Does anyone here have any information on the 25 Copperhead (.25x222)? This round was reportedly developed by the famed outdoor writer, the late John Wooters. I bought a late 60's douglas barrel for this cartridge threaded and chambered for a L461 Sako. It has a 1-12 twist. I can't find anything on the web about it. The barrel came with dies to load it but they are not a custom set from a die manufacturer. They are a shop made set. I was considering making my L461 a switch barrel adding this one to the current 6x223 IMP barrel I have on it now.

eskimo

What do you need to know? Steve's Pages has a cartridge drawing for it and the 257 Kimber which is very similar. There is also a rimmed version called the 25 Super. If you can't find loading data you could use 6x43 loads as a starter and work up. With that tiny case there won't be much working up to do.

Ray

I had overlooked it there. I was just really wanting to know it was "real". That drawing is proof. Thanks.

The book "Wildcat Cartridges" from Wolfe publishing has reprints of the two articles that John Wooter wrote for "Reloader" and "Rifle" magezine. They give the complete history of the .25 Copperhead plus many loads.

Good Luck
375win

I remember seeing an article on the Copperhead many many years ago in Shooting Times or Rifle or Handloader.

I beleive the .257 Kimber is based on the 223 case. I think the Copperhead was simply a straight neck up of the 222 and better for cast bullets.

Similar cartidge conversions had a following in Oz years ago, though mainly in 243 format. This power level suited quite a lot of our game hunting down under.

If you have the barrel and dies, then this would be a useful and inexpensive project.

Joe

The Kimber is based on the 222 Rem Mag with the body straightenned and the shoulder moved forward.

375win

eskimo

In my post I mentioned the 257 Kimber as "similar" to the Copperhead. I didn't mean to imply that it was interchangable or that loading data was similar. As others have pointed out it is a totaly different cartridge, it only looks kinda like the Copperhead. I should have been more specific.

Ray

I made up something similar years ago using the 222 Rimmed case necked to .25. The Martini Cadet action handles it VERY well! Nice accurate little rig! Back then it was a bitch to get cases but Bertram makes them now so it`s a snap. i used Wooters loading data and it is sweet.

Aloha, Mark

Bohica, Do you still have your data?

quote:

Originally posted by Bohica:
I made up something similar years ago using the 222 Rimmed case necked to .25. The Martini Cadet action handles it VERY well! Nice accurate little rig! Back then it was a bitch to get cases but Bertram makes them now so it`s a snap. i used Wooters loading data and it is sweet.

Aloha, Mark

Bohica

talk about coincidence! i did the same thing many years ago using the 222 SUPER rimmed brass from Australia. I called mine the 25 SUPER and chambered a Contender barrel for it. That was back in the days when Thompson Center would sell unchambered barrels.

Ray

I built a .25 on a necked up 204 Ruger, just a half grain of water smaller than the .257 Kimber, but equaels it in performance and is right on the heels of 250 Savage factory stuff.

It's a straight neck up so very little case forming. It has the same problem as the Kimber, too long for most .223 magazines. I built mine on a short action Savage and only had to pull the spacer out and build a new one, reshape the follower and adjust the mag. lips.

375win