25/45 Sharps, this would be nice in Mini 14

[Don Lovel]

I was just reading up on the 25/45 Sharps. Sounds like a better hunting cartridge than 300 Blackout.
I always liked how a 250-3000 Savage dumped energy on target with good bullet construction. Here is that performance in an easy to reload AR chambering.
http://store.srcarms.com/SRC-AR-15-Complete-Upper-Receiver-in-25-45-Sharps-p/src25x45upper.htm

 

[DGW1949]

I'm not a big 300-BO fan. Maybe a 25-45 would be better....dunno.
My guess it that it would depend on how much bullet velocity one would actually get out of the Mini's 16-1/2" or 18-1/2" barrel, and of course, "proper" bullet design relative to what you was hunting and how far away it was.

DGW

 

[22/45 Fan]

There have to be a dozen or more different caliber variations based on standard or modified 5.56/.223 cases that a Mini14 could be adapted to shoot. They vary from 6 mm to several .30 rounds and were originally designed for the AR15 but the Mini could also be used.

 

[Don Lovel]

When I was a kid, the 250-3000 was used to kill a bunch of critters from gophers to Elk and bear, and always an accurate cartridge whether in the Savage 99 or even custom TC Contenders.
So I am thinking with 20" barrel the 25/45 Sharps could really be a great round for everything from self defense to all kinds of hunting.
.25 cal bullets are definitely available in a bunch of varied weights and construction. Case prep is definitely easy enough if you use good quality 223 brass to start with

 

[jkh004]

Splitting hairs - why bother? Solution to a problem that does not exist. Spend alot of money to recreate the wheel? 6mm - too small. 6.5mm? 6.8mm - too big. 25 cal? Perfect!!!!

 

[22/45 Fan]

6.5mm? 6.8mm - too big.

Too big? Too big for what?

 

[DGW1949]

When I was a kid, the 250-3000 was used to kill a bunch of critters from gophers to Elk and bear, and always an accurate cartridge whether in the Savage 99 or even custom TC Contenders.
So I am thinking with 20" barrel the 25/45 Sharps could really be a great round for everything from self defense to all kinds of hunting.
.25 cal bullets are definitely available in a bunch of varied weights and construction. Case prep is definitely easy enough if you use good quality 223 brass to start with

Relative to bigger game, I think that trying to use the heavier .25-Cal bullets is going to result in a situation wherein the AOL requirements of fitting the completed cartridge into the confines of a .223/5.56 magazine will prove to be counter productive. Reason is...the longer/heavier bullets simply can't be used in such a situation without either appropriately reducing the powder charge to compensate for the loss in case capacity, or exceeding the pressure limits which the rifle was designed around.

Point being that ya simply aint going to get the same "heavy bullet for big game" results out of a "25-45" Mini-14 that can be had from a 250-3000 Savage.
Close maybe...but no cigar...kinda like the regardless of what the fan-bois say, 300BO aint quite a 7.62X39, which in turn, aint quite a 30-30...

Or leastways, that's my take on it.

DGW

 

[5of7]

I had a Ruger #1 in .223 re-bored and chambered for the 6.35 x 47, which is the .222 Magnum case necked up to .257 caliber with no other change.

I was able to get 2900 fps with an 87 gr. bullet, but the load proved to be too hot for warm weather, causing loose primers after one loading. I reduced the velocity to 2750 and it is good for any weather and good accuracy with no pressure signs at all.

That was in a 26" bbl though.

Just as a tip on the potential of the .223 case. Bear in mind too, that the .222 Mg has a little more usable capacity than the .223. 8)

 

[COSteve]

Deleted

 

[DGW1949]

I had a Ruger #1 in .223 re-bored and chambered for the 6.35 x 47, which is the .222 Magnum case necked up to .257 caliber with no other change.

I was able to get 2900 fps with an 87 gr. bullet, but the load proved to be too hot for warm weather, causing loose primers after one loading. I reduced the velocity to 2750 and it is good for any weather and good accuracy with no pressure signs at all.

That was in a 26" bbl though.

Just as a tip on the potential of the .223 case. Bear in mind too, that the .222 Mg has a little more usable capacity than the .223. 8)

So...what do you estimate that 2750FPS which you got would equate to when what we are talking about is a slightly smaller (.223) case and a barrel which is some 6"-10" shorter (depending on which "Mini-14" it's used in), AND after we bleed some of the pressure off in order to operate the Mini's semi-auto action?.....

Me thinks that the answer would be "not a lot"...and we still aint got around to using a heavier bullet for bigger game, which we all know would have to be seated deeper so's the cartridge will fit within the mag. So then there's that...meaning that absent the 250-3000's velocity, about all ya got's is a "one off" .25-Cal rifle that is short of the 7.62X39's "thump" and aint any more effective on small game than the .223/5.56 which you started with.

But hey, I could be wrong.
If someone wants to give it a try, I'm sure that these guys would be glad to help you out:
http://www.accuratemini14.com/index.php

DGW