Hi, I'm new to this forum but wanted to share a hunting experience I had recently. I've owned two 25 WSSM's since 2006. When this cartridge first came out I was enamored with it. Many people didn't see the benefit of a cartridge that basically mirrors the venerable 25-06 Rem.. Although having a lighter rifle and shorter cartridge that nips at the heals of the 25-06 and even beats it in some cases using less powder made me really like this cartridge. When I bought my rifles back in '06 and '07 I started buying brass every time I would see it show up at our local Sportsman's Warehouse. Over the years I've shot both of my rifles a lot, (1 Browning A-bolt Composite Stalker and a Winchester Model 70 Coyote chambered in 25 WSSM) I've almost exclusively hand loaded for these rifles from the beginning. I've experimented with many bullets and many different types of powders. This year I found what I believe to be the ultimate load and bullet combination for the 25 WSSM. I've been on a quest to discover the ultimate load since buying these rifles back in 2006. Using 52 grains of Hodgdon Superformance you can push a 100 grain bullet at 3381 Feet Per Second (See Hodgdon Load data for details). Experimenting with Shooters Calculator, an online calculator I've come to realize that my new load really is the best of all worlds in my Browning A-Bolt. With a 100 Grain Swift Scirocco II bonded bullet and 50 grains of Superformance and standard primers you can achieve 3300 FPS, and in my rifle it shoots sub-MOA. The reason I settled on the 100 grain Swift Scirocco is that it is basically as tough as a Barnes TSX Bullet, and yet it opens more reliably at slower speeds. All while producing a G1 BC of .429 which is slightly less than a Berger 115 Gr. VLD with a G1 BC of .466. Yes the 115 grain Berger VLD has a higher BC, but it can only be pushed to 3100-3150 FPS max in a 25 WSSM. I can push the 100 grain Swift Scirocco to 3381 FPS with almost the same BC and with much lower pressures. Yes, Hodgdon Superformance produces the lowest pressures and fastest velocities in the 25 WSSM. At altitude here in Colorado I can zero my scope 6 inches high at 100 yards and essentially be zeroed at 450 Yards with this load. About a week ago I headed into the woods with my Browning 25 WSSM and was able to shoot a bull elk at 80 yards. I shot this bull through both shoulders at 80 yards (100 grain swift scirocco II under 50 grains of Superformance muzzle velocity 3300 FPS). The bullet passed through both shoulders about mid way up and crushed both lungs, which knocked the bull over almost immediately! This load is not only a great short range choice with blistering velocity, but is neck and neck performance wise with a Berger 115 grain VLD at 3100 FPS all the way out to 750 yards. 750 yards is about where I would limit a good broadside shot too, if I were going to take a long shot, and you'd be pushing it with a 25-06 or 25 WSSM in taking a shot like that. If conditions were perfect I wouldn't hesitate to take a shot like this in the future with this new load. Believe it or not down range energy is almost the same between these 2 loads, than it is with a 115 grain Berger VLD at 3100 FPS. You can't ask for better performance from a bullet than to punch through 2 elk shoulders with a lead core bullet at an impact velocity of 3200 FPS. These 100 grain Swift Scirocco Bullets are the king in any 25 caliber rifle!
