257 Kimber/25-204/257 Raptor(204 ruger based)

[AWS]

I've been loading the 25-204 since 2005 and have seen very little of these three cartridge in print over the years. They are pretty much clones of each other, the 257 Kimber was based on the 222 Rem Mag case Improved and the other two on the 204 Ruger case which is basically an improved 222 Rem Mag case necked to 20 cal.

I've been impressed with the little 25-204 being able to duplicate original factory ballistics of the 250-3000 and 257 Roberts, 100gr bullets at 2800+fps and 85/87gr bullets at 3000fps out of my 21" barrel. It has turned out to be a great deer rifle(with 100gr Partitions) for me but a little heavy handed on coyotes even with 75gr bullets

Has anyone else done any work with this trio and how have things worked out for you?

 

[Evan]

No experience, but I love the idea! Loads around 30gn of powder?

 

[gldprimr]

I've been loading the 25-204 since 2005 and have seen very little of these three cartridge in print over the years. They are pretty much clones of each other, the 257 Kimber was based on the 222 Rem Mag case Improved and the other two on the 204 Ruger case which is basically an improved 222 Rem Mag case necked to 20 cal.

I've been impressed with the little 25-204 being able to duplicate original factory ballistics of the 250-3000 and 257 Roberts, 100gr bullets at 2800+fps and 85/87gr bullets at 3000fps out of my 21" barrel. It has turned out to be a great deer rifle(with 100gr Partitions) for me but a little heavy handed on coyotes even with 75gr bullets

Has anyone else done any work with this trio and how have things worked out for you?

I had one built but by the time I got all of it together (took forever to get a reamer) I had purchased a CZ-527 in 6.5 Grendel and moved on. I haven’t even bothered to break the barrel in. I just got sick of waiting.