The .254", .255", .256" and .257" NOE sizer  bushings came in today. So I took one of the 85gr, .257" diameter Winchester bullets and ran it through each down to .254". It come out about .2545" with springback. That is a reasonable compromise for my .253" groove barrel. The lube grooves are a little smaller. I may give them a light coat of my JPW/Alox tumble lube to make up for it. Bullet on the left is .257", in the right is .254".

I'll need to neck size the cases a little, but I think it is workable. 

I have been following this discussion and decided to look up some reference material that I have. I found this quote in Phil Sharpes - Complete Guide to Reloading - which made me laugh.

"About as useless and freakish-looking a cartridge as was ever developed the 25/25 Stevens."

Really interesting forum thread by the way.
Steve in AUS

More than one gun manufacturer created cartridges that were intended to say "We do things that are new and innovative; give us a try!" but that proved less than sterling in actual use.  The .25-25 Stevens is generally considered such a cartridge.

That being said, Steve, you do always seem to be having a great deal of fun, which is so important, especially nowadays.

Bill Lawrence

MrTipUp wrote on Jun 1^st, 2023 at 7:11am:


I don’t know which is more useless, the 25-25 or the 25 short rimfire.

Then again I’ll probably end up owning one of each some day, so I have to watch what I say.

Thinking it through, the 25 short would be a lot easier to make brass for, and reaching velocity with smokeless powder should not be a problem, even with the short case. Gallery loads would be a no brainer.

Crap.

breech set a bullet. may not even need to open up the cartridge case.

Thank you, Steve. I had figured the gun for a shorter round than it turned out to be- I don't know much about them thar old-time rimfires. Anyhow, the video is interesting and enough for me to agree that the little rimfire blank isn't the answer in that rifle. Your homebrew from the hornet is the ticket.

I finally got to the gun club today. Got the chrono set up and shot 3 loads across it, target set at about 35 yards.

The first load was 10.2gr of H4198, 84 5gr Winchester bullet and CCI Smalk Rifle Magnum (SRM) primer, bullet sized .254" (actual size .2545"). Velocity average was 1315fps.

The second load was 10.2gr of H4198, 84 5gr Winchester bullet and CCI SRM primer, bullet sized .255" (actual size .2555"). Velocity average was 1327fps.   

With the above loads I wanted to see what difference bullet sizing made. The less I need the better. It didn't seem to make a noticable difference here. 

The last load was 13.0gr of Blackhorn 209, 84 5gr Winchester bullet and CCI SRM primer, bullet sized .255" (actual size .2555"). Velocity average was 1434fps.  I wanted to try this powder because of its bulk. It shot well, but extraction was a little sticky. I might back it off .5gr next time.

I had one misfire I attribute to light hammer strike. Repositioning and a second try fired it. The primer indents do look light in general. I'll try  small pistol magnums next time.

Time to go anneal and clean this precious brass 

Steve

bullshop wrote on Jul 16^th, 2023 at 10:11am:


Thanks. I have a couple more loads to test. But between the rain and range closures for maintenance, I havent got back yet. I'll post an update when I do.