22 and 25 cal

[dale2242]

I`m thinking of casting for a 22 Hornet and 25-20. What are the recommended molds and some favorite loads for these calibers? The Hornet is a Ruger No 3 and the 25-20 is a 92 Winchester.

[Bent Ramrod]

dale,

My Ruger #3 likes Ideal 225462 sized as large as possible, and backed by 9.5 gr or so of IMR-4198. I need a drop tube to get this charge into most cases without distorting the boolit when I seat it. It goes about 2000 ft/sec, typically does 1-1/2" to 2-1/2" at 100 yards for 5 shots.

The 25-20 WCF boolit I use for accuracy is Ideal 257463, although it is obsolete and takes some effort to find on the used market. The 257420 is still in production, and is almost as good. 8 grains of 2400 generally gives 1-1/2" groups at 50 yards, 2-1/2" or a little more at 100.

Hope this helps.

[Larry Gibson]

Cast in a #3 Hornet can be frustrating. I neck size the cases with a Redding bushing die to just where the base of the bullet is seated. Use SP primers of course. I use both 225415 (old mould that with WWs weighs 50 gr GC'd and lubed) and 225438 which weighs 45 gr GC'd and lubed. I also shoot them "as cast". I seat the GCs and then run the base into a .225 H die just far enough to crimp the primer. I've been threatening to order a custom .227 sizer from Lee but haven't gotten to it yet. I tumble lube the bullets in LLA and let dry. With the 225415 7 gr of 4759 or 8 gr of 2400 do well with 1 1/2 - 2" groups at 100 yards. Velocity is in the 1800 fps. Best load is 10.5 gr of H4227 (is the "H" 4227 still available?) and it runs 2400+ fps with pretty consistant 1 1/2" groups at 100 yards. That is a ground squirrel killer extreme!

The 225438 is the most accurate bullet. With the same powder charges it shoots into 1 1/2" all day long. Doesn't kill as well as the FP 225415 though. I also load it over 2 gr Bullseye for a .22LR equivelent load. Velocity is 1240 fps. Shoots into 1" at 50 Yards.

My 25-20 is a Savage 23B that has had the barrel shortened to 20" and has a 2.5X scope on it. 25742 is the mould to use. Mine weigh 71 gr GC'd and Luned cast of WWs. Cases are neck sized and SP primers also are used. The following loads all deliver 1 1/2-2" groups at 100 yards; 10 gr H4227 for 1800 fps, 10 gr 4759 for 1936 fps, 11 gr 5744 for 1825 fps. at 50 yards 4.5 gr Unique gives 1 - 1 1/2" groups at 1543 fps.

For a quieter shorter range load I use 2.7 gr Bullseye over a soft cast (recovered .22LR lead) for 1104 fps. 10 shot strings go into 1 1/2" at 50 yards and the extreme spread of the velocity is only 33 fps. I've also an old 25725 PB HP mould that casts an 80 gr bullet out of the .22LR lead. Over the same 2.7 gr Bullseye it runs 1100 fps and really smacks ground squirrels.

Larry Gibson

[beagle]

The 225415 is great in the Hornet and I ship loads north to VT for a friend's #3 and he has no complaints.

The .25-20 likes a 257312 if you can find one. The RCBS 25-85-CM makes a great PB shooter and if GCs are desired, you can run the base in a .243" sizing die and use 6.5mm GCs. IT seems to shoot a bit better than the 257312 and is much more available./beagle

[Sky C.]

I have very good luck with the NEI 257-75-GC in my Marling 1894CL. Sized .258 from AC WW it will shoot <1" at 50 yds w/receiver sights off the bags. I too have a preference for 2400; 7.7 grs giving about 1750fps.

Best regards-

Sky C.

[35remington]

Larry, H4227 is still available. They call it IMR 4227 now, but it's the old H with some graphite coating to try to fool the masses.

I shoot both the K Hornet and 25-20 myself.

I can't add much to the above, as I shoot many of the bullets the other guys shoot. For the .25-20 and the RCBS Cowboy bullet, try lubricating the groove near the base only as I have had many instances of the groups varying from overlubrication. It was originally intended as a black powder bullet, which accounts for the seemingly excess lube capacity.

If you are not filling the grooves, but rather tumble lubing with LLA or some such, be aware that the deep lube grooves can cause the RCBS .25 bullet to bump up and collapse the grooves if cast of wheelweights or similar and the load exceeds a certain pressure level. If you don't fill the grooves with lubricant (especially the groove closest to the base) try oven hardening to increase bullet strength and reduce this upset.

Favorite loads with the RCBS .25 include 5.5 of 2400 or 6.0-6.4 of H(IMR)4227, both getting around 1300 fps. 3.0 W231 or 3.0 Unique, at 1150 fps and 1100 fps respectively, work well. The Unique charge groups a little better than the W231 version if the charge of Unique is weighed but the difference ain't much. Metering is a little iffy with Unique in some measures at the really light charge weights, as here. If you don't have the patience for weighing many charges you may want to go with W231. If using the Lee Auto Disk, do not attempt to meter charges of less than about 3.5 grains of Unique or similar flake powders as they bridge in the small cavity hole and often throw light charges.

A lot of these loads, and most especially the ones with 2400 and 4227, use dacron. Velocity variations are noticeable with these two powders if it is not used.