[Plainsman]

I've been doing a LOT of research on different case sizes lately. I'm still looking for that 'elusive' .257" caliber cartridge for a 'do it all' round. I've come to the conclusion something between a .256WinMag and a .25/35 would be ideal.

Now some of you are saying the .257TCU or other .257 based on a .223 case...But I guess I'm thinking of something a tad bit BIGGER than that, yet still smaller than the .25/35.

I'm not really finding ANY cases between the .223 case family and the .308 family, with the .30-30 as the only exception. The .30-30 is rimmed and still a little bigger than what I really want.

The agony...I'm half tempted to draw up a new case design myself. Too bad there is no way I could afford to actually have it built.

I'm surprised nobody has seen this 'gap' in the case lineup. I would think others are looking for something similar. It would be ideal for a .223", .243" and .257" family that would be great for doing cross duty as a small game/varmint/short range deer rifle.

The .223 itself is too small, the .243 gets too big...Something in between would be PERRRRRRRfect!

 

[Graybeard]

Bruce, the .257 JDJ is in my not so humble opinion the best choice going for what you seek. It is smaller than the .243 in both diameter and case capacity. It is a wee bit smaller even than the .30-30 but brute strong. Ya really should take a look at it.

GB

 

[BruceP]

The .223 itself is too small, the .243 gets too big...Something in between would be PERRRRRRRfect!

Wouldn't that be a 250 Savage :?:

 

[Plainsman]

I'm leaning towards the .257TCU all the time...

If it was a LARGE RIFLE primer it would be better a better case for me.

I'm not looking for a 'hotrod' actually the OPPOSITE! I want something just a tad more powerful than the .25-20. The .25/35 was close, but even that looks faster than I want some days.

I would like a rimless case for a Mauser style bolt action, preferably with the LR primer pocket as mentioned above. It would make my reloading a little easier.

I would like to run 65-85gr bullets through it for plinking/small game, with the capability of the heaviest bullet for a deer shot out to 100 yards. Hence the 85 would be about minimum, so if it could handle a little heavier bullet all the better, but not necessary.

I have a .25-06 so I have the .257" hotrod in the garage already. I'm trying to figure out a 'little brother' for more 'everyday' duties...

Thanks for the ideas so far!

 

[jdt48653]

250 savage. the 25/35 case is 1.980,the 250 savage is 1.912.
the 257 roberts is 2.233, 256 win mag case is 1.281 long.(info on 250 savage below. )
bullet(grs) powder(grs) MV ME
87 4895--36 3020 1780
87 4064--37 3090 1840
100 4320--36 2865 1821
100 4064--35 2880 1842
87 factory 3030 1770---200yd.mrt=2.5''

100 factory 2820 1760---200yd.mrt=2.9''
120 factory 2645 1865---200yd.mrt=2.5''(1'' above-
line of bore)
the fn belgian-made mauser is available in this cal.also the savage#99,
and win model 54s and model70s. ( also the 25/36 marlin averages about 1000fps slower,and muzzle energy is about half compared to the 250 savage.)

 

[Plainsman]

My search has gone full circle!

I originally was wondering if I could download my .25-06 to do what I wanted. I knew the 'old timers' used to just download their deer rifles for what I wanted to do. But they had caliber 'other than' the .25-06. Hence, I couldn't find any data to support that 'wild' idea.

So then I started looking at building a rifle for this project. It started about two years ago with a search for a TC Contender barrel in .25/35. Then I got this hair brained idea of a bolt action. Then I thought about going to a WILDCAT.

Well, I finally got a decent answer due to this question. A guy turned me onto a little known powder and data for reduced loads for the .25-06. And it was RIGHT IN FRONT OF ME the whole time. Speer has a reduced load in tiny print, with every bullet for the .25-06 using SR-4759. I couldn't believe it! :shock: And ALL of the loads can be dropped down to 1500 fps, just what I WANTED!

Now if I can only find data for the lightest bullets, 65 and 75gr, I'd be in HEAVEN!

