225 Winchester

[gene pool]

Gentlemen,

As part of an estate distribution there is a Winchester Model 70 in 225 Winchester caliber. I might have the opportunity to acquire this rifle but I have zero experience with that caliber. So my question is, does anyone here have experience with a 225 Winchester that they could share? I am a reloader so I would reload for it.

Thank you,
Gene

 

[357Mag]

Gene -

Howdy !

My buddy had a target-grade pre-64 ( I believe ).

I4064 was the powder back then. These days, powders like Varget, WW748, H380, I4007 and the like would propel 50-55s pretty well.

The .225 has nothin' on the .22-250, and it was a curious step back from the .220 Swift; for Winchester.

WIth regards,
357Mag

 

[dmickey]

Just don't be like a prospective customer I had a phone call from. He was looking for .225" bullets for his .225 Winchester! :

 

[frnkeore]

I have a little experiance with the 225 but, only a little. I have a Winchester High Wall with a unknown 28" barrel.

I've tried three loads in it.

55 gr Sierra FB spitzers, 5 shot groups

33.0 gr 4064 1"+ (32.0 may be better)

33.0 gr 4895 .75 - .80

33.0 gr Varget .50 - .53

Loads that I hope to try,

33.3 Varget

33.0 RL15

32.0 H4895

31 - 31.5 3031

36.0 H380

 

[bheadboy]

The 225 i had was on a Win Hiwall, so i loaded about 5%below 22-250 loads. the bbl twist should be 14 and if so 5-55gr will do very well mine was a tack driver with imr 4064 and 3031, today varget and rl 15/17 should work well

bob

 

[40X Guy]

One of my best friends owns a M70 .225 that he bought new in early 70's, he has always shot factory ammo thru it and it is pretty darn accurate. He has invested in the dies and he found some new brass and we will be reloading some this winter for the chuck wars next spring. IMR-4064 appears to be the powder we are gonna start with along with some Sierra 52 grain bullets. It is probably 100 fps slower than a 22-250 with same bullet. It appears it was a failure as it ran from post 64 to 1972, but there is an obscure followingstill.

Frank

 

[2644ever]

Case are easily made from .30-30 or better yet 7-30 Waters. Anneal, trim necks and turn rims and you're done.

 

[219DW]

Midway has .225 WW brass in stock and Graf and Sons usually has it but is out of stock right now.
I shot a Ruger #1 .225 WW from 1995 until I had it rebarreled to .204 Wasp in 2009. Here are the loads that I shot PD's with over the years starting with the most recent. Barrel was 14" twist, 24" long of unknown make.
33.5 N140, 55 NBT, 3446 fps
34.0 N140, 50 NBT, 3581
" " " " " " " 50 V-Max,3585
35.0 N140, 40 NBT, 3812
34.6 Varget, 40 NBT 3788
34.5 Rel 15, 40 NBT, 3840
These weren't max loads, my rifle didn't group well with max loads. I shot 40 NBT's for several years for lighter recoil when I had a 15X Unertl on my rifle.

Something to be aware of when using older brass, it can vary in weight. When I bought 300 pieces of WW brass from Graf and Sons back in 1995, it was about 20 grains lighter than 40 rounds of factory ammo brass that came with the rifle. I disposed of that 40 pieces rather than take a chance of it getting mixed in with the lighter brass.
The .225 is a fine varmint round that falls between the .223 and the .22-250.
Dave

 

[frnkeore]

Found some new info today for a 28" barrel from a Handloader article.

40 gr, Sierra BlitzKing
35.0 gr TAC, 4139 fps, .54 group
36.0 gr Varget, 3986 fps, .60 group

50 gr Sierra blitzKing
30.0 gr Benchmark, 3565 fps, .46 group
38.0 H414, 3762 fps, .65 group
33.0 gr H4895, 3800 fps, .67 group

55 gr Sierra BlitzKing
33.0 gr Varget, 3582 fps, .55 group
37.0 gr H414, 3659 fps, .63 group

Frank