As I age, recoil becomes less tolerable for me. I can handle it, however, I don't like it one bit any longer. So, I decided to build a 25 Creedmoor. I contacted Greg Young from Southern Precision Rifles, more affectionately known as "Bugholes" to me, about a build. Greg had a McMillan "Kestros" on hand, which is the only stock I use for F-Open. I ordered a Defiance "Deviant" action, and a Bartlein 4 groove "Gain Twist" barrel from 8 down to 7.5 to handle the new Berger 135gr. LR Hybrid bullet. Darin Minnear at Southern, told me about a SID HE "Br EVO" trigger. The trigger breaks VERY cleanly and "crisply" at 2 ounces. By the way, Darin did the barrel work on the rifle. He does excellent work! I picked up the rifle yesterday (6-30-26) and was really impressed at the quality of the build! Greg and Southern Precision did an excellent job. I topped it off with a March High Master 10-60 with the 3/32 dot. I understand the value of one of those crosshairs with hash marks and numbers etc.. But I like "clean" reticles that are not "busy".
I have not shot it yet, however, I have a bunch of rounds loaded with both the Sierra 131 as well as the Berger 135. What was interesting was that finding the lands with BOTH bullets proved to be exactly the same. However, getting them to their "position" off the lands was almost a 60thou difference! I am going to use BOTH H4350 and N555 to see which shoots better. Honestly, I am hoping N555 does, as it seems to burn CONSIDERABLY "cooler" than H4350. Past experience with me says that H4350 is one of the finest powders there is! However, it will eat your barrel up like candy! I bought Peterson LR brass. The main reason I did this was because Peterson makes 22 Creedmoor brass and they developed a "head" that is "harder / tougher" than their other brass. They decided to extend this technology over to include the 25 Creedmoor brass. This should account for some good longevity in the brass. I have some Alpha Munitions 6 Creedmoor brass that I made into 25 Creedmoor for comparison's sake.
Hopefully, some time this week I will get to the range and "break-in" the barrel and shoot some loads. I know, I know, "breaking in a barrel" is a thing of the past. However, this old fart don't break habits very easily. Having said that, it will be a "modified" break in. One round, clean to the bone, two rounds, clean to the bone, two more round, clean to the bone, then that will be it. However, changing from one powder to the next, I will also scrub to the bone. Not that that will make a difference, but it will give the barrel a chance to cool and not allow for too much hard carbon to build up as the barrel finishes it's breaking in. At any rate as this project progresses, I will bring updates to let y'all know how it is coming along. NOTE: on the 14th of July, I will be in surgery that will put me out of commission for about 2 months. Please pray and after I get back to the range, I will get more info on the progression of this project. Thanks Guys..
I have not shot it yet, however, I have a bunch of rounds loaded with both the Sierra 131 as well as the Berger 135. What was interesting was that finding the lands with BOTH bullets proved to be exactly the same. However, getting them to their "position" off the lands was almost a 60thou difference! I am going to use BOTH H4350 and N555 to see which shoots better. Honestly, I am hoping N555 does, as it seems to burn CONSIDERABLY "cooler" than H4350. Past experience with me says that H4350 is one of the finest powders there is! However, it will eat your barrel up like candy! I bought Peterson LR brass. The main reason I did this was because Peterson makes 22 Creedmoor brass and they developed a "head" that is "harder / tougher" than their other brass. They decided to extend this technology over to include the 25 Creedmoor brass. This should account for some good longevity in the brass. I have some Alpha Munitions 6 Creedmoor brass that I made into 25 Creedmoor for comparison's sake.
Hopefully, some time this week I will get to the range and "break-in" the barrel and shoot some loads. I know, I know, "breaking in a barrel" is a thing of the past. However, this old fart don't break habits very easily. Having said that, it will be a "modified" break in. One round, clean to the bone, two rounds, clean to the bone, two more round, clean to the bone, then that will be it. However, changing from one powder to the next, I will also scrub to the bone. Not that that will make a difference, but it will give the barrel a chance to cool and not allow for too much hard carbon to build up as the barrel finishes it's breaking in. At any rate as this project progresses, I will bring updates to let y'all know how it is coming along. NOTE: on the 14th of July, I will be in surgery that will put me out of commission for about 2 months. Please pray and after I get back to the range, I will get more info on the progression of this project. Thanks Guys..
