257 Blackjack

[coldboremiracle]

My latest project, the 257 Blackjack. A SAUM based cartridge shortened to run in a SA DBM, pushing the 131 gr Ace at 3200 fps with a BC of .340-.345. supersonic past 2000 yards and only 5.3 MRAD to 1k.

Built on a 700SA, Iota Carbon chassis, Proof 24" 7.5tw, US Optics TS 20, PVA Jetblast brake, A TT Diamond, and Hawkins bottom metal.

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[6brshooter]

I'm hard as a diamond, I'll need some range reports, but that looks wicked. Any idea of barrel life?

 

[2010Ruger]

I second the range reports! Also where to find information for forming brass/sourcing reamers and dies?

 

[308Gunner]

That should be one hell of a critter killer

 

[Deleted member 10043]

Nice. Love the Ace.

 

[TACC]

Never heard of this caliber before, but definitely looking forward to the ballistics on this.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

I shoot in 25-06. Anything .257 is a hammer. Blackjack is the company. Sierra is the manufacturer.

 

[coldboremiracle]

How much different is this from 25 SST?

I believe it is a bit shorter. Runs great from AI mags and a SA.

 

[patscrazy]

So interested in going with one of these quarter bore cartridges to utilize this awesome 131 ace bullet. What's the story with the 25 SAW compared to the 25 creed and 25x47? Advantages, disadvantages, etc. thanks

 

[Spartan67]

Im going to follow this closely!

 

[coldboremiracle]

So interested in going with one of these quarter bore cartridges to utilize this awesome 131 ace bullet. What's the story with the 25 SAW compared to the 25 creed and 25x47? Advantages, disadvantages, etc. thanks

Not real familiar with the SAW, but its velocity is only slightly ahead of my 25CM. This 257 BJ is a solid 200-250fps ahead, and flat enough to beat most things close to it in other calibers.

 

[stello1001]

I want, sign me up...

 

[coldboremiracle]

I've had a LOT of Bob's,Better Bob's,25-284's,25-06's,25-06AI's and 257Wby's...my resolve will NOT let me poke a build squarely in a Sierra basket.

Easy pass for me.

What is that supposed to mean?

 

[Rookie]

Lost me too.

 

[chevy_man]

What is that supposed to mean?

Sierra touched him wrong?


What kind of load data are you coming up with?

 

[coldboremiracle]

Sierra touched him wrong?


What kind of load data are you coming up with?

looks like 51-55 grains of any slow magnum powder is where its at (h1000, RL25-26, Retumbo, H4831).

 

[Supersubes]

I have a 6.5 SST. It runs really well out of binderless AI mags. Opened up the bolt face on a T3. Loaded OAL with a 147 is 2.910", 10 thou jump. Mags allow 2.980". I can do 3075 before I get pressure.

What’s the powder and charge weight?

I believe it is a bit shorter. Runs great from AI mags and a SA.

What’s the 25 BJ OAL?

 

[Supersubes]

I'm hard as a diamond, I'll need some range reports, but that looks wicked. Any idea of barrel life?

Pretty safe to assume barrel life is not good. That’s the price you pay for that kind of performance.

 

[Supersubes]

56.3gr H1000 but I'm downloading it to 55.5gr now to keep it at 3000

Thanks. Heard of that case, but o ow nothing about it. I’m tinkering with a 25 PRC on and off. Just haven’t had the time to do much with it lately. It’s right in that same ballpark with h1000 and the 131.

 

[Scotts556]

Pretty safe to assume barrel life is not good. That’s the price you pay for that kind of performance.

Depends on how hot this is running, if its anything like the 6.5 SAUM, You can get pretty decent barrel life out of it. Say 2k or a little better.

Scott

 

[chevy_man]

looks like 51-55 grains of any slow magnum powder is where its at (h1000, RL25-26, Retumbo, H4831).

That's impressive. 25-06 performance with a touch less powder using a short action.

I may need one now.

Hopefully it doesn't torch barrels like the 25wssm did.

 

[coldboremiracle]

That's impressive. 25-06 performance with a touch less powder using a short action.

I may need one now.

Hopefully it doesn't torch barrels like the 25wssm did.

I think barrel life is = (powder/case capacity) X Rate of fire. no gettin around it.

 

[coldboremiracle]

What’s the powder and charge weight?



What’s the 25 BJ OAL?

2.855

 

[niteshooter]

Supposedly it’s 60 grains of h20 capacity.

 

[Supersubes]

Depends on how hot this is running, if its anything like the 6.5 SAUM, You can get pretty decent barrel life out of it. Say 2k or a little better.

Scott

I never bought into that, and this cartridge has a smaller bore than that did.

 

[Ledzep]

Depends on how hot this is running, if its anything like the 6.5 SAUM, You can get pretty decent barrel life out of it. Say 2k or a little better.

Scott

My 6.5 SAUM opened up at 1200 rounds. Throat was pretty torched. Ran 60.6gr h1000 with 140s. Could have still worked for hunting but probably not the best for matches.

 

[b6graham]

I never bought into that, and this cartridge has a smaller bore than that did.

you mean that extra 15gr powder doesnt mean by barrel life can still be the same as a 6.5 creed???? shiitttt

 

[Ledzep]

you mean that extra 15gr powder doesnt mean by barrel life can still be the same as a 6.5 creed???? shiitttt

Just like C Dixon and the 6 comp match. 3400fps with a 105 and 3000 rounds. Never seen anyone get either, let alone both.

