25 cal varminter

[long40shot]

What would be a good list of twist rates for different bullet weights. I'm not familiar with 25 caliber stuff.

Matt

 

[JRS]

What would be a good list of twist rates for different bullet weights. I'm not familiar with 25 caliber stuff.

Matt

Call Randy Robinett. He enjoys talking quarter bore, and has a vast amount of knowledge about the 25 caliber and twist rates. I shoot his 88 and 110 grain bullets, and can say this: a 12 twist works with the 88, but the 11 twist is optimal. The 10 twist works with the 110, a 9 twist is optimal.

 

[scope eye]

I like 12 twist and even have 14 twist but I only shoot 100gr bullets and lighter if you want to shoot 110,115, and 120s then you need a 10 twist.

Dean

 

[long40shot]

I like 12 twist and even have 14 twist but I only shoot 100gr bullets and lighter if you want to shoot 110,115, and 120s then you need a 10 twist.

Dean

Would a 10 twist be to fast for a 90grn sierra?

 

[scope eye]

Would a 10 twist be to fast for a 90grn sierra?

No a 10 twist would be fine for 90gr Sierra.

Dean

 

[cinch29433]

I have a .25 Souper Improved that was rechambered from a Savage 25-06 and written about in Precision Shooting. I bought it from the author of the article with 1200 or so rounds on it, put a good scope on, and discovered that with a charge of Varget and 85-87 grainers it is super accurate.

It is also lights out on anything it touches.

 

[JRS]

The choice of twist rate depends upon what you are trying to achieve. We can either choose what works for an array of bullet weights/lengths, or, choose an optimal twist rate for a particular weight/length of bullet.

 

[SheepDog]

As a hunter I would always go for more twist than I would if I was a long range target shooter. The reason for that is that I don't care if the long axis of the bullet follows the path of trajectory or not and I need it to be stable under all environmental conditions and spin fast enough to help expansion. Most of the matches at the local club fall off when the weather gets cold, I don't know if that is from shooters not liking the cold or some other reason. Does anyone here shoot long range matches in cold weather?

 

[Brians356]

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

FWIW The Sierra test staff found RL-15 ideal for both velocity and accuracy with nearly every bullet weight in 250 Ackley, and no contest. I also found it interesting that they use 250 AI to QC all 25-cal bullet.
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[CanusLatransSnpr]

FWIW The Sierra test staff found RL-15 ideal for both velocity and accuracy with nearly every bullet weight in 250 Ackley, and no contest. I also found it interesting that they use 250 AI to QC all 25-cal bullet.
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In comparison the 250 ackley doesn't have near the boiler room of a 257 Weathery, 25-06 ackley, 25 WSM etc. and from my experience larger cartridges tend to favor slower powders. Load data suggests this as well.

 

[RGRobinett]

FWIW The Sierra test staff found RL-15 ideal for both velocity and accuracy with nearly every bullet weight in 250 Ackley, and no contest. I also found it interesting that they use 250 AI to QC all 25-cal bullet.
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Brian, I will not argue/dispute Sierra's experience - mine is different. For pure precision (as in capable of winning NBRSA National Championship [point-blank benchrest] events, I'll take a 25x47 LAPUA - about 3 Gr. less case capacity than my 250 Ackley Imp. - and a case full of IMR 4007 with a 110 Gr. BIB BT. Via a pair of Bartlien 1:9" twist, 4-groove barrels, for consistent group size, "nothing comes close". But, the 250 Ack. Imps. aren't too shabby either!

I'll restate: for hunting applications, with 25 Cal. cartridges, where I will give up roughly .15 -.2 "MOA" of precision and still get <.5 "MOA", for 200 FPS more velocity, my experience with RL-17, has been very pleasing. This powder has proven it's worth in other cartridges, but never to the degree as with the 25 Cals. FYI, I collect my velocity DATA using Oehler (10Ft spacing) and/or MagnetoSpeed chronographs, which correlate very favorably.

I'll confess that I have not perused Sierra load DATA for many years - I'd almost bet that they've either not tried the RL-17, or, decided against using it, as have most load-DATA sources, all of which/whom seem to shy away from "compressed" loads. By charge weight, my 25x47 LAPUA barrels shoot equal amounts of H-4350; IMR4007; and RL-17, and also similar volume. There is little published DATA for RL-17 and several other quite useful powders . . . I suppose, it's, "enter at your own risk" territory. RG

 

[SheepDog]

The powders that are usable in any given round are based on the weight of the bullet and the capacity of the case. Smaller cases use faster powders and larger cases use slower powders.

