ASSRA Forum - Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought

ASSRA Forum › General › Reloading the Single Shot Rifle › Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought

(Moderator Group: Moderator)

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

Page Index Toggle

Pages: 1

Hot Topic (More than 10 Replies)

Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought (Read 4162 times)

Remington40x Full Member Offline Posts: 166 Location: Bucks County, PA Joined: Oct 18^th, 2007	Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Jan 7^th, 2019 at 10:27am	Print Post
	I am shooting an ASSRA indoor match this coming weekend and using a .25-20 Winchester using cast bullets (87 grain). The range requires the centerfire loads to be "squib", which it defines as subsonic. The slowest 87 grain load I've managed to find is 3.6 grains of Red Dot, from the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook. The indication is that the load is still in the 1150 fps range, which is supersonic, in a 24 inch barrel. My single shot has a 26 inch barrel, which probably adds 25-30 fps to the velocity. I've been reloading for a while, but have never had much of a sense of adventure doing so and have a healthy aversion to loads not reflected in a lab tested manual. In this case, the issue is more of too little than too much, but I've no interest in finding a bullet lodged in the barrel for lack of sufficient powder. Can anyone recommend a subsonic load for this cartridge that's been lab tested and published? Thanks.


	YIM AIM IP Logged

beltfed Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1826 Location: Central Wi Joined: Dec 20^th, 2007	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #1 - Jan 7^th, 2019 at 2:07pm	Print Post
	Rem 40X following loads from Phil Scharpe, "Complete Guide to Handloading, pub 1937, 1957: 25-20 WCF loads: 86 gr Lead, 3.0 gr Unique, Vel: 1095fps, Pressure 11,200psi 86 gr Lead, 5.0 gr 2400, Vel: 1020fps Phil lists his source in turn as Hercules Powder Company Hope this helps beltfed/arnie


	IP Logged

Remington40x Full Member Offline Posts: 166 Location: Bucks County, PA Joined: Oct 18^th, 2007	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #2 - Jan 7^th, 2019 at 2:19pm	Print Post
	Arnie: Helps a bunch. I've got both powders on the shelf. Rem


	YIM AIM IP Logged

uscra112 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4079 Location: Switzerland of Ohio Joined: May 7^th, 2007	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #3 - Jan 7^th, 2019 at 2:33pm	Print Post
	I have a somewhat unusual way of slugging barrels. I load down to the point where I can be sure the test slug WILL stick in the barrel, then drive it out gently. For .25-20 SS and .25-21 it takes 0.2 grains of Bullseye. It is very position sensitive. I'll SWAG that your almost-supersonic load will be more like 2.0 grains. You won't stick any bullets with Bullseye or better yet Red Dot.

	<div class=
	IP Logged

Schuetzenmiester Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 6707 Location: Cool Wet Side of WA Joined: Apr 27^th, 2008	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #4 - Jan 7^th, 2019 at 8:13pm	Print Post
	uscra112 wrote on Jan 7^th, 2019 at 2:33pm: I have a somewhat unusual way of slugging barrels. I load down to the point where I can be sure the test slug WILL stick in the barrel, then drive it out gently. For .25-20 SS and .25-21 it takes 0.2 grains of Bullseye. It is very position sensitive. Do you have to shoot it straight up?

	"some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
	IP Logged

uscra112 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4079 Location: Switzerland of Ohio Joined: May 7^th, 2007	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #5 - Jan 7^th, 2019 at 8:46pm	Print Post
	I wasn't going to say so, but yes, I do hold the rifle vertical. In one event I did eject the bullet with a little "pop", testing a .303 Savage 99. If you point it down at a 45 degree angle, the tiny powder charge sometimes doesn't burn at all.

	<div class=
	IP Logged

Schuetzenmiester Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 6707 Location: Cool Wet Side of WA Joined: Apr 27^th, 2008	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #6 - Jan 7^th, 2019 at 10:09pm	Print Post
	Sounds like an easy way to slug a bore to me. What do you do to make sure your bullet isn't .001" undersized?

