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

Tcmo-33

FNG
Joined
Jan 29, 2023
Messages
85
How's the recoil on that rifle? I keep going back and forth on a 25-6.5PRC or a 25-7PRC. I want the velocity from the 7PRC but I also want manageable recoil so that I can spot my own shots.

I too am interested in any info on the 25-6.5 prc. I am in the same boat as far as recoil. My dream is to have an 18 inch barrel in the 3000 fps mark in 25 cal. And the least recoil possible


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Bluefish

WKR
Joined
Jan 5, 2023
Messages
689
I too am interested in any info on the 25-6.5 prc. I am in the same boat as far as recoil. My dream is to have an 18 inch barrel in the 3000 fps mark in 25 cal. And the least recoil possible


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Recoil is speed, bullet weight and charge weight. If you want 3k and a 134-139, the only other thing to change recoil is charge weight. Longer barrel and smaller case can let you get the same velocity with less charge. If you also fix barrel length to 18” then you will probably have more recoil as you need more powder to get the job done.

A 25-7prc will almost always have more recoil than the 25-6.5 prc for similar bullet weights and velocity as the case is quite a bit bigger.

Btw I just built a 25-6.5 and it should go to the range tomorrow for the first time.
 
Joined
Mar 16, 2021
Messages
3,586
Location
Western Iowa
I too am interested in any info on the 25-6.5 prc. I am in the same boat as far as recoil. My dream is to have an 18 inch barrel in the 3000 fps mark in 25 cal. And the least recoil possible


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
The 6.5 PRC case has essentially the same capacity as the 6.5-284. You’re not going to get 3000 MV with a .25/6.5 PRC in an 18” barrel. I’m not getting 2900 in a 22” barrel with my .25-284. I’m going g to experiment with some other powders, but 3000 is going to be tough to achieve.

I would love to get 3000 MV out of a 18”, and I think the only chance is with a .25/7 PRC or .25 Max.

If you don’t care about shooting suppressed, a 26” barrel can likely get the job done in the 25-284 or 25-6.5 PRC.

However, after observing my daughter kill an elk on Saturday with her suppressed 7-08, and being able to clearly hear the impact (185 yards), shooting suppressed will continue to be a requirement for me.
 
Last edited:

B23

WKR
Joined
Aug 17, 2017
Messages
1,158
Location
NW
I too am interested in any info on the 25-6.5 prc. I am in the same boat as far as recoil. My dream is to have an 18 inch barrel in the 3000 fps mark in 25 cal. And the least recoil possible
Unless you were to just run it super hot at extreme pressures I think getting anywhere close to 3K fps with any of the 130's from a 18in 25-6.5 PRC is going to remain just a dream.

Even with the much larger 25 caliber cartridges like 25-7 PRC, 257 Weatherby, 257 STW, 25-300 Wby getting 3K from the mid 130's in an 18in barrel is going to require standing on the gas pretty hard.
 
Joined
Jun 18, 2019
Messages
1,737
Love reading through this thread, I've got an 18" bartlein barrel to thread up, just trying to decide on 25 creed or 25 short mag (PRC or SAUM)... Have 500 of the 133 elites to run through it.
Here's my current battery:
22 creed 18"
6 creed 20"
6.5 creed 18", 20", 22", 24.3"
6.5 PRC 20", 24"
6.5 SAUM 20"
7 SAUM 22"
7 PRC 21", 24"

Thoughts?
 

B23

WKR
Joined
Aug 17, 2017
Messages
1,158
Location
NW
Love reading through this thread, I've got an 18" bartlein barrel to thread up, just trying to decide on 25 creed or 25 short mag (PRC or SAUM)... Have 500 of the 133 elites to run through it.
Here's my current battery:
22 creed 18"
6 creed 20"
6.5 creed 18", 20", 22", 24.3"
6.5 PRC 20", 24"
6.5 SAUM 20"
7 SAUM 22"
7 PRC 21", 24"

Thoughts?
If it's for a hunting rifle where it'll take a few years to torch the throat out I'd probably do a 25-6.5 PRC but if this is going to be a high volume rifle or PRS type gun then I'd opt for something that'll give you better barrel life and do a 25 Creed, 25GT, 25x47, 25XC or something in the realm.

Using only a 18in tube, for me, I'd have a hard time with anything that had more case capacity then a 25-6.5 PRC or 25 SAUM at the very most. I think much over the PRC size case in a 18in barrel and the juice wouldn't be worth the squeeze.
 
