.25 Cal (Quarter Bore) / Big Game Success - 25 Creed, 25-284, 25-06, 25 PRC, 25 SAUM

[Bluefish]

I am waiting to try the 128 eldx. So far it appears to only be in 25 cm loaded ammo. I have a 25-35 ai that is only going about 2200 with the 134’s, but should be solid 300 yards for deer. Might be able to get another 50 fps with the 128.
My 25-06 will be a short barrel 25 cm for the next barrel. Maybe as short as 16”. Velocity will be down, but still plenty for the 134’s on deer. If I need longer range then use the 25 prc.

 

[ACHILLES]

My 25SST is running the 131s at 3292fps now, 30shot avg

Got a chance to shoot 2 5shot groups at 750. It was in decent wind so they should shrink a little in better conditions. First was 6.7” second is 5.7”
With a 100 yard zero it’s 10.2moa or 2.9mils to 750 at 1000DA.

 

[ACHILLES]

It was a calm evening yesterday. Had 4 rounds left for the 25sst out of the 20 I loaded a few weeks ago. Setup at 750yds again, wind was 2mph 3cl. Dialed 10.5U, .25R Group was just over 4”

 

[sierracharlie338]

It was a calm evening yesterday. Had 4 rounds left for the 25sst out of the 20 I loaded a few weeks ago. Setup at 750yds again, wind was 2mph 3cl. Dialed 10.5U, .25R Group was just over 4”

Yeah that’s money! Nice shooting

 

[ACHILLES]

Thank you, that was the only load I tested. Loaded up 61gr at + .020” and done.

 

[schmidty3]

Drew first blood with the 25 prc.

135s. 3000 fps. Fireforming load. 23.25" barrel.

3 does on depredation tags.

2 quartering too (they were curious creatures). And 1 neck shot to finish a spined doe.

300 yards. Pass thru. I hit a little high as I think she walked towards me a bit more then I expected. Substantial carnage. Sadly took out portions of backstrap and found a good sized lead chunk in a tender. (Not pictured)

130 yards. No pass thru. Right thru the shoulder. Found a chunk of jacket under the hide 4" right in the entry on the near side. Shoulder was scrapped. Hole under the shoulder was 2.5" diameter. Lung matter pouring out.

220 yard finisher. She dropped from a fellows shot. But I realized her head was still up after a bit. All I could see was the upper neck/head from a standing position. Tripod standing, trekking pole rear. Right where I wanted it and she was on to Valhalla.

I directly compared those wounds to 2 of my dad's with a 6.5 prc 156 eol at 2750 fps.

The 156s were more effective.

Excited to try the 133s. Using the now once fired brass, the load is dialed in! (I came a lil on that 58 gr group and POI). 133s at 3070 fps is the hunting load this fall!

 

[Grundy53]

Finally had some time to mess with my new 20" 7 twist .257 wby mag barrel. I loaded up 8 rounds with 65 grains of N565 and topped with 134 eldms. I had extractor marks but no stiff bolt lift. I'll probably back it of a grain and try again.

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[Grundy53]

I also just picked up another rifle from the shop had a new 18" 1 in 7 twist 25-06AI barrel put on. I'm planning on using 134 eldms but I wanted to fire form some brass first. Shot 20 rounds of factory hornaday 25-06 with 117 gr interlocks.

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[willfrye027]

Finally had some time to mess with my new 20" 7 twist .257 wby mag barrel. I loaded up 8 rounds with 65 grains of N565 and topped with 134 eldms. I had extractor marks but no stiff bolt lift. I'll probably back it of a grain and try again.

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20” barrel? Seems really slow, you are in warm creedmoor territory with equal barrel length

 

[Grundy53]

20” barrel? Seems really slow, you are in warm creedmoor territory with equal barrel length

Yeah it's a 20" barrel. I thought it was slow but I just figured it was do to the barrel being so short. I was surprised by the extractor marks because it didn't feel hot and the bolt felt normal. But every casing has a definite extractor mark.

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[MuleyFever]

20” barrel? Seems really slow, you are in warm creedmoor territory with equal barrel length

Im getting 2740 from my 20" 25CM with factory 134s and only about 50 rounds on the barrel.

