• This Forum is for adults 18 years of age or over. By continuing to use this Forum you are confirming that you are 18 or older. No content shall be viewed by any person under 18 in California.

Should I build a 25BRA or 25 Dasher Varmint Rifle? (Decided on 25x45AI)

AllThingsAI

All, I’m looking for opinions on my next build. My last rifle was a 6x45AI and I absolutely love it. I did a lot of homework before I built it and I would like to do the same here.

I’m thinking of moving from 6mm to .25 cal. It seems to me like the larger diameter bullets are more explosive and have a greater initial impact than the smaller cals (just my observation). I’ve shot .17, .20. .22, and 6mm. I’m thinking of a 25BRA or a 25 Dasher. I have 6mm reamers for both so I can make it work by reaming out the neck diameter and purchasing a .25 cal throater.

What are the pros and cons of of each and what do you think of .25cal...looking at 70g SBKs. I’ve never had a .25 cal before so I don’t know it’s accuracy characteristics.

Small varmint gun capable of 600 yds or so is the goal. Accurate AND flat shooting with low recoil to spot shots...but doesn’t need to be a barrel burner. Huge fan of Ackley chamberings.

Your wisdom is appreciated.

Ryan
 
Sniper338 said:
Either one will shoot good. Id go with whats easier to do... got any dies you can just swap a bushing on already?...
Click to expand...
No dies yet, no barrel. Either is pretty straight forward since I have the base 6mm reamers. That said, how do you create dasher brass? I get the BRA fireforming path, but not sure about dasher
 
Preacher said:
While your looking around, check out the 25x47 Lapua......
It's crazy accurate, sip's powder, brass last's forever...
Go hunt up a fast twist Brux barrel, and some 131 Black Jacks and enjoy the ride.....
Click to expand...
Thought about this a bit, but I might do a separate 25 Creedmoor since I already have the 6 creed dies. Not sure, what are the advantages of 25x47 vs 25 Creed?
 
B23 said:
If it were me, I'd save myself the extra work of fireforming and just go with a 25 Creedmoor. You can neck up 6CM brass of you can neckdown 6.5CM brass, and both can be gotten in Lapua
Click to expand...
I have a 6 creed and Lapua brass. 25 creed is an interesting Next, next build. Pretty easy build you don’t hear much about...probably could also replace a 25 dasher. Maybe a straight 25BR makes more sense for my next build, AI probably doesn’t bring much to the table in the BR world.
 
AllThingsAI said:
All, I’m looking for opinions on my next build. My last rifle was a 6x45AI and I absolutely love it. I did a lot of homework before I built it and I would like to do the same here.

I’m thinking of moving from 6mm to .25 cal. It seems to me like the larger diameter bullets are more explosive and have a greater initial impact than the smaller cals (just my observation). I’ve shot .17, .20. .22, and 6mm. I’m thinking of a 25BRA or a 25 Dasher. I have 6mm reamers for both so I can make it work by reaming out the neck diameter and purchasing a .25 cal throater.

What are the pros and cons of of each and what do you think of .25cal...looking at 70g SBKs. I’ve never had a .25 cal before so I don’t know it’s accuracy characteristics.

Small varmint gun capable of 600 yds or so is the goal. Accurate AND flat shooting with low recoil to spot shots...but doesn’t need to be a barrel burner. Huge fan of Ackley chamberings.

Your wisdom is appreciated.

Ryan
Click to expand...

I would speak with Randy Robinett on here, he is 25 fan and makes a great 110BT.
 
AllThingsAI said:
I have a 6 creed and Lapua brass. 25 creed is an interesting Next, next build. Pretty easy build you don’t hear much about...probably could also replace a 25 dasher. Maybe a straight 25BR makes more sense for my next build, AI probably doesn’t bring much to the table in the BR world.
Click to expand...
Are wanting to stick with a 25 BR, or some "improved" variant of, because you already have the reamers?

As was already mentioned by Preacher, a 25x47 Lapua is another great choice if you didn't want to go 25 Creed.

BUT, if you're going to shoot bullets in the 70 grain range, why not just stay with the 24 caliber? I had a 6mm Creedmoor built this part winter to specifically shoot the middle weight 6mm/.243 bullets. The only bullet I've shot in it so far is the 70gr Nosler BT and it pretty much puts those into one ragged hole.
 
Agree with B23,.. 70 grain to, 87 grain, 6mm bullets, in a .243 Win., 6 creed, 6XC, etc., flat out, get IT done, at 5-600 yd's on Yote's, in the ALWAYS present, Wind, without much,.. recoil !
Favorite load, 43.5 grs, N-160 with, 87 V-Maxes or 87 Berger HVLD's @ 3,150 FPS in a .243 Win. Both Bullets, produce Sub 1" dia, 200 yard, groups W/ 400+ sleek, BC's ! But, IF, I were building, a NEW "Long range" Yote, Rifle Today, it'd be, a 6mm SLR, with, a 1-9 TW, Brux, barrel, using N-160 and 87 HVLD's for, long Barrel Life and awesome 5-600 yard, accuracy. Just my 2 cents, tho ! SORRY to, "side Track" this Post !
 
