Anybody use this cartridge on heavy game?

Yesterday, I made up 160 cases from .300 Win mag brass for a guy and loaded 80 Each of 400 Barnes Super Solids and 350 "X" bullets. Nice clean looking number. Plenty of power in a standard action case length of decent powder capacity. It's got me thinking, some.

Nickudu:
If you get interested enough to want some properly headstamped brass, I sent John at Safari Arms some last month... about a box of 20 or so, I think.

That's funny Judge, it was John I loaded them for! Guess he ran out (?). Have you used this cartridge?

[ 05-24-2003, 16:26: Message edited by: Nickudu ]

/

Nickudu

The only big game that I can think of was in Zambia in 1993. A customer had me build him a 425
Express for a scoped back up gun. The Buffalo was unapproachable for him to use his double. He shot the buffalo at 150 yds. with the 425. The PH said that this was the fastest he had seen a buffalo go
down. This was probably due to shot placement as much as anything. To my knowledge everyting shot with this rifle, whitetail deer to buffalo has been one-shot kills. His favorite load of 79.0 gr of IMR 4064 and a 350 gr Cor Bon bullet will consistently print 1/2 inch groups at 100 yd.

James

Thank You, James.

This is a really good number. I like it as well as the .41 bores. We have spoken with some interested parties in offering this cal as an option.

Aleko

[ 05-24-2003, 21:44: Message edited by: Heritage Arms ]

Nick,

I used one to take a buffalo in Zim in 97. I shot 400 grain Barnes solid and had very good results. It was a friends model 70 with 24 inch barrel.

Mike

Hi Mike,
Yes, on the Model 70, I think would be sweet. Seems an ideal buffalo cartridge in many ways, except for the lack of popularity. Funny, it should take forming a few cases and holding them in hand to spark my interest. Never gave it a second thought, prior. Thanks.

Nick,

There is a fellow from the NWT who posts on here by the name Arctic who has used one extensively up north. He could provide you with alot of first hand knowledge. You can get his profile from the following link:

http://www.serveroptions.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=5;t=004631#000005

Craig

Thanks Craig!

Nick
I think it's fairly obvious that the 425 would work as well as a 416. I suppose that you would have to watch pressure in hot climates because of the smallish case, but the 416 taylor works fine and its case is even smaller.

The best thing this cartridge might have to offer is serious power in a light and compact firearm.
I have a little '98 Mauser that has been begging for something like this.

Me Likes!

Jamie

Nick,
I almost forgot!

I would pick the 425 over the 458 winny any day!

Jamie

Cameron Hopkins designed the .425 to be the equivalent of the .404 Jeffrey when .404 brass was super hard to come by. I believe he accomplished that and more! (sorry Judge!)
With mine, I can beat my .404 by 200 fps in a lighter rifle and less felt recoil. Accuracy is superb. A-Square did make a run of brass for it awhile back (but it's easy to fireform), dies are available, and Savage ran off a few rifles chambered for it.
I've got four close friends with them now and still haven't heard any complaints, so all I can say is "GO for it!"
~Arctic~

Jamie said: "I think it's fairly obvious that the 425 would work as well as a 416. I suppose that you would have to watch pressure in hot climates because of the smallish case, but the 416 taylor works fine and its case is even smaller. The best thing this cartridge might have to offer is serious power in a light and compact firearm. I have a little '98 Mauser that has been begging for something like this."

That is my thinking, too. 2,300 fps with the 400's is fine and should be a possible warm weather load in most rifles.

Jamie said: " Nick, I almost forgot! I would pick the 425 over the 458 winny any day!"

This comparasion is almost automatic, isn't it? If this case design was on the table a bit earlier, we may have seen the .425 Winchester Magnum. With Max capacity for the .532 casehead, it would have been a good fit with their standard action theme. A long while back, a buddy of mine did the .375 on this casing with very good results.

Arctic - Thanks for posting!

[ 05-25-2003, 16:37: Message edited by: Nickudu ]

I invested in a Clymer .425 Exp. reamer several years back & have build six rifles in this caliber. It Sure is a LOT more cost effective than a 404ne any way you cut it & with the same or a bit more punch.

Nick

After a long leave of absence(I loaned it out) my A-Square book is back.

A 400gr Dead Tough over 78 grains RL-15 gave 2437fps out of a 26 inch barrel.
Pressure was listed at 59,500 PSI.

Not Bad for a little case!

Jamie