25CM Load Data

[Eric H]

I have 100 of the 25cal Badlands 110Gr bullets. Has anyone had success with them and what power was used?

Thanks

 

[Dmagna]

I have been using h4350 for the 131 Sierra, I would assume it would still be fine for the 110. I am at 42 grains with mine, if you run out of room I would use varget after that.

 

[Eric H]

I have been using h4350 for the 131 Sierra, I would assume it would still be fine for the 110. I am at 42 grains with mine, if you run out of room I would use varget after that.

Thanks

 

[ranch manager]

I have 100 of the 25cal Badlands 110Gr bullets. Has anyone had success with them and what power was used?

Thanks

I would like to see more on this thread. Any numbers with Berger 133,135's or Hornady 134, and not internet folklore? I've heard of 2900 plus, this doesn't seem possible from the mind of a 25-06 and 270 owner. I'm kicking around a fast twist on my 25-06 or keep it for nostalgia purposes and utilize the good brass 25 creed?

 

[HookieHill]

I would like to see more on this thread. Any numbers with Berger 133,135's or Hornady 134, and not internet folklore? I've heard of 2900 plus, this doesn't seem possible from the mind of a 25-06 and 270 owner. I'm kicking around a fast twist on my 25-06 or keep it for nostalgia purposes and utilize the good brass 25 creed?

Nothing about these 25's makes sense to me, but they plain ole work. 43 grains of H4350 was getting us roughly 2940s with the 134's, and shooting phenomenally well.

That was with a 26" tube and a can

 

[Eric H]

I've seen plenty data for the heavier bullets but nothing on the 110s. They were designed for the 7 twist.

 

[ranch manager]

Nothing about these 25's makes sense to me, but they plain ole work. 43 grains of H4350 was getting us roughly 2940s with the 134's, and shooting phenomenally well.

That was with a 26" tube and a can

Certainly keeps my brain gears turning. Nice information, thanks.

 

[JAYgs8163]

I've seen plenty data for the heavier bullets but nothing on the 110s. They were designed for the 7 twist.

George who was the owner of Badlands would say to refer to Nosler load data. Unfortunately there's no 25CM load data. They do show a 257AI running H4831SC with excellent results. Too bad those Badlands bullets will be unavailable anymore. I had good results with his product.

I have a 25CM in build process so will follow.

 

[Flea21]

I used QuickLoad and a 10 Shot load development to settle on my load. First I entered all my measurements (Case Length, Case H20 Capacity, COAL -.005" Off the lands). Then found max charge and loaded that minus 10 charges in 0.20gr steps.

In doing so, I settled on a VERY Accurate load (40.10grs H4350 and Hornady 134gr ELD-M @ .005" Off The Lands going 2770-2785fps with very low ES & SD) that shoots in the .3s-.5s depending on the guy behind the rifle! LoL

FYI.. 26" 7.5 twist barrel.

This is a conservative load, and I could get low to mid 2800s but accuracy was compromised. I do however, want to test Vhitavuori powders which seem to project alot faster speeds per QuickLoad. We'll see though, no sense in messing things up at the moment. Maybe when I rebarrel this I'll experiment with it further.

I used to run Berger 135s and those shot great as well, but when I tried the Hornady, I was able to get the same of better performance for half the price and therefore I switched my bullet. I want to get my hands on the new ATips they make for 25cal.

This is my journey with the 25CM, Hope this helps somebody.

 

[sierracharlie338]

I would like to see more on this thread. Any numbers with Berger 133,135's or Hornady 134, and not internet folklore? I've heard of 2900 plus, this doesn't seem possible from the mind of a 25-06 and 270 owner. I'm kicking around a fast twist on my 25-06 or keep it for nostalgia purposes and utilize the good brass 25 creed?

25cm - 135berger - 41.5 h4350 - 2800fps without even trying. 23inch brux barrel and alpha brass. This is just a barrel break in load and velocity was was taken at sub 50 rounds. Have over 100 on it now and 1 deer taken so need to check velocity again and complete a pressure test.