 

[timeout]

Has anyone tried Alliant 2000-MR in their 25-06? Alliant website lists it for 25-06 shooting the Hornady 75 gr. V-Max. 50.5 grains of powder from a 24" barrel and 3632 MV

 

[wholman]

This is good stuf

 

[Brians356]

I'll confess that I have not perused Sierra load DATA for many years - I'd almost bet that they've either not tried the RL-17, or, decided against using it, as have most load-DATA sources, all of which/whom seem to shy away from "compressed" loads. By charge weight, my 25x47 LAPUA barrels shoot equal amounts of H-4350; IMR4007; and RL-17, and also similar volume. There is little published DATA for RL-17 and several other quite useful powders . . . I suppose, it's, "enter at your own risk" territory. RG

I believe Sierra did list RL-17 for certain bullets for 250 AI but I don't have their book to hand.

FWIW Dan Hackett touted the plain and underappreciated 250 Savage as a superb cartridge in its own right. He also promoted a shortened version he named 25 Hunter for hunter class BR.
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[RGRobinett]

I believe Sierra did list RL-17 for certain bullets for 250 AI but I don't have their book to hand.

FWIW Dan Hackett touted the plain and underappreciated 250 Savage as a superb cartridge in its own right. He also promoted a shortened version he named 25 Hunter for hunter class BR.
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Yes, Dan did, and I own the reamers (both size-die and chamber), a couple of the barrels, and the dies, made by Jim Borden!

Interestingly, Alliant lists very little DATA for Rl-17. In their initial promotion of RL-17, Alliant stated that the "burn rate was/is similar to 4350 (most charts place it squarely between IMR and H versions): therefore, in similar cartridge capacities and caliber (expansion ratio), one would presume there would have been voluminous DATA developed for RL-17 . . . at least, by the manufacturer.

Without fail, at safe pressure levels, the RL-17, across a range of cartridges and calibers where it appears useful, I have observed at least 120 FPS increase in MV. As stated above, in the 25 Cals., from the .250Ack. Imp. Savage, and up, the gains can approach 240FPS with fine precision. Compared to H-4350, Win. 760, H414, RL-15, etc., this is what I get with the .257 Ack. Imp. Roberts and 110 Gr. bullets. In smaller expansion Ratio calibers, of similar capacity, and MUCH lighter bullets, the velocity gains, are less - at sane pressures my .220Ack. Imp. Swift barrels only produce about 120 FPS gain.

One must always have safety in mind - I'll only take faster, if it's safe!Further, I will not sacrifice much precision for speed.

I have to take a "cheap shot" at Sierra - the last time I perused the Sierra loading manual (probably about a decade ago), they displayed 30BR DATA and a brief description - a pleasant surprise . . . until I began reading: it went something like this (paraphrase), "the 30BR is a cartridge in search of an application" . . . The BIG guys don't know everything! Often, SAAMI Specs., magazine functional OAL, marketing, etc. keep the blinders pretty tight. Having said that, I respect for Sierra for their pioneering and quality products. RG

 

[Brians356]

Do you own Dan's actual dies? If so that's an honor.
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[RGRobinett]

Do you own Dan's actual dies? If so that's an honor.
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Yes, I do - and, again, his reamer set, along with two of his barrels, which were fit & chambered by Jim Borden. Dan was a good friend, competitor. I intend to quit hijacking this thread, and post some comparative .25 Cal. case-capacities. RG

 

[Brians356]

Yes, I do - and, again, his reamer set, along with two of his barrels, which were fit & chambered by Jim Borden. Dan was a good friend, competitor. RG

Sure, I meant "dies etc".
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[CanusLatransSnpr]

Yes, I do - and, again, his reamer set, along with two of his barrels, which were fit & chambered by Jim Borden. Dan was a good friend, competitor. I intend to quit hijacking this thread, and post some comparative .25 Cal. case-capacities. RG

I don't get upset when someone hi-jacks my threads, especially when they're enlightening me ! Feel free to hi-jack away Randy!

Mike