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

[schmidty3]

I'm looking at rebarrelling my tikka 300 mag for reasons...

First it's america. And I've never done it before.

And 2nd. Ive never had a 25.

These new bullets are intriguing and the numbers look great (and beat what my 300 can do)

Id like to throw one at 3050-3150 (maybe shoot some local prs for hunting practice so <3200).

Has anyone built a 25 prc and a 25-7 prc and have experience with both? (Or is there another relevant option for a magnum bolt face)

What barrel lengths did you end up with? (What would be needed to hit these velocities with either...I have a thunderbeast ultra 9 to go on the end, so i could see an argument to going the 25-7 route and chopping a few inches).

What barrel maker did you go with? I see PBB has some options.

And are there any intangibles or gotchas to watch for...

Is one easier to form brass with? Brass life? Brass options? Die availability/conversions to 25 cal or other die complications? Barrel life? Any other X factors worth considering?

Thanks!

 

[Ucsdryder]

I’m waiting on a 25-6.5prc. 22” barrel with 138 a tips. I’m hoping to hit 3000fps. It’ll be a couple months but I’ll report back.

 

[ReaptheHeat]

I'm curious as well and have been looking into an excuse for a new barrel. The 6.5 140 eldm and 134 eldm are near identical in BC. 6 PRC and 6.5 PRC would push each respective bullet near the same velocity. Reduced barrel life on the 6 PRC. Guess I don't see the advantage other than fun.

 

[hereinaz]

I have a 21” 25 SST shooting 133 Bergers well over 3050 fps. Haven’t worked harder but could get more velocity if so worked further up velocity.

A short mag is enough to get you where you want. 25 saum. You can change the bolt stop and mags if you want with the Tikka.

Look at the numbers on the load data for the Sherman Short Tactical. You can buy a Tikka prefit from Preferred Barrel in 25 SST and everything else is turnkey.

There is a 25 cal thread that has some discussions too.

 

[schmidty3]

I'm curious as well and have been looking into an excuse for a new barrel. The 6.5 140 eldm and 134 eldm are near identical in BC. 6 PRC and 6.5 PRC would push each respective bullet near the same velocity. Reduced barrel life on the 6 PRC. Guess I don't see the advantage other than fun.

Mainly... I think it's cool. And I like doing weird shit.

Maybe a hair more velocity. A hair less recoil. A hair more sectional density.

Nothing would know the difference between either.

The 6 just doesn't give me the warm and fuzzy's to try to shoot something big with 108s or 115s (despite all the evidence on this site ). 130 grain bullets make me feel better. Lots of things have been killed with a 270 after all.

And that 138 atip is interesting. Not sure how that stacks up as a hunting bullet.

 

[schmidty3]

I have a 21” 25 SST shooting 133 Bergers well over 3050 fps. Haven’t worked harder but could get more velocity if so worked further up velocity.

A short mag is enough to get you where you want. 25 saum. You can change the bolt stop and mags if you want with the Tikka.

Look at the numbers on the load data for the Sherman Short Tactical. You can buy a Tikka prefit from Preferred Barrel in 25 SST and everything else is turnkey.

There is a 25 cal thread that has some discussions too.

I hear ya. That's some good performance out of a 21".

On the 25-7 would fill out the tikka action. Kinda feels like I'm shorting myself going shorter (I only pack so much length I try to use it all )

It also has an argument going for it to where maybe I could get away with a 20" barrel or less. That 24" barrel with a 9" can is pretty lengthy.

 

[GoatPackr]

You might consider using that 6 UM case and neking out to 25 cal.
It's would be a .25x7 SAUM Improved. A little shorter case than the 7PRC and might let you run a little longer OAL.

 

[B23]

The WSM has nearly the same case capacity as the 7 PRC and with ADG making 270 WSM brass necking that down to .257 for a 25 WSM. It would have a little more case capacity then a SAUM improved so kinda be like a SAUM super improved and you would skip the fireforming step.

 

[WKR]

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

 

[hdc77]

I built a 25-6.5 PRC, absolute hammer, 24 inch Hart barrel, used a Short MacBros action, ended up selling because my squirrel brain can’t stay put, and wanted to build a 6 Saum. You will achieve those velocity numbers for sure. Here’s my load data, of course only safe in my rifle. This was with H1000 not pushing hard. RL 26 gave me 80fps
More .

 

[ReaptheHeat]

Mainly... I think it's cool. And I like doing weird shit.

Maybe a hair more velocity. A hair less recoil. A hair more sectional density.

Nothing would know the difference between either.

The 6 just doesn't give me the warm and fuzzy's to try to shoot something big with 108s or 115s (despite all the evidence on this site ). 130 grain bullets make me feel better. Lots of things have been killed with a 270 after all.

And that 138 atip is interesting. Not sure how that stacks up as a hunting bullet.

Yeah I get it. I'm debating a 6 mm vs 25 or keep going with 6.5 right now. To me it seems the 25 is the "in betweener" just like the 277 cal is.

