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zzmoore
06-04-2005, 04:07 AM
Anyone out there shooting lead in a Win94 25-35 carbine? What powders are you using?
Thank You

9.3X62AL
06-04-2005, 11:58 AM
I have done some work with the 25-35 in a Win 94. My loads have used SR-4759, Alliant 2400, IMR-4198, and WC-860. Most of the work has been done with the NEI 114 grain FNGC, and this boolit does not have a strong preference for any of the powders listed above--just pour enough to produce no more than 1600 FPS, and the critter is pretty accurate. Same story with the RCBS 120 SP. Exceed 1600 FPS, and things get ugly downrange. I suspect this is related to its fast twist rate, usually 1-8". Swedish Mausers in 6.5 x 55 with similar twist rates act in similar fashion.

Transposing jacketed results onto cast boolits is sometimes not indicated, but FWIW my rifle does NOT like light varmint-type j-word bullets. At all. It drives tacks with Hornady 117 JSP's though. Just the same, I've assembled some Lyman #257312's over 15.0 grains of 4759 to see what occurs.

Bent Ramrod
06-06-2005, 12:05 AM
I don't have a 94, but have used the Lyman 257312 plain base or 257325 GC with 9.0 grains SR-4759 for a 7/8" group at 50 yds in my relined Savage 99. It seems that 9.0 gr 4759 is pretty good with any plain base or gas checked cast bullet around 110 grains weight. Haven't tried lighter bullets.

Dr. A
06-08-2005, 04:55 PM
I know this is not lead, but interesting nevertheless. Greg has lots of good data. This is a full spectrum of loads for the 86gr. Rem.

http://www.gmdr.com/levern/2535-86sp.htm

Lots more info. on the thread this appeared at on the Shooters forum under handloading and 25-35.

http://shootersforum.com/showthread.htm?t=20108

9.3X62AL
06-09-2005, 01:18 AM
THAT is some in-depth data, all right. Thanks a bunch, Dr. A.

My go-to load for the J-word critters is 27.0 x WW-760 lit off by WLR primers in W-W cases. Right after I got the rifle in 1999, I concocted these loads from the Winchester powder manual directly, and they went into 1.25" at 100 yards, which is as well as I could shoot irons at that time. IIRC, the bullets were going about 2175 FPS from my rifle's 20" tube.

Dr. A
06-09-2005, 08:55 AM
I have been slowly getting to know this new gun. I havn't gotten a mold yet because I came across a box of 2000 86gr JSP. They are great varmint killers, so that is my approach for now. I use H4895 at about 27gr. and get an easy 1.5 in. at 100 yards. Good days are better than that. (I am no marksman). I have some Benchmark, and want to get some Rel 10 to compare these loads potential. I generally shoot Marlins, but this gun has been great fun. Wished Marlin made the calber...

Took the gun out to Western Kansas prairie dog hunting a couple of weeks ago. GREAT FUN

Can't understand why the gun makers don't make more varmint guns in the lever action. I realize it was designed as a deer gun, but I have enough of those...

9.3X62AL
06-09-2005, 11:01 AM
Dr. A--

I sure wish my 25-35 got along better with the rat bullets than it does. I do a lot more rat zapping than deer hunting, and the caliber would get a lot more hunting if it was a bit less finicky.

There were a number of varmint calibers put up in lever rifles, but the lever action in general is not reputed to have the baseline accuracy of the bolt action or single shot. For long range shots, this can make a difference between hit or miss, so the buyer population concentrated on the bolters and falling blocks for their varmint rigs, and the lever action in rat calibers sort of faded away--at least, for the long range applications.

The 25-35 has a reputation for being quite accurate in the lever guns, and even more so in single shots. I've used my cast loads (114 grain NEI @ 1500-1600 FPS) on jackrabbits with fine results. The only "problem" is the basketball trajectory past 100 yards or so on the relatively small targets--if you know your rifle and its load, you're good to go--but past 150 yards, those long castings are doing lob shots. In my hunting environment, 100 yards is a moderate-to-long shot, so the 25-35, the 25-20, and the 32-20 are quite usable. Who says lever guns can't zap rats?

I read somewhere that the 25-35 was used to take the largest black bear ever shot n North America--"Old Ephraim" in Utah, who weighed 1100#. How many shots to accomplish this feat was not mentioned in the source. The "ultralight tackle" game that anglers are so fond of pursuing does not translate well at all to the game fields, especially if the quarry has claws, teeth, and attitude.

carpetman
06-09-2005, 11:14 AM
Dep Al---A couple years ago while on vacation in Utah went atv riding with a couple of my son in laws. Way out in the boonies there was a monument for Old Ephraim. Don't remember all the details but it was area where he was killed.

Dr. A
06-09-2005, 11:42 AM
My go to cast for varmints is a Savage 243 with a 100gr. Beartooth. Can't decide on a mold for this one. The beartooth is VERY accurate at 1700 with 2400. I think Veryl could make a mold like that. It is pointed and I get accuracy quite a ways, although with a bunch of drop. I need a scope for the 25-35 and I'll be set for 25 cal. It seems awfully accurate with the smaller bullets.