Fallow deer ammo choice

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

What cartridge is that Bob?

Don't think I've seen a rimmed 25 before.

Al.

@Alistair
It's my own design Al. It's a 303 British necked down to 25 caliber, the case has been blown out almost parallel, the neck has been moved forward to give a one caliber neck length and it has a 35 degree shoulder angle.
This has increased the case capacity from 50 grains to over 60. You can't use the full capacity of the case because of pressure constraints but you can come close with the right powder.
Very effective case projectile combination.
Bob

 

[Saul]

@bruce moulds
My favorite 25 cal deer cartridge for as far as you are comfortable hitting them with.
View attachment 353468
Take your pick Bruce. A 100 grain TTSX @3,600+ fps or
A 115 grain combined technology silver tip @ 3,300+ fps.
Shoots real flat out to 400 yards
Bob

3600 fps with a 100gr bullet and 50-60 gr of powder? That load has got to be cooking! What barrel length do you use?

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

3600 fps with a 100gr bullet and 50-60 gr of powder? That load has got to be cooking! What barrel length do you use?

@Saul
It is a 24 inch barrel and the powder I use is hogdon superformance. This powder has a longer flatter pressure curve compared to the normal parabolic curve. It maintains pressure on the projectiles for a longer period allowing for higher velocities.
Bob

 

[Firebird]

Would like to hear which worked best for you at the range. I’ve been very Pleasantly surprised how well the fusion 120 gr worked in my 7mm-08 while the 140 was not nearly as accurate. That was on mule deer. My buddy used a Tikka 7mm-08 and the sst on caribou with excellent result-and I loved the earlier comment about the toughness (lack of) in the two species. That Sierra pro hunter bullet has been good for me as well, Gameking also a very accurate killer if you can find them in factory loading to suit your rifle, those would be worth a try

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Would like to hear which worked best for you at the range. I’ve been very Pleasantly surprised how well the fusion 120 gr worked in my 7mm-08 while the 140 was not nearly as accurate. That was on mule deer. My buddy used a Tikka 7mm-08 and the sst on caribou with excellent result-and I loved the earlier comment about the toughness (lack of) in the two species. That Sierra pro hunter bullet has been good for me as well, Gameking also a very accurate killer if you can find them in factory loading to suit your rifle, those would be worth a try

@Firebird
Sierra prohunter and gameking are very underrated. For deer size game in 30 cal and under I find them to be both accurate and economical.
The 90 grain Sierra hollow point game king out of my son's 25 cal @3,300 fps is very devastating on game.
Bob

 

[Alistair]

@Alistair
It's my own design Al. It's a 303 British necked down to 25 caliber, the case has been blown out almost parallel, the neck has been moved forward to give a one caliber neck length and it has a 35 degree shoulder angle.
This has increased the case capacity from 50 grains to over 60. You can't use the full capacity of the case because of pressure constraints but you can come close with the right powder.
Very effective case projectile combination.
Bob

Very cool!

I wondered if it was some obscure Euro rimmed 6.5, but a wildcat is even better, especially on the venerable 303!

What's the gun? SMLE pattern presumably?

Al

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Very cool!

I wondered if it was some obscure Euro rimmed 6.5, but a wildcat is even better, especially on the venerable 303!

What's the gun? SMLE pattern presumably?

Al

@Alistair
Mine is on a P14 Enfield and my son's is on an SMLE NO4 ACTION.

My P14 25/303 Epps Newton improved

My son's 25/303 Epps Newton improved on a SMLE NO4 ACTION .

 

[Alistair]

@Alistair
Mine is on a P14 Enfield and my son's is on an SMLE NO4 ACTION.
View attachment 353607
My P14 25/303 Epps Newton improved
View attachment 353608
My son's 25/303 Epps Newton improved on a SMLE NO4 ACTION .

Even better.

I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir here, but do be careful with high pressure loads in the old SMLEs. Lovely slick feeding fast cycling actions, bu those rear locking lugs aren't the strongest!

Thanks for sharing and well done on the development!
Al.

 

[bruce moulds]

bob,
interesting mag modification to the no1v
bruce.

 

[Bob Nelson 35Whelen]

Even better.

I'm sure I'm preaching to the choir here, but do be careful with high pressure loads in the old SMLEs. Lovely slick feeding fast cycling actions, bu those rear locking lugs aren't the strongest!

Thanks for sharing and well done on the development!
Al.

@Alistair
The No4 SMLE action has safely been converted to the 7.61x51 and use as a sniper/target rifle for years. Yes the No1 mk111 is not as strong.
My reloading program predicts the pressure in cup for a given load.
In my son's No4 action I keep the pressure at 47 to 48,000 cup. This give a velocity between the 257 Roberts and the 25/06. At the moment I'm getting 3,300 fps with a 100grain and 3,460fps with the 80 grain TTSX. This gives me identical impact points out to 300 yards.
My P14 I never excede 52,500 cup.
Bob