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Some 6.5X52R handloads
I must admit I have become rather fond of this cartridge. I began loading it first for a 25/35 Winchester lever action built in 1897 but all loads listed here were fired from my Franz Kettner stalking rifle with 24.3” barrel.
With the vast array of modern powders available it is generally possible to safely improve upon the ballistics of century old cartridges but I have no interest in pushing any cartridge to the ultimate extreme. My own notion of “improvement” takes the form of loading different types of bullets not available in factory ammo.
I presently find factory loads cataloged as 25/35 by Winchester and Hornady and those from Sellier & Bellot headstamped 6.5X52R. The Winchester and the S&B claim similar ballistics, a 117 grain bullet at slightly more than 2200 fps. The Hornady 25/35 is their LeverEvolution variety with 110 grain bullet claiming 2425 fps. My own chronograph seldom finds factory loads to equal their claims. I do use the factory claims as a goal for my handloads. If we take the muzzle energy of those loads at an average of 1300 ft.lb. I use that figure as my goal for all loads regardless of bullet weight. Thus a 110 grain bullet needs roughly 2300 fps to match the energy of the 117 grain factory loads. Likewise an 87 grain bullet needs 2600 fps and a 75 grain bullet should go about 2800 fps. Those velocities were my target goals in working up loads for those different bullet weights. Accuracy testing was 5 shot groups from bench rest with a 2-7X scope set at 6X. All hand loads were assemble in Hornady 25/35 brass with cases trimmed to 2.035". Cartridge overall length is 2.600" for pointed bullets and 2.550" for the round nose. No load listed here showed any indication of excessive pressure, either in the Kettner rifle nor in the 120 year old Winchester. Cartridges required only neck sizing if used in the rifle in which they were previously fired, cartridges fired in the Winchester required full length resizing before they would fully enter the much tighter chamber of the Kettner.
Hornady 110 grain factory loads clocked 2335 fps and 5 shots grouped in 2.4 moa
S&B 117 grain factory loads averaged 2056 fps, three groups of 5 shots each averaged 1.5 moa.
=== Hornady 117 grain round nose bullets were hand loaded as follows.=====
26.5 grains Hodgdon CFE223 powder = 2195fps and 5 shot group of 2.0 moa
27.5 grains CFE 223 = 2254 fps and a group of 1.1 moa, best accuracy so far.
===Hornady 117 + 27.0 grain Winchester 748 powder = 2213 fps & 1.1 moa
28.0 grains W748 = 2256 fps and two groups averaged 1.7 moa.
===Hornady 117 grain + 27.0 grains Hodgdon BLC2 two groups averaged = 2164 fps and 1.3moa
===Speer 87 grain SP+ 30.0 grains Hodgdon CFE223=2522 fps & 2.6 moa
87 grain + 31.0 CFE223=2619 fps and 2.6 moa
87 grain + 32.0 CFE223, 4 groups of 5 shots averaged 2630 fps and 1.6 moa
87 grain + 28.0 grains BLC2= 2321 fps and 1.4 moa
===75 gain Sierra HP + 31.0 gr. Hodgdon LVR = 2746 fps and 1.6 moa
75 gr. + 32.0 LVR = 2778 fps and 2.0 moa
75 gr. + 33.0 LVR two groups averaged 2918 fps and 1.5 moa.
Although I could be content to hunt with any of those loads I do want to continue experimenting, especially with the new Hornady 110 grain flex tip bullets. Although the soft plastic tip is not needed for the single shot rifle it is a good bullet designed for the lower velocities of the 25/35 where as bullets designed for more powerful .25 calibers may not expand properly at lower velocity.
Oh, an interesting side note, I did have one misfire with the S&B factory load. Just a click, so I opened the action to recock and clicked again. Back in the shop I pulled the bullet and found no powder in the case. The base of the bullet showed residue indicating the primer had fired. I found that surprising because in the past I have carelessly loaded some revolver cartridges with no powder and the primer alone developed enough pressure to drive the bullet part way into the barrel. The S&B bullet never broke the crimp, except for the heavily indented primer it looked unused.