So now I'm back to just using my .25-06 for everything again! There's joy this New Year's Eve!

Thanks for all the ideas guys!

 

[minker]

if 25/35 is close, but you want rimless , go with a .25 remington. or a .250/3000. there is a wildcat known as the .25 copperhead, .25 cal on a .222 case. about the same as a .257t/c/u/. mark

 

[thomas]

30-30 case

Have a barrel made on a 30 herrett or a 357 herrett case
You could have the length to your spec.
I think Bullberry already makes what your are looking for
Tom

 

[charlesr]

Reduced loads

Data for reduced (Youth Loads) can be found using H4895 on Hodgdon's web site: www.hodgdon.com/data/youth/index.php

This procedure can be used only with cartridges showing H4895 as a suitable powder for standard loads.

 

[Blackhawk44]

Your exact answer - 6.35x47 designed by Wayne Blackwell (old Handloader magazines). He had articles for both rifle and Contender. The .222 Rem Mg case opened to .257. Interesting pieces. Also, the .257 Kimber, same thing but the shoulder blown forward and sharpened, showed some pretty warm loads. They sold a few (including Redding dies) but never really pushed it. Also Mike Bellm does a lot of designs on these cases, including the 5.6X50, the European .222 Mag Extra Long.

 

[Chuck from arkansaw]

Three options come to mind.

The .256 Winchester beats the **** out of the 25-20 and is still under the 25-35, the .357 max. case necked down would be even better. One alternative I was looking at for a lever action .25 was the 6.5 Jap case. It is a little jewl.

 

[Prince of Wales]

Chuck for a lever action 25 it would be hard to beat the 25/35 AI. This cartrige shows a greater percentage of gains than any other improved version. The 30/30 brass is common as well.
I think for a little hotter version you could begin with the 307 Win brass . Do you have an action to handle that kind of pressure? Good luck. POW

 

[Blackhawk44]

Everybody re-read the post. He's looking for a rimless which leads us back to something such as 6.5 Mannlicher or Jap cases or possibly the rimless 25-35, ie, 25 Remington. Because these are so much fun to find brass, dies, and shellholders for the suggestion became the 222 Rem mag case for either 6.35x47(just necked up) and 257 Kimber(necked up and shoulder moved forward), both on the 222 Mag case. You could start with the 6.35x47 (no custom reamers. use either 222mg or 6x47 follow with throat reamer) and if ballistics are not up to expectations you follow up with the 257 Kimber reamer(available for rental). If the first chamber is done properly you shouldn't even have to set the barrel back to go to Kimber.

 

[Blackhawk44]

Also, the reason we have to give up on a case with LR primer is that the 250 Savage is still too fast even lightly loaded and 25 Remington brass is $49.97 per 100 custom formed from Quality Cartridge. Its $100 per 100, 300 minimum if you want the correct headstamp on it. OUCH!

 

[Blackhawk44]

Final offer: 25 on the 6mmBR case, but only if you find an action that feeds from the magazine.

 

[Blackhawk44]

Final offer: Back to Kaliau Custom- 25 on 6mmBR case when you have an action that will feed from the magazine.

 

[kciH]

Tell me again why the 250 Savage isn't what you're looking for..

 

[Ronnie Starr]

257 and the 243 Ronnie Starr

Plainsman I was think that a 762x39 would be the place to start it's not hard to get it would be about the right size. This is my opinion what do you think. Ronnie Starr W.v.

 

[Graycg]

Why not try using the 25 remington? If you wanted you could shorten it a little...bigger than 223, smaller than 308. that should solve all you issues.

regards,
Graycg

 

[Leftoverdj]

Several ways to go. Best is probably to wait for Remington to get the new military .270 round out and just neck that down.

Cheapest would be a .25 Souper Short. The Souper is a moderately popular .308 based wildcat. Just run the reamer in to the depth you want and shorten dies to match.

Most exotic would be to neck down the 7.62x41. Lord knows where you would find cases, though.

Or you could just be sensible and get a .250-3000.