Fast twist 25 cal real world data

[Mountainrancher]

You are absolutely right on the tikka mag issue. 25-06 is too long, you end up .07 or so from the lands at mag length with saami spec reamer. 25-284 fits perfect with the blackjack reamer and it’s an easy neck down from 6.5-284 lapua brass. I necked down 30-06 lapua to 25-06 but it requires neck turning.

I still think 25 creed is a better option unless you need a really short barrel and need to kill beyond 700 yards.

Realistically I don’t need the velocity of the 284 and should just go with the 25 creed. Plus unknown loads for 25 creed and saves me the trouble of messing with loading my own. But there’s something about the thought of that 133 Berger going 3000fps that gives me warm fuzzies.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I dislike brass prep already, no thanks on all those extra steps.

You can easily resize .30-06 brass to .25-06 in one step. I just ran about 200 through my Redding FL sizing die. Only issue I have is that they're all over 2.500 in length, and are difficult to chamber in my Tikka. However, I will be trimming to length and seeing how they work out. My brother and a buddy both shoot .30-06, so I have a more or less limitless supply of brass.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

You are absolutely right on the tikka mag issue. 25-06 is too long, you end up .07 or so from the lands at mag length with saami spec reamer. 25-284 fits perfect with the blackjack reamer and it’s an easy neck down from 6.5-284 lapua brass. I necked down 30-06 lapua to 25-06 but it requires neck turning.

I still think 25 creed is a better option unless you need a really short barrel and need to kill beyond 700 yards.

I talked to the guys at PBB last week, and they said they would adjust freebore for me with the heavies if I send them a dummy round.

I loaded a couple dummy rounds last week with some 115 NBT to check mag length in my OEM Tikka facotry mags, and i got out to 3.24 with some room to spare. I believe the published max is 3.40. I had to seat to 3.219 to get off the lands.

 

[eLightfoot]

I run a tikka 25-284. Long action mags/bolt stop.
Lapua brass
Redding dies
133 berg @ 3015~3020
H4831sc 53.5 grains
3.075 coal
Cci br2
Rock creek 5R 24”
Blackjack reamer with .131 FB

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

I run a tikka 25-284. Long action mags/bolt stop.
Lapua brass
Redding dies
133 berg @ 3015~3020
H4831sc 53.5 grains
3.075 coal
Cci br2
Rock creek 5R 24”
Blackjack reamer with .131 FB

I'm not familiar with the .284 case, and is that a compressed load at only 3.075 COAL? My 115 grain NBT .25-06 loads are jut off the lands at 3.219 starting with a 2.494 sized case.

 

[eLightfoot]

I'm not familiar with the .284 case, and is that a compressed load at only 3.075 COAL? My 115 grain NBT .25-06 loads are jut off the lands at 3.219 starting with a 2.494 sized case.

No, not even close. 284 brass is a good bit shorter than 06

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

No, not even close. 284 brass is a good bit shorter than 06

Gotcha, makes sense, thanks!

 

[B23]

I run a tikka 25-284. Long action mags/bolt stop.
Lapua brass
Redding dies
133 berg @ 3015~3020
H4831sc 53.5 grains
3.075 coal
Cci br2
Rock creek 5R 24”
Blackjack reamer with .131 FB

I think you have yourself a keeper!

25-284:

Works in short actions w/extended mag box or medium and long actions √
Standard bolt face action √
Very good velocity with heavies √
Easy to get good quality dies √
Super easy brass pep √
Lapua Brass √√

For an easy peasy great performing 25cal that works in, many, different action combinations a 25-284 is about as good as it gets and probably checks more boxes than anything else in its class.

 

[eLightfoot]

I think you have yourself a keeper!

25-284:

Works in short actions w/extended mag box or medium and long actions √
Standard bolt face action √
Very good velocity with heavies √
Easy to get good quality dies √
Super easy brass pep √
Lapua Brass √√

For an easy peasy great performing 25cal that works in, many, different action combinations a 25-284 is about as good as it gets and probably checks more boxes than anything else in its class.

The 25prc guys seem to get a good bit more velocity but with a standard boltface and a tikka action you will be well served. I was attempting to build the perfect deer rifle off a tikka I had and 25-284 is what I came up with.

