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.25 wildcats

Steve, bullet selection is limited but in the right arena I think the 25's can hold there own. I would like to see more articles on the .257's in the modern cases.
In what way is the bullet choice in twenty five caliber limited, other than match grade bullet makers? Hunting and varmint bullets are available from 60 grains to 120 grains. Match grade from 88 grains to 115 grains. The only thing the twenty five caliber is missing is the trophy for being the most popular:D
 
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A 10 twist will work. For the 110-120gr bullets, a 9 twist would be just about perfect. If you decide to go the 25x47L, I have a JGS reamer that was used on one chamber, and a new (unused) JGS 25BR reamer.


What's the freebore on your 25x47L reamer?
 
In what way is the bullet choice in twenty five caliber limited, other than match grade bullet makers? Hunting and varmint bullets are available from 60 grains to 120 grains. Match grade from 88 grains to 115 grains. The only thing the twenty five caliber is missing is the trophy for being the most popular:D

I am not thoroughly familiar with 25 cal bullets but a quick look at the Sierra site shows the 25 cal bullet with the highest BC (And it is not a MatchKing) is the 117 gr at .410.

The highest BC for a 6mm is the 107 at .547 and is a MatchKing.

The highest BC for a 6.5 mm is the 142 at .626, it is also a MatchKing.

Using straight line interpolation the 117 gr 25 cal should have a BC of around .570 instead of .410.

The highest BC 25 cal Matchking is 100gr and has a BC of .394 and that is a 3,250 fps.

Berger has only one 25 cal bullet, a 115 VLD hunting bullet with a BC of .495.

Sierra has four 6mm bullets (three of them are MatchKings) and seven 6.5mm bullets (five of them MatchKings) with a BC higher than the highest BC for a 25 cal.

Limited choice in the sense of high performance bullets.
 
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I am not thoroughly familiar with 25 cal bullets but a quick look at the Sierra site shows the 25 cal bullet with the highest BC (And it is not a MatchKing) is the 117 gr at .410.

The highest BC for a 6mm is the 107 at .547 and is a MatchKing.

The highest BC for a 6.5 mm is the 142 at .626, it is also a MatchKing.

Using straight line interpolation the 117 gr 25 cal should have a BC of around .570 instead of .410.

The highest BC 25 cal Matchking is 100gr and has a BC of .394 and that is a 3,250 fps.

Berger has only one 25 cal bullet, a 115 VLD hunting bullet with a BC of .495.

Sierra has four 6mm bullets (three of them are MatchKings) and seven 6.5mm bullets (five of them MatchKings) with a BC higher than the highest BC for a 25 cal.

Limited choice in the sense of high performance bullets.



Steve please don't confuse people with facts.

Don't get me wrong I am not a 1/4 bore hater. For the last 10 or so years all the deer I have shot have been with a 257 roberts along with my uncle and my cousin. I have been shooting mine since the early 90's. It is a awesome caliber and a hard hitter for all the bigger it is. Just doesn't have the selection of good target bullets this site requires.
 
Steve please don't confuse people with facts.

LOL

Don't get me wrong I am not a 1/4 bore hater.

Nor am I. I wish there were bullet choices in 25 cal like there are in 6 and 6.5mm. I think a 25-250 AI would be a very interesting cartridge.

25 cal just seems to suffer from the same malady as the 270 cal. It is out shined on both sides, the 6.5 and 7 mms.
 
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Hey guys, been out of town for a minute. I haven't dropped this subject yet. I was thinking about the 25 Grendel and the 25x47L. So last night I but together a couple dummy rounds, I only have a few Speer 87gr TNT's to work with but I think they would do just fine in the Grendel case with the bullet seated just below the shoulder/neck junction.
With 47L brass and a Berger 115gr VLD hunting bullet (BC 0.483) seated to the body/shoulder junction would be approximately 2.600" COAL and still allow a 100% powder fill. Can anyone do a QL analysis...?
 
Cannot do QL for you, but, the 25x47 Lapua will, at least, equal the performance of the .250 AI, as the [Lapua] brass will take a lot more pressure. My fired 25x47 Lapua cases hold 1.5 Gr. less RL-15 than fired .250AI (Win.) cases. I have never been interested enough in velocity to chronograph the 25x47 Lapua, as it wins, places, & shows in BR tournaments with regularity, and I don't want to mess with my mind! :eek: I have used both H-4350 and especially - the now defunct - IMR4007, both with the same charge weight, for the BR competition.

