Working up a 25 Stevens load

[northwoodneil]

I'm working on forming 22 Hornet brass into 25 Stevens. It will be primed with an acorn 6mm Flobert blank. 55 grain boolit. Now what powder to start with? I want the velocity to be 1000 fps +/- 50 fps. Unique would be my first guess- ain't got any, ain't seen any, and don't expect to see any. I have 2400, 30-31, 4198, loads of 4227 and old formula Nitro 100. I load 38 S&W with 2 grs of Nitro, heavier bullet and I'm guessing less case capacity. Trying to keep pressure as low as possible maybe 4227? Anyone out there with quick load that can let me know if I'm even in the ballpark? Thanks Neil

[cwtebay]

https://www.artfulbullet.com/index.php?threads/period-article-improving-the-25-stevens-rimfire.4941/

This may help, if not it's still an interesting read.
I'm assuming Steve will be along shortly to help you with load data.

Sent from my Pixel 5 using Tapatalk

[northwoodneil]

Thanks that was an interesting read. I forgot to add that the rifle I'm loading for is a Stevens 1894 Favorite. Now before I get flamed, I understand the capability of this 100+ year old action. I don't plan on hot rodding it and I'm not considering changing it over to centerfire. Mainly because I don't want someone forcing a 25 Hornet into it down the road and secondly this rifle is 95%. All the original blue on the barrel, the bore is like new and some of the case colors still exist. It's like someone shot it very little then put it into it's bicycle bag (which it came with) and put it away for 90 years. BUT, rifles were made to shoot and I intend to do just that even if I have to load it with holy black. Not that I would mind that if the cases seal up tight.

[Mk42gunner]

Look around down in the rimfire section. There are a few members that load for the .25 Stevens.

Robert

[P Flados]

With small charges and long barrels, Quickload overpredicts velocity compared to the real world testing done by BBTI. https://ballisticsbytheinch.com/25auto.html

For the 25 ACP, there was no significant velocity increase after 7".
For the slightly larger 32 H&R the transition is closer to 9".

First, your pressures are going to be real low. As such I recommend starting with the fastest powder you have.

So I started by setting QL to 7", selected 25 Hornet & a 53 bullet all to get some kind of rough approximation for your Nitro 100. If I set QL to 9", the 2.0 gr predicted velocity goes up to 1071 fps.

As a warning, your primer may add a substantial additional amount of propellant when talking about really small loads like these. The absolute safest approach would probably be to start really low (while being prepared for a stuck bullet) and work your way up till you get the sonic crack. Then you can choose to go up or down as you see fit with some reference for approximate actual velocity.



Cartridge : .25 Hornet
Bullet : .250, 53, TL255-50-RF PB CB2
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 1.500 inch = 38.10 mm
Barrel Length : 7.0 inch = 177.8 mm
Powder : Accurate Nitro 100

CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms
-29.4 20 1.20 670 53 3346 1303 85.1 1.577
-23.5 22 1.30 715 60 3832 1451 88.0 1.472
-17.6 24 1.40 759 68 4349 1597 90.5 1.381
-11.8 25 1.50 802 76 4897 1742 92.7 1.302
-05.9 27 1.60 844 84 5475 1884 94.6 1.231
+00.0 29 1.70 884 92 6083 2022 96.1 1.167
+05.9 30 1.80 923 100 6720 2156 97.4 1.108
+11.8 32 1.90 962 109 7386 2285 98.4 1.054
+17.6 34 2.00 998 117 8081 2408 99.1 1.006
+23.5 35 2.10 1034 126 8805 2524 99.6 0.962
+29.4 37 2.20 1069 134 9556 2634 99.9 0.922

[northwoodneil]

Thanks P Flados. A 25 Hornet is going to have a bit more case capacity than a 25 Stevens but even then a starting charge of 1.4grs should be a plenty safe place to start without sticking a bullet in the barrel. I will poke around rimfire area and see if I can find a proven load with the powders I have.