25 prc? 25-7 prc? Experiences? Gotchas? Intangibles?

[schmidty3]

Forgot to add, I used 6.5 PRC dies, and for the seater I just bought a 25 caliber seating stem, but you don’t really need it.

Sounds like it might be a winner. 25-7 seems a little trickier on dies and probably a few hundred round less of barrel life (not that I've ever killed a barrel)

 

[hdc77]

Sounds like it might be a winner. 25-7 seems a little trickier on dies and probably a few hundred round less of barrel life (not that I've ever killed a barrel)

If you want a modern fast 25 you won’t regret it!

 

[huntnful]

I would go 25 PRC personally. Lapua brass is the big reason. It's also a much easier neck down from .264 instead of .284. It is also plenty of cartridge to push that .25 bullet and the 20% increase in the powder for the 25-7 wouldn't yield a bunch more speed.

I think that 25 PRC is sweet spot for sure. I love big wildcats, but there is absolutely unnecessary diminishing returns at some point with all of them.

 

[Bluefish]

I built a 25 6.5prc, 22” 1:7 twist. Looking at book data, quick load, my initial rounds, the only way 3k+ is possible is hot loads or a longer barrel. I started at 54g of H1000 and was mid 2600 with 134 eldm. Seems about where it should be based on the 6.5prc data which uses a 26” as the test barrel.

Just loaded some more today to see if I can get it a bit faster.

Was easy to use 6.5 dies and just change the expander and bushing. I did have to drill the seater a little to give clearance for the tip.

 

[WKR]

I built a 25 6.5prc, 22” 1:7 twist. Looking at book data, quick load, my initial rounds, the only way 3k+ is possible is hot loads or a longer barrel. I started at 54g of H1000 and was mid 2600 with 134 eldm. Seems about where it should be based on the 6.5prc data which uses a 26” as the test barrel.

Just loaded some more today to see if I can get it a bit faster.

Was easy to use 6.5 dies and just change the expander and bushing. I did have to drill the seater a little to give clearance for the tip.

Mid 2600 with a 22" barrel!??
That's slooow. I get more than 250fps more than that out of a creedmoor case with the 134's and a 23" barrel. You should be able to get a lot more out of it.

 

[Ucsdryder]

I built a 25 6.5prc, 22” 1:7 twist. Looking at book data, quick load, my initial rounds, the only way 3k+ is possible is hot loads or a longer barrel. I started at 54g of H1000 and was mid 2600 with 134 eldm. Seems about where it should be based on the 6.5prc data which uses a 26” as the test barrel.

Just loaded some more today to see if I can get it a bit faster.

Was easy to use 6.5 dies and just change the expander and bushing. I did have to drill the seater a little to give clearance for the tip.

Something isn’t right here. A 6.5cm is pushing a 147 faster. Subtract bullet weight and add powder….

 

[schmidty3]

Mid 2600 with a 22" barrel!??
That's slooow. I get more than 250fps more than that out of a creedmoor case with the 134's and a 23" barrel. You should be able to get a lot more out of it.

That doesn't track does it? A 25 GT would probably beat that

 

[hdc77]

I built a 25 6.5prc, 22” 1:7 twist. Looking at book data, quick load, my initial rounds, the only way 3k+ is possible is hot loads or a longer barrel. I started at 54g of H1000 and was mid 2600 with 134 eldm. Seems about where it should be based on the 6.5prc data which uses a 26” as the test barrel.

Just loaded some more today to see if I can get it a bit faster.

Was easy to use 6.5 dies and just change the expander and bushing. I did have to drill the seater a little to give clearance for the tip.

I agree is slow, I started at 55 gr h1000, 24 inch barrel @3050 fps with 134s

 

[WKR]

Maybe it was a typo?

 

[sportsmans challenge]

@sportsmans challenge put together a 25-7 prc and I think has good results. Maybe he can chime in.

I havent had 6.5 prc and 7prc versions, but had 25 saum and now 7prc version.

I have noticed with the 7prc version 22" barrel and n570 that I was more easily able to get the higher velocities that I hoped for(3200 goal). I was able to get a load fairly easily and it has been accurate and easy to shoot with 134's out to 1179 so far. Two animals down, both 1 shot kills over 650 yards.

Recoil is minimal, and sound if very well match with my thunderbeast 7 ultra. Easy to follow trace if shooting from good positioning.

I have not tried bergers or sierras in this rifle.
25 saum was 23" never really got the speeds I hoped for, and not sure if I had a funky barrel or what, but had a hard time getting anything super accurate and repeatable, so dta comparison may not be worth much.

I plan for this gun to be hunting and not a huge volume shooter, so I am fine with 5 to 700 max rounds if it gets that much due to performance. I think a 20" or possibly 18" could be interesting to play with to see what happens with velocity, obviously you would have a much more compact and nimble set up, but your uses and goals dictate.
I think at 18" you should easily get 3k I would guess you may be 3050 to 3100 depending on owder combo.

Easy neck down using 7prc bushing dies, just swap the seating stem to 25 vld and go

Hope this helps

 

[WKR]

I havent had 6.5 prc and 7prc versions, but had 25 saum and now 7prc version.

I have noticed with the 7prc version 22" barrel and n570 that I was more easily able to get the higher velocities that I hoped for(3200 goal). I was able to get a load fairly easily and it has been accurate and easy to shoot with 134's out to 1179 so far. Two animals down, both 1 shot kills over 650 yards.

