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

[willfrye027]

I said I'd update this thread when I got my loads worked up. Just finding pressure today but here's the results of a quick test!
View attachment 542588
I put on my new 25-284 barrel from preferred today (21" tikka build)

Worked up to pressure with h4831sc and h1000, the results surprised me. I expected to be able to load more charge weight than i did with the h4831sc. 50g was showing ejector marks and 51g had heavy bolt lift.

I was then doubly surprised when I reached the last of my h1000 loads with no major pressure signs (very slight primer flattening at 57g).

Can any of you make sense of this? I know h1000 is denser but holding 7 more grains seems kinda wild.

Anyone else have specifics on charge weight for 25-284 with 133 bergers? I'd like to compare notes!

I have a preferred 25-284 1-7 on a tikka. It’s a 26” tube I was only able to get 3060 or so with h1000 and lapua brass. My load is 3020fps. I’d load up a few pieces of brass at whatever charge you decide on to make sure it’ll last a few firings. Not really sure why my barrel is so slow, but shoots amazing and it’s got plenty of juice to stretch way out there

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

I have a preferred 25-284 1-7 on a tikka. It’s a 26” tube I was only able to get 3060 or so with h1000 and lapua brass. My load is 3020fps. I’d load up a few pieces of brass at whatever charge you decide on to make sure it’ll last a few firings. Not really sure why my barrel is so slow, but shoots amazing and it’s got plenty of juice to stretch way out there

What charge weight did you hit pressure with h1000?

 

[EVO6]

Did I read over anything, has anyone mentioned a 25 PRC build? And what they are getting with the 133 or 131 for velocity?

My Rem 700 25-06 has put down 10+ blacktails without a follow up shot. These quarter bores are outstanding

 

[willfrye027]

What charge weight did you hit pressure with h1000?

54-55

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Did I read over anything, has anyone mentioned a 25 PRC build? And what they are getting with the 133 or 131 for velocity?

My Rem 700 25-06 has put down 10+ blacktails without a follow up shot. These quarter bores are outstanding

I've not heard of any .25 PRC loads. The 6mm Primal I think is a 6mm PRC load.

After I shoot out my .25-06 barrel, i'm going for 1:7 .25-06 AI.

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

54-55

I neglected to ask, what bullet was that with? 57 without pressure surprised me!

 

[willfrye027]

I neglected to ask, what bullet was that with? 57 without pressure surprised me!

That was the 135gr Berger. I think my barrel is pretty slow for some reason and yours seems pretty fast

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

That was the 135gr Berger. I think my barrel is pretty slow for some reason and yours seems pretty fast

Funny how that works

 

[Mudygmc]

This was 3yrs ago with a 25-wsm i put together

 

[Mudygmc]

Question for you guys running 25s in the short mag variety. What is your got to powder in the heavier bullets. My barrel is 28in. I am running 115s over retumbo currently. Would like to try the 135 bergers. Thinking of sticking with retumbo. This rifle to me just isn't near as fast as I was hoping during the build. I don't have many rounds through it yet. But so far not too impressed. I ran I to pressure issues very quickly with h4350 and h4831sc. H1000 was ok but not fast by any means. I am not getting 200fps more than my 6creed with 115s and same barrel length

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

Question for you guys running 25s in the short mag variety. What is your got to powder in the heavier bullets. My barrel is 28in. I am running 115s over retumbo currently. Would like to try the 135 bergers. Thinking of sticking with retumbo. This rifle to me just isn't near as fast as I was hoping during the build. I don't have many rounds through it yet. But so far not too impressed. I ran I to pressure issues very quickly with h4350 and h4831sc. H1000 was ok but not fast by any means. I am not getting 200fps more than my 6creed with 115s and same barrel length

Just spitballing here but a slow powder ought to be your friend. Retumbo with 135s or some n570 or rl26 should get you some great velocity

 

[Mudygmc]

That's what I had in mind. Just seems guys are getting great speeds with shorter barrels and I am not too impressed with my over-bore quarter-bore

 

[Ernie]

25 Creed-Under 200 yards

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

25 Creed-Under 200 yards

Okay, we gotta see what you have going on with that firearm. Looks like 1911 frame and some creativity. Please share…

 

[Ernie]

I like shooting at distance, varminting , competing, and hunting big game with all kinds of various specialty pistols. I hunt some with revolvers too.
I have two custom Pachmayr Dominator's (25 Creed and 6.5 Creed). These are some old school specialty pistol tops/uppers, that can turn a 1911 frame into a completely different cat.

