25-35 Questions

[reboundspring]

Gents,

Need your help! A customer just came to me with a Fix SS action and
request to build him a .25-35 rifle.
Since I know absolutely zip about the .25-35, I have lots of questions.

Barrel twist? 1-10?
Barrel- Badger .250-.257- should be OK
Chamber-stock 25-35, or is the Ackley Improved worth the extra trouble?
Lead bullet only or some compromise for lead/jacketed. I believe this to be
a target rifle only.

Load data for this antique-Sources?

Much thanks in advance for any help.

Reboundspring

[beagle]

I rebarrelled a 336 Marlin to .25/35 some years back.

Has a Douglas Premium grade with a 1-10 twist and I can shoot anything from 70-120 grainers in it. Made a good conversion.

Unless he's into velocity, I'd go for the straight .25/35 over the AI. You got special die problems and case forming problems with the Ackley. Especially since new cases are kind of hit and miss. But, it's his money. The .25/35 makes a fine little cast rifle.

The old 1-8 twist in the old M94s was too fast.

Just my opinion./beagle

[9.3X62AL]

Ditto to Beagle's text about the 1-8" twist in 25-35 WCF. Way too fast for castings, even 120 grainers. Any velocity over 1600 FPS, and the boolits go far & wide. The jacketed Hornady 117 RN shoot very well in that twist, though--and the boolits are accurate up to 1600 FPS.

[reboundspring]

Gents,

Thanks for the info.
I'll go with the stock chamber (factory ammo still exists! Who Knew?)
1-10 twist.
I looked in my old copy of P.O. Ackley and even he said the case forming
for the Improved was a pain in the neck.

I don't think this gent is into velocity.

Regards,

Reboundspring

[leadman]

Brass is a seasonal item so might not be available all the time. It is a nice little cartridge in stock form