

Bet you would be happy with 115gr or 120gr Partitions with IMR4350, or H4831.

Big Fitz, the fps is a bit low, probably should clean the barrel and foul then shoot again. Temps when I was testing were in the upper 30's to low 40's and that may have something to do with it. Of the string I shot over the magnetospeed, 4 of them measured just over 3000, which in my book was acceptable.
JJH, I tried the partitions, this rifle just doesn't like them. Best groups were 1.5" or so. It doesn't seem to like flat base bullets.

Now to try the same powder in the other 25-06.

Bbear, I am no reloading expert so looked up 7977 and am wondering if it may be a bit slow for a 110 gr in a 25-06? Perhaps some of the knowledgeable folks can chime in but thought I'd point this out via a snapshot of burn rates.

What is your load workup procedure?

Well, I looked up Hodgdon's load info on line (see below for 117 gr)and maybe 7977 is a good powder selection. In the past, I used IMR 4350 for 117 Hornady and was getting high 3100's.

Also have some of the IMR 4451. Hodgden only shows it up to the 100 gr pills. Wondering if it would do any better on the 110 than would the 7977?

When looking at the two powders, 7977 shows slightly more velocity and slightly less pressure.

All in all, this has always been a 'slow' barrel. Plus, a barrel that is 2" shorter than the test barrel will drop the velocity down anywhere from 50-100 fps. Even if it is in the same velocity class as the 257 Roberts, the group and velocity is adequate.

IMR 7977 is a great powder. I've used it in several magnum calibers. All the data I have used is 1-2 grains over the book max to get the speeds I'm looking for. I think Hodgdon's data is very conservative.

Might try running it up another grain or grain and a half just to see. Then again, with sub-.5" groups on a hunting rifle, sometimes you gotta call 'good enough'.

Then again, as a constant tinkerer...

Update on my 25-06 w/ 7977.

Spent yesterday at the range working on a load for my 'other' 25-06 and 7977. Hit the spot at 58.5 grains with a 3 shot .6" group. Ran two more into the group and it 'opened' up to .65". Ran 5 over the magnetospeed to average 3125 fps with the 110 AB. SD was 17.
Now all I need to do is run it out to 500 and see how it holds up.

I'd wonder about the volume comparison between fired vases from the two rifles. The shorter barrel would explain a good bit of the velocity difference and I'd guess it's responsible for about 80 fps, but a larger chamber might account for some velocity difference also.

RR, sorry I wasn't clearer on the barrels. The 'test' barrels that were used by the manufacturer was a 24" barrel. Both of mine are 22". Though the first one is from a first-year production Rem. With more than 3000 rounds through it. The second one has just over 2000