I must admit I have become rather fond of this cartridge. I began loading it first for a 25/35 Winchester lever action built in 1897 but all loads listed here were fired from my Franz Kettner stalking rifle with 24.3” barrel.
With the vast array of modern powders available it is generally possible to safely improve upon the ballistics of century old cartridges but I have no interest in pushing any cartridge to the ultimate extreme. My own notion of “improvement” takes the form of loading different types of bullets not available in factory ammo.
I presently find factory loads cataloged as 25/35 by Winchester and Hornady and those from Sellier & Bellot headstamped 6.5X52R. The Winchester and the S&B claim similar ballistics, a 117 grain bullet at slightly more than 2200 fps. The Hornady 25/35 is their LeverEvolution variety with 110 grain bullet claiming 2425 fps. My own chronograph seldom finds factory loads to equal their claims. I do use the factory claims as a goal for my handloads. If we take the muzzle energy of those loads at an average of 1300 ft.lb. I use that figure as my goal for all loads regardless of bullet weight. Thus a 110 grain bullet needs roughly 2300 fps to match the energy of the 117 grain factory loads. Likewise an 87 grain bullet needs 2600 fps and a 75 grain bullet should go about 2800 fps. Those velocities were my target goals in working up loads for those different bullet weights. Accuracy testing was 5 shot groups from bench rest with a 2-7X scope set at 6X. All hand loads were assemble in Hornady 25/35 brass with cases trimmed to 2.035". Cartridge overall length is 2.600" for pointed bullets and 2.550" for the round nose. No load listed here showed any indication of excessive pressure, either in the Kettner rifle nor in the 120 year old Winchester. Cartridges required only neck sizing if used in the rifle in which they were previously fired, cartridges fired in the Winchester required full length resizing before they would fully enter the much tighter chamber of the Kettner.
Hornady 110 grain factory loads clocked 2335 fps and 5 shots grouped in 2.4 moa
S&B 117 grain factory loads averaged 2056 fps, three groups of 5 shots each averaged 1.5 moa.
=== Hornady 117 grain round nose bullets were hand loaded as follows.=====
26.5 grains Hodgdon CFE223 powder = 2195fps and 5 shot group of 2.0 moa
27.5 grains CFE 223 = 2254 fps and a group of 1.1 moa, best accuracy so far.
===Hornady 117 + 27.0 grain Winchester 748 powder = 2213 fps & 1.1 moa
28.0 grains W748 = 2256 fps and two groups averaged 1.7 moa.
===Hornady 117 grain + 27.0 grains Hodgdon BLC2 two groups averaged = 2164 fps and 1.3moa
===Speer 87 grain SP+ 30.0 grains Hodgdon CFE223=2522 fps & 2.6 moa
87 grain + 31.0 CFE223=2619 fps and 2.6 moa
87 grain + 32.0 CFE223, 4 groups of 5 shots averaged 2630 fps and 1.6 moa
87 grain + 28.0 grains BLC2= 2321 fps and 1.4 moa
===75 gain Sierra HP + 31.0 gr. Hodgdon LVR = 2746 fps and 1.6 moa
75 gr. + 32.0 LVR = 2778 fps and 2.0 moa
75 gr. + 33.0 LVR two groups averaged 2918 fps and 1.5 moa.
Although I could be content to hunt with any of those loads I do want to continue experimenting, especially with the new Hornady 110 grain flex tip bullets. Although the soft plastic tip is not needed for the single shot rifle it is a good bullet designed for the lower velocities of the 25/35 where as bullets designed for more powerful .25 calibers may not expand properly at lower velocity.
Oh, an interesting side note, I did have one misfire with the S&B factory load. Just a click, so I opened the action to recock and clicked again. Back in the shop I pulled the bullet and found no powder in the case. The base of the bullet showed residue indicating the primer had fired. I found that surprising because in the past I have carelessly loaded some revolver cartridges with no powder and the primer alone developed enough pressure to drive the bullet part way into the barrel. The S&B bullet never broke the crimp, except for the heavily indented primer it looked unused.