success with my 25-20

[atr]

I had almost given up on getting decent groups with my Savage 25-20 using the RCBS 85 gr. cast bullet. But I gave it another try.
The boolit is similar to the old 257312 mold, a plain based mold with no gas check. The cast boolits dropped at 0.259, I did not size them but hand lubricated the lower grease band. The were cast hard, #2 or harder. I loaded them to the maximum published of 10.7 grains of 4227. No evidence of any leading after 15 rounds
The accuracy was pretty good at 50 yds (3/4, x 1"approx.), and next time I will wear my glasses!. There was no key-holing. At 100 yds I was consistently breaking clays.
atr

[Ajohns]

Atta boy!
It's fun to have them workout

[sharps4590]

Good for you!!! It's a fine little cartridge!!

[tejano]

I am still working on a load that my Savage likes at 50 yards so I will try yours. Pistol or rifle primers?

[atr]

CCI small rifle primers. I also put a decent crimp on the case using a Lee collet crimp die.

although the 85 gr plain base was reasonably accurate I find the best accuracy is with the 65gr FN gas checked boolit.

[Hi-Speed]

Certainly not advocating this, but one of the largest whitetails ever taken was with a 25-20 WCF somewhere in a cornfield in the Midwest. A friend of mine as a kid used a Model 92 in 25-20 WCF to harvest a few deer, close up hearts shots he told me…I would never use the 25-20 WCF for any deer/big game. Could be a good close range varmit proposition.

…just a cool looking cartridge as is its larger 32-20 WCF brother.

Have fun!

[atr]

a terrible outing at the range today with the 25-20 and 85 gr RCBS boolit.
I loaded a small batch as before with the exception that I upped the powder charge by 0.2 grains.
The shots were all over the target; nothing grouped unless you call a 5" spread a group.
Yikes !!!

[tejano]

BTW, I checked your 4227 load in the several manuals that I have and none listed a load as high as 10.7 grains for the 85 grain bullet.

[atr]

tejano.....
I have several old, and I mean old, Lyman manuals that list 10.7 grains.
I was more interested to see if the 0.2 increase in charge would result in any leading...it did not.
The lousy group was, I suspect, on account of unequal crimp pressure. Next reloading I will not add the crimp.
thanks for your thoughs
atr

[Geezer in NH]

Nice!!!!

[pworley1]

My original '92 likes the 257312. Congratulations on finding a load.

[blackpowder man]

I’ve been working on a load for my old Savage 23 with an 85 grain plain base out of a mold by Arsenal molds. I haven’t tried loads that warm with 4227. I guess I should keep working up. I made brass, but I need to turn the necks thinner so I can take more rounds at a time when I shoot. Thanks for sharing your results and keep them coming.

[Larry Gibson]

CCI small rifle primers. I also put a decent crimp on the case using a Lee collet crimp die.

although the 85 gr plain base was reasonably accurate I find the best accuracy is with the 65gr FN gas checked boolit.

Same here. However, I use the PB 257283 HP cast of 40-1 and loaded to 1050 fps on ground squirrels. Thumps them a lot better than any 22LR HP. I use it out to 100 yards in my Savage 23 but it loses stability and accuracy after that.

301870

[tejano]

Are you gents sizing at .258 or .259”?

[Larry Gibson]

My 257283s drop at .259 and I leave them "as cast". I just give them a very light coat of LLA, let dry thoroughly and load them. My COWW + 2% tin alloyed 257420's also drop .259 so, since I don't have a .259 H&I sizer, I just crimp the Hornady GCs on in the .257 sizer in the 450 with the GC tool stopping any sizing of the bullet. I give them a coat of LLA also, let dry thoroughly and load over 4.5 gr Unique for a very accurate 1550 fps.

301881

[tejano]

Thanks Larry!

[tejano]

Finally, a little bit of success with my Savage 23B today. I am not a caster so I buy my cast bullets. I previously tried 60 gr. and 85 gr. bullets. Both were sized .258.” Both did okay at 25 yards but not at 50. 2-4” groups were the norm. Recently I discovered that Hunter’s Supply sells an 85 gr. sized at .259” so I bought some and tried them today along side some .258” bullets. Eventually I managed 5 shots into 1.5” with the larger bullet. That is progress I can see. The other bullets will be shot in my Bullberry contender barrel. It was a tad over 100 degrees at the range, but that is what July is in Texas.