25 cal varminter
- Thread starter CanusLatransSnpr
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AckleymanII
Gold $$ Contributor
One of my all time favorite varmint and deer rifles was a custom 257 Weatherby. I necked down 264 WM and 7 Rem mag brass in Winchester brand(one pass through a 257 Weatherby FL sizer). The neck is shorter than normal. I sent the necked down brass to PTG and had them make a reamer with zero freebore, with a .2575 dia throat. Brass life is forever with the 100g what evers going 3850fps on a 26" barrel and 4000 fps on a 30" barrel, shooting bug holes with little effort with 71.5-72g of R#22 with fed 215 primers. With zero freebore, you get some barrel life. 115g bullets are sailing along at 3600 fps+ a tad with R#22.
87g tnt is shooting bug holes at 4130 fps, and chucks explode like paint balls on a concrete wall.
If you are a 25 caliber geek, you need to treat yourself to one of these before you die. I know of 8 rifles built like this, and all of them are tack drivers with less than 20 rounds of load development.
Mine was a 10 twist.
PMC brass is tougher than anything if you can find any in the 257 Weatherby.
87g tnt is shooting bug holes at 4130 fps, and chucks explode like paint balls on a concrete wall.
If you are a 25 caliber geek, you need to treat yourself to one of these before you die. I know of 8 rifles built like this, and all of them are tack drivers with less than 20 rounds of load development.
Mine was a 10 twist.
PMC brass is tougher than anything if you can find any in the 257 Weatherby.
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I appeciate the suggestion! The rifle I plan to build this on is a S&W 1500 that is chambered in 243 Win. Doesn't have a bolt face to facilitate magnum cartridges. That's why I'm leaning 25-284 or 25-06 Ackley! Both should offer decent speed and accuracy! This will be my first 25 so I'm anxious to see what it will do to woodchucks?
Mike
I also used 264Wm and 7mm Rm in my 257, and within 3 or 4 loads the brass would grow to length.
But there is no substitute for Weatherby brass you can load it way more stout, I also used necked down 270 and 7mm WBY brass that also worked great.
Mine is a 12 twist which is they original twist rate from when they were first introduced.
A 70gr Sierra Blitz King with 70gr of RL17 is a 4400fps load, and you can do 100 rounds with one pound of powder.
Dean
But there is no substitute for Weatherby brass you can load it way more stout, I also used necked down 270 and 7mm WBY brass that also worked great.
Mine is a 12 twist which is they original twist rate from when they were first introduced.
A 70gr Sierra Blitz King with 70gr of RL17 is a 4400fps load, and you can do 100 rounds with one pound of powder.
Dean
Which do you like better? The 25 WSM or the 257 Weatherby?
Upon the announcement of the 300WSM, I acquired a 25/300WSM reamer (yes, simply a necked-down 300WSM), which I call the .257 IdiotMag. I have used it exclusively with 110Gr., or heavier bullets. For many seasons now, I have used only 110 Gr. BT, at an easily obtainable 3540 FPS, with Winchester Supreme 780. I loaned the reamer to a pal, who made a, "coyote rifle", and promptly began running the 88 Gr. BT right at 4000 FPS - not a fur friendly combination, but hellish flat and decent wind drift. ;-)
Having said that, the 110s aren't a fur hunters best friend either - but they are deadly on pronghorns and mule deer! Have shot Mule deer and/or pronghorns from 35 to 670 yards - usually DRT. Oddly, it's been the close ones which run a few yards before deciding to lay down.
In combination with RL-17, I suspect that a 25/06 Ackley Imp. might come very close to the IdiotMag, and/or, .257 Wby. Magnum. Based upon published load data, with the 110 Gr. BTs, with the .257IdiotMag, I easily obtain velocities listed as maximum for the .257 Wby. with 100 Gr. bullets.
In reality, it's about like a short, belt-less .257 Wby Mag.
For target work, I prefer, "easy does it" (25x47 HBR/Lapua, or, 250 Ack. Imp are great) - for huntin', I like a new barrel once in a while!
An 88 Gr. bullet, at nearly 4K FPS won't bounce off rockchucks and usually makes short work of squirrels. But, you were looking for a 25 varmint rig - .250 Ack./25x47, .257 Roberts; .257 Ack. Imp (my personal favorite), and larger, all make very good varmint slayers - just depends upon how often you like to rebarrel.
RGThe 257 Weatherby is above the 257 WSM in the rifle/food chain.
Like previously mentioned it is closer to a 25-06AI in performance.
Dean
Upon the announcement of the 300WSM, I acquired a 25/300WSM reamer (yes, simply a necked-down 300WSM), which I call the .257 IdiotMag. I have used it exclusively with 110Gr., or heavier bullets. For many seasons now, I have used only 110 Gr. BT, at an easily obtainable 3540 FPS, with Winchester Supreme 780. I loaned the reamer to a pal, who made a, "coyote rifle", and promptly began running the 88 Gr. BT right at 4000 FPS - not a fur friendly combination, but hellish flat and decent wind drift. ;-)
Having said that, the 110s aren't a fur hunters best friend either - but they are deadly on pronghorns and mule deer! Have shot Mule deer and/or pronghorns from 35 to 670 yards - usually DRT. Oddly, it's been the close ones which run a few yards before deciding to lay down.