OP I ran 110AB in my 257AI - similar case capacity but slightly more than the CM case - I was able to 3000 without pressure in a 22 inch barrel but settled on a 2950 load cause I was short on time for a hunt. That was with H4831sc around 50g IIRC

 

[Eric H]

I do have some H4831SC. Will give it a go once I get my rifle from the GS.

 

[JAYgs8163]

I may plan on running a McGuire Ballistics in mine. They are coming out with a new heavier 25 Cal bullet I believe. My build is being done with a 7.5 twist Brux.

 

[Bryan M]

I have 100 of the 25cal Badlands 110Gr bullets. Has anyone had success with them and what power was used?

Thanks

Unfortunately the owner of Badlands passed in the fall of 2024 and they are not currently producing bullets. My friend loads for this cartridge and bullet and H4350 is a good powder.
The badlands like to jump 0.050 to 0.125 from the lands in my experience, so there is no need to test loads up against the lands, since I assume you are using this for hunting. I would start the load process at 0.075 off the lands (light jam, as I use a Hornady gauge) to find your pressure signs. Assuming you don't have many bullets, I would start the charge around 40.5 or 41 grain H4350, shooting 1 or a max of 2 shots per charge, and work up in 0.5 grain increments until you find pressure signs, so you know where your "hot" load realm would be. Then back off at least 2.5 to 3 percent (1 to 1.2 grains) from flatter primers, light ejector marks, etc. if you want a "warm" but safe hunting load. If you blow a primer, (which I don't recommend), then you need to back off at least 1.6 to 2 grains (4 to 5 percent).

You should easily get 3000 fps plus with the 110 grain badlands, and I would guess you will be between 41.5 and 43 grains, but it depends on your brass. Are you using Alpha small primer pocket brass or another brass? My 6 cm shoots 107 and 108 grain bullets with about 41 grain of H4350 at 3000 fps in a 25 inch barrel and this is not a "hot load". Staball 6.5, N555 and R16 all work in my 6cm; generally they require a bit more powder than h4350 as they are slower burning, but you should be able to safely start at 40 grains with any of these and work up. I would expect a final Staball 6.5 load to be 43.5 to 45.5 grains. Again, I don't shoot for any group size until I find the pressure point of the cartridge/powder combo, then I back off to where things are stable and then start shooting groups, tweaking seating depths and fine tuning charge weights (I check 0.2 grains above and below the load I found to test for impact shifts which simulate colder or hotter weather). When testing seating depths, I would shoot 0.050, 0.075, 0.100 and maybe 0.125. Probably something between 0.075 and 0.100 off of light jam, is where you settle. This is assuming your magazine clearance is at least 0.030 from the bullet tip. I don't like loading these bullets too close, like 0.010 to 0.030 from the magazine, as I have seen feeding issues with the aluminum tip. You should look for both group size and noticeable impact shifts when test seating depth. You can fine tune seating depth around the charge weight which shoots the best, in 0.006 increments (or even 0.010) above or below the best shooting seating depth. Doing 0.003 jumps when you are this far off the lands is not necessary (this is a better process for when you are into or right at the lands and are trying to develop a target load with a Berger Hybrid or Eld-m).

This was a long answer, but I find this process to work well and quickly, when loading for bullets with very little load data. Doing the typical ladder tests and jumping bullets in small increments, requires more components and time. Shooting groups with bullets too close the lands and or too light of powder charges, just wastes components, especially if your goal is for a fast, yet safe hunting load.

 

[Bghunter338]

I have 100 of the 25cal Badlands 110Gr bullets. Has anyone had success with them and what power was used?

Thanks

I use Benchmark in my 25 souper with 110gr SBD2s. I know it's not a creedmoor but it's close and might give you somewhere to start. I'm at 39.4grs.