Reeder Custom Guns - 251 Falcon help

I recently got a 251 Falcon "mini beast" Encore barrel. Put a few rounds through it today with awful results. At 50yds the 85gr Nosler BTs were tumbling. Every shot hit sideways and covered a 3' radius. What bullet and powder combos have worked for anyone else shooting this cartridge? I ask because this is the first 257 caliber cartridge I have owned. That said, I haven't accumulated a cache of bullets to dig into to try out. I'd like to try and buy some bullets that are proven. It is pretty much going to be used for punching paper and maybe the occasional varmint or rabbit.

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And the exact comments you are using. All I could go on is that the bullet is key holing. My guess is the bullet is unstable in flight. Could the bullets you have be .24? And not .25?

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Using Reloader 15 powder in Win. formed casesm WW LP primers. The 87 gr. cast GC bullets ran using 36.0 gr. powder and a velocity of 2250 fps. A 60 gr. jacketed SP and 38.0 gr. load was running 2465 fps. I had some more but those were my starting loads and proved very accurate.

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in 251 Falcon or 256 Falcon. The 251 Falcon is sort of a 25-20 improved with a straight case, sharp shoulder and short neck. Of the several barrels we have chambered in this caliber we are getting well under 1" inch groups with it. The 256 Falcon is a 30-30 case necked down to 25 caliber and it has been a one hole caliber for the several years it has been out. .
The 251 Falcon is set up for lightweight bullets while the 256 Falcon works pretty much with any 25 caliber bullet. Also who loaded the ammo for the barrel?

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It is 251 Falcon as engraved on the barrel. I did a cerrocast of the chamber for some measurements before I started forming the brass. I tried forming 32-20 brass but got an unacceptable number of case collapses (I think an intermediate die between .30 and .25 will fix that). I ended up using 25-20 brass, which I only have few of. These were on the very low end since I was fireforming the cases, 1200fps. Bullets not fast enough to stabilize?

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compared to most handgun bullets going that speed. Only one way to find out, kick it in the slats. Put some stank on it!

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Won't stabilize anyways. I'd try some 60 or 75 grn bullets built for the old 25-20.

Some of the 75 grn HPs may stabilize if pushed hard too.

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slightly heavier bullets. We have had very good luck with this cartridge and no problems at all. My guess is that heavier bullet isn't stabilizing in that twist. The cartridge was designed for a revolver and using 60 grain bullets that fit in the cylinder.

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- No text -

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with the barrel? The data is always in the die box.

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I did get the dies with the barrel. Some data was there but looks to be from the previous owner. Honestly, the barrel appeared to have very little use.

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251 Falcon help

256 Falcon. Not knowing what load

I was shooting a 12" Contender in .256 Falcon

Andy, first we need to know if the gun is chambered

251 Falcon

That is a possibility, long bullet

If that barrel has the 1 in 14" twist, that bullet probably.

Huey is right. The cartridge is designed for 60 grain or

First what chambering???

Andy, also did you get the dies and load data

Got dies, little data.