The Worlds First 25 Camel

[Waldo]

Getting there Camel, so when is the first shot anticipated?

Possibly a dumbarse question but wouldn't water give you a more consistent measure of case capacity?

Gotta admit I've read this thread on occasion and wondered "why"? Then thought "why not" and if no one ever did this sort of thing we wouldn't be spoilt for choice that we are now?

Gee maybe a 25 Camel would fill that gap between the 6mm and the 30cal

Cheers,
Waldo

[Camel]

why are you annealing after first firing?

Isn't your neck what used to be case body? Just thinking I would be annealing first.

Just an opinion tho

No real reason mate, just decided to do it after the cases were fully formed, don't know if its right or wrong, we will see I spose, tomorrow is the test firing, just finished loading the first 50 cases to try out. If things stuff up, well, I spose its only brass, they still make the stuff.

[Camel]

Getting there Camel, so when is the first shot anticipated?

Possibly a dumbarse question but wouldn't water give you a more consistent measure of case capacity?

Gotta admit I've read this thread on occasion and wondered "why"? Then thought "why not" and if no one ever did this sort of thing we wouldn't be spoilt for choice that we are now?

Gee maybe a 25 Camel would fill that gap between the 6mm and the 30cal

Cheers,
Waldo

Yeah mate it would, I was just curious to how much 2208 they would hold, first cases I have ever measured the capacity on, so not real concerned, just curious.

Yeah, I have wondered the old "WHY" plenty of times, its going to be pretty similar in performance to plenty of other cartridges. Why not, is the answer I keep coming up with, just because, is another. Its something I have thought about doing for nearly 30 years now, the opportunity came up for a cheap barrel, which is very good condition internally. The rest of the gear, I doubt that I have spent more than 300 bucks for the whole job, and I now have a switch barrel Brno 601 in 308/25 Camel.

It will fill a small niche in the gap between 6mm and 30cal, still plenty of gaps that need filling.
My advice to anyone wanting to do something like this, just jump in and have a go.

[Camel]

Going out tomorrow to fire off my first shots, got 50 to fireform, here is a preview to compare to a 308 Win.

Loaded with 87 gn Hornady sp, rem 9 1/2 primers, 37gn AR 2208. Projectiles seated out to jam into the lands a couple of thou, headspace is at zero, have to really lean on the bolt to close it the last bit.

[Space Cadet]

I like it. Look forward to seeing results!

[trevort]

Because I can. That's the only answer ever needed if someone asks "why" on this forum.

[Ol 55]

Going out tomorrow to fire off my first shots, got 50 to fireform, here is a preview to compare to a 308 Win.

25 Camel with 308 Win (Medium).JPG

Loaded with 87 gn Hornady sp, rem 9 1/2 primers, 37gn AR 2208. Projectiles seated out to jam into the lands a couple of thou, headspace is at zero, have to really lean on the bolt to close it the last bit.

Yeah well that looks good Mark, I'm a big fan of the .25, shame there is not the selection of projectiles as there is with say the 6mm, I have never been without a 25 since my first 303/25 more than 45 years ago.
ENJOY
Ol 55

[Camel]

Gary, I got hooked on 25 cal when I got my first ruger M77 257 Roberts, its now been gone for a few years, but it has now been replaced, restoring balance in the universe.

First firing of the 25 Camel this afternoon. Sighted the rifle in and shot a couple of groups, just to see how it went. Grouped around the inch at 100m, didn't blow me up, has a nice crack to it. Then with an hour left before dark, drove to the edge of a crop that just happened to have around 20 fallow in it yesterday afternoon. Headed off along the edge of the scrub, but got skunked, they bolted before I got into position, but Ill get another crack at them. Measuring the cases tomorrow morning, so will find out how much expansion I got on fire forming.

[Waldo]

Grouped around the inch at 100m, didn't blow me up, .

Promising start and it seems to shoot OK too

[Ol 55]

didn't blow me up

Bonus

Ol 55

[Camel]

Just a couple of case measurements, taken from one case that I measured before firing and after firing. Not real important, just a curiosity really. But handy to know.

neck, fired .292, unfired .286 =
shoulder fired - .457, unfired .453
expansion ring - fired .470, unfired .466
Length - fired 1.888, unfired 1.890 .

Thought it might have shortened up a tad more than that, but then there wasn't much expansion in the shoulder.

All systems are a go at the moment.

Very pleased with the results so far, after firing off the remaining 30 odd loaded rounds, Ill stoke her up a bit and see what kind of speed I can get, then of course, there isn't much good having speed without accuracy. Guess Ill have some more testing to do.


ADD.......should mention that the primers are still very rounded, no sign of cratering around the firing pin, will have to stoke her up more.

[Branxhunter]

Good stuff. What glass did you end up mounting on it?

Marcus

[Camel]

Good stuff. What glass did you end up mounting on it?

Marcus

Just chucked the same scope I had on it, Zeiss Conquest 3.5-10x44, duplex reticule. When I get to do some group shooting I might chuck one of my 6.5-20x50 on just to get a better view. Should probably focus the bloody thing for using my specs though, would be easier to see that way.

[stinkitup]

Just a couple of case measurements, taken from one case that I measured before firing and after firing. Not real important, just a curiosity really. But handy to know.

neck, fired .292, unfired .286 =
shoulder fired - .457, unfired .453
expansion ring - fired .470, unfired .466
Length - fired 1.888, unfired 1.890 .

Thought it might have shortened up a tad more than that, but then there wasn't much expansion in the shoulder.

All systems are a go at the moment.

Very pleased with the results so far, after firing off the remaining 30 odd loaded rounds, Ill stoke her up a bit and see what kind of speed I can get, then of course, there isn't much good having speed without accuracy. Guess Ill have some more testing to do.


ADD.......should mention that the primers are still very rounded, no sign of cratering around the firing pin, will have to stoke her up more.

Good to hear Mark, how much Jam did you run? I am planning on 5 to 10 with my 358 and run similar with my AI swede for forming cases to help get the shoulder coming forward properly.

I hope for the same result in a few weeks with my 358....that I am still left to write about it

[Camel]

Ryan, to tell the truth I wouldn't have a clue mate, got no idea on how long my seating depth needs to be to get in touch with the rifling. Just seated them so the neck had a good grip on them. I made the cases slightly long in the shoulder so the bolt was a very tight close, not quite enough to need a hammer to close it, but definitely needed to lean on the bolt handle.

Extraction was very easy.