Why isn't there a premium 125 gr. or 130 gr. spitzer in the 25 caliber? Most all 25 caliber barrels are 1-10" now - they should be able to stablize bullets a bit heavier than 120 gr. Seems like 25-06 and 257 WM shooters could make good use of such a bullet. I know I'd use it...

Barnes used to make a 125 gr Original about 7 years ago, but ceased production not long after. I still have a box of them. Remington had a 122 gr bullet in their .25-06 Extended Range load, but those are gone now too. As far as I know, that's it!
I'm sure that they could go heavier though. If 156 grs in possible in a 6.5 (.264), a bullet heavier than 125 grains should be possible in a .257 which is only 0.007" less in diameter.

[ 07-20-2003, 07:18: Message edited by: JKuczmarski ]

9.3x62, I posed a similar question a couple of months ago. Since then I got a ring die to size down 0.264" bullets to 0.257" bullets.

I've been shooting 140 gr speer hot cores out of my 257 roberts with decent results. I'm getting 1.75" groups @ 2700 fps with 45 gr of RL 25. I would say the bullet is marginally stable at 100 yds (10" twist). I haven't tried it yet at longer ranges.

In the sizing process the bullet bases don't stay square. I don't have a lathe, yet, so I've been trying to fix the base of the bullets with a dremel and eyeballing it. Not too bad so far-- but I wouldn't hunt any large game with it. I just don't trust me or the bullets enough-for now.

Interesting, how much would you have to take off to square things up? The base of a bullet is just about the most important part it has. Much more then the nose.

[ 07-24-2003, 05:58: Message edited by: BigIron ]

Pete in Idaho, The majority of the base is fine. But the rod that pushes the bullet through the die is 0.251" in diameter. So I get a small ring of jacket material around the base as the bullet is compressed from 0.264" to 0.257". This is the part of the base that is often uneven and I've been trying to fix.