The biggest compendium of shooters and data of the 25X45 Sharps is over on ARFCOM. Black Hole Weaponry Pro Boards also has a fellow that has been shooting the snot out of it.
Greg
A quick look over there:
GI_Brat
Here is some information about our .25-45 Sharps.
If you have further questions, don't hesitate in giving me a call.
The .25-45 Sharps is a ballistic twin to the original .250-3000 Savage loading which derived its name from the fact it could drive a 25 caliber 87 grain bullet at a blistering speed of 3000 fps.
Bringing 5.56 or 223 brass up to .25-45 dimensions is accomplished by simply necking the case up to .257 and then loading it as normal.
As for barrel length we have found that we get very close to complete combustion in a 20" barrel with velocity losses in comparison of the 24" test barrels of around 30 fps depending on the individual barrel. Average velocities for the various barrel lengths using our 87 grain soft point factory load are as follows: 24" barrel = 3000 fps, 20" barrel = 2970 fps, 18" barrel = 2890 fps and 16" barrel = 2790 fps.
Our proprietary bolt and carrier is not necessary to build a .25-45 Sharps, in fact part of the appeal of this cartridge is that the rifle uses everything standard to the 5.56/.223 with the exception of the barrel. Which means you can use your standard magazines, bolts, carriers, buffer springs, etc. You get significantly increased power over the 5.56/.223 with a minimum of fuss! The only "non-standard" thing with our .25-45 barrels over a high quality 5.56/.223 barrel is that our muzzle thread is 5/8 x 24 tpi instead of the standard 1/2 x 28 tpi found on the 5.56/.223. This was done to preclude someone from trying to fire a .257 caliber projectile through a .224 caliber device. The good news is that the 5/8 x 24 tpi is the standard thread for the AR-10 and those devices work just fine with the .25-45 cartridge.
And here is the reloading data we recommend for the cartridge. These are the only powders we have tested and recommend.
PLEASE DO NOT EXCEED THESE LOADS!
Load #1 - CCI 400 small rifle primer and Sierra 70 grain Blitzking .257 bullet, Powder H335 - Maximum load 30.0 grains - expected velocity of 3100 fps (needs a powder drop tube)
Load #2 - CCI small rifle primer and Sierra 70 grain Blitzking .257 bullet, Powder A2200 - Maximum load 27 grains - expected velocity 3100 fps
Load #3 - CCI 400 small rifle primer and Sierra 75 grain Hollow Pnt .257 bullet, Ramshot X-terminator - Maximum load 30.0 grains - expected velocity of 3100 fps (needs a powder drop tube)
Load #4 - CCI 400 small rifle primer and Speer HotCor 87 grain .257 bullet, Powder H322 - Maximum load 26.0 grains - expected velocity of 2850 fps
Load #5 - CCI 400 small rifle primer and Speer HotCor 87 grain .257 bullet, Powder H335 - Maximum load 28.0 grains - expected velocity of 2900 fps
Load #6 - CCI 400 small rifle primer and Speer HotCor 87 grain .257 bullet, Powder Ramshot X-terminator - Maximum load 28.5 grains - expected velocity of 2950 fps
Load #7 - CCI 400 small rifle primer and Speer softpoint 87 grain .257 bullet, Powder A2200 - Maximum load 25 grains - expected velocity 3000 fps
The Ramshot X-Terminator powder comes the closest of all of the commercial powders we've tested to the velocities achieved with our factory loadings in which we use factory OEM powders.
Ramshot X-Terminator and A2230 are the same powder.
With a 24" barrel, velocity is 3000 fps, with 1738 ft. lbs. of energy.
20" barrel, 2970 fps, 1704 ft. lbs.
18" barrel, 2890 fps, 1613 ft. lbs.
16" barrel, 2790 fps, 1504 ft. lbs.
The OAL cartridge length should be 2.245”. The case length should be 1.760”. Trim to length 1.750”.