I already have a 25-223 but did not like having to trim back case all time for this caliber and since I primarily hunt predators shooting lighter bullets and wanted something simple to reload for and use use I opted for a 25x45. Detractors say you can not shoot heavier bullets with the 25x45 and so thats why the 25-223 came about. As I own both and have shot both I just have not seen this as a rigid rule. There are certain bullets in certain weights that pose a problem but there are many bullet choices up to 100gr quite a few will work just fine. I have shot up to 119gr Noslers but would not recommend it...bullets start getting long.
SHARPS Rifle Company just standardized the round and plans to market it with Federal's help.
Ok, months ago I ordered a 25x45 20" barrel from BlackHole. I thought it was beautiful to look at and it felt fairly light.
The barrel is a light Varmint contour, pretty much what the other 6x45 barrel contours are from BH are. Blackhole Weaponry uses Polygonal Rifling. I opted to NOT thread the end of this one as my last barrel, a 18" Shilen barrel in 25/223 was threaded and I just did not like it. It became a harmonics issue I believe for me as I never could get it to shoot light bullets.
With the 25x45 its a straight forward up sizing of the 223 case where as the 25/223 cartridge must be trimmed back some....PITA. As I like simplicity I went with this and it makes the most sense for me.
I had several months ago bought one of those AR15 upper kits from Scott at Specialized Dynamics that he ran a special on.....Thank you Scott.
Crappy photo from my camera.....
The upper build was very straight forward and took maybe 20 minutes tops. The longest part as always for me is seating the pin. From then on I just put it together. The barrel nut I just hand tightened and then gave it a little more twist to line the gas tube hole up....I did not torgue it as I think once the hole is lined up after timing it correctly it takes some force to do this. Or so I believe....people can do as they see fit on theirs but the AR is simplistic in form and I like to try to keep it that way. No thread lock on any of it.
Once it was all together I ran a very wet bore snake down it and sprayed lots of Rem oil in the upper. I put a lower on it and loaded a 20rd mag of 25x45 cartridges into it and let the bolt go home. It chambered very smoothly and felt locked up solid.....I squeezed the trigger and fired and functioned as it should. I then proceeded to burn the entire clip through it. Perfect feed, fire, and function....yes I know others do it differently but this one is mine.
As I have been shooting the 25/223 for a while now I have lots of load data compiled to start with and plan to begin working up loads for this very soon. More than likely I will be shooting 70gr Sierra Blitz Kings, 85gr Noslers BT, and 90gr Sierra Blitz Kings also. I have quite a bit of data on these already.
Its been a long road on this and plan to make it my main predator round this winter and also plan to take a deer with it also to just see how it performs, which I have little doubt it will excel in.
In the 25cal 20" Varmint contour barrel, twist 1:10.
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Bullet Load Work upWell finally had a little time to start doing more than just shoot all different types and weights of bullets. Everything I have loaded has fired....doesn't mean that's what I am going to use as I am a Predator Hunter much more than a paper shooter. I will be running 100gr Sierra SP though on a Hog hunt down in Texas if I can pull that together in a month or so, my main gun will be my 25x45 this winter for predator hunting.
I have been working a lot with the Vmax 75gr, Nosler 85gr BT, and 70gr Sierra BK. Spent quite a bit of time using AA2015, 10X, Varget, 8208, 3031, and H335. I finally think I found my load using H335. I tried it last because its so dirty but given the number of rounds I shoot in a hunting season I doubt its going to really effect me. All I do is bore snake my rifle anyway besides wipe out and off. I guess I will end up taking the bolt apart every couple of months to really clean it as the cold can reek havick on a dirty bolt.
The load ended up being H335 26.5gr w/ Sierra 70gr BK cci 400primer, of course just seated to mag length. The 70gr BK are proven coyote thumpers so hopefully they will do their job if I do mine.
You need to be easy running the expander ball through neck or you will split it, just ease it through and its all good. I used the OCW method in my work up.
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loaded 5 rds w/ H335 26.5gr & Sierra 70gr BK. 2 errors and 3 reports one 2989 and one 2893....I took a photo of the middle one. Still little doubt in my mind a 70gr .257 bullet moving at this speed will put the absolute smack down on a coyote.
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Load Data Disclaimer - Use caution if you use it. Blah Blah Blah...+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
SAAMI SPECIFICATIONS 25-45 SHARPSFederal will be producing commercial ammo for it.