257 100 FN 0r little heavier

[Grandpa Dolan]

I have an old 94 in 25-35. would like to shoot it in Cowboy Silhouette. So I'm looking for a Mold that will drop 257 Boolets little over 100 Grains. R C B S want's a total of $122 to make me a 257 100 FN I would like to find one with gas check and flat nose at 115 or so before I try that RCBS. Any body have any Ideas??...I tried the RCBS 257 120 SP that I have. It is 1.10 long They would not stabelize all the time, filed off the nose to .9 long and they work fine at 115 Grains. But that is a lot of work.

[onceabull]

NEI #23 may be just what you seek: if not, they make some others that you might like better.. Take a look--- Neihandtools.com onceabull

[Scrounger]

I have an old 94 in 25-35. would like to shoot it in Cowboy Silhouette. So I'm looking for a Mold that will drop 257 Boolets little over 100 Grains. R C B S want's a total of $122 to make me a 257 100 FN I would like to find one with gas check and flat nose at 115 or so before I try that RCBS. Any body have any Ideas??...I tried the RCBS 257 120 SP that I have. It is 1.10 long They would not stabelize all the time, filed off the nose to .9 long and they work fine at 115 Grains. But that is a lot of work.

You could make a jig to hold the bullet and shorten it in a drill press.

[C1PNR]

I see SAECO also catalogs a 100 grain in .257, a Truncated Cone Gas Check design. But they don't give them away, either.

Midway does advertise them at about $68 in 2 cavity and $124 in a 4 cavity. Both are 90 day special order, though.:coffee:

[45nut]

here are the Lyman tables for the 25's,you might look over these choices and look for a lyman on the web....

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/1003/45nut/257.jpg

[9.3X62AL]

I use NEI #21 extensively in my 25-35, and it shoots VERY well. Be aware that most 25-35's have rather fast rifling twists--1 turn in 8" usually--and cast boolits going faster than 1600 FPS tend to be inaccurate.

[Grandpa Dolan]

Thanks to each and all. I got work to do now. Deputy Al may have put his finger on it reminding me that Mine is also a one in 8 twist. I got to do some more checking on that. I drive some water droped real hard boolets over 2100 Ft/Sec. I see some fun trips to the range commin' up. I do use a home made jig to cut off those long 122 grain. But Art, its still a lot of time making a bunch of bullets to shoot a match... Thanks again to all of you for the info....Grandpa Dolan.

[grouch]

I suggest you take a look at Cast Bullet Engineering - they have a good selection of designs and make a very nice brass mold for $72 Australian last I looked, not bad when you factor in currency exchange. Mine have all worked well.

[lar45]

I suggest you take a look at Cast Bullet Engineering - they have a good selection of designs and make a very nice brass mold for $72 Australian last I looked, not bad when you factor in currency exchange. Mine have all worked well.

Do you have a link to them?

[lar45]

There was a group buy a couple years ago(I think) that made a 25-120 GC mould. I haven't cast any from mine, so I don't know what weight or size they came out to. There was supposed to be a GC and plain base version made. I wonder if the 6 cav mould could be shaved down in a mill and have things turn out.

Isn't there a rule against GC bullets in cowboy shoots?

[Jon K]

lar 45,

CAS does not allow gas checks, NRA Lever Action Silhoutte gas checks and j-bullets allowed.

Grandpa,

The 120 grain 25 cal boolit is finicky to say the least, 100 grainer is easier to pour.

Cowboy Lever Acton Silhoutte Rifle Cartridge is 50-200m, the 100 & 120 grain boolit is a little light for knocking down a 55 lb Ram. And the 25-35 won't qualify for Lever Action Pistol Cartridge Competition.

Might be fun to shoot thru the course though, and see how many rams fall.

Have Fun Shooting,
Jon

:coffee: :castmine:

[Grandpa Dolan]

Thanks Grouch and Lar on the Cast Bullet Eng. Info I may dang well look them up. First tho., I gott'a get some more testing done. This 1 in 8 twist should have stabalized the 257 120 SP I have. Dep. Al may have hit it when he said what he did. Got'a cast some more and water quench them "real hard" and give it another try before I start looking for a flat nose for this old 25-35. Also Lar, gas checks are ok in the Silhouette game Thanks again you guyes for all the info...Grandpa Dolan

[Jon K]

Grandpa Dolan,

Also don't get them too hard, they will only powder puff on the Ram.

I have only tried the .25 around 1400-1600 fps, and that was in Single Shot Pistols.
What Al said is right, but in what I have tested in 270, 7mm & 30 cal, seems the boolits like the range from 1400-1600 then the groups open up, but if you keep going they start to stabilize again around 1800-1900, but much over 2000, it starts to fall apart again.

Just my observations and opinions, maybe others have had better luck.

Have Fun shooting,
Jon

[grouch]

The link to Cast Bullet Engineering is www.castbulletengineering.bigpondhosting.com

[Grandpa Dolan]

Thanks Jon for relating your experiences with the Pistol. I have shot about everything in the rifle lever action Sil. game. This has been goinng on for about 10 years now. We shot at West End before the NRA made up thier rules. We still allow more than one rifle, what the heck every one has more than one. Now, I'm told a shooter at the nationals used a 25-35 and placed real hi. So I just gota try one. It sure works good on the ch. pg and Turkeys. Should just stick with my ole 32-40 Marlin tho'. You'r right 1400 Ft/Sec at the first 3 no gas check, don't need 'em there then a 190 grainer with a check and a lot faster at the Rams. It works. and good shootin' to you tooo....Joe aka Grandpa

[9.3X62AL]

Joe--

I recalled after I sent the PM that I got some RCBS 120 grain 25 caliber samples, and they shot well from the 25-35. The idea about the 1600 FPS speed limit came from looking on at the 6.5 x 55 Swede shooters using cast boolits. They reported this phenomenon, si i applied their expereince to the 25-35--and it worked.