Why not .25 cal?

[Wannashootit]

Maybe not the correct sub-forum, but best fit I could think of...

Simple question, given the emerging "favoritism" towards smaller caliber, high-bc bullets in recent years- why the 6.5 and 6mm, while the .257 has remained a red-headed stepchild for target shooting applications? Seems that it would be an interesting "tweener" of the two metric boolits, yet it has literally no love in terms of high performance VLD options.

What is it about it's external ballistics that makes the quarterbore so undesirable for this application?
Or are the masses missing something?

 

[TheOfficeT-Rex]

There are quite a few who are happy with the performance of 25 creed and similar cartridges using the Blackjack 131 Ace bullets.

It's less popular because these aren't off the shelf calibers. Just like 6,5 CM and 300 PRC proved, the most popular choices are the ones with factory ammo available.

 

[W54/XM-388]

6.5mm bullets have been in usage around for over 130 years, so they have a very established base.
.243 was doing the VLD bullets in custom chambers a decade before the 6CM was a thing.

So they have a big headstart.

Much like 7mm, the .25 cal kind of has always been a bit of a niche dimension fitting in between other more popular ones.

There is a member with a long thread on here posting his excellent results with those blackjacks.

 

[canezach]

I have a 25 Creedmoor barrel for my Desert Tech and AI and a 25 PRC for the DT. I was a pretty early convert to the 131 bullets and have rung steel out to a mile with both cartridges. There are quite a few shooters using the high BC quarter bore bullet. I think you'll start seeing more high BC 25 call offerings in the near future, but right now Blackjack is the only company offering them. @coldboremiracle has used them for hunting with very good results, too.

 

[coldboremiracle]

The Ace is king, but looks like PVA, Berger, and probably Hornady will be right on its tail.

 

[Supersubes]

Maybe not the correct sub-forum, but best fit I could think of...

Simple question, given the emerging "favoritism" towards smaller caliber, high-bc bullets in recent years- why the 6.5 and 6mm, while the .257 has remained a red-headed stepchild for target shooting applications? Seems that it would be an interesting "tweener" of the two metric boolits, yet it has literally no love in terms of high performance VLD options.

What is it about it's external ballistics that makes the quarterbore so undesirable for this application?
Or are the masses missing something?

The 25’s are coming back hard already. To answer your question though, the manufacturers of 25 cal rifles always used a 1-10 or similar twist, which prevented the use of any long high BC bullets. No bullet makers were making high BC bullets for that reason. As a result of the lack of high BC bullets, most if not all custom barrel makers didn’t make fast twist barrels either. Pretty much been addressed now. Just waiting on some more bullet makers to jump onboard.

 

[Wannashootit]

To answer your question though, the manufacturers of 25 cal rifles always used a 1-10 or similar twist, which prevented the use of any long high BC bullets.

Great point. I guess neither the barrel manufs nor the bullet manufs want to be the first to "stick their necks out" with a new product on the hopes the other will follow accordingly.

 

[Stevo86]

I shoot a 25 CM and a 25 SAUM with the 131 blackjacks. Excellent bullet. Haven’t gotten a chance to go to mile yet tho.

 

[1moaoff]

Whats your barrwl life on a 25 saum?

 

[Supersubes]

Whats your barrwl life on a 25 saum?

Probably safe to say it’s very poor.

 

[Stevo86]

Whats your barrwl life on a 25 saum?

Yea I’m pushing these at 3300 FPS so ok not expecting much. But damn it screams

 

[Stevo86]

I’ve only got about 250 rounds down the tube. I need to back it down alittle

 

[Wannashootit]

Scramjet with those 131's?
Got me thinkin'...

 

[Stevo86]