Help me pick my next cartridge - 25cal

[284winner]

Something sounds off on the Ackley Bob barrel. A 1:9t should have no problem stabilizing the 115s. The 120s don’t even require as fast of a twist as the 115s, so that makes it even more odd. I wonder if having your barrel recrowned would fix any erratic behavior.

Yep, definitely not a twist issue. I use to use a 10 twist to shoot the 115-120s and at 500 they shoot .5 MOA from a 25-06. The 10 twist is what most of the .257 bullets were designed around before the heavies came out. The 9 twist should be excellent for those bullets also.

 

[No manches"]

Seems like a good idea!, after I got It to shoot really good at 100 and 200 yards with IMR4155
Pushed the rifle to the outer limits of my local range and noticed bullet tumbling at the 505 yards target board.
So after I seen that i just went back to 90's and have a ridiculous accurate load. So i just kept It there.
Then i had a new at the time marlin x7 SA 22-250 i had purchased here locally at the time marlin sold to Remington so i got it dirt cheap.
And decided to make my first 250 savage Ackley case. I called ken Clemens at Brux..and we talked for a good minute. ( by the way I recommend BRUX barrels) very knowledgeable guy and very willing to help.
He was the one that recommended the 8.5 twist.
So I went ahead and had my Smith put together the 250 Ackley. As time went on to be one of my most accurate rifles to date, but too dang heavy.
Also we had a rental reamer for 4hd but sucker had a very short leade/freebore of 0.060 and had to seat them bullets deep. Thus the new reamer with a 0.090 leade..
I'll have smith look at the crown, but visually I dont see anything wrong.

 

[SweaterDood]

Seems like a good idea!, after I got It to shoot really good at 100 and 200 yards with IMR4155
Pushed the rifle to the outer limits of my local range and noticed bullet tumbling at the 505 yards target board.
So after I seen that i just went back to 90's and have a ridiculous accurate load. So i just kept It there.
Then i had a new at the time marlin x7 SA 22-250 i had purchased here locally at the time marlin sold to Remington so i got it dirt cheap.
And decided to make my first 250 savage Ackley case. I called ken Clemens at Brux..and we talked for a good minute. ( by the way I recommend BRUX barrels) very knowledgeable guy and very willing to help.
He was the one that recommended the 8.5 twist.
So I went ahead and had my Smith put together the 250 Ackley. As time went on to be one of my most accurate rifles to date, but too dang heavy.
Also we had a rental reamer for 4hd but sucker had a very short leade/freebore of 0.600 and had to seat them bullets deep. Thus the new reamer with a 0.900 leade..
I'll have smith look at the crown, but visually I dont see anything wrong.

Most likely you won’t visually be able to see a crown issue, unless there is major damage, Having a new one cut will require minimal material to be removed, too. So you shouldn’t see a notable change in velocity.

I saw earlier that you posted about 0.900” freebore, that’s a really long way out there. Are you sure it’s not 0.090”? For reference the cartridge in the attached picture would be at the lands with a freebore of about 0.160”.

 

[No manches"]

Most likely you won’t visually be able to see a crown issue, unless there is major damage, Having a new one cut will require minimal material to be removed, too. So you shouldn’t see a notable change in velocity.

I saw earlier that you posted about 0.900” freebore, that’s a really long way out there. Are you sure it’s not 0.090”? For reference the cartridge in the attached picture would be at the lands with a freebore of about 0.160”.

You are correct..I misplaced my zeros.
I posted a copy of my reamer print.
Just edit the post...good eye!

 

[rwk]

In September i bought a SAVAGE AXIS BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANTED A 25-06 IT SHOCK THE HELLL OUT OF ME 6 SHOOT TO SIGHT IN 1/2" GROUPS WITH WINCHESTER BALLISTI115GR. SILVERTIPS. oH PRICE WAS RIGHT 259.00

 

[SweaterDood]

In September i bought a SAVAGE AXIS BECAUSE I ALWAYS WANTED A 25-06 IT SHOCK THE HELLL OUT OF ME 6 SHOOT TO SIGHT IN 1/2" GROUPS WITH WINCHESTER BALLISTI115GR. SILVERTIPS. oH PRICE WAS RIGHT 259.00

Exactly the same story as my 25-06 Axis, except I bought the Hornady Superformance 117 SST ammo. Sub 3” at 400yds once I found the hold, using the POS glass that it came with ($259, including the rifle...)

 

[Hengehold]

I'd say, after 3 6GT barrels, that the 25GT would be out. Unless you want to go through the aggravation
of making it from x47 Lapua brass.
That being said, pick one that can be made from Lapua brass ( x47 or Creed). One of the guys I shoot PRS
with is running a 25-08AI. Don't know any details on the reamer, but in 15 mph wind, he doesn't have to hold off of a full size IPSC at 1000 yds.

I like the idea of a 25-08 maybe with an AI or 30 degree improved since you are making the dies and reamer from scratch.
Lots of different options for brass if necking up from 243 or necking down from 260 and should push 130 gr class Bullets in 3000 FPS range depending on barrel length.

I have not shot anything in 25 cal but seems like any case larger would probably just be unnecessary over bore and anything smaller would likely require high pressures to get into the 3000 fps.
-TH

 

[rwk]

Exactly the same story as my 25-06 Axis, except I bought the Hornady Superformance 117 SST ammo. Sub 3” at 400yds once I found the hold, using the POS glass that it came with ($259, including the rifle...)

wERE DID U GET YOUR AMMO

 

[SweaterDood]

wERE DID U GET YOUR AMMO

Cabelas. It was when I bought the rifle a couple years back though. The Horndaddy Superformance box

 

[SweaterDood]

I like the idea of a 25-08 maybe with an AI or 30 degree improved since you are making the dies and reamer from scratch.
Lots of different options for brass if necking up from 243 or necking down from 260 and should push 130 gr class Bullets in 3000 FPS range depending on barrel length.