 

[Grundy53]

Maybe I'll have to try N570

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[eoperator]

20” barrel? Seems really slow, you are in warm creedmoor territory with equal barrel length

This is what I was thinking, iirc my old .257w load with a 110ab was 75g h1000 w/26" barrel @3500fps. 65g of 565 w/134 seems on the low side.

 

[Quicksilver]

Yeah it's a 20" barrel. I thought it was slow but I just figured it was do to the barrel being so short. I was surprised by the extractor marks because it didn't feel hot and the bolt felt normal. But every casing has a definite extractor mark.

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Some rifles will leave marks at any level, I always pay attention to bolt lift for pressure signs due to this. Flattened primers and bolt lift is what I watch. I’ve had extractor marks well below bolt lift before, like 200fps below. Good job being safe, but I bet you got more performance left in it.

 

[willfrye027]

Yeah it's a 20" barrel. I thought it was slow but I just figured it was do to the barrel being so short. I was surprised by the extractor marks because it didn't feel hot and the bolt felt normal. But every casing has a definite extractor mark.

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What action? See if chambering and extracting a round without firing marks em up. My buddies Christiansen will mark up cases like that without firing.

You can also email Berger and ask for their load data. I found the 135 Berger and 134 eldm to be very very close on load data when I was doing a lot of experimenting in the 25 creedmoor . Another forum a guy posted that Berger had with 133s was 67.1gr of h1000 as max for h1000 in 257 weatherby.. 70gr of retumbo.

 

[Grundy53]

What action? See if chambering and extracting a round without firing marks em up. My buddies Christiansen will mark up cases like that without firing.

You can also email Berger and ask for their load data. I found the 135 Berger and 134 eldm to be very very close on load data when I was doing a lot of experimenting in the 25 creedmoor . Another forum a guy posted that Berger had with 133s was 67.1gr of h1000 as max for h1000 in 257 weatherby.. 70gr of retumbo.

It's a weatherby vanguard. I sighted in with my old known load. I didn't even think to check those casings. I'll do that when I get home. I was using bergers load data. Thanks for the tips.

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[Grundy53]

Some rifles will leave marks at any level, I always pay attention to bolt lift for pressure signs due to this. Flattened primers and bolt lift is what I watch. I’ve had extractor marks well below bolt lift before, like 200fps below. Good job being safe, but I bet you got more performance left in it.

Sounds good. Thanks. Maybe I'll work it up a little more.

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[Grundy53]

Some rifles will leave marks at any level, I always pay attention to bolt lift for pressure signs due to this. Flattened primers and bolt lift is what I watch. I’ve had extractor marks well below bolt lift before, like 200fps below. Good job being safe, but I bet you got more performance left in it.

I just checked the casings that were the old load. It definitely wasn't hot and they all have extractor marks. So I think you are right and it isn't over pressure. Thanks.

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[Nhenry]

Figured I’d add to this finally. Not finished with the development but it’s looking promising.

25-06 Rem, 26” 1-7tw Shilen Ratchet rifled barrel, Defiance Classic action


Shooting 107 HBCs with H4350, Hornady brass, and CCI 200s
Loaded a 9gr pressure ladder:
50gr - 3136 fps
51gr - 3237 fps
52gr - 3262 fps
53gr - 3315 fps
54gr - 3357 fps
55gr - 3462 fps
56gr - 3521 fps
57gr - 3585 fps; bright ejector, primer not flat
58gr - 3612 fps; slight ejector, primer not flat

Shot the 55gr load for groups afterwards, avg over 5 shots was 3467 and SD was 16. Think I’m going to go down a grain and see how that shakes out:

Think I pulled the shot marked as #5 but I’m going to take it at face value.

Edited to add:
These bullets have a listed .257 G7 which seems to be fairly accurate. They’re pretty flat out to my hunting ranges at any of these speeds.

 

[Quandary]

Quarter bore love. Here is the 25-06AI I just built to re-purpose a BAT Vampire action and XLR chassis.

Fire formed 50 pieces of brass. Shot a ladder with Berger 133EH and Retumbo. Loaded 60.3 grains to 63.4 using load data from Berger. MV ranged from 3047 on the low side to 3245 on the high. The more amazing thing is the 8 charges in the middle grouped at .625 MOA. The only oddball was the 63.4 load that shot down into the bigger group. I will now run some groups from and settle on my final load.