sharps 25-45

[earlcurtis67]

I've never been a big fan of ARs but I really like the 25 cal. A friend sent me this link the other day and I found myself considering this. Does anyone have any experiance with this chambering?

http://srcarms.com/wordpress/25-45-sharps/ammunition/

 

[Marksman]

There seems to be a following for the over on the predator masters forums. It's a neat little rounds and I'm tempted to pick up a Savage barrel to play around with it.

 

[Webster]

I've never been a big fan of ARs but I really like the 25 cal. A friend sent me this link the other day and I found myself considering this. Does anyone have any experiance with this chambering?

http://srcarms.com/wordpress/25-45-sharps/ammunition/

Looks a lot like a Win 243 or a 6mm Remington.

 

[snert]

ballistically similar to 250 Savage. Much like the old 222Mx6mm used in BR for years, just a quarter bore, not a 243.

 

[earlcurtis67]

During a search yesterday I came across the PredatorMaster pages, also the Sharps web sight has a couple of good AR assembly videos for those of us who are AR illiterate. The barrels offered by Sharps are all 1-9 twist, so I'm assuming they would stabilize the smaller bullets better, 75gn Vmax or 85gn BTs. I read somwhere that someone was gonna offer a 65gn bullet. For me it would be a varmint truck/tractor gun.
E

 

[MClark]

I like the concept of the 25-45. I have a Encore in 6.5 TCU but it is restricted by no light hunting bullets. A 87 grain bullet at 2600 in a lightweight bolt gun would make me happy walking through the woods, desert and hills.
I have a Remington action and it is likely to end up as a 6mm 223 feather weight but a 25 would be better.

Mark

 

[Beruisis]

I always thought that the original M16 chambering should have been the 250 Savage.

 

[TheOtherZilla]

Then it woulda been called a 22-250..

 

[Beruisis]

if you necked down the 250 Savage to 22 caliber that'd be true but I meant to keep it at 25 caliber.
It's my favorite round.

 

[5spd]

The 25x45 has been around for a bit now. There are a group of 25x45 shooters around also.
The 25x45 Sharps is the same as the standard 25x45 off the parent .223 case.
Its easy to neck up to 25cal as it is to 6mm and down to 17 & 20 cal.
The use of a .223 bolt face makes it simple.
There is a 25x6.8 from BHW, that would be my build if I did a quarter bore. Simple to neck the 6.8 spc case down to 6x6.8, 6.5x6.8, 22x6.8, 25x6.8 & up to 30x6.8 etc.

 

[asauer]

I have experience with the 25-45 Sharps. I bought two 18" barrels and Redding dies from them last year. Built uppers for myself and a buddy.
I've been very happy with mine- Black Hole Weaponry must do the barrels for them, as mine had BHW stamped on it. They are the three groove polygonal type, and seem to clean up very well. Mine has several loads that are under 3/4" @ 100 yards. I've mostly been using the 87 Speer and 90 Sierra gameking, but haven't shot anything with it yet.
I have turned my attention to seeing what 117gr bullets do in it. I worked up to 2450fps with a Sierra 117gr spbt. They WILL work under ar mag constraints and a trim length of 1.745" or less. Sierra says they wouldn't recommend that bullet at such low velocity, so I finally scrounged some Hornady 117gr round nose which should work. Haven't tested then yet.
My accuracy loads with the 87 are @ 2850, the 90 @ 2775. All of my testing has been with Alliant power pro 1200R (very similar in burn rate to AA2200).

I built it in anticipation of Indiana changing deer firearm regulations to allow "normal" rifles, which they didn't do. So I built a pistol lower and an going to rock it this fall for deer anyways.

I think it makes for a nice compromise of just enough power for 150 yards and under on deer, yet would smack a yote with authority.

 

[earlcurtis67]

thanks for the replys, how hard on brass are these chamberings,would I need small base dies?

 

[asauer]

SAAMI spec for the 25-45 is 60k psi, so I imagine it COULD be fairly tough on brass, but I've not noticed it yet.
I have been using already once fired lake city 12. Ran through the 25-45 die and trimmed without annealing. On my third firing without a single case lost.
Shouldn't need a small base die, but if you run into issues with it in the 25-45 and random range brass you could just run it through a small base 223 die, then proceed.

 

[Marksman]

Interesting point about the brass and PSI. I wonder if it's worth necking up 223 brass or if you should just go with the 5.56x45 brass? I see they offer loaded ammo as well. Would be neat to cross section one and see what the web looks like compared to the 223 or 5.56.

 

[asauer]

I'm sure there is no difference between their brass and whomever they purchase it from's usual 223/5.56 brass. Only difference is the headstamp I'd bet. Could be wrong though, as I've never bought any as it's pricey.
5.56x45 is 62k psi max I believe, so the Sharps isn't out of line. The only load of mine that's probably pushing that is the 117gr @ 2450. It's got to be up there in pressure.

I would use whatever brass that is on hand... Hard to go wrong with lake city for the money and durability.

 

[BOLTED]

To see it in action, go to "Demolition Ranch" on youtube and search for the 22-45 review. He has an actual Sharps, and it looks pretty cool. Shooting 87 grainers I believe, and the vid shows how it has a bit more knockdown power than the 5.56/223.

Dave

 

[waterdog]

This thing sounds very interesting.

 

[asauer]

It's fairly interesting. Doesn't do anything other calibers don't do better, but for $300 you can have a barrel and dies. If you shoot 223 you already have the brass. Buy some .257" bullets and have a handy little rifle with slightly more energy than 223, and should be legal in all states which allow centerfire calibers and don't ban AR type rifles (not sure if there are any such areas).

 

[asauer]

As an update in case the original poster is still interested, I shot two small (for Indiana) does with my 25-45. Both were with the 117gr round nose @2423 avg velocity. Both deer were dropped instantly.

The first was quartering towards me and I had snuck up to about 25 yards. The bullet entered right at the back of the meaty area around the left front shoulder and exited in front of the opposite rear leg. He was dead to the world on impact.

The second was trotting along perfectly broadside to me at any 125-150 yards. One shot through both lungs and out the back. Also dropped in her tracks.

 

[asauer]

Attached are the loaded rounds to give you an idea. I trim the cases to 1.740" and they are a perfect match with the 117gr hornady rnsp seated to 2.260". The cannelure lines up just right, if crimping is what you're into.

I've fired these bullets into milk jugs- they're hard to catch. My hunting load of 2423fps passed through (4) gallon jugs and was found in the dirt berm. It seems the front half WILL shed a little bit at point blank ranges (found a few small pieces in the first or second jug) , yet will still hold together and punch through. I didn't weigh the bullet, but I'd guess it still weighs 90 or more grains.