I know that there are many members with old old manuals. I have a 25-35 lever rifle made in 1899 and the only bullets I can find for it right now are 75gr jsp that I bought or 85gr lrn or 100gr lrn. I have a 20lb keg of IMR 3031 that I would like to use up. I have loading for the 117gr bullets with 3031 but can't find any loadings for the lighter bullets using this powder. I typically only "plink" with this rifle so not looking for max. Thanks in advance.

Hi RD,

I load for a Winchester 94 in 25-35, which was passed down to me. So far I have only loaded the Hornady 117gr. RN, which Hornady has currently stopped production on for the past year. I have a bunch of old manuals, so I'll check tonight to see what I can find for load data for you.

thanks novalty, mine also is a winchester 94 owned 3 generations. I just can't seem to find any 117gr.

I have some old Lyman manuals from the early 1950s. The lightest bullet .25-35 load listed is for an 87 grain jacketed bullet - For IMR 3031, it recommends 25.0 grains = 2310 fps to 30.0 grains = 2700 fps. Certainly the 30 grain load of 3031 would be safe with the lighter 75 grain bullet.

The corresponding IMR 3031 load data given for a 100 grain jacketed bullet is 23.0 grains = 2060 fps to 27.0 grains = 2450 fps.

I quickly looked through my manuals and found data for 25-35 in 4 of them so far.

Hodgdon's 25th Manual has load data for jacketed: 60gr, 87gr. 100gr, and 117gr with following powders: BLC-2, H335, H4895, and H4198.

I have an old bound Lyman manual that is missing the cover, so not sure of edition. It has data on 87gr, 100gr, and 117gr jacketed with the following powders: 4198, Hi-Vel, 4895, 4320, and 3031. As you asked about 3031 powder, it lists the following:
87gr.
Suggested Grs: 25.0 Suggested Velocity: 2310
Max Grs: 30.0 Max Velocity: 2730
100gr.
Suggested Grs: 23.0 Suggested Velocity: 2060
Max Grs: 27.0 Max Velocity: 2465

In a 2006 Hodgdon pamphlet it lists charges for 25-35WCF for 75gr. SPR. JFP using the following powders: Varget, BLC-2, H335, H4895, and Benchmark.

Another manual I have, The Complete Guide to Reloading, I'll have to take another look at it, as the quick snapshot I took of it with my phone only list data for 60gr. Softnose bullets with the following powders: 3031, 4064, 4320, BLC-2, and 4198. After double checking, it lists data for 117gr. Softnose using all of the same powders with the exception of BLC-2.

thanks you two. I knew that older manuals had to have 3031 listed for lighter bullets. The original loading of the 25-35 was suppose to be 117gr bullet with 25.7gr 3031. I think I'll start ultra safe with the 75gr bullet and start with 27gr 3031 and work up from there with the 85gr bullet maxing at 30gr even that should be safe.

I remember stumbling across a website forum with a lot of load data compiled on the 25-35 WCF, but primarily 86gr bullets. http://www.shootersforum.com/handloa...-35-loads.html

I don't normally post load data but this is very hard to find data so here we go. Of course mistakes can and will happen when transposing numbers, do be careful...

From Ideal (Lyman) #39 (1953)

88gr Cast bullet
2400 10.0gr to 11.0gr
4227 10.0gr to 11.0gr
4759 8.0gr to 10.0gr

111gr Cast bullet
2400 7.0gr to 10.0gr
4227 8.0gr to 10.0gr
4759 9.3gr to 10.0gr

87gr Jacketed bullet
3031 - 25.0gr to 30.0gr

100gr Jacketed bullet
3031 - 23.0gr to 27.0gr

117gr Jacketed bullet
3031 - 21.0gr to 26.5gr

I hope this helps you safely shoot that wonderful heirloom you have.

**EDIT**
Midway has 117gr and 120gr bullets in stock from Hornady, Speer, Sierra, Barnes and Berger.
91 Grains & Above | 25 Cal (.257) | Rifle Bullets | Bullets

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SWCA #3437

Thanks for the post you normally don't do. Unforunately, I have a lever gun and a tubular mag, therefore I should have stated I can't find RN or FP type bullets ie no pointy ones hence my difficulty in finding 117gr bullets.

Yup, that is a horse of the different color alright! lol Sorry, I should have figured your 25-35 was a levergun. I hope at least the data will help...

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SWCA #3437

Have a 3rd generation hand-me-down Winchester '94 saddle ring in 25-35. Have not seen the Hornaday 117 RN available in years although Hornaday lists them and notes see retailer.

Western bullet has a cast 115 RN gas check bullet and 120 RN available that will work in the lever gun.

I found seating and crimping the hornaday 117 a little challanging in that when the case is at trim spec and the bullet is seated to the crimp groove it would not feed properly - just a tadd too long.

.25 Caliber

"I found seating and crimping the hornaday 117 a little challanging in that when the case is at trim spec and the bullet is seated to the crimp groove it would not feed properly - just a tadd too long."

The solution is exactly tha same as what you see with the Hornady LeveRevolution rounds - Just trim to shorten the neck a little further so you can get both a crimp into the bullet cannelure and the proper maximum OAL.