New .25X,307 AI wildcat

[worriedman]

Been wanting something different, here we go. Had Kim Monothy of Chase Mountain Custom (chasemountaincustom.com)do me a stub barrel in .25X.307AI, basically a rimmed .308 necked down to .25 caliber, Pac Nor barrel heavy varmint profile turned to match the donor stub.

Cases. .307 Win. parent, fire formed .25X.307, and .243 for comparison.

The diameter required him to fit and work a new walnut forearm, pillar bedded and free floated.

I had acquired a new Pro Hunter thumb hole composite stock, so I decided to fit a forearm to match. Standard 26" rifle forearms are too thin, so I picked up a 12 ga. forearm and went to work.

Used my old 1" pipe that I lap scope rings with, diameter close enough to the barrel to make it work. Deepened the channel and evened it all out.

Wanted to put aluminum pillars in to space the forearm off the barrel, so I got the bright idea to tap the screw holes in the forearm and thread the stand offs.

First problem, how to hold the stand offs for threading? I drilled a 5/16 bolt and tapped it to 10X24tpi.

Set the stand off on it and threaded 3/8"X24tpi.

Got a "Q" bit to relieve the existing screw holes in the forearm, and tapped them to the same thread pattern.

Slotted the stand offs with a dremel tool to give me "screw driver" bite.

Put epoxy on the threads, set the studs a little high, and used the bar to "cove" the tops to match the barrel profile.

Ran out of "daylight" last night. will finish up by building dams of modeling clay in the hollow spaces to surround the pillars and fill with JB weld, clamp to the barrel to form a shoulder with the pillars in the center.

 

[.444 Marlin]

Re: New .25X,307 wildcat

Sounds like a badarse little round. But I'd rather have it in a .308 case than a .307

 

[worriedman]

Re: New .25X,307 wildcat

Break action guns really like the rim, makes head space a moot point for reloading. Having gone to the AI, I have more powder capacity than a .308 anyway. Plus, minimum body taper reduces thrust back on the frame. I have some big boomers in bolt action, this is my Encore toy!

 

[Whelen Man]

Re: New .25X,307 wildcat

Sounds like it's basically a rimmed 25 Souper. I was just looking at that case last week with thoughts of chambering one.

 

[mr.big]

Re: New .25X,307 wildcat

I bet that`ll shoot,but I`d head space off the shoulder anyway.

 

[TiminTN]

Re: New .25X,307 wildcat

Welcome worriedman.
I bet she`s a sweetheart.
If it were mine, I`d go to the smith and show him the cases and have him polish the chamber.
It should have been done before you got it.
Much to be said for the lathes equipped with flushing devise.

 

[Tiny]

Re: New .25X,307 wildcat

Welcome
little rifle and round.
Just curoius why you went that way instead of the 25/35.
Seems the 30/30 cases would be more readily available down the road,but were talking custom so that does go out the window.

 

[pety221]

Re: New .25X,307 wildcat

sounds like bad lil round kinda like tinys idea for a youth gun

 

[worriedman]

Re: New .25X,307 wildcat

Sounds like it's basically a rimmed 25 Souper. I was just looking at that case last week with thoughts of chambering one.

It basically is, with a rim.

 

[worriedman]

Re: New .25X,307 wildcat

I bet that`ll shoot,but I`d head space off the shoulder anyway.

Plan on neck sizing, watching the cases for length, and bumping the shoulder as needed. I use the Bellm headspace gauge each round of reloads, so in effect I am headspacing off the shoulder, but the rim is nice to have!

 

[worriedman]

Re: New .25X,307 wildcat

Final act on the forearm, threaded plastic screws into the barrel as guides for the operation, covered them with soda straws. Built dams of modeling clay in the forearm, and filled the post areas with JB Weld. Coated the barrel with One shot as a bond breaker, and the outside of the forearm with resizing wax, and clamped the forearm to the barrel. Let it sit over night and a little touch up with my dremel tool, and ready for the range.

 

[worriedman]

Re: New .25X.307 wildcat

Working on loads, seems to like 100 gr. Barns TSX best, IMR 4350 powder. Last five shot group at 100 yards, .88 spread, I saw what I had going with the first 4 shots, (.412) and choked on the last one.

Had another 30 set up for fire forming, 100 gr. Sierras, little less powder. Threw them down range pretty quick, did not feel too bad about that group. 1.772, and if I did not have my usually jerky shooting, would have been better.