Hi guys

I am trying to fine a good plinking/Cowboy action load for my 25-35. I have tried western's 115 bullet for the 25-35 . I have not yet tried beartooth's 100 grain bullet.

I was hoping someone on this fourm has tried something that works. I have tried 7-10 grains of unique and got terrible leading. I have tries 14 gr of aa 5744 with no better results.

I was told to try IMR4198 but I have not tried it yet. Im not sure what weight to try first.

any help would be appreciated.

You might want to find out the diameter of your barrel if you have not done so already. The diameter of the bullets you are shooting is probably the cause of your leading ills, not the powder or load you are shooting.

I've been loading for a friend's 1894 Winchester with 26" barrel which was originally made in 1908. I've had excellent results with the RCBS 85-gr. flatnosed cowboy bullet for the .25-20, casting from wheelweights, tumbling in Lee Liquid Alox and pushing through a Lee .258" sizer die which I special ordered. A charge of 10 grs. of 4227 or 14 grs. of 4198 works really well, as does 5 grs. of SR-7625 or PB.

We've also had good results with the jacketed Remington 85-gr. softpoint bullets with 14 grs. of 4198 to approximate the .25-20 as a turkey or small game load, or 20 grains as a more flat shooting and explosive varmint load.

I went back through my notebook and found the following loads, all in Winchester cases with WLR primers and the 85-gr. RCBS FN plainbased bullet:

4.0 Alliant Bullseye, 1127 fps, 5 Sd (all samples n=10 rds)
5.0 PB shotshell, 1271, 14 Sd
5.0 SR-7625, 1292, 20 Sd
6.0 PB, 1344, 30 Sd

These all use Remington 85-gr. jacketed SP:

10.0 #2400, 1516, 29 Sd
14.0 H4227, 1738, 15 Sd
16.0 H4227, 1915, 14 Sd
8.0 PB, 1339, 29 Sd

Thanks Ed - a wealth of information as usual. Keep 'em coming!