Second outing with the 25-45 Bullberry

[J A XSP]

The indoor range that's 5 minutes from me had been closed but finally re-opened under new management. I got a chance to get over there with some Contenders and work on breaking in the 25-45 barrel. So far it hasn't met a bullet it didn't like. I shot at 50 yards for initial accuracy check and load development.

Factory ammo, loaded with 87 grain Hot-Cor bullets, though it seems on the hot side for Contender, is well within the MOA range. A batch of bullets that I had worked up in another barrel with the 87s shot easily under MOA.

A ladder of Varget loads that I worked up for 100 grain hollow points ( a combination that would be impossible for the round in an AR, as originally intended) showed sub-half-MOA at both ends of the ladder with the in-between charges hanging just outside MOA. From some earlier chrony testing, I know that the low end of the ladder is pushing that 00 grain bullet to around 2350 FPS. Based on some load software data, I'm estimating the top velocities at probably 2450 FPS. I'll take that from a 16" barrel. :)

This one is a keeper for sure - recoil is mild and it'll obviously be a bug-holer when I dial in just the right loads. :)

[61Knuckle]

Glad to hear that the 25-45 is working out for you. .25 is one of my favorite calibers.

[Bobby Tomek]

NICE!!!

[J A XSP]

NICE!!!

It'll be interesting to try those BTs that you sent me and also those FTX bullets that I got. I'd be surprised if it didn't shoot those with extreme accuracy. :)

[tred1956]

Sweet rig. Not familiar with a 25-45 Bullberry. Is it the same as a 25 Bullberry? What is parent cartridge?
Thanks
Doug

[J A XSP]

Sweet rig. Not familiar with a 25-45 Bullberry. Is it the same as a 25 Bullberry? What is parent cartridge?
Thanks
Doug

It's essentially the same as the 25-45 Sharps developed for the AR platform. It's a 223 Rem necked up to 25 cal.
Troy did a barrel for me using the SAAMI-spec reamer for 25-45 Sharps and the chamber was a little on the loose side and the throat was a little long, in keeping with the AR-type system. We decided that it could use a little tighter specs so he had the reamer re-ground and made another barrel. Even though the factory rounds fit and fire just fine (though they're loaded a little hot for the Contender), he decided to use a different designation for the chamber and mark it 25-45 Bullberry. Match Grade Machine chambers for 25-45 Sharps but they use the SAAMI spec reamer designed for the AR, as far as I know.


The factory ammo is loaded to fit in an AR magazine so the case capacity with larger bullets is very compromised. By seating out near the lands, even with the slightly shorter throat in this chamber, there's more room in the case. This barrel is launching 87 grain Hot Cors up to 2700 fps and 100 grain HPs at over 2400 fps from a 16" barrel.

[FyrepowrX]

When i had MGM build my 25sharps barrel, i sent them a dummy round with 87's seated out a tad long, as i didnt think i'd shoot many 100's in it. They throated accordingly and it has worked well, but published data for the cartridge is indeed very much on the warm side....more than i was comfortable with in my barrel.

I had best luck with 87's at about 2650 from my rifle length , which if memory serves is 22". I like the idea of that one in a pistol length barrel.