Here is some videos.
6.5 Creed

25 Creed

300 yards

500 yards

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Dang. That is awesome. Just awesome!

 

[Ernie]

Dang. That is awesome. Just awesome!

Thank you.
It is a lot of fun.

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

Just thought I'd update on my 25-284 build so others can gather info. After a talk with @Ernie i reworked my pressure test with a .010 jam (Was getting odd pressure signs at low charges previously due to Virgin brass not formed to my chamber length). Thanks again ernie!

This pressure test gave me consistent signs and I noticed first ejector marks at 56.5 grains h1000. Loaded up a seating depth test for .015 off and .025 off. The following picture is the results of the better group. .025 was good as well and came out to .8 inches. This is all being done with Virgin brass that is a bit short for my chamber but the load shoots well enough for hunting purposed that I will continue to use it until all my brass is fire formed! After that, who knows, might be able to get even better groups. Either way I'm happy.

Here is the specs on the gun/load:
Tikka action
Preferredbarrelblanks prefit 1:7 twist 25-284 BJ/ 21" length
Thunderbeast ultra 5
Lapua 6.5-284 brass necked down
56 grains of H1000
Berger 133g elite hunter
Muzzle velocity average of 2964fps


Hope this can help someone!

 

[Ernie]

Enjoyed the chat

 

[Jrkotz]

This is a great thread. Lots of good info.

I dove into the 25 world pretty hard when the 131 Blackjack ace came out. The BC, SD and reported accuracy and results on game had me intrigued.

On my Desert Tech, a Kreieger 25 creed 28.5" 7.5 twist 131 @ 2985 with RL26, a 25 SST Proof 7.5 twist 131 @ 3160 with H1000, a 25-06 CarbonSix 25" 7 twist I'm loading for currently, and a 25 PRC (necked down 6.5 PRC) that I haven't got to load for yet.

I have shot a few whitetail with the 25 Creed and it's damn impressive. The 131 used a Sierra Match King jacket, it's absolutely violent.

This year I had a deer jump down and away from me on a hill about 380yards away just as I touched off the shot. The bullet clipped the ankle of the raised rear leg and completely opened the belly to chest, as if it was opened with a knife for field dressing. Deer was dead when I walked up.

I have an affinity for the numbers. It's just how my head works. I know the real world variables are far greater than .007 bullet diameter, or .8 G1 BC or 150 fps difference, or 9 grains of bullet weight, but the 25 Creed presses my buttons just right!

I've also loaded the 133 and 135 Bergers with great accuracy, they're almost identical load and accuracy to the BJ 131. I expect they'd perform very similar on game. I've been trying load the Black Hole 145 ULD with poor results in the 25-06. I'm going to order some Badlands 110 to try next. I think as the 134 ELDM hits the shelves with more regular availability, it will be a very good option as other ELDM bullets have excellent record on game.

I think for these type of jackets (Berger J4) 2950 is such a sweet spot that keeps it slow enough to not get the "splash" or "blow up" that can happen with thin jackets, but give great down range efficacy. Peterson brass, as long a tube as you can bear carrying, 25 creed.. easy choice. If you need a shorter tube, look at larger capacity cases to make up the speed you lose in barrel length.

It's a shame BlackJack went out, they were the driving force in the quarter bore renaissance. I'm going to hang on to my 131s and try to put them in as many critters as I can. At the time, it was a risk to build a fast twist 25 based on one bullet. The market has responded, and now we've got lots of great options.