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View Full Version : anyone have RCBS 25-85 FN?



j23
06-15-2009, 05:35 PM
I have a 25-20 and this is the mold I think I want for small game hunting. Has anyone used this boolit in a 25-20? Specifically an 1892 or other NON Microgroove rifled barrel?

Anyone want to sell me a few to test, before I drop 70 or 80 dollars on a mold? [smilie=1:

part_timer
06-15-2009, 06:57 PM
I don't have that one but I do have a lyman in a 65gr.I use in the 256. If you'd like a handfull of them to try send me a PM

Leftoverdj
06-15-2009, 07:30 PM
Isn't the RCBS a plain base design for the CAS crowd?

I don't shoot it, but I shoot a 79 grain PB RF in a Savage 23. Expect inch to inch and a half 50 yard groups at 12-1300 fps.

35remington
06-15-2009, 08:53 PM
Leftoverdj nailed it. It is a CAS bullet, but it's a dandy design for hunting.

I have a bunch, and like the bullet quite a lot. It is my standard small game bullet.

See this thread for everything I know about it, including loading tips, lubricant (Do NOT fill all the lube grooves) and chronographed velocities, including accuracy data and pictures with recovered bullets showing meplat widening on impact. It's generally about the 25-20, but the RCBS bullet is featured prominently.

http://www.marlinowners.com/forums/index.php/topic,34881.0.html

(Incidentally, the picture on page 3 includes the bullet leftoverdj is talking about, with credit to him for honchoing the group buy - it came in plainbase and gascheck and is a fine bullet. The gascheck bullet at 1900 fps is my standard "big critter" bullet and mushrooms like a big game bullet cast of ACWW's).

It's running to five pages now, and most of it should be relevant. I am continually updating the thread, and I've got a lot more to add, including primer tests regarding powder positioning sensitivity, expansion tests of the more popular cast and jacketed bullets, and the "Brian Pearce Load" which supposedly shoves the 75 Speer at 2163 fps. Yee Ha!

I think you'll get the idea I'm fond of the 25-20.

Accuracy holds to around 1500 fps in my 1-10 twist OTT barrel for my Contender carbine with the RCBS bullet. Best results are around 13-1400 fps. Not segregating bullets by cavity but rather just visually inspecting them results in around 0.6-0.7 inch groups at fifty, but then my OTT barrel was cut for this bullet and is properly throated, which can't be said of a lot of 25-20 chambers. In a good barrel it'll shoot - see my 50 yard targets in page 3 or 4, I think. You'll find it.

The barrel shoots bugholes at fifty yards with the 75 grain Hornady V-Max, FWIW. I have a picture of that too.

I like this RCBS bullet, but there are a few tricks to get it to shoot. It's in the text. A few of the posts deal with this bullet specifically. Actually, a lot of them do.

Read it first; should you have more questions or if you definitely want some, send me your address via PM. Hardening the bullet is helpful to avoid bottom lube groove collapse with some loads.

beagle
06-15-2009, 09:16 PM
I have one and it shoots pretty well in my Marlin rebarrelled .25-20./beagle

35remington
06-15-2009, 09:25 PM
Incidentally, the picture on page 3 shows one of beagle's hollowpointed bullets he sent me.

It's a 257312, nicely done.

Chicken Thief
03-05-2013, 08:45 PM
Funny thing is that nobody talks about twist!

I have a Husqvarna 25-20 with a 1:17" twist and have a bugger of a time getting it to shoot the RCBS 25-85-CB round.
The calcs i can get says it is a smidgen to long for that twist at 1100-1300fps. Needs to go 1750-1800fps to stabilize 100%.

It's a tackdriver with j-words in the 85grain range at 1800fps+, but cast at a snails pace, not so (yet).

Lots of testing to do, but in the end if all else fails it will go in the lathe for a @.1" shortening.