.25 Cal 135 Hybrid In 25 Creedmoor

[Wisconsinner]

Is anyone having luck with these? I have been having a hard time getting a load to shoot consistently.

Using Peterson LRP brass (that had been fireformed with 115 vld hunting bullets and shot great), I started off with charge weights of H4350 starting at 40.5 to 41.5 and shot over a magnetospeed. My best sd numbers were starting to show up toward the upper end but had pressure signs (sticky bolt lift) so I backed off and settled for 41.1 grains giving about 2900 fps, and an average SD around 10.
Next up was seating depth I tried everything from .005 jam to .080 jump in .003 increments. (Yes I pissed away a lot of time and money so far).
Any help would be appreciated!

 

[BLKWLFK9]

 

[308Gunner]

Try a different powder, I have found that if I can’t get a combination to shoot and I change powder it sometimes makes all the difference in the world. I had this problem with RDFs and 4350 switched to Varget and every thing clicked.

 

[BLKWLFK9]

RL26, RL16, varget, shooters world. Those are some of quite a few choices to try.

 

[ma smith]

Anyone seen info from Berger on load data?

OP might be able to call Berger

 

[jakelly]

Try some H4831SC, 7828SSC, or N160 all those powders have shown great accuracy in similar cases. Barrel might not like H4350.

 

[918v]

Drop the powder charge more.

 

[Seandradamus]

I had to jump them .09 before they would shoot and about 50 FPS slower than the blackjacks

 

[Wisconsinner]

I had to jump them .09 before they would shoot and about 50 FPS slower than the blackjacks

What is your load? I think I'm all set now. I went to the range and verified at 550yds yesterday. My load:
Peterson srp .25 creed stamped brass
Cci 450
40.8 gns Rl16
135 hybrid seated 2.167 CBTO (.014 jump)
I have yet to chrono these yet. My guess is they are running 2850 based on load workup.

 

[Seandradamus]

I’m running 41 of RL16 , 450s , 15 off at 2800
In my creed ,24” barrel 40 rds fired , I just loaded those to break in the barrel until it speeds up.
My 25 dasher was what needed 90 off to shoot , good news is the AB Doppler confirmed .334 G7 and .7 bc variation so a great bullet if you can get it to shoot.

 

[357Max]

Ultimate reloader had the 135's shooting well, but they were jammed .013 into the lands. He didn't mention that in the video.

The Berger LRHT are suppose to be tolerant of jump, however .020 - .065 jump did not produce good results for me.
New Alpha 25 Creedmoor brass, cleaned chamfered, .256 mandrel, CCI #41 Vit N555 43.8gr 2.816 coal (.020 jump) = 2840 SD5.7/ES15 (no pressure signs). That was the best load with the 135's & shot 1.25 moa
I tried 43.4 - 44.3gr & .020 - .065 jump.
7.5T 25" barrel - light palma - PVA Tika shouldered fit.

Now that I have fire formed brass I'll try mine again with N555 @ .005 jam & then .080 + jump. If that doesn't work I'll step on it with RL26 & maybe give H4350 a try.

FWIW - I'm 2 for 2 on these Berger LRHT being a total PITA to find a load for. The 85.5's in my .224 Valk sucked ass until I single loaded OTL.

The Blackjacks were much easier to find a load for in my gun. Of coarse pretty much every fast twist 25 has been chambered with a Blackjack reamer. Only tried 3 loads @ -.015 OTL & all shot around .750".
131 Ace @ 2.864 coal with N555 44.4gr = 2899avg no pressure signs.

PVA 120 Seneca G1-.640 / G7-.310 loaded 2.925 (drive band touching) cci #41 N555 @44.6gr = 2949avg 6.1SD .6moa. No pressure I think these will easily hit 3000+
The Seneca was a pleasant surprize since PVA advertises 1/7.25 twist required on the 120's

 

[Matt_3479]

I was going pick up a box to try but I might wait now and see how this plays out. The blackjacks are still hammering for me so I’ll keep shooting that for the time being.

 

[davere]

I'm running a Bartlein 5R 7.25 twist barrel. New Peterson 25CM brass, BR4 primer, H4350. Jumping .020 - but .050 essentially grouped the same, so I stayed at .020 and will enjoy the jump tolerance as the throat wears. I'm running them pretty mild, because I started to get pretty frank ejector marks on the brass as I pushed toward 2900 fps (not swipes, and no heavy bolt lift - I'm guessing that the brass is taking a running start at the ejector because this is new brass, and I might be able to push them harder with no marks after they're once fired).

41.0gr gives me 2826 fps average with a 6 SD, and it's shooting 1/4 MOA or so consistently. I worked this load up with no drama - ran a quick pressure test ladder, an OCW with .4gr intervals covering 40.6-43.0, and then an OCW at 200y at .2 intervals centered around the node at 41.0. Then a quick seat depth test. Probably a total of 65-70 rounds (would have to go consult notes to figure out exactly) - all while breaking in a new barrel.

I've got a bunch of ACEs on backorder, but I'll probably be buying more Bergers to tide me over until Sierra comes through for Blackjack.

