The .257 Marksman (25 western)

[WKR]

As some of you guys know I've been putting together a wildcat, well it's here.

Purpose is a cartridge that fits good in a SA magnum launching the 130 class .257 projectiles at 3000 fps plus with a 20 inch or less suppressed rifle. Barrel life be damned

It's not anything too crazy, simply a 6.8 western necked down to 25 cal and the reamer was designed behind using the new ADG brass, freebore was set up to run the 133 Bergers and 134 eld-m's inside a short action magnum keeping the bearing surface up above the unsized portion of the neck.

Initially I was going to reduce body taper and take the shoulder to 40° but decided against that so I can use the parent case dies rather than going to custom dies. Also with the parent case already having 35° shoulders and .555-.539 from the .200 line to shoulder, I want to see what I can get out of it before I decided to go the "improved" route.

Jgs reamer was spec'd by Wheeler accuracy and myself.

Build list is as follows
Bartlien #13 20" carbon
Kelbly Nanook SA mag
B&A Tacsport pro X ( diamond currently while it ships)
Arc rings
Maven 1.2
McMillan mountain tracker LR ( on order, sitting in an XLR currently for load dev)

Going to pressure test it today and tomorrow with the 134 and the 133 using H1000, retumbo, and h4831sc. Hoping for 3100+ fps but we shall see.

I will update the thread as I go. I am open to renting the reamer.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

Fun. Who chambered it?

 

[WKR]

Fun. Who chambered it?

Alex Wheeler

 

[Hoghead]

Nice I keep going from 25-7prc to 25 creedmoor and everything in-between. Will probably go the creedmoor route because I have everything but a chambered barrel.

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[Harvey_NW]

I like it! I think 35° is pretty optimal and being able to use factory bushing dies is convenient. Following for results!

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Looking forward to results.

 

[Harvey_NW]

Nice I keep going from 25-7prc to 25 creedmoor and everything in-between. Will probably go the creedmoor route because I have everything but a chambered barrel.

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I have a 25 Creed and knowing what I know now I wish I had gone 25-284 to get a little extra velocity for no functional difference setup on a Tikka action. It shoots great, but 130's are a bit slow at 2670 avg in a short barrel. Only 100 rds on it so hopefully it speeds up a bit.

 

[Hoghead]

I will be shooting a 117 pva Cayuga. I live in California, and that bullet works good for me in other calibers. I'm hoping to get 3200.

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[WKR]

Nice I keep going from 25-7prc to 25 creedmoor and everything in-between. Will probably go the creedmoor route because I have everything but a chambered barrel.

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I was super close to going with a 25-7 prc because of how convenient it would be already owning a 7 prc...but the tinkerer in me decided to do do something that I'm not sure anyone else has done? I haven't seen any reports of a 25 western at least besides mine.

That and I also much prefer the shorter throw short actions for hunting.

 

[Hoghead]

I'm curious to see the performance you get there is still time to change my mind.

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[WKR]

I have a 25 Creed and knowing what I know now I wish I had gone 25-284 to get a little extra velocity for no functional difference setup on a Tikka action. It shoots great, but 130's are a bit slow at 2670 avg in a short barrel. Only 100 rds on it so hopefully it speeds up a bit.

I also have a 25 creed and I really like it, but at 23" with a can it's a little long. Speeds are good at 2860 but a few hundred more fps is always a beautiful thing. The 25 creed was a gateway drug for me into super fast 25's so be careful haha

 

[WKR]

I'm curious to see the performance you get there is still time to change my mind.

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Priming the brass now...I'll keep updating the thread when I get numbers

 

[hereinaz]

This is very much like the 25 SST that I run. You’re gonna be happy with it. I went with a 21” barrel and you should get the speeds you want with 20”.

 

[pods8 (Rugged Stitching)]

I was super close to going with a 25-7 prc because of how convenient it would be already owning a 7 prc...but the tinkerer in me decided to do do something that I'm not sure anyone else has done? I haven't seen any reports of a 25 western at least besides mine.

That and I also much prefer the shorter throw short actions for hunting.

I'm assuming necking down the 270wsm would have resulted in too long a coal (with optimal bullet seating) for your action?

 

[WKR]

This is very much like the 25 SST that I run. You’re gonna be happy with it. I went with a 21” barrel and you should get the speeds you want with 20”.

Yeah I agree, very similar. Just a non Sherman option basically.

 

[WKR]

I'm assuming necking down the 270wsm would have resulted in too long a coal (with optimal bullet seating) for your action?

Exactly, the western is just a wsm with the shoulder knocked back .100. If I would have went the wsm route I would a needed a medium 700 or a tikka.

 

[wind gypsy]

Exactly, the western is just a wsm with the shoulder knocked back .100. If I would have went the wsm route I would a needed a medium 700 or a tikka.

I dont think you would unless you're saying just to keep the bearing surface in front of neck/shoulder junction?

 

[WKR]

Two shot bore sight always nice... H1000 already past 3100 without pressure