Anyone tried....

[Chris Stephenson]

The Ohaus 25-070-F bullet in a 25-20wcf?
Looks very similar to the Lyman 257420 but 5 to 10 grains lighter.
Chris

 

[Eutectic]

That is a good looking bullet that should shoot..... My only kick about it is the old black powder thinking and designed lube grooves with WAY to much capacity! I would lube only the bottom groove. I have modified a Magma 25-20 85gr mold (lube grooves) and made a gascheck HP from that casting that weighs 69grs. It visually is almost identical to the Ohaus 25-070F except for only having a single grease groove. My Model 25 Remington loves this bullet as well as my 92 carbine and one of my Savage Model 23's. If Accurate could cut a .25 caliber I would have this design made. Lyman 257420 shoots well in my old Model 23; yet doesn't in my newer 23 make 10 years later! The 92 likes it; the Model 25 tolerates it. My 257420 has had the lube grooves machined shallower and then I still us only the bottom one even for hi-velocity varmint loads.

I've said it before........ The .25-20 is a primadonna! I've never had one that wasn't extremely accurate...... But don't think you can feed all of them the same load.... My experience says some will love the load.... and others will spit it out!

Pete

 

[RicinYakima]

Ohaus weights are rated in Lin-o-type and Ideal/Lyman in Lyman #2 alloy.

 

[Chris Stephenson]

Thanks guys! I'll be loading it in a Savage 23 (old model), time will tell. The 257420 does work in my particular gun, but you know, gotta try other stuff to keep it interesting. Sitting next to a '420, the 25-070 is about 0.10" shorter, which is where the weight goes. I've always been stymied when looking up loads for the '420, some manuals think it a 65 grain bullet and others a 75, my particular mould throws well over 75 grain. This Ohaus will give me something to use with the load data on the lighter end (hopefully).

Interesting thoughts on the lube Pete, I've never felt that any of my moulds was "over-lubed", but then, my experience with these little slugs is just not that great. I use a blend of bees wax (65%) and petroleum jelly (35%) and just a percent or two of carnauba wax. When you see "signs" of over lubing, what form do they take? Does accuracy fall off? Barrel fouling?

Another 25 cal mould I have is the RCBS PB which I have also read is over-lubed...why?

Chris

 

[Eutectic]

Probably purge fliers first ...... Every three or four OK then one out of the group. We search for a lube that is impervious to amount applied but we haven't found it....... at least I haven't. Sometimes overall accuracy gets worse with more shots, but not always....I'll call one out of the group an inch at 100 a flier in my more accurate guns. The Model 23's in .25-20 (and .32-20) are in this category. All three of the molds you mentioned could be tried all grooves full against only the bottom groove with lube. Then you'll know which of Chris's results are the best on the target. NOE makes that RCBS 85gr copy with the lube grooves reduced in capacity a good amount by the way. I have them in plain base and gascheck and they SHOOT in both my .25-20 Savage Model 23's.

Pete

 

[Chris Stephenson]

I'll give that a try Pete, groups with both grooves filled and groups with one groove filled. I too have old model 23's in both 25-20 and 32-20. The 32 seems to be a lot more accurate and repeatable, with pretty much any bullet I feed it.

 

[RicinYakima]

The Savage 23's are unique. They used slow twist barrels and since Savage was a major ammo maker in the 1920' and 1930's they were designed around the 60 grains .25 and 80 grains .30 bullets that Savage developed. They also used non-corrosive no mercuric primers from the beginning of production for 25/20, 32/20 and 22 Hornet. Long before anyone else except the Swiss who had used them since 1904.