 

[B23]

The 25prc guys seem to get a good bit more velocity but with a standard boltface and a tikka action you will be well served. I was attempting to build the perfect deer rifle off a tikka I had and 25-284 is what I came up with.

With the 6.5-284 and 6.5PRC case having basically identical case capacity if the 25PRC is getting a good bit more velocity with the same bullet and barrel length I'd venture to guess one is also running theirs a good bit harder then the other too because with all things being equal they'll be relatively same same.

 

[ACHILLES]

25SST
26” Rock Creek 1&7
131ACE

H-1000
3220fps

N570
3320fps

RL26
3280fps


90gr Absolute Hammer

H4350
3780fps


100gr Nosler BT

H1000
3570fps

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

This is some interesting data, if you guys weren’t already aware. The .25-06 performance data is based off Berger real world load data. I simply plugged into an online calculator to get trajectories.

The .300 win mag data is based on published 180 grain velocity and plugged into same calculator.

The bottom line is the 133 grain elite hunter with 3,060 MV vs 180 grain elite hunter at 2,960 MV is a dead heat out to 900 with the 133 pulling away at 1000.

In conclusion, a fast twist .25-06, pushing a 133 at 3,060, can deliver and maintain .300 win mag velocity with a fraction of the recoil, at extreme distance. Cool stuff if you like geeking out on the numbers.

 

[JAC8504]

This is some interesting data, if you guys weren’t already aware. The .25-06 performance data is based off Berger real world load data. I simply plugged into an online calculator to get trajectories.

The .300 win mag data is based on published 180 grain velocity and plugged into same calculator.

The bottom line is the 133 grain elite hunter with 3,060 MV vs 180 grain elite hunter at 2,960 MV is a dead heat out to 900 with the 133 pulling away at 1000.

In conclusion, a fast twist .25-06, pushing a 133 at 3,060, can deliver and maintain .300 win mag velocity with a fraction of the recoil, at extreme distance. Cool stuff if you like geeking out on the numbers.

Super interesting

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Super interesting

That 3060 MV is achieved with 58.2 grains of RE-26 @ 91% fill ratio. Berger tech told me the .25-06 and .25-06AI load data can be used for either cartridge as well as the 133 or 135. Start at medium load and work your way up looking for pressure signs. I've heard from another member that you have to be careful if you go the AI route, because pressure signs may be less visible.

I was seriously considering the AI version for improved case life and less trimming. However, I bought the Frankford Arsenal platinum case trimmer and prep center on sale on Amazon last week for $120, and trimming brass is a cinch. I was able to trim and prep around 200 rounds of FL re-sized brass in about 90 minutes last night. This was once-fired .30-06 brass that I ran through my .25-06 FL die.

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Box of 134 ELDM arrived in the mail today. Those bullets are crazy long and skinny! For comparison, my 115 Nosler BT is 1.21" and the 134 ELDM is 1.45"! Can't wait to start messing around with them.

 

[Sykes]

Tikka action 25-284
PBB barrel 21"
Berger 133g @ 3020fps
55.5g h1000

Wanna sell me that haha

I have a 25 prc also.
Adg brass necked down with a redding bushing, can't recall the size.
135 berger at 3230fps
H1000
24" Bartlien
Origin LA
Gets to 700 yards in a hurry!

 

[jjohnsonElknewbie]

Wanna sell me that haha

I have a 25 prc also.
Adg brass necked down with a redding bushing, can't recall the size.
135 berger at 3230fps
H1000
24" Bartlien
Origin LA
Gets to 700 yards in a hurry!View attachment 600485

How many grains of powder are you driving that load?

 

[Brandon.miller.4]

Wanna sell me that haha

I have a 25 prc also.
Adg brass necked down with a redding bushing, can't recall the size.
135 berger at 3230fps
H1000
24" Bartlien
Origin LA
Gets to 700 yards in a hurry!View attachment 600485

It'd be a tough call between that 25 and my first born son lol

 

[Sykes]

How many grains of powder are you driving that load?

52.8 or 58.2 can't remember which, I'll try to remeber to look tomorrow

 

[Sykes]

It'd be a tough call between that 25 and my first born son lol

25x284 was the 25 I wanted to build on my tikka for years. But Found this 25prc barrel and brass on the hide for a good price