Last edited:
Idaho-Lefty said:
Agree with B23,.. 70 grain to, 87 grain, 6mm bullets, in a .243 Win., 6 creed, 6XC, etc., flat out, get IT done, at 5-600 yd's on Yote's, in the ALWAYS present, Wind, without much,.. recoil !
Favorite load, 43.5 grs, N-160 with, 87 V-Maxes or 87 Berger HVLD's @ 3,150 FPS in a .243 Win. Both Bullets, produce Sub 1" dia, 200 yard, groups W/ 400+ sleek, BC's ! But, IF, I were building, a NEW "Long range" Yote, Rifle Today, it'd be, a 6mm SLR, with, a 1-9 TW, Brux, barrel, using N-160 and 87 HVLD's for, long Barrel Life and awesome 5-600 yard, accuracy. Just my 2 cents, tho ! SORRY to, "side Track" this Post !
Click to expand...
Only real reason to try something in .25 cal is because I don’t have one and I’m curious if 25 cal will have more “splash” factor. It’s just for fun and practice with the lathe and mill. Like most of us, we have a lot of rifles and just want something different from the pack.

I have a .243, 6 creed, 6x45AI, and 2 6BRs....I have 6mm covered, don’t even get me started on .224s. If I was to build another 6mm it would probably be a repeating 6mm PPC. Just because it would be different.

25 cal doesn’t seem to have much of a following and honestly that intrigues me a bit, good bullets are available in lower weights with the ability to go heavier (I still need to look at BCs). My guess is .25s are more efficient with the powder and have longer barrel life (but I could be wrong). My engineering brain gets the best of me sometimes. I love to learn from others with more wisdom than myself so I like to reach out for thoughts and guidance.
 
Last edited:
nakneker said:
I have a 25x47Lapua. Built by Alex Wheeler, he still has the reamer. It’s becomes one of my favorites. Hits harder than most of 6mms. Brass is easy to form, very accurate round.
Click to expand...
Well that’s 2 votes for 25x47 Lapua. Being larger in diameter it makes sense that it would hit harder and fragment better, just moving from 224 to 6mm makes a big difference. How’s the recoil on the 25x47?
 
It’s mild. I shoot 110 BIB bullets, they shoot so well that that’s all I shoot. Plus Randy was very helpful as far as quarter bore info goes. Easy to form, easy to shoot, brass is Easy to find and lasts a long time. Speaking of Randy (owner of BIB bullets), he’s shot the 25x47L a lot and would be a great source of info, I talked to him once and learned more in 5 minutes than a week on the internet.
 
Last edited:
25/6 XC, use Tubb brass...

Get reamer pilot adaptor to be able to use 22/6mm reamer, adapting to the larger ID of the 25 cal reamer bushings...make sense?

Your assumption that the larger dia bullets would fragment better may NOT be true as many of these bullets are big game bullets with thicker jackets than 6mm.
 
AckleymanII said:
25/6 XC, use Tubb brass...

Get reamer pilot adaptor to be able to use 22/6mm reamer, adapting to the larger ID of the 25 cal reamer bushings...make sense?

Your assumption that the larger dia bullets would fragment better may NOT be true as many of these bullets are big game bullets with thicker jackets than 6mm.
Click to expand...
Yep, I used that technique to make my 6x45AI. I’m not certain I want to use the larger case capacity cases like the XC, Dasher, x47
, or creed. BR based cases are extremely frugal with powder and out to 600 they are more than adequate. Just a straight 25BR might be a good place to dip my feet into the .25 waters to see if it’s worth it. 6BR vs 25 BR prairie dog shoot off.

as for bullet fragmenting, you are certainly correct about jacket thickness...however I’m really comparing apples to apples as I mostly shoot all Sierra Blitzkings in .22 and 6mm. I would assume the .25 SBK would have the same jacket thickness...But they certainly could be different. I’ll have to test to find out! ;)
 
I have a 25x47 35° Imp and shoot the 110 BIB in mine. They shoot very well around the 3030 fps area with Varget. While still fireforming brass for it I averaged 2.66x” for four 5-shot groups at 600 yards in a benchrest match a couple months ago. That combo was super easy to tune. I haven’t started load development on fired brass yet to see where it will shoot best.
 
If the bullets are getting easier to find, then those ideas above on 25 Creedmoor sound like less total work.

I have always been impressed with the terminal effects of the 25-06, but have been shy about ever owning one due to the bullet sourcing challenges. If the case size of the Creedmoor suits you, at least the sourcing of brass won’t be a challenge.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Upgrades & Donations

This Forum's expenses are primarily paid by member contributions. You can upgrade your Forum membership in seconds. Gold and Silver members get unlimited FREE classifieds for one year. Gold members can upload custom avatars.


Click Upgrade Membership Button ABOVE to get Gold or Silver Status.

You can also donate any amount, large or small, with the button below. Include your Forum Name in the PayPal Notes field.


To DONATE by CHECK, or make a recurring donation, CLICK HERE to learn how.

Classified Ads

Forum statistics

Threads
165,839
Messages
2,204,004
Members
79,148
Latest member
tsteinmetz

Share This Page

Back
Top