Coated bullets for 25-2

[jimdvan]

I have a 6 1/2" 25-2 made in 1975 with .455" chamber mouths. When I shoot 185 gr. lswc the accuracy is outstanding but at low velocity I get horrible leading with just 5 rounds. My bullets are .452".

Has anyone tried any of the coated bullets currently on the market? If so, what brands gave the best results?

 

[Groo01]

Groo here
The 185 gr lswc are most likely a little hard for the lower pressure/speed
load.
Try a softer lead, or if you are not already , Bullseye powder.
Bullseye is a most fast powder and the pressure "hits" the bullet
causing the lead to "swell " and better fit the barrel.
As to coated bullets, as with all bullets only shooting will tell.
There are several types of coating, some will increase the bullet size some will not.
If you go to SNS,GT, Matts,Penn or many others, you can often get
different sized bullets .
Try some sized to your chamner.

 

[.38SuperMan]

I found coated bullets dirtier than the plated I generally use. I can't say they were leading but in general fouled the gun to a greater degree than plated or jacketed but not as bad as cast. Cast are really nasty due to the lube used. You might just be seeing garbage left from the coating and not lead.

I'd read that coated dont smoke but found they created noticeably more than plated. I tried several brands in different calibers, different powders and different guns and didn't like them. I've since gone back to played.

 

[Nevada Ed]

Some company's will give you a test pak with 3-4 different size coated
bullet diameters, for you to test.

Good luck.

 

[jag312]

I had a similar problem with cast .44 caliber bullets in my 696. I tried various lead bullets. They all leaded. I tried copper plated bullets. Problem solved.

 

[Ignatz]

My 25-2 never really had a forcing cone cut into it. Mine would lead up the barrel, but after a gunsmith recut the forcing cone, it was fine.

 

[BLUEDOT37]

I had a similar problem with cast .44 caliber bullets in my 696. I tried various lead bullets. They all leaded. I tried copper plated bullets. Problem solved.

I've gone to plated or jacketed too & gave up being aggravated with lead bullets.

Have you checked the throats in your 696? I believe they had the same trouble as the 396s, small throats. My 396NG had ~.4285" throats.

Even though I only shot a handful of lead in it before changing to plated/jacketed I decided to buy a Manson throater reamer to open them up. Now they're ~.4305" which works good with the Zero 240gr JSP bullets I like to buy ($137/1000 & free shipping).

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Reaming the 396NG's throats
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I run the ~.4312" Zero bullets thru a Lee .429" Push-Thru sizer which resizes them to ~.4302". Works great.
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[cowboy4evr]

Shooting cast bullets with great accuracy and no leading of the barrel is both , " an art and a science " . I have yet to see any gun " off the shelf " shoot clean . They always seem to require attention to the details , size of the cylinder throats , any restrictions in the barrel (most are where the barrel threads onto the frame ) . Roughness inside the barrel from machining . And , what is the size of the barrel , the " groove " diameter ? I have numerous revolvers that now pass the tests using cast bullets with loads from mild to wild , but it didn't come easily or quickly . I feel a set of pin gauges a " must have " . Regards, Paul

 

[moosedog]

What a lot of the newer collectors don't realize is the barrel on the 25-2 1955 Target has shallow rifling designed to shoot jacketed rounds. The 1917, 1950 pre 26 and the 1955 Targets (25-2) were all designed to shoot 230 gr ball ammo. You will have the best results with that.

 

[jimdvan]

Thanks for all the replies. I found a good priced supply of the Remington185 gr. jacketed swc and bought 1100 of them. Those should last me a while.