25-284 long-range rifle

[jeffreybehr]

While I'm loading for the 25-284, I'm still looking at 25WSSM loads.. As with the '284', I have dies, several-hundred prepared cases, and a barrel with about 50 rounds thru it.. One important factor when I chose the WSSM was its powder capacity...or lack thereof--its loads consume around 45-50grains of powder, while the 25-284's consume about 50-55gn.. Many of us complain about the 25-284's low barrel life (sometimes as little as 800 rounds), so the WSSM's lower powder charge might produce as much as 50% more than that...or at least I can hope.

Probably, since I have two 'identical' Savage 12BR rifles (don't ask why, pls) and two perfectly fine Zeiss 'scopes, I'll assemble both.. Hmm...even more stuff to confuse me! Good thing I keep good notes.

 

[284winner]

While I'm loading for the 25-284, I'm still looking at 25WSSM loads.. As with the '284', I have dies, several-hundred prepared cases, and a barrel with about 50 rounds thru it.. One important factor when I chose the WSSM was its powder capacity...or lack thereof--its loads consume around 45-50g. of powder, while the 25-284's consume about 50-55 grains.. Many of us complain about the 25-284's low barrel life (sometimes as little as 800 rounds), so the WSSM's lower powder charge might produce as much as 50% more than that...or at least I can hope.

Probably, since I have two 'identical' Savage 12BR rifles (don't ask why, pls) and two perfectly fine Zeiss 'scopes, I'll assemble both.. Hmm...even more stuff to confuse me! Good thing I keep good notes.

Same for me on the 284 parent case. Lots of brass so why go elsewhere for another cartridge. It's not the fastest drag car at the strip but it's sure far from the slowest. Doesn't require a magnum action and pretty efficient on powder to velocity. I have a 6.5 Grendel with a 20" barrel and love it. My next carriage I think will be a 25 Grendel with a 24" barrel. Should be able to run the 130 class 257 bullet the same speed as the 123s in the 6.5 with a 20" barrel. One of those slower 257s but at 2600 fps with the 130 class bullet, should be a great deer rifle.

 

[jeffreybehr]

I enjoy mine. If a guy uses 284 brass and has a bunch on hand, I can't think of a better way of using it. I could have went with a CM or necked down .260 brass but this 25-284 gets me 3200 fps(131-135 grain bullets) if I need it or I can lob them at 3000 if I load down a bit. Pretty versatile round really.

I don't know, but I suspect, that 284 cases necked down to use .257" bullets would end up with rather thick necks and therefore would require outside-neck turning.. But that's no worse than my Winchester 25WSSM cases that have to be outside-turned.. My Norma-brand 6.5-284 Norma cases appear to be just about the right thickness and (so far) require very little turning.

But probably you know this already.

 

[ISS]

257 Banshee here. Built my first one back in 1993. I bought 1000 of the 131's last week.

Warning to all Rockchucks in SW Idaho!

ISS

 

[284winner]

I don't know, but I suspect, that 284 cases necked down to use .257" bullets would end up with rather thick necks and therefore would require outside-neck turning.. But that's no worse than my Winchester 25WSSM cases that have to be outside-turned.. My Norma-brand 6.5-284 Norma cases appear to just about the right thickness and (so far) require very little turning.

But probably you know this already.

Haven't had to turn any yet but I've only got a couple burns on each case.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Here's a pic of my six .257" bullets.. From left-to-right and also lowest-to-highest weight, they are the Hornady ELD-X 110, the Berger VLD Hunting 115, the Patriot 120, the Sierra 131, the Hornady ELD-M 134, and the Berger Long-Range Hybrid 135.. Sure are gorgeous.

FWIW, it took this clumsy oldfart about 15 minutes to stand them this way.

 

[jeffreybehr]

257 Banshee here. Built my first one back in 1993. I bought 1000 of the 131's last week.

Warning to all Rockchucks in SW Idaho!

ISS

I wish I could join you, ISS, but I'm a bit decrepit to do something like that...and...I don't yet have the rifle(s) operating.

 

[B23]

Here's a pic of my six .257" bullets.. From left-to-right and also lowest-to-highest weight, they are the Hornady ELD-X 110, the Berger VLD Hunting 115, the Patriot 120, the Sierra 131, the Hornady ELD-M 134, and the Berger Long-Range Hybrid 135.. Sure are gorgeous.
View attachment 1610495
FWIW, it took this clumsy oldfart about 15 minutes to stand them this way.

And soon, well hopefully soon, you'll be able to add the new 25 caliber Hornady A-Tip to the end of your line up.

 

[284winner]

And soon, well hopefully soon, you'll be able to add the new 25 caliber Hornady A-Tip to the end of your line up.

Other than price, you won't see much of a performance (if any) difference between the ELDM and A-Tips. The ELDM is my "go too" bullet in most calibers. Not a comp shooter so throwing one out of the 10 ring still guarantees that deer will be in my freezer. Nice for those that look forward to them tho.

 

[B23]

Other than price, you won't see much of a performance (if any) difference between the ELDM and A-Tips. The ELDM is my "go too" bullet in most calibers. Not a comp shooter so throwing one out of the 10 ring still guarantees that deer will be in my freezer. Nice for those that look forward to them tho.

