The scoop on the Ultra 25-06

[Fred M]

H&R Ultra 25-06 loads and velocity tests. May 17/04

Brass RWS necked down to 25-06, partial outside neck reamed to .0138 neck walls

OAL touching lands with  100gr Horn Inter3.402".  Case trim 2.493". This OAL will not hold a bullet well and is barely inside the case neck.

Starting load 100 gr Horn. Interlock and 58.0gr H1000, made 4 rounds for each rifle the Ultra and the Ruger #1 both with 26" barrels
to compare velocities. Estimated vel 3230 @49.5 kcup

OAL 3.186. CCI Magnum Primers. Moly bullets.

OAL 3.186 was used because it is close to a factory length and it will be off the lands in the Ruger #1.

Chamber at base .472
Chamber at shoulder  .444
Chamber neck diameter .292
Loaded neck diameter 0.2854
Radial clearance 0.0035 in neck with a loaded shell
Groove width 0.100
Land width 0.048
Land height 0.002                      
Land diameter .0.2545

Throat diameter 0.259 at transition and 0.2582 at the start of rifling.
Throat length 0.265 (free bore) as close as I can measure.
Bore at muzzle 0.2582 x-x and 0.2585 y-y.

Fired cases are not interchangeable in the two rifles.

All dimensions above are above specs and designed to reduce pressure for this high intensity cartridge to suite the marginal lock up strength of the NEF/H&R rifles and or increase margin of safety?

Made 4-loads for each rifle, both barrel were prepped with a oil/Moly mixture

H&R and                                                                     Ruger#1
1, 2963 ft/sec fouling shot                                    1. 3096 ft/sec fouling
shot
2. 2955                                                                      2. 3086
3. 2938                                                                      3. 3056
4. 2961                                                                      4. 3058
Ave 2954ft/sec   and a big 3" group                                                                 Ave. 3074  1-1/2 group
Difference 120ft/sec.

The pressure loss due to the loose dimensions is 4%
When the AOL on the Handy was increased to 3.380 or as close to the lands  I could get it and still hold the bullet the difference in velocity  was much less and a 3-shot group measured  1.5" that is with  60.0 gr of H1000 powder. The Ruger was loaded with the bullet into the lands 0.005" and produced a 1/4" group with 3 shots with the same load.
H&R
1. 3158    2. 3117    3.  3120 ft/sec.  1-1/2" group
Ruger #1
1.  3086   2.  3183   3.   3169 ft/sec

H&R 61.0gr H1000
1. 3210 (nicked and tight case)   2. 3162  3.  3141, no extra velocity with the one extra grain of powder and one out of three cases did not eject. The 7/8" group was the  best group but load is not suitable. A longer bullet like the 117 gr flat base would be best suited so the bullet can be started  0.010 into the lands.

A starting load of 57.0gr H1000 should work ok with better accuracy, there is no way the Handy will reach bolt-action velocities. With similar dimensions as above factory loads will not group very well. Nor will short and light bullets set the house on fire.

I did not try the Barnes 100 gr Triple shock bullet, because it is even smaller at .257" and I doubt the solid copper bullet will obturate to .2585"

All tests were fired at 100m from a bench rest with a 36x target scope. I dry fired the rifle several times to make that 1/8" dot stay put with that awful trigger.

Am I happy? Not very to say the least. Now we wait for the rest of the story. Need to get the trigger down to 24oz so I wont break my finger  :cry: . Fred M.

[JPH45]

The triggers on these Handi's are notoriously lousy. Working on the trigger alone made by groups more consistant by at least half again. I don't know if you can get to the 1.5 pounds you want with these triggers, but a crisp clean 3 pounds is easily attainable. It will require the replacement of the factory trigger return spring to get below 4 pounds. I used springs from retractable ball point pens for this purpose. Your results overall though sound pretty much like what can be expected from a Handi operating at it's best.

[Fred M]

JPH45.
Your quote is really fitting for the Handi.

Shooting is the art of making a bullet go where you want it to go......even when all the odds are against it

[/b]

The trigger return spring pulls one lbs, and can be reduced like you said.
Did you make a metal fixture with pins to see whats needs to be honed and how much. I will make a fixture and presicely drill the jig with the drill press. I also will modify a die to suit the shoulder .444 less one thou. So the brass will be full sized each time.

All this has to wait for a while. BR matches, fishing,and cottage time is coming up.

Since the OAL will be very long and bullets will not enter the neck very deep, the die will be used without the expander button. This will increase
neck tension. The long taper K&M case mouth reamer allows bullets to be
seated without buckling the case mouth.

The idea of course is when you seat bullets into the lands you have to make sure they dont stick when you have to unload sometimes. Moly coated bullets help in that respect. Fred M.