Recoil is minimal, and sound if very well match with my thunderbeast 7 ultra. Easy to follow trace if shooting from good positioning.

I have not tried bergers or sierras in this rifle.
25 saum was 23" never really got the speeds I hoped for, and not sure if I had a funky barrel or what, but had a hard time getting anything super accurate and repeatable, so dta comparison may not be worth much.

I plan for this gun to be hunting and not a huge volume shooter, so I am fine with 5 to 700 max rounds if it gets that much due to performance. I think a 20" or possibly 18" could be interesting to play with to see what happens with velocity, obviously you would have a much more compact and nimble set up, but your uses and goals dictate.
I think at 18" you should easily get 3k I would guess you may be 3050 to 3100 depending on owder combo.

Easy neck down using 7prc bushing dies, just swap the seating stem to 25 vld and go

Hope this helps

Do you have a 25 creedmoor too? Just curious on the recoil comparison between the two with an extra 300+ fps on the prc

 

[sportsmans challenge]

Do you have a 25 creedmoor too? Just curious on the recoil comparison between the two with an extra 300+ fps on the prc

No, I have compared it to a 260ai with 140 bergers at 2835fps and I feel it has slightly less recoil and better sound out of that ultra 7. The 260ai is a 25" barrel.

 

[schmidty3]

I havent had 6.5 prc and 7prc versions, but had 25 saum and now 7prc version.

I have noticed with the 7prc version 22" barrel and n570 that I was more easily able to get the higher velocities that I hoped for(3200 goal). I was able to get a load fairly easily and it has been accurate and easy to shoot with 134's out to 1179 so far. Two animals down, both 1 shot kills over 650 yards.

Recoil is minimal, and sound if very well match with my thunderbeast 7 ultra. Easy to follow trace if shooting from good positioning.

I have not tried bergers or sierras in this rifle.
25 saum was 23" never really got the speeds I hoped for, and not sure if I had a funky barrel or what, but had a hard time getting anything super accurate and repeatable, so dta comparison may not be worth much.

I plan for this gun to be hunting and not a huge volume shooter, so I am fine with 5 to 700 max rounds if it gets that much due to performance. I think a 20" or possibly 18" could be interesting to play with to see what happens with velocity, obviously you would have a much more compact and nimble set up, but your uses and goals dictate.
I think at 18" you should easily get 3k I would guess you may be 3050 to 3100 depending on owder combo.

Easy neck down using 7prc bushing dies, just swap the seating stem to 25 vld and go

Hope this helps

On the neck down. Did you go straight to .25? Or did you do a few steps? What dies did you go with?

What twist rate did you go with?

Your rifle sounds awesome. If the eldms are working (and cheaper), they seem like the winner. However, It'll be interesting to see if the atips work decent on critters ripping those over 3100 fps is insane.

Ive never burned a barrel out. I'm starting to do a few local prs. If I built this I'd probably take it like once right before a big hunt and see how she runs under stress.

 

[sportsmans challenge]

On the neck down. Did you go straight to .25? Or did you do a few steps? What dies did you go with?

What twist rate did you go with?

Your rifle sounds awesome. If the eldms are working (and cheaper), they seem like the winner. However, It'll be interesting to see if the atips work decent on critters ripping those over 3100 fps is insane.

Ive never burned a barrel out. I'm starting to do a few local prs. If I built this I'd probably take it like once right before a big hunt and see how she runs under stress.

I did 2 steps with redding s type FL bushing dies
7.5 twist

Lots of reports on past a tips do some looking around on them.

I think this round could be a good contender at an nrl hunter type shoot

 

[schmidty3]

I did 2 steps with redding s type FL bushing dies
7.5 twist

Lots of reports on past a tips do some looking around on them.

I think this round could be a good contender at an nrl hunter type shoot

Thanks for the info.



If youre doing nrl hunter with it you might just go ahead and order 2 or 3 barrels at a time

I did sign up for an nrl in Feb. I've got some skills to build up with the creed before I start burning barrels.

 

[Bluefish]

I agree is slow, I started at 55 gr h1000, 24 inch barrel @3050 fps with 134s

Sorry, I just looked at the Garmin data again and it’s higher than I remembered. 2750 with 54g of H 1000. 22” 1:7 twist. Also 20 deg out. Still a lot slower for 1g less and 2” less. I have more loaded up to test tomorrow.

I did check a 60g load with quickload and it looks like it’s around 64k psi.

 

[Bluefish]

Ran out for a quick check today. 55g H1000, 2.950 oal 134 eldm, 22” 1:7 at 50 deg, gave me 2840 fps. So one grain and 30 deg added 91 fps. Getting better.

 

[schmidty3]

Looks like the basic plan is as follows...

Remove tikka barrel

Get 21" tikka lite hybrid 25-7 prc (wto reamer) from PBB. 21 + ultra9 = 30. Sounds reasonable. Shoot for 3100+ fps with 134s. Need to pick a powder. N570 seems like the hot choice. WTO had really good consistency with n560.

100 ea ADG 7 prc brass (if it exists).

Redding type s FL bushing dies. A 6.5 bushing. Then a 25 bushing. I think I saw some people having success with a .284". And 25 cal seater.


....also remove pic rail. Get UM rings. And a maven rs1.2 or tenmile 3-18. Between the shorter barrel ring setup and scope change (athlon cronus), I think I can get my 11# gun down to at least 9. Also contemplate a hnt26 chassis

Missing anything?