Yeah, but you aren't factoring in for the "cool" factor and there is no denying those A-Tip bullets look cool as hell so that alone has to make them better. LOL

All joking aside, it's just nice to see new high BC heavies in calibers like the .257 that have long been lacking them. With all the new interest in high BC 25 cal heavies it makes me a little sad for the 270 folks that only really have one decent high BC bullet offered to them.

 

[284winner]

Yeah, but you aren't factoring in for the "cool" factor and there is no denying those A-Tip bullets look cool as hell so that alone has to make them better. LOL

All joking aside, it's just nice to see new high BC heavies in calibers like the .257 that have long been lacking them. With all the new interest in high BC 25 cal heavies it makes me a little sad for the 270 folks that only really have one decent high BC bullet offered to them.

Absolutely. I'm not missing any heavy for caliber .257 bullets. On the contrary...Keep'em coming. I'll just stick to the 134 ELDMs and buy a few more. Those pretty A-Tips are sexy but won't make difference for me. Love to see Sierra break out an upper 120s or low 130s TMK. Someone is going to omeo it with a 140 tipped .257. Just a matter of time

 

[B23]

a 140 tipped .257. Just a matter of time

I'm certainly no bullet smith expert so I'll defer to them but it'll be interesting to see how far the bullet manufactures push these heavy for caliber 25's because at some point I tend to think the bearing surface will start getting a little to long causing them to pressure out before you can get them up to enough velocity to benefit from the extra weight and higher BC. I remember talking to guys that were having that problem with the .284/7mm Berger 195's which is a pretty long bullet but also has a very long bearing surface and they would pressure out before they could get enough velocity out of them to outperform the 180's.

It'll be interesting to see what Hornady does but I'd be very surprised if we don't see a SAAMI 25 Creedmoor from them in the near future followed by a 25 PRC off of the necked down 6.5 PRC and maybe they'll even do like Winchester did with the WSM and push the shoulder forward 40 thou in a 25 PRC, wouldn't that be a nice.

To your point, the 134 ELD-M sure seems to be getting it done. That is the bullet I intend to shoot nearly if not exclusively in my 25 SAUM.

 

[jeffreybehr]

257 Banshee here. Built my first one back in 1993. I bought 1000 of the 131's last week.

Warning to all Rockchucks in SW Idaho!

ISS

What's the typical longest shot you take shooting rockchucks?
Do you shoot from a portable table or bench?
Dawn? Midday? Late afternoon?

One can tell I know nothing about this aspect of shooting.

 

[jeffreybehr]

Regarding the 25WSSM...
Got reorganised, finished turning and weighing* a couple-dozen cases I found in a carton, selected some very slow-(if not ultraslow)-burning powders, namely StaBALL HD (#155 on Hodgdon's 2024 list of 164 powders), VV N568 (#156.5), RamShot Magnum (#153), VV N170 #147), RL26 (#150), and IMR7828 (#145).. Used only the Hornady EDLM 134 seated just touching the rifling.. These will be only 2-shot groups for mostly pressure testing but also for scope siting and additional break-in, since I've not used some of these powders yet.

FWIW and your information, the following powder charges were compressed (C) or highly compressed (HC): StaBall HD 50.0gn. (C) and 51.0gn. (HC), N568 49.0 (C) and 50.0 (HC and didn't try to load 51.0gn.), N170 50.0 (C), and 7828 (5.0 and 51.0.. RamShot Mag. and RL26 (the latter surprising me as I've not used much of it) were the only powders getting to 51.0g. with no or so little compression the charges did not reach into the case neck.

Will be remounting the 25WSSM barrel on my original Savage 12BR rifle and will be mounting the 25-284 barrel on my newer 12BR.. Might even get to Ben Avery Shooting Facility within the next week with the WSSM!

* The two negatives I've found with the Winchester cases are thick necks that require outside-turning and about 5% extreme spread in weight.. I then weigh, sort, and bag the machined cases cases within 1gn. groups.. I've had 700 new cases for a few years and have opened bags of only 400 cases.

 

[ISS]

Buy a four hole Herrels like I did jeffrey...
Or, order the new 2-3-4+ LEE big one from Titan.

 

[jeffreybehr]

PROGRESS!! Mounted the 25WSSM barrel on my original Savage 12BR, then cleaned the barrel.. Mounted the Zeiss V4 4-16 scope, screwed the stock on, and verified fit and function with samples of my reloads, new factory ammo, and of course the NO GO headspace gage.

So I have a rifle, scope, much ammo, etc.; what am I waiting for? I was going to Ben Avery to spend several hours getting the rifle sited, Garmin chono running, etc., but now I think I'll go first to another (free) spot and do all that preliminary work.

I'll mount the 25-284 barrel on my newer 12BR that came in the 6.5-284 chambering.

 

[ISS]

Why the bold?

 

[jeffreybehr]

Why the bold?

So this oldfart can read it more easily.. And I find that sans serif typefaces like this are not as easily read as serif typefaces such as the Times New Roman that I use.

 

[ISS]

Old? I was 75 in September. Match that you young whippersnapper!!

ISS

 

[jeffreybehr]

Old? I was 75 in September. Match that you young whippersnapper!!

ISS

Huh? I'll be 81 in Feb.