In 6mm, the 108 and 109 have decent BC but you get a lot more velocity out of available cases and significant recoil reduction, but reduced barrel life. 25 runs close with the 6.5.

Not trying to hijack, I'm interested in the same info too. Especially old cases (257 Bee) with fast twist barrels to push the new heavies. There isn't a ton of load data out there right now to make good comparisons.

I have a 6.5 SAUM now and really interested in either a 6 SAUM or 25 SAUM, but not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze. Would be an elk/muley gun.

 

[schmidty3]

Yeah I get it. I'm debating a 6 mm vs 25 or keep going with 6.5 right now. To me it seems the 25 is the "in betweener" just like the 277 cal is.

In 6mm, the 108 and 109 have decent BC but you get a lot more velocity out of available cases and significant recoil reduction, but reduced barrel life. 25 runs close with the 6.5.

Not trying to hijack, I'm interested in the same info too. Especially old cases (257 Bee) with fast twist barrels to push the new heavies. There isn't a ton of load data out there right now to make good comparisons.

I have a 6.5 SAUM now and really interested in either a 6 SAUM or 25 SAUM, but not sure if the juice is worth the squeeze. Would be an elk/muley gun.

I think there's a lot to be said in selecting a modern case design. The brass stretching, neck length etc etc.

The tikka is really lacking in the 300 mag. Twist rate too slow for heavies, mag length too short. I'd prefer not to keep single feeding 190s. So I think there's enough reason to make the change.

If I had a 6.5saum not sure I'd change (unless you burnt a barrel and just wanted too)

 

[schmidty3]

I built a 25-6.5 PRC, absolute hammer, 24 inch Hart barrel, used a Short MacBros action, ended up selling because my squirrel brain can’t stay put, and wanted to build a 6 Saum. You will achieve those velocity numbers for sure. Here’s my load data, of course only safe in my rifle. This was with H1000 not pushing hard. RL 26 gave me 80fps
More .

That's awesome.

Looks like a 21-22" barrel would be plenty for what I want.

How was the brass conversion and die situation? Is it as simple as just swapping a busing on a 6.5 prc die?

Did you squirrel brain figure anything out on the 6 saum vs 25 prc?

 

[ReaptheHeat]

That's awesome.

Looks like a 21-22" barrel would be plenty for what I want.

How was the brass conversion and die situation? Is it as simple as just swapping a busing on a 6.5 prc die?

Did you squirrel brain figure anything out on the 6 saum vs 25 prc?

I found this article https://westtexordnance.com/25-7-prc-cartridge-development-and-test-results/

And yeah, shoots great, but I shoot a lot in my hunting rifles. And how things are going in CO, no reason not to spin up a new barrel. PBB has a 25-7PRC reamer too.

 

[schmidty3]

I found this article https://westtexordnance.com/25-7-prc-cartridge-development-and-test-results/

And yeah, shoots great, but I shoot a lot in my hunting rifles. And how things are going in CO, no reason not to spin up a new barrel. PBB has a 25-7PRC reamer too.

The one thing im.unsure about is...

"For bullet seating, we bought a Forster Products .257 Weatherby Magnum Ultra Micrometer seater die and reamed out the sliding sleeve with the .25-7PRC chamber reamer. This is a simple and inexpensive process, easily achieved in conjunction with the regular work of a rifle build."

Sounds like a simple and inexpensive process if you have a chamber reamer (I would not)

 

[ReaptheHeat]

The one thing im.unsure about is...

"For bullet seating, we bought a Forster Products .257 Weatherby Magnum Ultra Micrometer seater die and reamed out the sliding sleeve with the .25-7PRC chamber reamer. This is a simple and inexpensive process, easily achieved in conjunction with the regular work of a rifle build."

Sounds like a simple and inexpensive process if you have a chamber reamer (I would not)

Oooh nice good catch haha. Maybe I'll just pick up a 26 Nosler for my velocity itch right now.

 

[schmidty3]

Oooh nice good catch haha. Maybe I'll just pick up a 26 Nosler for my velocity itch right now.

I don't think guys are having the best time with the nosler case designs.

 

[hdc77]

That's awesome.

Looks like a 21-22" barrel would be plenty for what I want.

How was the brass conversion and die situation? Is it as simple as just swapping a busing on a 6.5 prc die?

Did you squirrel brain figure anything out on the 6 saum vs 25 prc?

Super easy conversion on virgin brass, one pass on a Redding bushing die with a .283 bushing or something similar depending on what neck tension you want.

I have a 6 Saum reamer from JGS, and a 6 PRC as well, but haven’t started that project.
I did have a 6 Saum briefly on a tikka action, 20 inch barrel, but I’m a Remington style guy so ended up selling it. I like the 25 caliber better, and now with the heavies even more!

 

[hdc77]

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.

 

[450Dakota]

I have a 25 WSM, 270 necked down. I’m shooting 3300 fps with a115 Berger. I built it before the bigger 25 cal bullets came out.