Joined
Oct 14, 2023
Messages
1,484
Location
Houston (adjacent) TX
Love reading through this thread, I've got an 18" bartlein barrel to thread up, just trying to decide on 25 creed or 25 short mag (PRC or SAUM)... Have 500 of the 133 elites to run through it.
Here's my current battery:
22 creed 18"
6 creed 20"
6.5 creed 18", 20", 22", 24.3"
6.5 PRC 20", 24"
6.5 SAUM 20"
7 SAUM 22"
7 PRC 21", 24"

Thoughts?
I’d go saum. Strictly due to the number of Creed cases you already have. I think the 133-139 would be awesome in the platform. All that said, my creed is hammering right now and I’m pretty happy with it.
 

WKR

WKR
Joined
Jun 14, 2019
Messages
1,956
Love reading through this thread, I've got an 18" bartlein barrel to thread up, just trying to decide on 25 creed or 25 short mag (PRC or SAUM)... Have 500 of the 133 elites to run through it.
Here's my current battery:
22 creed 18"
6 creed 20"
6.5 creed 18", 20", 22", 24.3"
6.5 PRC 20", 24"
6.5 SAUM 20"
7 SAUM 22"
7 PRC 21", 24"

Thoughts?
.257 Marksman
But im pretty partial as its my wildcat 🤣
 
Joined
Mar 16, 2021
Messages
3,586
Location
Western Iowa
If I go for a 3000+ MV .25 in the 130 grain bullet class I’m thinking 20” .25-7 PRC is probably the most practical compromise for hunting. Even with a 7” can, you’re still in acceptable overall rifle length to have decent balance, and the extra length provides some velocity buffer and recoil reduction.

My 22” .25-284 is barrel heavy, and I’m thinking about getting flutes cut into the #3 McGowen to improve its handling. Its noticeably cumbersome compared to my daughter’s 18” Tikka. As a result, a thinner or fluted profile at 20” may be the ticket.
 

Bluefish

WKR
Joined
Jan 5, 2023
Messages
689
I too am interested in any info on the 25-6.5 prc. I am in the same boat as far as recoil. My dream is to have an 18 inch barrel in the 3000 fps mark in 25 cal. And the least recoil possible


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Just got the first rounds down the tube today 25 6.5 prc, hornady brass, 134g eldm, 22” 1:7 with 54g of H1000 yielded 2665fps. I am sure I can bump that up, but started low.
 
Joined
Mar 16, 2021
Messages
3,586
Location
Western Iowa
Just got the first rounds down the tube today 25 6.5 prc, hornady brass, 134g eldm, 22” 1:7 with 54g of H1000 yielded 2665fps. I am sure I can bump that up, but started low.
That is very interesting. My 1:7.5tw 22" barrel 25-284 is averaging 2828 MV with the 134 ELDM and 54.5gr of H1000. Lapua brass and CCI LRP. 54.5 is at pressure in my rifle. I have about 55 rounds on the barrel.
 

Bluefish

WKR
Joined
Jan 5, 2023
Messages
689
That is very interesting. My 1:7.5tw 22" barrel 25-284 is averaging 2828 MV with the 134 ELDM and 54.5gr of H1000. Lapua brass and CCI LRP. 54.5 is at pressure in my rifle. I have about 55 rounds on the barrel.
Note it was 20 deg F today, so that may have slowed it down a little. Everything I shot was on the slow side due to cold.

I have retumbo, rl22, rl26 to test as well. Should get some testing in this week.
 
Last edited:
Joined
Mar 16, 2021
Messages
3,586
Location
Western Iowa
Ran some rough numbers using Gordon's with the 257 WBY and the 115 NBT from a 20" barrel. N560 looks to be calibrated pretty well for this formula and the results are below. With 66.5grs of powder, it projects 3147 MV. This cartridge has 82.3 grains of capacity and I think is closest to the 25-7 PRC that I know to estimate. With 70 grains of H1000, it produces 3171 MV. Both of these are a hair over max according to Gordon's. However, the Nosler reloading data has 71.5 book max for H1000 at 3302 MV out of a 26" barrel.

With the 134, I think it's gonna take max in any of these wildcats to get 3000+ in a 20" rifle. Your thoughts? Is there a tool with more modern data that can be used to estimate?

1733346516961.png
 
Top