	"some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
	IP Logged

Ponderosa Paul Junior Member Offline Posts: 69 Joined: Nov 17^th, 2013	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #7 - Jan 7^th, 2019 at 10:45pm	Print Post
	I have an Horr sideplate ,25-20 Win. ,26 inch barrel.5.5 4227 = 946 fps unburned powder. 2.8 Trailboss =981 fps 3/4 inch 50 yard group 5 shots.2.8 Unique =1032 fps with very small velocity deviation. I like the Traiboss load the best.


	IP Logged

uscra112 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4079 Location: Switzerland of Ohio Joined: May 7^th, 2007	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #8 - Jan 8^th, 2019 at 7:33am	Print Post
	Schuetzenmiester wrote on Jan 7^th, 2019 at 10:09pm: Sounds like an easy way to slug a bore to me. What do you do to make sure your bullet isn't .001" undersized? For the .25s I have a ratty old mould that casts at .260+ with soft alloy. For .30 calibers I use Hornady .32 caliber HBWC, nominally .313. So far I haven't actually done the trick with any other calibers. .35s I could use some soft ones that I cast for an Enfield (Webley) .38/200 that nominally size .361.

	<div class=
	IP Logged

Schuetzenmiester Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 6707 Location: Cool Wet Side of WA Joined: Apr 27^th, 2008	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #9 - Jan 8^th, 2019 at 8:55pm	Print Post
	I suppose one could use a soft round ball breach seated, eh?

	"some old things are lovely, warm still with life ... of the forgotten men who made them." - D.H. Lawrence
	IP Logged

waterman Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3002 Location: Behind the Redwood Curtain Joined: Jun 9^th, 2004	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #10 - Jan 8^th, 2019 at 9:42pm	Print Post
	beltfed wrote on Jan 7^th, 2019 at 2:07pm: Rem 40X following loads from Phil Scharpe, "Complete Guide to Handloading, pub 1937, 1957: 25-20 WCF loads: 86 gr Lead, 3.0 gr Unique, Vel: 1095fps, Pressure 11,200psi 86 gr Lead, 5.0 gr 2400, Vel: 1020fps Phil lists his source in turn as Hercules Powder Company Hope this helps beltfed/arnie Just remember that today's 2400 is a bit hotter than what Phil Sharpe used.


	IP Logged

svartkruttgris#369 Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2980 Location: Colorado, Norway, Sweden Joined: Oct 28^th, 2014	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #11 - Jan 8^th, 2019 at 10:04pm	Print Post
	Schuetzenmiester wrote on Jan 8^th, 2019 at 8:55pm: I suppose one could use a soft round ball breach seated, eh? For many years I used round ball loads in 32, 38, 44 and 45 cal cartridge revolvers. Inside 30 yds they were as effective on cowboy action targets as any regular load, basically replicated the C&B loads I used for years previously. Similar round ball cartridge loads in 50/70 were totally adequate for up to at least 100M target shooting.


	IP Logged

Remington40x Full Member Offline Posts: 166 Location: Bucks County, PA Joined: Oct 18^th, 2007	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #12 - Jan 9^th, 2019 at 11:18am	Print Post
	Thanks to all of you. I'm trying the 2400 load recommended as I had some of it. I think there's enough cushion even with the slightly more potent modern version to leave me subsonic.


	YIM AIM IP Logged

Remington40x Full Member Offline Posts: 166 Location: Bucks County, PA Joined: Oct 18^th, 2007	Re: Subsonic .25-20 87 Grain Cast Bullet Load Sought Reply #13 - Jan 14^th, 2019 at 12:29pm	Print Post
	The 5 grains of 2400 load worked like a charm. The shooter, not so well. But it looks like a keeper for the indoor matches. Thanks again.


	YIM AIM IP Logged

Page Index Toggle

Pages: 1

‹ Previous Topic | Next Topic ›

« Board Index ‹ Board Top

Top

ASSRA Forum » Powered by YaBB 2.6.12!
YaBB Forum Software © 2000-2026. All Rights Reserved.

Valid XHTML

Valid CSS

Powered by Perl

Source Forge

Page completed in 1.1983 seconds.