Greetings to all,

   I have a Stevens 44 in 25-20 SS. The twist rate is 1 in 13" and the bore is not bad at all, and the lube star left at the muzzle is even all the way around.  Paul Shuttleworth slugged the bore for me and said it was on the tight side, but that bullets sized at .257 should be OK. 
   As purchased it had issues with the firing pin and the extractor. Both problems have been fixed and the rifle is in great condition. Have also mounted a Lyman 15X Super Target Spot scope on this rifle. 
  Having a tough time developing a load that is consistantly accurate in this rifle. It starts to group and then it throws a shot or changes point on impact. It is acting the same as before the scope was mounted when it was test fired with Lyman 103 tang sight and globe front sight. Have tested with Federal 205M, Remington 6 1/2, and Remington 1 1/2 primers. Cast bullets are all weighed & inspected by eye to asure quality. Jamison brass is used and the ammo loaded as fixed. The rifles throat is not tapered for breech seating bullets. Cast bullets used are the RCBS 25-85 CB, and three different weights for and old lgt adjustable Ideal 25720 mold. Their weights are 66.5 gr., 77.8 grs. and 89.8 grs. All bullets are sized .257. So far the 77.8grain bullets have shown the best grouping. Powders tested are IMR4227, AA#7, AA#9. When IMR 4227 was tested at 7.5 gr, 8.0 gr., and 8.5 grs. It didn't burn clean and left a lot of powder crumbs in the bore as well as a bunch of smoke. This is with all bullets weights and the afore mentioned primers. 
The one load that is showing the best grouping so far is with the Lyman 25720 at 77.8 grains and a powder charge of 7.2 grains of AA#9 / Fed 205M pri. It starts to group and then one will take a walk. The best it is grouping at 100 yards is about 1 1/2" to 1 3/4".  Velocity with this load is running 1715 fps. I'm geting no leading in the bore and it is shooting very clean.         
  What's your favorite 25-20 SS accuracy load? Sendaro

Bent_Ramrod,

  Thanks for the reply. From what I gather from your post you are telling me that the results I have been getting is about what I should expect from my Stevens 44 in 25-20 SS. You go on to make the point about the greater accuracy that is being enjoyed by the shooters in the Quarter Bore Corp. is due to the faster twist and heavier bullets that they are using. You make good logic and have turned on the light so as to speak for me. I may have been expecting more form my original outfit than what it can produce.

  It has been suggested to me that I should try a harder bullet and see the accuracy improves. This is something that I have yet to try with this rifle and cartridge combo. I do plan to give it a go and see what results.

  The load that is shooting best so far is chronographing 1700 fps +. I've been told that soft lead bullets fired at over 1600 fps and faster sometimes deform. If this is so than maybe this has been some of the problem as well. So a harder bullet may improve things. What do you think?

                                           thanks, Sendaro

Bent_Ramrod,

       You've thrown much light on this subject. I thank you as you have provided an understanding of this cartridge that I had not concluded on my own. Your view is one of historical note and the results of the path it has been down. It appears that as cartridge / gunmakers get involved with a new development it usually screws things up. Have seen this so many times with modern cartridges. The 6MM PPC is a great example of this. WHen they tried to bring it out in factory rifles and ammo it flopped on it's nose! it the original form Lou and Farris designed it remains one of the most accurate cartridge the world has ever seen. That's not my opinion but rather the facts. That cartridge has doninated the BR game now for more than 40 years!

  I plan to cast some 77.0 grain bullet from a little harder ally and slow the load down to 1400 fps and see what I get. I left the test targets at our shooting house but will retrieve them and post a few photos of them soon.

   Again I say thanks for your reply and insight.

                                                   Sendaro

Sendaro, did you ever try Federal small pistol match primers?

That's the only one I use.

I don't know what to say about the targets; there are a lot of variables.  Sometimes you have to grip the straight stock tightly to get a consistent recoil and avoid vertical stringing.  Sometimes the rifle will shoot better off a rest with the forend in a different position on the bags, or even with the barrel on the bags.  You might try to take the forend off to see if it is affecting the barrel vibration.  You might try to reduce the velocity into the 1400 ft/sec range.  Have you trimmed all your shells to the same length?  You might try a few groups with jacketed bullets to see if your best powder charges tighten the groups up.

"Accutate"?   

   Joe. 

The first thing that I noticed is the vertical stringing. There are two possible solutions: first you need to up the charge a little, second the rifle wants to be rested someplace different. If you rest on the forend try a bobsled. If you are using a bobsled try moving an inch at a time and shooting groups. Or it may be a combination of the two.

40 Rod