Elric
Well-Known Member
Grand for 'Chucks
By H. B. Johnson
Recreation, vol 25, No. 6, December 1906, pages 591-592
https://books.google.com/books?id=S...JjAC#v=onepage&q=practice load bullet&f=false
Grand for 'Chucks
I note that P. Walter, of Iver Grove, Minn., asks in July Recreation about the "ideal rifle," mentioning the .25-35 Savage. I have never had a Savage of this caliber, but have a .25-35 Winchester single shot and, as the twist is the same, powder and bullet the same and workmanship even up, my experience may help.
My previous letters to Recreation, one in January and one in the August number, may give some ideas. Furthermore, I can answer Mr. Walter's questions from experience gained in actual practice :— Paper-patched or composition bullets will not work in the .25-35 with black or semi-smokeless powder. I have tried them both and some of the bullets would go from 15 to 25 feet to the right on 200-yard range, some would not reach the target at all.
I made a mould and experimented with paper-patched bullets, after having the rifling tapered in front of the chamber. I shot bullets weighing as high as 160 grains, patched with medium paper, with fine results, using the full load of 19 grains of Lightning powder. Also shot bullets weighing as low as 60 grains, patched, with good results.
If you will obtain the new No. 9 copper U. M. C. primer, you can reload as high as fifteen' or twenty times, service load. Sometimes a shell will split the first shot. This is exceptional and seldom happens with me. As I stated, I had no success whatever with King's or black powder, in any shape, in my gun.
As to target practice, here is where the .25-35 will fool you; at least if you have the success I have had. I have the Ideal mould for the alloy bullet No. 257231, Hudson alloy, .10-10-80, 111 grains, bullet resized and lubricated. Use 10 grains Marksman powder, bullet seated in shell, muzzle of shell resized to hold bullet friction tight, no crimp. I have repeatedly had four and five consecutive bulls on German ring target, 200 yards, rest and telescope, and fired 30 shots, all of them better than 21 on same target and range. This charge is about all the bullet will stand, as it tumbles some up to 50 or 75 yards and then apparently straightens up.
This load would be all right for 300 yards but would have considerably higher flight than the jacketed bullet, with full load, and being a hard bullet would not expand, as I have shot the alloy bullet through 6 inches of oak with little mutilation. Mr. Newton, of Buffalo, states he has had fine success with the .25-20-86 bullet at 500 yards, with 18 grains of Lightning, as his scores show. I have shot this bullet up to 300 yards with good results, and the regular charge will reach almost anything in sight. I never use the metal-patched bullet except for hunting, most of which is for woodchucks, and for which especial purpose I bought my .25-35, on account of the low flight of the bullet and high power. For woodchucks it cannot be beaten—I caught one under the chin last Saturday, at between 225 and 250 yards, knocking him three feet and he was badly cut up.
So far as the cleaning is concerned, three rags will clean mine perfectly, using "3 in 1" oil, no soda or much elbow grease. I am glad to note that Mr. McLaury has bought a .25-35 and likes it. For a gun crank who is resourceful, there is no limit to the experimenting it offers, combined with the best of results.
Syracuse, N. Y. H. B. Johnson.
By H. B. Johnson
Recreation, vol 25, No. 6, December 1906, pages 591-592
https://books.google.com/books?id=S...JjAC#v=onepage&q=practice load bullet&f=false
Grand for 'Chucks
I note that P. Walter, of Iver Grove, Minn., asks in July Recreation about the "ideal rifle," mentioning the .25-35 Savage. I have never had a Savage of this caliber, but have a .25-35 Winchester single shot and, as the twist is the same, powder and bullet the same and workmanship even up, my experience may help.
My previous letters to Recreation, one in January and one in the August number, may give some ideas. Furthermore, I can answer Mr. Walter's questions from experience gained in actual practice :— Paper-patched or composition bullets will not work in the .25-35 with black or semi-smokeless powder. I have tried them both and some of the bullets would go from 15 to 25 feet to the right on 200-yard range, some would not reach the target at all.
I made a mould and experimented with paper-patched bullets, after having the rifling tapered in front of the chamber. I shot bullets weighing as high as 160 grains, patched with medium paper, with fine results, using the full load of 19 grains of Lightning powder. Also shot bullets weighing as low as 60 grains, patched, with good results.
If you will obtain the new No. 9 copper U. M. C. primer, you can reload as high as fifteen' or twenty times, service load. Sometimes a shell will split the first shot. This is exceptional and seldom happens with me. As I stated, I had no success whatever with King's or black powder, in any shape, in my gun.
As to target practice, here is where the .25-35 will fool you; at least if you have the success I have had. I have the Ideal mould for the alloy bullet No. 257231, Hudson alloy, .10-10-80, 111 grains, bullet resized and lubricated. Use 10 grains Marksman powder, bullet seated in shell, muzzle of shell resized to hold bullet friction tight, no crimp. I have repeatedly had four and five consecutive bulls on German ring target, 200 yards, rest and telescope, and fired 30 shots, all of them better than 21 on same target and range. This charge is about all the bullet will stand, as it tumbles some up to 50 or 75 yards and then apparently straightens up.
This load would be all right for 300 yards but would have considerably higher flight than the jacketed bullet, with full load, and being a hard bullet would not expand, as I have shot the alloy bullet through 6 inches of oak with little mutilation. Mr. Newton, of Buffalo, states he has had fine success with the .25-20-86 bullet at 500 yards, with 18 grains of Lightning, as his scores show. I have shot this bullet up to 300 yards with good results, and the regular charge will reach almost anything in sight. I never use the metal-patched bullet except for hunting, most of which is for woodchucks, and for which especial purpose I bought my .25-35, on account of the low flight of the bullet and high power. For woodchucks it cannot be beaten—I caught one under the chin last Saturday, at between 225 and 250 yards, knocking him three feet and he was badly cut up.
So far as the cleaning is concerned, three rags will clean mine perfectly, using "3 in 1" oil, no soda or much elbow grease. I am glad to note that Mr. McLaury has bought a .25-35 and likes it. For a gun crank who is resourceful, there is no limit to the experimenting it offers, combined with the best of results.
Syracuse, N. Y. H. B. Johnson.
