25 cal. cartridges suitable for the contender

[pastorp]

I'm a 25 caliber fan. I love the 250 savage and the roberts, even have owned a couple 257 weatherby mags. I also don't like long heavy guns. What 25 caliber cartridge would work in the contender? I was thinking maybe a 25/35 ackley imp. Whats your sugestion. Thanks Byron

[Ladobe]

Here's a few to get you dreaming:

25-20 Single Shot
25x45
25-20 Win
25-25 Stevens
256 Max
256 Win Mag
256 Super Mag
257 JDJ
257 TCU
25-35 Winchester
25-35 Ackley Improved
25x30-30
25x30-30 Improved
25 Classic
25 Bullberry
25 Bell M
25x50R Bell M
25 Bullberry Improved
25 Whisper
250 Savage
250 Savage Ackley Improved

Have had a few 25 caliber Contenders over the years (for different types of hunting), with my favorite being the 257JDJ.   But the one I always wanted to try and never got around to was the 25-25 Stevens.

[Graybeard]

If performance is what you're looking for the .257 JDJ is likely the best of the lot. With it you should be able to get about 2600 fps from 100 grain bullets in a 14" barrel. That's what I was getting in mine with superb accuracy.

[sweetwyominghome]

The 25x30-30 Ackley Improved and 25-35 AI are virtually one and the same, and if you are talking barrels of 20 inches or longer, either will offer the highest possible velocities at safe pressures. But the .257 JDJ isn't far behind.

In the 25x30-30 AI and 25-35 AI, with longer barrels, you can use slower powders such as N160 for top velocities with medium-to-heavier bullets. But with a 100 grain Nosler BT, Re-15 is going to be tough to beat.

As to Ladobe's list, you'll have a hard time finding anyone to chamber for a .250 Savage in a Contender. The Imp version is a much better candidate as its shape is more properly suited to minimize backthrust against the Contender frame.

Early on, SSK did make a few .250 Savage barrels for the Contender but soon learned that was not the best idea.

Check matchgrademachine.com. In their existing inventory, they may possibly have just what you are looking for. That's how I found my 25x30-30 AI. Lastly, CH-4D is generally a good source for such calibers, and the price is right at just under $75. But with my 6.5x30-30 AI, the wait was going to be 14 weeks, so I went with the 6.5mm Bullberry Improved dies instead.

In  .25 caliber as well, the Bullberry Improved chambering and the 25x30-30 AI are virtually identical and can be interchanged. 

Lastly, if you do go with one of the chamberings based on the 30-30 Imp case, you can get 6.5 BRM brass from eabco.com, run it through a FL die to bump back the shoulder and fireform. There's less stress on the case that way as the BRM already has the shoulder moved forward and much of the taper removed.

[glwenzl]

How about a 257 Roberts? Is that not suitable for a Contender especially in a rimmed version?



I have the rimmed brass, it is already made and ready to shoot, intended to do it on a Ruger #1 someday

[Ladobe]

As swh said, now days it may be hard to get a 250 Savage chambered in a Contender barrel.   But folks did them at one time for the Contender.  Both barrel makers and reloaders are getting smarter.


The 257 Roberts (including the improved version) are too much for the Contender.   Doesn't matter if rimmed or rimless as that has very little to do with back trust in the Contender.   Nor does the case gripping the walls of the chamber when firing.   It's the internal diameter of the case head (in square inches) that dictates its pressure limits in the Contender.   Why some different sized parent cases with safe loads for the Contender can have higher pressure peaks than others (PSI) but still have the same safe back thrust range (in pounds).  IOW, a 223 Rem can safely be shot in a Contender at much higher pressures than say a 45-70 can and still have approximately the same back thrust.

The "Bob" can be safely shot in an Encore though.

L.

[glwenzl]

Thanks for the explanation... This Rimmed 257 project was originally with a #1 in mind but things are changing and it might co on my TCR now... Thanks again!

[pastorp]

Thanks fellows, I'll probably go with the 25-30/30imp. Or what ever the barrel maker I choose wants to call it.

What kind of numbers could I expect with the 100gr core-lok? Any loads you like? Where did you buy your dies? Thanks for the help.

 I already found a almost new frame, now to decide on the caliber and who to make the barrel. Any suggestions on whose barrels you like. All I've ever had were TC barrels. Regards, Byron

[sweetwyominghome]

Given a 24" or longer barrel and appropriate powders, you can safely reach 2800 fps with a 100 grain bullet. (A .257 JDJ, based on the .225 case and slightly lower in capacity when compared to the 25x30-30 IMP, will do 2650 with a 100 grain bullet in a 14" barrel.)

[sweetwyominghome]

Forgot to add: I used CH-4D dies for my 25x30-30 IMP, but if they do not have them in stock, the 25 Bullberry IMP is close enough that these dies will do just fine. There's a slight differential in the neck length, but that is easy to overcome.

My barrel preferred Re-15, but powders ranging from Re-15 on the quick end to N160 will perform well.

You may want to check MGM (matchgrademachine.com) as they often have this caliber in their existing inventory -- and at reduced prices, to boot. ANd, their barrels have been supremely accurate for me.

[pastorp]

Thanks Wyoming, you've been a tremendous help. The 100gr rem. cor-loks work really good at about 2800fps. I would be happy with those velocities. I'll see what MGM has in stock. Thanks again, Byron

[sweetwyominghome]

Thanks. And you are dead-on regarding the Rem 100 grain CLs at 2800 fps. They make a dandy deer bullet at that MV. So, too, does the 100 grain Nosler BT, which is my personal preference and one I've used quite successfully on  a variety of game with MVs ranging from just over 2650 fps to 2880 fps.