25-45 Sharps - Looking for Info from shooters

[USAFRet]

I have an AR I am looking at rebarreling. I was planning on the 300 HAM'r, but I have decided on the 25-45 Sharps for personal reasons. It is the last deer hunting caliber my dad has shot and he took his buck of a lifetime with it a couple of years back. He just glows about it because he has always liked the 25 caliber rounds. Anyone shooting and loading this round? Can you provide stories on hunting, loading, ballistics, accuracy, issues, etc? Thanks.

I will probably still do a 300 HAM'r just because it is a potent and accurate AR hunting round, but the 25-45 will be my next project.

 

[Jerod McComas]

i shoot a bolt rifle in it as well as AR's. Its a great economical rifle that for me does everything I need. Its a predator only rifle

 

[Jim Mc]

25x45 / 25-223 / 25-45 Sharps much like the 6x45 / 6mm-223, except 25 cal.

 

[Kevin1990]

I've been researching this cartridge a little and people seem to gravitate more to the 6x45 than the 25-45 Sharpes. That being said I will eventually do one, probably in an AR platform. I think it's a very cool little cartridge. I hunt with a 6.5 Grendel in an AR and never take shots over 150 yards with it. If I could go back I think the Sharps would probably be the one I would have chosen. Watching this thread. Interested in what other say.

 

[Jerod McComas]

I've got 6 of the 25x45 rifles. Actually building another custom rifle. 700 action remagae barrel and Ti stock.
0-300yds. 75gr bullet packs them.

 

[asauer]

I have a 25-45 18” AR and I like it a lot. It has anchored 4 deer and 1 coyote right on the spot. Usually shoot the 90gr sierra hpbt gameking with ~26.2gr Alliant 1200R which shoots 3/4” groups.
I’ve shot two deer with the 117gr hornady round nose and it also anchored them on the spot.
I have a great load with the 85gr nosler ballistic tip also but haven’t tested it on any fur yet.

 

[JW1987]

I put together an 18” stainless barreled ar last year. I shot a nice buck and doe with it this year. Both high shoulder shots, drt at 150yds on both.

Both were with a 75gr sierra hp that they have discontinued. 30gr of x-terminator in lc brass and a cci450 loaded to 2.260oal. Massive damage which is expected with the varmint bullet. No idea on velocity cause my magneto speed is older and my rail is too long to clamp it on the barrel.

I worked a load up with a 110gr Hornady ftx bullet. I can’t remember the charge weight of x-terminator (24-25gr) but it’s in lc brass, cci 450, loaded to 2.312” oal in an asc stainless mag to get a little more oal. This bullet seems like it will do good on deer because it was designed for the 25-30 lever action cartridge. Made to expand at lower velocities than typical .257 bullets.

25x45 ain’t no speed demon unless you have a 24-26” barrel and light bullets.

I also use an 87gr hot-cor or 87gr Hornady sp’s over 28gr of x-terminator. Lc brass, cci450, oal of 2.260”

X-terminator has been the best powder I’ve tried in mine.

The 110 and 75 loads shoot same poi at 100 which is nice.

75 and 110 shoot about 3/4 and the 87’s about 1”

 

[JW1987]

Edit to the above post. That 110 ftx load is highly compressed, like if you aren’t careful you will damage the bullet, compressed. Not a single bit of pressure sign either.

 

[dk17hmr]

I have a bolt action 25-223 with a 24" lilja barrel. It's a super fun caliber. I have shot a handful of antelope with mine and a lot of pdogs. 85-87s are about 2925fps 110gr Accubonds will do 2700fps for me.

Midway has 70gr blitzkings on sale I have really been thinking about getting just for my 25-223.

 

[Jerod McComas]

I use Reloader 7 and get great velocity.

 

[JW1987]

I’d like to do a bolt action with a .223ai chamber to maybe get a little more speed or let you seat those heavier ones out farther. I got a good deal on my barrel or I would have gone 24”.

 

[ISS]

Who decided we couldn't just say 25-223 and everyone know what it is? I've never heard anyone say 22-45...

 

[AWS]

I shoot a 25-204 kind of like a 25-223AI+. No custom dies and no fireforming. I've been shooting it for 20 yrs.

 

[JW1987]

I think the difference in 25-.223 and the 25x45 is the 25-.223 has the neck shortened a little. The rest of the dimensions are the same.

 

[hunter67]

Following. Going to build one on my Tikka 223