Help me pick my next cartridge - 25cal

[SweaterDood]

I'm a pretty big fan of just about everything 284 so my first thought is 25-284 but being this will be a PRS gun and if you want something with a bit more barrel life I'd probably go 25 Creedmoor.

Either, would be easy peasy and both have top shelf brass available for them.

I almost did a 25-284 for my current rifle. But I wanted to be difficult and experiment with a true wildcat design, so I developed my QPC cartridge. Was a great learning experience. Ultimately I will probably make a short action cartridge based on the 284 case, but I’ve been following the project that Fuj is working on to see how it goes.

 

[284winner]

My 25-06 and AI are basically the same set-up. It’s build on a cheap Savage so the AI barrel is just a Shilen prefit. I was able to call them and have a 1:7 twist made. I know it’s too fast for the ‘06 case, but I just download it some.

Not for the solids

 

[SweaterDood]

Not for the solids

1:7 is too fast for the Blackjacks and Berger 135s at 3250. Back it down to 3050 and all is kosher again.

I don’t feel like coughing up the dough for solids. I personally don’t see enough of a benefit for my applications.

 

[rickiesrevenge]

Well, what did you pick?

 

[284winner]

1:7 is too fast for the Blackjacks and Berger 135s at 3250. Back it down to 3050 and all is kosher again.

I don’t feel like coughing up the dough for solids. I personally don’t see enough of a benefit for my applications.

I had the same thought but being mine is a hunting rifle, those costs aren't so bad. IF mine was a 7 twist, I'd definitely be running solids for some if my hunting needs with the heavier bullets. Being I can use a variety of lighter 110-120 bullets, I'll mostly stick with them. 7.5 allows a little more flexibility. I figure 3100 would be my 131 BJ accuracy velocity. Not sure I'd need to run any solids with the 131/133/135s out there. I did buy a couple boxes of different solids for testing. They won't be my guns diet bullet tho.

 

[std7mag]

If you want true wildcat, @Fuj is working on 2 versions of a shortened 284 Win case.
His SA284 is the same length as a 308 case.
His ELF is 1.70" if i remember correctly.

I'm really wanting to play with his ELF case necked to 25 caliber!

 

[284winner]

If you want true wildcat, @Fuj is working on 2 versions of a shortened 284 Win case.
His SA284 is the same length as a 308 case.
His ELF is 1.70" if i remember correctly.

I'm really wanting to play with his ELF case necked to 25 caliber!

The 25-284 is a true wildcat. His are shortened 284 cases and redesigned wildcats. Made for short actions for sure which is a cool case for sure.

 

[Fuj]

Personally, i'd say 25 Souper.
But if you need the long bullets seated out, i'm not sure they would fit in a detachable magazine.
So my vote was 25-47.

Shame on you Kenny.....LOL

I posted "other" in the poll. If you need or want to load
the bullet out further, The 250/3000 Savage will get it done.
The only thing that some would moan about is primer pockets.
I don't.

 

[Robert Weidler]

... Wildcats on the 6XC necked up to .25" cal and made on .35 Remington brass necked down would be in the " .25-47L " - plus capacity range.

With regards,
357Mag

I built a 25 gun based on the 6XC case slightly modified (35 degree shoulder) to use the Blackjack 131 over RL17. It worked great until I ran out of RL17 and couldn't get any more. I've been trying other powders (4350, N555, H hybrid 100V, Win 6.5 Stabol) but none have the energy/pressure curve of RL17 and I can't get the velocity back up to 2980-3000. N555 shoots well but the velocity is only 2800 with a full case load. Maybe spring will bring some RL17 or 16 or maybe I'll start over with a larger case. and use up the powder I have. In any case its a great caliber and the Berger 135 LRH also shoots well.

 

[std7mag]

I built a 25 gun based on the 6XC case slightly modified (35 degree shoulder) to use the Blackjack 131 over RL17. It worked great until I ran out of RL17 and couldn't get any more. I've been trying other powders (4350, N555, H hybrid 100V, Win 6.5 Stabol) but none have the energy/pressure curve of RL17 and I can't get the velocity back up to 2980-3000. N555 shoots well but the velocity is only 2800 with a full case load. Maybe spring will bring some RL17 or 16 or maybe I'll start over with a larger case. and use up the powder I have. In any case its a great caliber and the Berger 135 LRH also shoots well.