 

[Steel head]

you mean that extra 15gr powder doesnt mean by barrel life can still be the same as a 6.5 creed???? shiitttt

 

[alpine44]

I think barrel life is = (powder/case capacity) X Rate of fire. no gettin around it.

Yes, the most dominant factor for barrel erosion is the thermal energy released by the powder, which is also the energy that propels the bullet. No free lunch there.

There are smaller factors influencing throat erosion related to the specific flow of gases creating hot spots according to the laws of fluid dynamics. If you look at Mach diamonds for example, you realize that there are significant pressure and temperature variations in high velocity flow scenarios. That is the reason why some cartridges burn barrels faster that other cartridges of similar powder volume for the same caliber.

In a far out analogy, you can tweak a couple more miles per gallon out of a big block V8 with tuning but you will always burn more gas than a Prius.

 

[6.5-284 lover]

My latest project, the 257 Blackjack. A SAUM based cartridge shortened to run in a SA DBM, pushing the 131 gr Ace at 3200 fps with a BC of .340-.345. supersonic past 2000 yards and only 5.3 MRAD to 1k.

Built on a 700SA, Iota Carbon chassis, Proof 24" 7.5tw, US Optics TS 20, PVA Jetblast brake, A TT Diamond, and Hawkins bottom metal.



View attachment 7220468View attachment 7220470

Any new updates?

 

[coldboremiracle]

Any new updates?

Yes, RL26 is the ticket. Just broke 3270 fps with 57.0grains. Gonna work from there.

 

[2010Ruger]

3270 and room for more? Keep the info coming. Really interesting cartridge

 

[coldboremiracle]

So far, Im planning on leaving it around 3250-3270, wherever it shoots best. But at 3250 Trasol is showing 5.1mrad to 1000 and 1450lbs of energy. Should do all right for a deer/elk rifle.

 

[cooper_257]

How do the 131 ACE bullets work on elk and deer?

 

[2010Ruger]

Wondering the same. Any field experience with these? Elk specifically.

 

[rlsmith1]

Have you seen a meaningful bump in speed in the 26" or 28" barrels? Is there any difference between this and a 25 SAUM? Love those numbers...

 

[coldboremiracle]

How do the 131 ACE bullets work on elk and deer?

Whoooooooaaaaa shit! Ask and you shall receive !

 

[coldboremiracle]

Last year, using my 25CM T3, we took three deer, and two elk.
600yd
s

This one was at 500ish IIRC

Junior put the hurt on him real good

This one I took up close, probably my closest kill in 4-5 years. 250ish

The elk we killed were both at 300 yards, we neck shot them.

 

[coldboremiracle]

This year we took two bucks with the 25CM, one at 1100 yds, and the second at 420, both were perfect diagonal pass throughs, left a big ass hole.

 

[coldboremiracle]

All of them were killed with the same load, 131 ace shot from 2950 from my 22” T3. Every one of them was damaged acutely, impressive wound channels. The last two deer there, the puny guy was at 1100, bullet entered between his neck and his left shoulder, the exit is seen on right flank. The bigger dude below him, was at 420, the shot was almost exactly opposite, entered the right flank, exited between his neck and left shoulder. Both went almost immediately down, less than 20 yds.

 

[CStroud]

I'd love to have a 25 cal short mag of some flavoring, but don't like 24"+ barrels. I did some looking around and didn't see a cf barrel manufacturer with anything less than 24". Does anyone know if Proof, Paradigm, Carbon Six are planning on make 25 cal 1:7 ish barrels in the 20" range?

 

[ChadL]

Very interesting CBM.....I'm having a 25 creedmoor barrel being made now for my DT. I have another project rifle waiting to be finished.....may have to look into a 257 BlackJack.

 

[Nieko]

I'd love to have a 25 cal short mag of some flavoring, but don't like 24"+ barrels. I did some looking around and didn't see a cf barrel manufacturer with anything less than 24". Does anyone know if Proof, Paradigm, Carbon Six are planning on make 25 cal 1:7 ish barrels in the 20" range?

Hells Canyon Armory (Benchmark blank)

 

[CStroud]

Hells Canyon Armory (Benchmark blank)

That's what I love about this place!

 

[sierracharlie338]

Interesting indeed.

 

[chevy_man]

I happened across the data for the 25 wsm my Dad built years ago.

He ended up pushing 100grn bullets 35-3600 fps, 64 grns IMR 7828.

115's he ended up at 65 grns retumbo to push 3400fps.

Needless to say that barrel came off at 1200 rounds missing 5" of rifling.


I would say 1200-1500 rounds out of a 257 blackjack is a reasonable expectation.

 

[Deleted member 10043]

I shoot in 25-06. Anything .257 is a hammer. Blackjack is the company. Sierra is the manufacturer.

Okay, for 25-06 we needs to be at least partial FL sizing. Don't be neck sizing. It will shoot lights out but you will be running into some drifting zero and small accuracy issues. Those sort of well that was different shit, lol. Reloads like a 300 H&H for us Africa operators.

 

[TurdFerguson]

I happened across the data for the 25 wsm my Dad built years ago.

He ended up pushing 100grn bullets 35-3600 fps, 64 grns IMR 7828.

115's he ended up at 65 grns retumbo to push 3400fps.

Needless to say that barrel came off at 1200 rounds missing 5" of rifling.


I would say 1200-1500 rounds out of a 257 blackjack is a reasonable expectation.

Ouch, Its not meant for a poor man I guess. Completely stupid question but how much is brass running for it? What kind of life does it get?

 

[Matt_3479]

Sorry if I missed it, but Is there plans for brass to become available