I just ordered a 25-06 15" Encore barrel. My main question is: Is it possible to obtain 3000+ fps safely with the 87 gr bullet? The reloading manuals list 3400 fps as max from a 24" barrel so I just figured 300 fps with a 9" shorter barrel. Also is the 87gr bullet adequate for deer?

Has anyone played with the Nikon 2.5-8x scopes? I need a new scope for the above barrel and was thinking about trying one of them.

Magman, I would be very surprized if you didn't reach 3000. My 338-06 and a 200gr can get to 2600+ and I'm not at maximum, but no reason to stress teh gun with sub MOA already reached with a good bullet. Noted below: Perry gts 2950 with an 85 in a 260 remington. If you choose the right powder, you mark seems attainable to me. Too me, a good 'faster powder' should work in teh 15" tube. My 243 gets 28-2900 fps in a 15" Encore and 95grs. Good luck.

i beleive you can reach the velocity safely magman.when i got my 257 barrel i contacted sierras tech service,they said for every inch of barrel you loose you loose app. 40-60 fps.(they measure this with a standard 22"length barrel.)they also said at handgun velocities the "varmit"weight bullets will serve dual purpose as a "deer bullet"i have had great sucess with the 90 gr.hpbt gameking.i also loaded some of the 85 gr. nosler silver ballistic tips to try out,they are real close to the sierras in the accuracy dept.i figure the 257 jdj kills all kinds of deer size game with the light weight bullets,my 257 is so close that a deer will never know the difference.with my .257 caliber guns(both pistol and riffle )i have always had good luck with imr-3031 powder.as for the scope...i have no ideal,but let us know because im thinking i need a little more "glass"on my 257...good luck.jim257

My .260 does have a 17.75 in. barrel, but the case capacity of the 25-06 should more than make up the difference in the 15

PerryW

Thanks for the input guys. I was figuring that it shouldn't be a problem with 85-90 gr bullets. Now there must be someone with a Nikon scope.

sorry cant help you out on the barrel 25-06 is about 6 barrels down the list so it will be a year till i get that one but the scope i can help you out
tryed the nikon an the bushnell 3200, i liked the glass in the 3200 i asked around a lot about the two an had more people at least 60% said bushnell so i drove an hour to find a store that had them both an looked in doors an out had them on a bushnell rifle thingy , looks like a rifle stock that will hold two scopes to compair then an i liked the bushnell better better eye relf. an all so longer eye relf dave

Thanks for the input Dave. The only thing is of all the scopes I own, Burris, Leupold, Simmons, Tasco, Redfield, B&L, Bushnell. The B&L and the Bushnell are the only two to fail w/o operator error. Maybe I'll give them another try. Thanks

oh ill even do better than that if you can hold off about two weeks to get one or the other i got a set of rings that clamp on to a vented rib of a remington shot gun, im gona put my 3200 on it when it comes in an put about 10 rounds of 2 oz winchester turkey loads though it then try about 10 rounds of 3 in sluggers i figure if it can handle that out of my 1187 it will handle any thing from my 41 mag super black hawk hunter lol
dave

dave, it will be interesting to see.