I have not shot anything in 25 cal but seems like any case larger would probably just be unnecessary over bore and anything smaller would likely require high pressures to get into the 3000 fps.
-TH

Objectively didn’t want to have to go completely custom on dies, but I like having my own reamer for subsequent barrels. For any of the cartridges listed, a F/L Bushing die is just a bushing swap away so really a simple solution.

3000fps is really in that CM - ‘08 ballpark. I think that the ‘08 case could get close to 3100fps if the bullet could be seated way out there, but the magazine restriction definitely would not allow it. For my interest being in making power factor for NRL hunter, I need the Berger 135 LRHT @ 2820fps, or the Blackjack 131 Ace @ 2900fps. I believe these both to be achievable with the x47L case, but the Berger being a shorter bullet should lower pressure slightly @ 80fps less.

Anyway I have the reamer, barrel, scope, and trigger now. Chassis is on the way, and the action will be picked up fairly soon as well. Trying to space my purchases out a little bit, but when the bug bites, it’s hard not to scratch...

 

[SweaterDood]

I didn’t end up getting magazines yet because there is so little info on this chassis. I really want to try with AW mags sing my action is cut to accept them. I have to say, though, the finish and ergonomics of the thing are incredible.

I’m having thoughts to shorten and rechamber the AckleyBob barrel to a 24” 25x47L to see what happens, even though I have a blank ready to go. I’m mostly curious about velocity with a 24” barrel, and I don’t want to cut the new blank shorter than I’ll ultimately be happy with.

 

[284winner]

I didn’t end up getting magazines yet because there is so little info on this chassis. I really want to try with AW mags sing my action is cut to accept them. I have to say, though, the finish and ergonomics of the thing are incredible.

I’m having thoughts to shorten and rechamber the AckleyBob barrel to a 24” 25x47L to see what happens, even though I have a blank ready to go. I’m mostly curious about velocity with a 24” barrel, and I don’t want to cut the new blank shorter than I’ll ultimately be happy with.

What velocity are you hoping to get too ? 2975-3000 should be obtainable with a 24" barrel. Accuracy in the 2950-2970 range using 131s.

 

[SweaterDood]

What velocity are you hoping to get too ? 2975-3000 should be obtainable with a 24" barrel. Accuracy in the 2950-2970 range using 131s.

This would be for the 25x47L. Blackjack claims a real world ~2950fps from a 26” barrel. I need 2850 with the 135 Berger for a safety margin on NRLH Power Factor, without pushing the brass too hard.

I’ll be running a 26-27” for the regular PRS matches from the HV steel barrel, but I want to know how short of a barrel I can run to achieve power factor, for when I have another barrel cut. Pretty sure I’m going to order a Bartlein CFW, so with my current barrel being a Bartlein I might get a pretty accurate guess.

 

[284winner]

This would be for the 25x47L. Blackjack claims a real world ~2950fps from a 26” barrel. I need 2850 with the 135 Berger for a safety margin on NRLH Power Factor, without pushing the brass too hard.

I’ll be running a 26-27” for the regular PRS matches from the HV steel barrel, but I want to know how short of a barrel I can run to achieve power factor, for when I have another barrel cut. Pretty sure I’m going to order a Bartlein CFW, so with my current barrel being a Bartlein I might get a pretty accurate guess.

No problem. 2850 is cruise control for that cartridge with 135s with a 26-27" barrel. With 130s easily getting mid 29s with a 24" barrel with excellent accuracy, you'll be right in that ballpark with 135s. Good luck

 

[kindabitey]

I didn’t end up getting magazines yet because there is so little info on this chassis. I really want to try with AW mags sing my action is cut to accept them. I have to say, though, the finish and ergonomics of the thing are incredible.

I’m having thoughts to shorten and rechamber the AckleyBob barrel to a 24” 25x47L to see what happens, even though I have a blank ready to go. I’m mostly curious about velocity with a 24” barrel, and I don’t want to cut the new blank shorter than I’ll ultimately be happy with.

I've got two of the Xylo chassis. I don't anticipate you having any problems with AW mags. I'm using ARC mags in one of mine.

 

[SweaterDood]

I've got two of the Xylo chassis. I don't anticipate you having any problems with AW mags. I'm using ARC mags in one of mine.

I may get one just for reviewing purposes. I just read a good post on how to check and adjust the AW mags to best fit the action cut. I’ve adjusted AICS mags before, but I do expect the double stack feeding to present different needs when tuning.

 

[SweaterDood]

I've got two of the Xylo chassis. I don't anticipate you having any problems with AW mags. I'm using ARC mags in one of mine.

I forgot to ask, are you running ARC actions as well? The only information I’ve seen so far has been around the complete rifles or people running the chassis with ARC actions already on hand.

 

[kindabitey]

I did have an Impact 737 in one of them for a bit. Worked like a charm. Currently have an Archimedes in both, a 223 and 6BR.

 

[SweaterDood]

The Archimedes seems interesting. I’d like to fondle one at some point, but I don’t know anyone near me that has one. My smith has my barrel, action, and reamer now, so hopefully in a couple weeks I’ll have a new rig in rotation. Hopefully it likes 4451...

 

[MikeT49]

How about a 25 Western?