For huntin', I prefer somewhat larger capacity cases: .257 AI, and .257IdiotMag, which, respectively, with 110 Gr. BT deliver 3300+ (RL-17) and 3500+(Win. Supreme 780) ;) RG
 
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LOL



Nor am I. I wish there were bullet choices in 25 cal like there are in 6 and 6.5mm. I think a 25-250 AI would be a very interesting cartridge.

25 cal just seems to suffer from the same malady as the 270 cal. It is out shined on both sides, the 6.5 and 7 mms.

Not out shined, just out pressed/publicized! :eek:
Since I was a snotty nosed brat, the media has promoted the the metric calibers, and the bullet [big name] makers and firearms manufactures have gone along. The .257 can and does, "out shine" the calibers on either side . . . it just requires more desire and effort. :D

There is nothing magic regarding 6.5 (.264) caliber bullet - it's just that, "from day one", they were offered in LONG/heavy - for caliber- weights. Applying the the same principal to the .25 Cal. model, imagine the (G1) BC for a 130 gr. BT - Ok, don't imagine - it would be about .6, and, at sea-level, Std conditions, would be perfectly stable (Sg 1.5) via a 1:8.5" barrel! Nothing earth shattering there! An additional 5 gr., and about .050" longer bullet could well produce a BC of around .63, and require only 1:8.1" twist to achieve Sg 1.5. No, this won't change anything - not too soon anyway - it's just the why of it! The all American caliber has been branded as pretty much,"a red-headed step-child", or, a rented mule! ;) RG
 
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My last wild cat was a modified 257 Weatherby.

I got tired of Weatherby brass. So, I necked down Winchester 7 mag brass with the 257 Weatherby full length sizer, the double radius formed perfectly...no kidding.

Then sent the cases to JGS and had them make a reamer off the 7 Mag brass with .003 clearance on the neck, zero freebore.

Result:

71.5g of R#22
fed 215
100g at 3850 fps,
26" Pac Nor super match barrel-3 groove-10T
Took 19 rounds to get on paper and find loads in the 2's with bullets .003 off the lands.

100g partitions shot 1/2" also

Friends/relatives used this reamer for a dozen barrels, everyone of them shot bug holes with win 7 mag brass. None have shot their barrels out that I know of...lots of head shot does at 300 yards!
 
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My .25 is a 250 Savage Ackley Improved. It has mild recoil and is very, very accurate. With the BIB .25's it's scary accurate for a hunting rig. The Sierra 87's are a killer bullet for a combo coyote/deer gun. I can't make it shoot bigger than 1/2" three shot groups with powders from H322 to WW760. ;)

If I was to build it again at this point in time, I'd opt for the 25X47 Lapua. Excellent brass and simplified dies make the 25X47 Lapua a great choice.



 
Not out shined, just out pressed/publicized! :eek:
Since I was a snotty nosed brat, the media has promoted the the metric calibers, and the bullet [big name] makers and firearms manufactures have gone along. The .257 can and does, "out shine" the calibers on either side . . . it just requires more desire and effort. :D

There is nothing magic regarding 6.5 (.264) caliber bullet - it's just that, "from day one", they were offered in LONG/heavy - for caliber- weights. Applying the the same principal to the .25 Cal. model, imagine the (G1) BC for a 130 gr. BT - Ok, don't imagine - it would be about .6, and, at sea-level, Std conditions, would be perfectly stable (Sg 1.5) via a 1:8.5" barrel! Nothing earth shattering there! An additional 5 gr., and about .050" longer bullet could well produce a BC of around .63, and require only 1:8.1" twist to achieve Sg 1.5. No, this won't change anything - not too soon anyway - it's just the why of it! The all American caliber has been branded as pretty much,"a red-headed step-child", or, a rented mule! ;) RG


I bought a 25x47L reamer set up to shoot your 110gr projectile. I'm a big quarter bore fan and was thinking about a .257/.250 ackley when this came along. I like the Lapua Brass and the case design. Hopefully you don't mind a call in the near future, just like to get your opinion.
 
My .25 is a 250 Savage Ackley Improved. It has mild recoil and is very, very accurate. With the BIB .25's it's scary accurate for a hunting rig. The Sierra 87's are a killer bullet for a combo coyote/deer gun. I can't make it shoot bigger than 1/2" three shot groups with powders from H322 to WW760. ;)

If I was to build it again at this point in time, I'd opt for the 25X47 Lapua. Excellent brass and simplified dies make the 25X47 Lapua a great choice.



What is the barrel length on your rifle, Al?
 

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