25-06 and 303-25

Bolt action rifles, lever action, pump action, self loading rifles and other miscellaneous longarms.

Re: 25-06 and 303-25

Post by gunnnie » 07 Jan 2017, 12:56 am

Have a couple of 303-25's - one on a No1 MkIII action and the other a P14 action. Really like the cartridge as it was my first 'quarterbore' and it worked perfectly on everything from rabbits to large boars. I loaded 100gn Taipan HPs over a mild charge of AR2206. No sense in pushing the SMLE action too hard and besides, the 100gn load was able to print 5rd groups of about 1.5" in the old action.
Then along came the P14 and as it's a front locking action I could push the case with 90gn BT pills over AR2206H. This rifle produced sun-MOA groups without too much trouble.

As for the 25-06, also a great cartridge but one that I'm not looking to add to the safe as I have it covered by a 257Rob Ackley Improved and a 257Weatherby Magnum.

From my perspective I'd use a 100gn load for the 303-25 and work up a flat shooting 85-90gn BT load for the 25-06. This will give you the coverage of everything up and including red deer/donkey etc, out to 350-400M.

You've got two great 'quarterbores ' there - one a piece of Australian history and the other a great flat country round.
gunnnie
Corporal
Corporal
 
Posts: 289
Queensland

Re: 25-06 and 303-25

Post by Gwion » 07 Jan 2017, 6:02 am

Heckler303 wrote:\\\from super light loads and barely any powder for bunnies and wallabies\\\


Work up a trail boss load. Using 'barely any powder' is running too much risk of flash over in my book. Secondary ignition is not a good thing. Besides, trail boss load will be more than enough for rabbits and wallaby in Tas; I use TB loads on paddies out to 120m with 50gn Zmax out of my 223rem. Starts dropping to quick after that in the 223 but I'm sure the bigger cartridge will allow a 150m point and shoot. You very rarely need a longer shot than that on local Wobblies.
User avatar
Gwion
Colonel
Colonel
 
Posts: 3978
-

Re: 25-06 and 303-25

Post by 6mmdasher » 07 Jan 2017, 8:52 am

I had a M98 in a modified 25/303 and it was a great round I used to load 87 gr Speers TNT's, with AR2208, shot flat and hit hard, since built a savage 257 Roberts ackerly improved with a Maddco barrel shooting 100 grain Speers soft points shoots well under 1/2 inch and pops foxes!! The 257 is a great calibre and is very under rated
22lr, 22br,6mm br,30br, 6mm PPC,6mm dasher, 6mm superLR, 260 rem, 257 rob ack imp,7 x 57 ack imp,308 win,30/06 ack imp, 32/20, 44/40, 444 marlin,12.14 x 42mm
6mmdasher
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 44
Victoria

Re: 25-06 and 303-25

Post by Heckler303 » 12 Jan 2017, 11:47 am

Gwion wrote:
Heckler303 wrote:\\\from super light loads and barely any powder for bunnies and wallabies\\\


Work up a trail boss load. Using 'barely any powder' is running too much risk of flash over in my book. Secondary ignition is not a good thing. Besides, trail boss load will be more than enough for rabbits and wallaby in Tas; I use TB loads on paddies out to 120m with 50gn Zmax out of my 223rem. Starts dropping to quick after that in the 223 but I'm sure the bigger cartridge will allow a 150m point and shoot. You very rarely need a longer shot than that on local Wobblies.



As a matter of fact Gwion, I happen to have a 1kg carton of Trail Boss bought for that kind of loading. That and cast-lead projectiles, meaning I can take my soon-to-be deer rifle just out for walks in state forest.

TBH, I don't really find that wallabies able to get blown over are more than 60-70 yards at most. :unknown:
If something doesn't work, apply rule .303!
Title_II wrote:If you carry a fun in Australia you will go to jail.
User avatar
Heckler303
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
 
Posts: 824
Tasmania

Re: 25-06 and 303-25

Post by Gamerancher » 19 Jan 2017, 7:11 am

You are not going to fit 6.5mm pills in a .257 . Totally different calibres mate.
User avatar
Gamerancher
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
 
Posts: 1596
New South Wales

Re: 25-06 and 303-25

Post by Gamerancher » 19 Jan 2017, 8:07 am

100gr spitzers always performed well for me in my .257 Roberts and the brother-in -law used 87 grainers in his 250 Savage Ackley Improved.
User avatar
Gamerancher
Sergeant Major
Sergeant Major
 
Posts: 1596
New South Wales

Re: 25-06 and 303-25

Post by Heckler303 » 19 Jan 2017, 1:20 pm

bentaz wrote:Just ordered s set of lyman 303-25 dies.
What size pills are you loading?
I have a big box of hawksbury river 6.5s i think they are .264, but i think the -25 is .257.
Either way im looking foward to getting the ild girl cleaned up and shooting again.



Hornady 90 grain .257 hollowpoints. Unfortunately these are out of production, but they seem to be great little projjies. I didn't know you had a 303-25 in your collection, amongst the dozens of pitted single shot shotguns :sarcasm:
If something doesn't work, apply rule .303!
Title_II wrote:If you carry a fun in Australia you will go to jail.
User avatar
Heckler303
Staff Sergeant
Staff Sergeant
 
Posts: 824
Tasmania

Re: 25-06 and 303-25

Post by johnpfei » 20 Jan 2017, 12:52 pm

Ah the nostalgia at the mention of the 303-25, yes I came up with my first fully fledged hunting rifle in the 1950s, to start I had a BSA air gun and then a 303 Range rifle
not much else in Australia in those days. My competition results forced me into a new Range rifle and guess what after reading the then available Hunting Mags it became a big decision for me but yes I had a local gunsmith build up my first custom rifle The old SMLE range rifle went in and a month later came out as a new u beaut
303-25 with comb and cheek piece and rubber pad, sitting on top was a Pecar 4X32 Scope. About that time I was about were you are now a rifle with no ammo, The gunsmith I used made a full length resizing die and away we went. Rifle clubs had access to 303 ammo by the truck load and empties where collected by the bucket full
then the work started. Using a large vice and some graphite you would resize, while the case was in the die you removed the primer from the shell, double flash hole and it took a bit of doing without damaging the anvil. over the years I reformed thousands of these cases and we used to shoot all the time. In 1957 a mate and I contributed over 9000 kangaroo buts to a freezer in a bit over three months the 303-25 accounting for about 4700 of the above No. That rifle was probably one of the best killers that I have ever owned and definately has pride of place among the 17s,222s, 223s, 243s, 270s, 308s and others. If you have troubles getting gear you could go down the same track I did and find some 303 brass and docter it to your requirements if I can help please contact
johnpfei
Recruit
Recruit
 
Posts: 1
Queensland


Back to top
 
Return to Centerfire rifles