In combination with RL-17, I suspect that a 25/06 Ackley Imp. might come very close to the IdiotMag, and/or, .257 Wby. Magnum. Based upon published load data, with the 110 Gr. BTs, with the .257IdiotMag, I easily obtain velocities listed as maximum for the .257 Wby. with 100 Gr. bullets.
In reality, it's about like a short, belt-less .257 Wby Mag.
For target work, I prefer, "easy does it" (25x47 HBR/Lapua, or, 250 Ack. Imp are great) - for huntin', I like a new barrel once in a while!
But, you were looking for a 25 varmint rig - .250 Ack./25x47, .257 Roberts; .257 Ack. Imp (my personal favorite), and larger, all make very good varmint slayers - just depends upon how often you like to rebarrel.
Thanks for chiming in Randy, appreciate it! Waiting to hear back from a local smith on what he can/can't do and a decision will be made from there.
Mike
Thanks Dean!
I don't have any help for you, but I just have to tag onto this wonderful thread for future use when I get my 25-06 going.
Good stuff here... decisions... decisions... decisions....LOL.
Good stuff here... decisions... decisions... decisions....LOL.
long40shot
Gold $$ Contributor
Why oh why did i read this thread. I can feel the quarter bore fever growing in me now.
Matt
Matt
I believe Winchesters decision to produce the .257WSSM was a mistake - pretty much a "joke" - a .257 Ackley Imp. (Roberts), or 25/06 will run it ragged. Thus, yet another anemic/failed half-assed attempt
by one of the players to produce a "modern" and respectable .25 Cal.
Being a mere 0.007" smaller in diameter, can you imagine a 135 gr. .25 Cal projectile with a +.64 (G1) BC? I can! Why have not any of the BIG Boys offered a .257 cartridge featuring a 1:8" twist barrel and 135-140 gr. bullets - would make a 6.5 wonder what hit it!??! Ok, I confess, I am a .25 junkie!
For what it's worth, in a decent bolt-gun, a .257 Roberts, loaded to modern pressure levels isn't too shabby - especially when one forms the brass from LAPUA 7x57 cases.
A brief rant regarding RL-17: in my experience, it appears to be the ideal burn rate for the 25 caliber expansion ratio . . . in my 25 Cal cartridges, the velocity, compared to all other powders, is, as outrageous as the initial Alliant claims - well in excess of 150 FPS gains, without excessive pressures . . . further, I have yet to experience wide temperature sensitivity swings. In short, at least for hunting applications, in the 25's, over a range of case capacities, RL-17 is crazy good! RG
by one of the players to produce a "modern" and respectable .25 Cal.
Being a mere 0.007" smaller in diameter, can you imagine a 135 gr. .25 Cal projectile with a +.64 (G1) BC?
I can! Why have not any of the BIG Boys offered a .257 cartridge featuring a 1:8" twist barrel and 135-140 gr. bullets - would make a 6.5 wonder what hit it!??! Ok, I confess, I am a .25 junkie!For what it's worth, in a decent bolt-gun, a .257 Roberts, loaded to modern pressure levels isn't too shabby - especially when one forms the brass from LAPUA 7x57 cases.
A brief rant regarding RL-17: in my experience, it appears to be the ideal burn rate for the 25 caliber expansion ratio . . . in my 25 Cal cartridges, the velocity, compared to all other powders, is, as outrageous as the initial Alliant claims - well in excess of 150 FPS gains, without excessive pressures . . . further, I have yet to experience wide temperature sensitivity swings. In short, at least for hunting applications, in the 25's, over a range of case capacities, RL-17 is crazy good!
RG
Can we persuade someone to produce the jackets to accommodate a 135I believe Winchesters decision to produce the .257WSSM was a mistake - pretty much a "joke" - a .257 Ackley Imp. (Roberts), or 25/06 will run it ragged. Thus, yet another anemic/failed half-assed attempt
by one of the players to produce a "modern" and respectable .25 Cal.
Being a mere 0.007" smaller in diameter, can you imagine a 135 gr. .25 Cal projectile with a +.64 (G1) BC?
For what it's worth, in a decent bolt-gun, a .257 Roberts, loaded to modern pressure levels isn't too shabby - especially when one forms the brass from LAPUA 7x57 cases.
A brief rant regarding RL-17: in my experience, it appears to be the ideal burn rate for the 25 caliber expansion ratio . . . in my 25 Cal cartridges, the velocity, compared to all other powders, is, as outrageous as the initial Alliant claims - well in excess of 150 FPS gains, without excessive pressures . . . further, I have yet to experience wide temperature sensitivity swings. In short, at least for hunting applications, in the 25's, over a range of case capacities, RL-17 is crazy good!
Can't lie, I've been a Hodgdon guy since I've started reloading. Tried a couple IMR powders with less than satisfactory results and always returned to Hodgdon. With this 25 cal build, still haven't decided which way to go, I'll be giving RL17 a go! With the different load information I've researched and what I've read, it's right in there for burn rate and also appears to push a bullet faster than others. However, I am curious how it stacks up to some VV powders? After all that's what Richard Franklin would push 125 30 cal bullets damn near 4,000 fps with in his 300 WSM!
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