Elric
Well-Known Member
Recreation, vol 56, no. 3, March1917, page 137
https://books.google.com/books?id=g...WCGoQ6AEILTAD#v=onepage&q=25-21 bullet&f=true
A Stevens for Squirrels
I have read with a good deal of interest your recent rifle articles in RECREATION. In the near future I intend ordering a rifle for squirrel shooting, and hope you will be kind enough to give me a little information in regard to same. I had in mind a Model No. 45, Stevens Ideal (.25-21) 28-inch Scheutzen double set triggers, and to be mounted with a 3 "B" Winchester scope, No. 2 rear mount. Do you consider the handloaded ammunition for this rifle more accurate than the factory loaded? If so, please state number and weight of bullet (Ideal), also the best powder charge. Should the shells be crimped? Do you consider the single cross hairs or the pin-head reticule the better?
Mo. S. E. WARD
Image of 10 shot group at 50 yards
[The rifle you propose ordering is the best for squirrel shooting that the Stevens people make. and I would not deviate from the specifications you have given. The only drawback to Stevens singleshot rifles is that they are all furnished with soft steel barrels.
Your best load should be Ideal gas-check Spitzer bullet, weight 81 grains, made for the .250-3000 Savage, or Ideal bullet No. .25719 or 257361, weights 73 and 76 grains respectively, bullet to be cast about 1 in 12 to 1 in 15. The powder charge should be 2 grains FFFG or FFG (black) and 7 or 7 ½ grains by weight of Scheutzen smokeless. This charge may be increased to 8 ½ grains of Scheutzen, but at the expense of accuracy. The accompanying target was made with this load and the gas check Spitzer, with the maximum powder charge.
Hand-loaded ammunition will put 80 per cent. or better in a 1-inch circle at the same distance, but I have never seen any factory loaded cartridges in this caliber that I could depend upon to shoot in a circle smaller than 4 inches in diameter at 50 yards.
Never crimp these shells. Buy a muzzle resizer and a muzzle expander to widen out the shells to .257. This will attend to the bullets staying in the shells. Load bullets with one band out if sharp pointed, and two bands out of shells if dull pointed.
As to cross hairs: I always use the single cross hairs for hunting. A good big bead front sight and a Lyman peep on the tang may save you some misses on foggy mornings when you can not See through a telescope—C. S. L.]
https://books.google.com/books?id=g...WCGoQ6AEILTAD#v=onepage&q=25-21 bullet&f=true
A Stevens for Squirrels
I have read with a good deal of interest your recent rifle articles in RECREATION. In the near future I intend ordering a rifle for squirrel shooting, and hope you will be kind enough to give me a little information in regard to same. I had in mind a Model No. 45, Stevens Ideal (.25-21) 28-inch Scheutzen double set triggers, and to be mounted with a 3 "B" Winchester scope, No. 2 rear mount. Do you consider the handloaded ammunition for this rifle more accurate than the factory loaded? If so, please state number and weight of bullet (Ideal), also the best powder charge. Should the shells be crimped? Do you consider the single cross hairs or the pin-head reticule the better?
Mo. S. E. WARD
Image of 10 shot group at 50 yards
[The rifle you propose ordering is the best for squirrel shooting that the Stevens people make. and I would not deviate from the specifications you have given. The only drawback to Stevens singleshot rifles is that they are all furnished with soft steel barrels.
Your best load should be Ideal gas-check Spitzer bullet, weight 81 grains, made for the .250-3000 Savage, or Ideal bullet No. .25719 or 257361, weights 73 and 76 grains respectively, bullet to be cast about 1 in 12 to 1 in 15. The powder charge should be 2 grains FFFG or FFG (black) and 7 or 7 ½ grains by weight of Scheutzen smokeless. This charge may be increased to 8 ½ grains of Scheutzen, but at the expense of accuracy. The accompanying target was made with this load and the gas check Spitzer, with the maximum powder charge.
Hand-loaded ammunition will put 80 per cent. or better in a 1-inch circle at the same distance, but I have never seen any factory loaded cartridges in this caliber that I could depend upon to shoot in a circle smaller than 4 inches in diameter at 50 yards.
Never crimp these shells. Buy a muzzle resizer and a muzzle expander to widen out the shells to .257. This will attend to the bullets staying in the shells. Load bullets with one band out if sharp pointed, and two bands out of shells if dull pointed.
As to cross hairs: I always use the single cross hairs for hunting. A good big bead front sight and a Lyman peep on the tang may save you some misses on foggy mornings when you can not See through a telescope—C. S. L.]