Isn't the 6XC parent case the 250 Savage?

Shame on you Kenny.....LOL

I posted "other" in the poll. If you need or want to load
the bullet out further, The 250/3000 Savage will get it done.
The only thing that some would moan about is primer pockets.
I don't.

Gary, you know i'd like nothing better than to see something so obscure as the 250 Savage running in a PRS match!
Hence why i'm building my bench rest rifle in 250 Savage.

I messed up & went with the "industry standard" 1:10 twist.
Shoulda went with a 1:8.

 

[Fuj]

I messed up & went with the "industry standard" 1:10 twist.
Shoulda went with a 1:8.

8 twister would have been perfect. You could push the 131 BJ's
at a low of 2800 fps and still be above the marginal stability
numbers.

 

[284winner]

I built a 25 gun based on the 6XC case slightly modified (35 degree shoulder) to use the Blackjack 131 over RL17. It worked great until I ran out of RL17 and couldn't get any more. I've been trying other powders (4350, N555, H hybrid 100V, Win 6.5 Stabol) but none have the energy/pressure curve of RL17 and I can't get the velocity back up to 2980-3000. N555 shoots well but the velocity is only 2800 with a full case load. Maybe spring will bring some RL17 or 16 or maybe I'll start over with a larger case. and use up the powder I have. In any case its a great caliber and the Berger 135 LRH also shoots well.

I've suspected RL17 would fuel my 25-284 as good or better than any other powders. It's the fastest for my 284 running 160-180s hands down. I'm gonna give it a try once I get some load data with RL26 with the 131s. Hoping it'll be a good substitute

 

[AWS]

I built a 25-204 sixteen years ago and it has done yeoman duty, matching original factory ballistics for the 250-3000 and 257 Roberts 100gr Partition at 2850fps, I had a small boltface action available.

25-204 success

If I were to do it again I'd go with a 7.62x39 Mini-Mauser action and build a 25x39/25-6.5G and drop it in a nice Mannlicher style stock. Though the 6.5 Grendel is pretty decent also, I have one of those in a bolt-action also.

only .007 larger and is pretty handy also Mini Howa in 6.5G

 

[std7mag]

I've suspected RL17 would fuel my 25-284 as good or better than any other powders. It's the fastest for my 284 running 160-180s hands down. I'm gonna give it a try once I get some load data with RL26 with the 131s. Hoping it'll be a good substitute

You might wanna give RL23 a try.

 

[284winner]

You might wanna give RL23 a try.

Yep, plan on it. I have alot of it and 26. Having alot of RL17 makes me want to give it a try also. I'm sure they'll all be fairly close.

 

[Beiruty]

Try 25 in a 6.5 PRC

 

[Robert Weidler]

I've suspected RL17 would fuel my 25-284 as good or better than any other powders. It's the fastest for my 284 running 160-180s hands down. I'm gonna give it a try once I get some load data with RL26 with the 131s. Hoping it'll be a good substitute

My experience with RL17 is both happy and not. I very like its energy to pressure ratio as I could get 3000+ velocity without pressure problems, however RL17 is very temperature sensitive. This past July, shooting at Spearpoint, I saw my velocities increase 50 to 60 fps over the course of five hours from a relatively cool 8 am to a quite hot 1 pm. This necessitated numerous adjustments to my ballistic app to remain on target (1400 yds) and of course many missed shots. I didn't do enough temperature testing this year, lesson learned.

 

[Robert Weidler]

Anyone know the case capacity (H2O) of the 6.5 PRC?

 

[B23]

Anyone know the case capacity (H2O) of the 6.5 PRC?

ADG 68gr +/- H20

Hornady 68.5 +/- H20

That was with new unfired brass.

 

[Fuj]

Anyone know the case capacity (H2O) of the 6.5 PRC?

Give or take 68.5.