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Thread: Boolits for 25-20 WCF

  1. #1
    Boolit Buddy
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    Boolits for 25-20 WCF

    Lucked on to a 1909 Winchester 1892 with a new bore liner over the weekend. Dies are bid on(ebay). Found a couple boxes of loaded Winchester ammo..one box of 86 gr. J-word soft points, and a box of factory loaded lead boolits. Recommendations on molds or where to purchase some boolits would be appreciated. I've been loading for a Browning 53 in 32-20 and the ground squirrels just hate it..Trailboss seems to be the juice of choice. Thanks in advance for your suggestions..Les

  2. #2
    Boolit Master

    tward's Avatar
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    Les, sounds like a great find! I shoot a contender in 256 Winchester but it uses similar size Boolits/bullets. I cast Lyman 257463 about 75 gr, Lyman 257312 about 88 gr and a NOE 260-80 RF Boolit. I'd be glad to send you 20 or so of each so you can see how they shoot in your rifle. Drop me a PM if you're interested and I'll send them along, I know it was hard to find good Boolits when I started with the 256 and I got a lot of help here and want to return the favor. Good luck and good shooting, Tim

  3. #3
    Boolit Master


    Nueces's Avatar
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    Missouri Bullet Co, http://missouribullet.com , has 25-20 slugs and can supply them Hi-Tek coated, too.

  4. #4
    Boolit Grand Master
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    Look at NOE's site for some good 25 designs. More mainstream is the RCBS 85 FN and the Lyman 257420, the first a plainbase and the second a lightweight gascheck.

  5. #5
    Boolit Master



    atr's Avatar
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    check the rate of twist in you barrel
    my 1:16 would not stabilize the RCBS 85 FN
    got much better results with the 65 gr.
    Death to every foe and traitor and hurrah, my boys, for freedom !

  6. #6
    Boolit Master
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    If one happens to run across an Ideal 257283 mould you could do worse. Plain base works up to about as hard as one wants to push the powder load, somewhere between 9 and 11 BHN having been flawless for the most part. The target below was shot at 50 yards with an ancient Marlin 94 using a good substitute, the Lyman 257312 which is essentially a gas checked version of the same bullet.

    I have danced with the Devil. She had excellent attorneys.

  7. #7
    Boolit Buddy
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    Thanks for the replys. Just ordered 500 85 gr booklets from Badman bullets. Cheaper than Midway USA and more reasonable on shipping, too. Will measure the twist this evening. New liner, could be anything.. Tim, will take you up on your offer if it don't shoot these 85s, and thank you. Will keep you posted and will post a few pictures of this "new to me" old 1892.

  8. #8
    Boolit Buddy
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    Checked twist on the lined barrel last night.. Got something between 12 and 13 inch for a full turn of a tight patch. Been reading on MO sight, 117 pages of good stuff.

  9. #9
    In Remembrance w30wcf's Avatar
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    Dan,
    Nice group! The bullet holes do show signs of scuffing however, which indicate that the bullet is not completely stable at the velocity generated by 6/2400.

    w30wcf
    aka w44wcf
    aka Jack Christian SASS 11993 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Philippians 4:13
    aka John Kort
    NRA Life Member
    .22 W.C.F., .30 W.C.F., .44 W.C.F. Cartridge Historian

  10. #10
    Boolit Buddy
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    Here's my 25-20[/URL]. 1909 vintage. She survived 106 years to tease me . Has a relined barrel. Shot yesterday some 85 gr j-word bullets, shoots better than I can see the open sights.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails image.jpg  
    Last edited by Les Staley; 08-21-2015 at 03:30 PM.

  11. #11
    Boolit Master enfield's Avatar
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    I like the 260 80gr NOE in my 92 with a rough and worn bore.

    hey, watch where ya point that thing!

  12. #12
    Boolit Master UBER7MM's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by atr View Post
    check the rate of twist in you barrel
    my 1:16 would not stabilize the RCBS 85 FN
    got much better results with the 65 gr.
    I agree with ATR. Do some research and determine the rate of twist on your rifle. The Lyman 257420 at 65 grains might be the boolit if you have a for twist.

    Enjoy your new gun!
    Uber7mm

    Bambi: The great American hunting story as told through the eyes of the antagonist.

  13. #13
    Boolit Master
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    Quote Originally Posted by w30wcf View Post
    Dan,
    Nice group! The bullet holes do show signs of scuffing however, which indicate that the bullet is not completely stable at the velocity generated by 6/2400.

    w30wcf
    Absolutely correct. The 257312 is slightly longer than the 257283, which is probably why my rifle shoots the latter much better. Your twist may vary. Kinda odd those wobbly things clumpin' up together like that, hey?
    I have danced with the Devil. She had excellent attorneys.

  14. #14
    Boolit Bub
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    I'm using the Lyman 257420, NOE RD 80 gr. NOE, 100 fp, milled mold down to throw at 81 gr, and a custom mold that throws at 60 gr.

    Had the 80 gr. NOE hp'd by Eric. Both it, the 257420 and the milled 100 fp will shoot well under 1moa at 100 yds from my custom .257 ag. using a 3700 psi. air fill in a carbon fiber bottle. She has a 27 5/8" barrel, toped with a nice 4x14 Zeiss 50 mm Scope. I have her tuned to shoot just under super-sonic with a very well made hush-hush.

    I can shoot her in the yard, (Live way out in the sticks of Central Texas,) and not disturb the fox's here in the yard.

    Knife

    http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...ps91bdad33.jpg

    http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...7-DSC01864.jpg

    http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...7-DSC01864.jpg

    http://i147.photobucket.com/albums/r...o/DSC01724.jpg
    Last edited by LongRangeAir; 08-21-2015 at 10:51 PM.

  15. #15
    Boolit Buddy

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    I heartily recommend NOE 260-80GC. In my Marlin M1894 it continually produces 1.5” groups with iron sights at 50 yds.

  16. #16
    Boolit Buddy
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    Neck sizer and bullets came in today. Loaded 10 rounds 85 gr Badman bullets over 3.4 gr. Trailboss. Shot all 10 at 50 yds. Had two unexplainable fliers, but otherwise a good group
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails image.jpg  

  17. #17
    Boolit Master bbqncigars's Avatar
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    My 'Sweetie' (1894 Marlin) is very partial to the .258 85gr RCBS flat point over 5.5gr of 2400.
    "Of all the things I've lost, I miss my mind the most." A. Brilliant

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Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check