25 gibbs

[jplonghunter]

Have just received new 25 Gibbs cases from Quality Cartridge and am wondering if anyone has a favorite load for this Wildcat.

jplonghunter

[popplecop]

The Gibbs line seems to be passe now. They were some of the best cartridges years ago for those looking for more velocity. Now you have short mags, long mags, belted and non belted. If I were to build a 25 caliber rifle on a long action it would be a 25-06, on a short action it would be a 257 roberts Ackley Improved. Still know guys shooting Gibbs's, but most are in my age catagory over 70.

[skeet]

I do have a 257 AI..and a regular 257 and a 25-06 as well as the antelope lazer 257 Weatherby. 25-06 is going down the road as is the old 722 B grade 257. May even sell the Weatherby. . The AI does most of what I need in the 25 cals..and I have lots of brass etc for it.

[popplecop]

Let me know if you decide to sell the 722B in .257, have a soft spot for the 722s.

[skeet]

I'd make ya trade on a 722 in 222 Rem Mag..LOL. The 257 is going to go. I have way too many 25 cal rifles...But it won't be a giveaway. You just don't see many B grade 721 & 722's. PM me an email and i will send a pic or two.

JP the Gibbs sounds real neat. . I thought about makin a 25-308 and also a 250AI. ...but at this stage of the game..will probably stick with what i have. Too many rifles and not enough time. After you get it going..run 'em over a chrono and let us know what you get out of it. I also really like the Number 1

[Rapier]

JP,
There are 4 loads shown here:

http://www.reloadersnest.com/frontpage.asp?CaliberID=385

Based on my 240 Laser the R-22 is about the best possibility as it takes a fairly slow powder to feed the Gibbs a diet it likes and R-22 is close to the burn rate of H-870. 4831 does not want to give top end velocity but 4350 works pretty well if you want to try it. Of course the best is H-870 or AA 8700 and both are no longer made.

I would try the Nosler Ballistic Tips as their jacket is as tough as nails and will stay put. The Berger VLDs are just as tough but a bit pricey. The Sierra bullets tend to shed jackets in the 257 and 243 when pushed hard. I could push a Sierra 100 to 3,700 with 4350 but the jacket would rip off, it also ripped jackets off at 3,600 about half the time. I was running a 1-7 twist to shoot the 105 Berger VLDs so it spun up those 6mm bullets pretty hard.

The Bergers would hold together at 3,800 fps.
Ed

[Ridge Runner]

I shoot retumbo in my 6.5 gibbs, started with re-22 but the lot to lot varience turned me against it, H-1000 and retumbo aren't quite as fast but much more consistant.
RR

[skeet]

I have both H870 and 8700 powders. Guess the reason they discontinued both was because of the limited use of them. I have nothing that can actually get the best velocities with either

[Rapier]

Ridge,
I was just going to replinish my supply of R-22 which I was using for a 280 AI project, what problems did you have with R-22, specificly, Temp, Velocity, Pressure?
Ed

[Ridge Runner]

changing lot numbers took my MV from 3340 fps down to 3120 with the same load, wouldn't be so bad except in hard on barrel long range rifles don't last long if ya rework the load every couple months.
Its a double based powder so its temp sensative also, that I could deal with, but not lot to lot variences.
RR

[Rapier]

Ridge,
The reduction is not good, at all, but safe. Reducing velocity by 200 FPS indicates a reduction in pressure. However it is also very easy to imagine the the reverse to occour on a hot load and that might not be a very nice suprise! Dealers might well have several lots on a shelf of one pound containers.

Thanks for the heads up.
Ed