Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles 25-45 Sharps range report

It was hot today, 95* with a heat mirage made it tough to shoot.

Had a smorgesborg of loads running different brands of brass & bullets.
The two constants were the CCI 41 primers and AA2200 powder.

Bullets tested:
Speer 87 gr SP
Remington 87 gr Power-Lokt
Sierra 90 gr JHPBT
Hornady 117 gr RN

The best load so far is the Sierra in Norma brass.

All loads tested hit very close to the same point of impact at 100 yards. The heavy 117 grain grouped tight at 50 yards, didn't shoot it at 100.








The 117 gr. Hornady averaged 2,317 fps and grouped in one ragged hole at 50 yards.

Curious how did you cut the bullet in half?

That'll do. Going to hunt with it this fall?

Also, what barrel length?

A lot of vertical in that group. I think that group could be a lot tighter - about as tall as it is wide. It's really tough to bench an AR and not get vertical groups.

Grind the bullets on a bench sander.

20" barrel. Plan on using it this fall.

The factory loaded 100 grain Swine Smasher clocked 2,640 fps and grouped 1.7" for three quick shots at 100 yards.



All loads shot decent with the 90 grain Gameking shooting the best. The heat mirage was tough so not to worried about gilt edge accuracy.

Going to load up some Barnes 80 grain TTSX and give it a go.

care to share load data. i have a 20" barrel and don't get that high of velocity.
got side tracked on a AR 7.62x39 and have not done much with the 25 for a while. plus i ran out of aa2200.
i plan on hunting deer with mine in a couple weeks.

The 90 grain was loaded in Norma new .223 brass, CCI 41 primers with 24.7 grains of AA2200.

All the 87 grain bullets were using Sharps data max loads with AA2200, using there suggested started loads and worked up watching velocity.

The velocity range hit exactly were I thought they would.


The heavy 117 gr. Hornady can probably be pushed a little faster but was treading in unknown territory.

thank you sir!
another 500 7.6x39's to load and i will get back to the 25 sharps.

I may have missed your earlier posts, did you buy the barrel from them or BHW? Do you just run 223 brass thru the die to make the 25 sharps case?

Its a Sharps Rifle Company complete upper receiver.

The barrel is new no barrel break in, just shoot.


Using the RCBS dies from SRC, easily formed.

Heres there info -

RCBS AR-Series die set features a Small Base Sizing Die and a Tapered Crimp Seating Die. This set of reloading dies also comes with a third die which is a tapered expander die designed to neck .223 / 5.56 brass up to 25 caliber with ease.

Finally, a .25-35 I can afford!

Sycamore

but Syc, just think of how sexy those old levers in 25-35 are! anybody and everybody has an AR, but few have a high wall.

I wish I could get my hands on those 100gr flatpoint "swine smashers" for reloading in the 25-35! I emailed the company and they said they pretty much make them by hand, and weren't planning on selling any as components, just as loaded rounds.

Sycamore

Been able to take two bucks with the 25-45 Sharps.

The first was taken last week. Watched a 140 lb buck running two fork horns out of the food plot. Caught him standing broadside at 100 yards. Double lunged him with the Sierra 90 gr. JHPBT GameKing. He takes a 40 yard death sprint. Nice blood trail, quarter sized exit wound. Pleased with the rifle/cartridge combo.

The second was taken with the Hornady 117 grain Roundnose. He was broadside at 105 yards. Drilled his shoulders. Complete penetration, dropped at the shot.

The Roundnose expanded nicely even at 2,000 fps.

Was able to hunt with both the Sierra 90 gr. and the Hornady 117 gr. without re-zeroing the rifle.
The heavy bullet grouped one inch low at 100 yards, while the lighter GameKing grouped one inch high at 100.

Thinking of taking the Nosler 100 grain Partition and filing off the lead tip and giving it a try.




117 gr Roundnose

Interesting read and definitely an interesting cartridge. I need to do a little more research on this one.

nice buck! i have 2 25 sharps uppers and really like them.
i need to decide if i want to keep them or my 223. leaning to the 25.
i know, keep them both. problem is i am getting old and can't just look at the bullets and tell the difference anymore.

Chrome, have you been able to get 3k velocity with the 25-45?

Nope, haven't even tried. I've got some Hornady 75 grain HP that might make it.

I'm hoping someone will come out with an all-around deer bullet for the cartridge. Maybe a Nosler 90 grain Accubond.

i got into the 25-45 o the claims by SRC that they got 250-3000 velocities, but have not come close even with 75's.
my barrels are 18 and 20 inch but doubt i could reach 3000 with a 87g even with a 24 inch. still like the round though and hope to duplicate your success on a buck this next week.