25 caliber question

[handirifle]

Looking through the June issue of Handloader magazine, there is an article on the "All American 25's", but it doesn't include the 260 Rem.  Isn't it a 25 cal?  Don't the 25's use a .257 bullet?  Is this the same as a 6.5mm also?

Our caliber system leaves something to be desired in some aspects.  The names sound more romantic than say, 6.5 X 55, but are much less informative.

Does anyone recommend any of the 25 cal for varmints to black bear, or are they a bit light for bear?

[Dee]

260 Remington is 6.5mm.
I have been shooting the 2506, since about 1972, and would not hesitate taking a black bear with say a 113gr nosler, or even a 100 grain nosler, both partition of course.

But then again a 113 gr. nosler partation would be my choice for elk, if I were going the bolt action route.

[Coyote Hunter]

handirifle -

The .260 Remington is a .308 case necked down to .264" (6.5mm).

[handirifle]

I thought so, I wonder why it was omitted from the article in Handloader magazine?

I can get a 25-06 or 280 barrel for my NEF.  Maybe since I already have a 243 i should go with a 280?

[Coyote Hunter]

I thought so, I wonder why it was omitted from the article in Handloader magazine?

I can get a 25-06 or 280 barrel for my NEF.  Maybe since I already have a 243 i should go with a 280?

Maybe, hard to tell.  What are you going to use it for?  I'd like to buy a vowel...

[handirifle]

Maybe, hard to tell.  What are you going to use it for?  I'd like to buy a vowel...

 

Well, I suppose I was looking for heavy varmint to black bear medicine.  I guess, seeing that I have a bunch of stuff left over from a 280 I had before, maybe another 280.

I already have a 223/243 (Savage, you know swap barrels and all ), another 243 and a 338-06.  The 338 seems like it might be a bit much for the small deer of Southern Ca.  Just thinking of something new I suppose.  I really do have the bases covered, I suppose.

[nomosendero]

260 Remington is 6.5mm.
I have been shooting the 2506, since about 1972, and would not hesitate taking a black bear with say a 113gr nosler, or even a 100 grain nosler, both partition of course.

But then again a 113 gr. nosler partation would be my choice for elk, if I were going the bolt action route.

Hmmm, I have used the 100, 115 & 120gr. NP, but not a 113. Were these built during a leap year or is a custom ammo Co. buying 120's & cutting off 7 grains to make them acceptable to potential Hebrew customers ?   

[Dee]

115s

[nomosendero]

115s

Figured that, I just felt like having a little fun. I won't go into the mistakes I have already made this morning, I may need to go back to bed. 

[CapoWard]

Maybe, hard to tell.  What are you going to use it for?  I'd like to buy a vowel...

 

The 338 seems like it might be a bit much for the small deer of Southern Ca.  Just thinking of something new I suppose.  I really do have the bases covered, I suppose.

I seem to recollect that a 250+lb mule deer was taken in the Imperial County desert towards the Colorado River in the mid-1980s...or was it the mid-1970s (age is setting in ).  I wouldn't feel out of place with a 338-06 if I ran into one that size...though other calibers would work just as well. 

[Dee]

Nomosendero, I went back and looked at my old reloading manuals that I have been using for years, and me and you both were wrong. Me for saying 113, and you for correcting me to 115. It was the old 117grain I was trying to remember. I wonder if they still make that bullet weight for the 25 cals.?

[nomosendero]

Just figured 115 because it is closer to 113.

Yes, Sierra does & they are very accurate! I have some in the 117 Spitzer Boat Tail version. Me and my brother have killed alot of Whitetails  & Groundhogs with those!

[Graybeard]

Looking through the June issue of Handloader magazine, there is an article on the "All American 25's", but it doesn't include the 260 Rem.  Isn't it a 25 cal?  Don't the 25's use a .257 bullet?  Is this the same as a 6.5mm also?

Short answer: NO.

Longer answer: .25 caliber rifles use bullets measuring .257" diameter. The .260 Remington and other 6.5s use bullets measuring .264" diameter thus the .260 Remington is NOT a .25 at all and that is why it was not included. It didn't belong.

[Don Fischer]

I believe if you check you'll find that the 264's have a land dia of 256 and a grove dia of 264, thus the 256 Newton. It was called a 256 because of the land dia where as most are named for the grove dia. With the 25 cal's, the grove dia is 257, I don't know the land dia.

[Graybeard]

.250"

While I'm well aware of what you say Americans determine caliber by bullet diameter ie groove diameter not land diameter and pretty much all .25s are American inventions.

[jvs]

The Hornady 129gr Spire Point is a real good load for big game out of anything that is .264, like the .260 and 6.5's and 6.5 mags.   

[303Guy]

A barrel has a 'bore' diameter, which is the size of the hole bored through it before the rifling is cut.  That is the "caliber".  The bullet has a larger diameter to 'engage' the rifling.  It's all very confusing!  A 7.62 Russian is a .303 bore with a .311 bullet while a 7.62 NATO is a 30 caliber with a .308 bullet?    A 38 caliber has a .357 bore while a 36 caliber is a - well, .357 bore?

But what is it called when the rifling area is less than groove area??