 

[Rover31]

Try the VihtaVuori N555 worked great for me

 

[davere]

The Berger LRHT are suppose to be tolerant of jump, however .020 - .065 jump did not produce good results for me.
New Alpha 25 Creedmoor brass, cleaned chamfered, .256 mandrel, CCI #41 Vit N555 43.8gr 2.816 coal (.020 jump) = 2840 SD5.7/ES15 (no pressure signs). That was the best load with the 135's & shot 1.25 moa

I just came back to this thread after a search to see if anything new has popped up in 135 LRHT land, and re-read your post. I'm wondering if the bolded part above isn't perhaps why you're not seeing jump tolerance. You're running prolly .001-.0015" neck tension. I haven't tried neck tension that light in .25CM, but testing in 6.5CM, I had to abandon it - didn't work well for me when combined with a jump. In 25CM, new Peterson brass, and running a .255 mandrel through it, I'm getting .0025 neck tension, and seeing a lot of tolerance from .020-050" jump. Going to duplicate that tension - and possibly try .003" - on the next loading of the brass. Just FWIW. With .001", I'd try a jam and see if that helps, like you were thinking - but running a "field" gun, jam makes me a little hinky... so I've stuck with higher neck tension...

 

[357Max]

I just came back to this thread after a search to see if anything new has popped up in 135 LRHT land, and re-read your post. I'm wondering if the bolded part above isn't perhaps why you're not seeing jump tolerance. You're running prolly .001-.0015" neck tension. I haven't tried neck tension that light in .25CM, but testing in 6.5CM, I had to abandon it - didn't work well for me when combined with a jump. In 25CM, new Peterson brass, and running a .255 mandrel through it, I'm getting .0025 neck tension, and seeing a lot of tolerance from .020-050" jump. Going to duplicate that tension - and possibly try .003" - on the next loading of the brass. Just FWIW. With .001", I'd try a jam and see if that helps, like you were thinking - but running a "field" gun, jam makes me a little hinky... so I've stuck with higher neck tension...

Thanks for taking the time. I just ordered a .255 & I'll give it a try. The odd thing is how easy it was to get the 131's & 120 Senecas shooting well vs the 135's. I don’t like the idea of loading a jam either. I also see your running H4350 & I have that on hand to try also.

 

[ChiandChong]

I just came back to this thread after a search to see if anything new has popped up in 135 LRHT land, and re-read your post. I'm wondering if the bolded part above isn't perhaps why you're not seeing jump tolerance. You're running prolly .001-.0015" neck tension. I haven't tried neck tension that light in .25CM, but testing in 6.5CM, I had to abandon it - didn't work well for me when combined with a jump. In 25CM, new Peterson brass, and running a .255 mandrel through it, I'm getting .0025 neck tension, and seeing a lot of tolerance from .020-050" jump. Going to duplicate that tension - and possibly try .003" - on the next loading of the brass. Just FWIW. With .001", I'd try a jam and see if that helps, like you were thinking - but running a "field" gun, jam makes me a little hinky... so I've stuck with higher neck tension...

Dave, where are you getting your .255 mandrel from? Both K&M and Sinclairs only offer mandrels in "25 caliber," they don't even specify what diameter their mandrels are. Are you using some custom made mandrels? Do they fit the K&M press adapter by chance? Thanks pal

 

[5280yotes]

Dave, where are you getting your .255 mandrel from? Both K&M and Sinclairs only offer mandrels in "25 caliber," they don't even specify what diameter their mandrels are. Are you using some custom made mandrels? Do they fit the K&M press adapter by chance? Thanks pal

21st century has them.

 

[davere]

Dave, where are you getting your .255 mandrel from? Both K&M and Sinclairs only offer mandrels in "25 caliber," they don't even specify what diameter their mandrels are. Are you using some custom made mandrels? Do they fit the K&M press adapter by chance? Thanks pal

There are two Sinclair mandrels - and expander mandrel (.2560) and a turning mandrel (.2550). Don’t know on K&M.

But as @5280yotes says, 21st century has them in a variety of sizes and at .0005” intervals!

 

[Bergerblaster]

Ultimate reloader had the 135's shooting well, but they were jammed .013 into the lands. He didn't mention that in the video.

The Berger LRHT are suppose to be tolerant of jump, however .020 - .065 jump did not produce good results for me.
New Alpha 25 Creedmoor brass, cleaned chamfered, .256 mandrel, CCI #41 Vit N555 43.8gr 2.816 coal (.020 jump) = 2840 SD5.7/ES15 (no pressure signs). That was the best load with the 135's & shot 1.25 moa
I tried 43.4 - 44.3gr & .020 - .065 jump.
7.5T 25" barrel - light palma - PVA Tika shouldered fit.

Now that I have fire formed brass I'll try mine again with N555 @ .005 jam & then .080 + jump. If that doesn't work I'll step on it with RL26 & maybe give H4350 a try.

FWIW - I'm 2 for 2 on these Berger LRHT being a total PITA to find a load for. The 85.5's in my .224 Valk sucked ass until I single loaded OTL.

The Blackjacks were much easier to find a load for in my gun. Of coarse pretty much every fast twist 25 has been chambered with a Blackjack reamer. Only tried 3 loads @ -.015 OTL & all shot around .750".
131 Ace @ 2.864 coal with N555 44.4gr = 2899avg no pressure signs.

PVA 120 Seneca G1-.640 / G7-.310 loaded 2.925 (drive band touching) cci #41 N555 @44.6gr = 2949avg 6.1SD .6moa. No pressure I think these will easily hit 3000+
The Seneca was a pleasant surprize since PVA advertises 1/7.25 twist required on the 120's

How do you know they were jammed? I didn’t see that anywhere. Just curious

 

[357Max]

How do you know they were jammed? I didn’t see that anywhere. Just curious

Cant remember, it's been a while. I think it was in the written article not the video.

Also I've got a new Kreiger 1/4 bore 7T MTU for the Mausingfield, so I'll be revisiting these 135's soon.

 

[abn31c]

I use a .255 mandrel and jump the 135's 50 thou. With 38.1 rl16.

 

[Bergerblaster]

I use a .255 mandrel and jump the 135's 50 thou. With 38.1 rl16.
View attachment 8382825

How fast and what length barrel?