Need some starting direction for 25-20 SS loads using 115gr bullets. I have a bunch of Montana Bullet Co. plain base, smokeless lube (red), 15 BHN, FN bullets. Twish is 1-10 and the rifle is a Ballard offhand. Want to shoot it with smokeless until I get set up with breech seater. Load books and online data sources are all over the place, but helpful. I have 4227, RL7, 4198, H110, 2400. Tried Unique; blew primers: too hot. These bullets appear to be cast quite well, though they could be a tich better. I just need to practice and experiment. I also have BACO 85 grain FNs that are perfectly (or as near to that as possible) cast and lubed with SPG. Perhaps I should melt the red lube off and replace with SPG?
Thanks troops,
Geezer

The 25/20SS and the 25/20 WCF have almost exactly the same case capacity.

For fixed, you can use 25/20WCF starting loads, reduced by 10% and work up.

Even though the 25/20SS has slightly more case capacity than the WCF, the seating depth may be deeper in the SS than the WCF. That is the reason to use starting loads.

Frank

As there is not any published, fixed 115 gr loading data available, anywhere that I know of. I was referring to his 85 gr cast bullets, shot fixed.

I would never recommend using heavier bullets with lighter bullet loading data.

I hope he understood that, if not, I'm sorry for any misunderstanding.

Frank

If he can use QL, he will have to make up a dumby cartridge first, so that the seating depth is know and should only use slower powders like Enforcer and 300MP with the 115 bullet.

Frank

Howdy all. I know this is an older post but I just acquired a Stevens 44 in 25-20 SS. Got all the goodies to reload and some good starting loads. My question is using smokeless powder do you use something to hold the powder in place when breach seating? What about Black powder loads? I have Goex and Swiss 1.5

Thanks

Hello gents,
This reply is tardy: apologies. I'm simply thanking you all for your replies. Your advice about starting very conservatively is very sound, and appreciated. The rifle I wanted to use the 115 gr bullets in is a Ballard No. 6 with a 1-10 twist. I'm going back to 85 and 90 grainers in this rifle, but I also have a Stevens 44 (1-15 twist) that I've been experimenting with. The rifle has had some very good receiver work and is tight as a drum. Briefly, I've started with reduced loads, 7.5 gr 4227, Federal small rifle primers. There's unburned powder in the bore, but it shoots beautifully with this load. I'm wondering if the lighter load is the cause of the unburned powder and if using small pistol primers might help to effectively burn the full charge. My groups are great at 50 yards and very good at 100. I can live with some unburned powder, but realize that if it works back into the chamber, problems will result.
I feel I'm on the right track now and will continue on it with the Ballard -- just with a bit lighter bullets. Thank you again.

Ramblings of an aging newbie? yes.

This is an old Winchester mold I'm tuning-up that casts an 86 grain 25720 bullet