Unfortunately, there is nothing in this post that is correct. Four 5's with any ten card is equal to 28 points, not 24. Look at the fives using suits to form 15s. Red, Red Black. Red, Red Black. Black, Black Red, Black Black Red. Those four equal 8 points, then the 15's with the ten card equal another 8 points. Then the quads (6 pairs) equal 12 points. 8+8+12=28. Additionally, you cannot get 25 points in a hand. Ever. It is not possible. It doesn't matter what the 'lead' card is.

This is wrong in so many ways. First of all cutting a jack does not count towards counting your hand. IF you were dealer you would get two points (IF) and that would happen BEFORE pegging so that does not count towards counting your hand. Also, did you not want to count any points for your four fives? That is 12 points that you are not counting. Any four fives and a face card is ALWAYS 28, unless the 5 cut is the same suit as the jack you are holding and then it is 29.

Shouldn't the total be 30?

5,5,5,5,Jack is four 15's for 8 points
5,5,5,5 is four 15's for 8 points
Double Royal Pair for 12
The cut card being a Jack, that's Nibs for 2 points

To recheck (as asked in the post above) two errors noticed. The 15's were counted, but the pairs were overlooked in the count. The four 5's make 6 pairs ("double pair royal") for 12 points.

Also, a previous post in this thread mentioned that the upturned Jack ("starter card") would have been immediately pegged for two points when turned up. So those two points would not be added again during the hand count, later. (And, ONLY the dealer would score those two points when a Jack is turned up as the "starter card." The "pone" (non-dealer) does not score that starter Jack.

So, without adding in "his heels" (a Jack as "starter") to the hand count, the count of 18 (in the post above) is down to 16. Then add in the missed "double pair royal" (6 pairs) for 12 more points to reach 28 points for the hand.

I can never remember which is "his heels" vs. "his nobs" vs. "nibs." One book I have mentions "his nobs" as being a Jack, held in hand, if it is the SAME SUIT as the starter card. This scores ONE point during the hand count. A Jack turned up as the "starter card" is called "his heels" and is ONLY scored by the dealer, and is pegged (2 points) immediately upon being turned up. It is NOT, therefore, counted in the hand count.
Reference book: Hoyle's Rules of Games, Second revised edition (by Albert H. Morehead and Geoffrey Mott-Smith). MANY books have the same title, so the authors are the important indicator for the same book. Now in a Third edition (or later, depending on when you read this post).

Incorrect. BUZZZZZZZZ. Try again and this time don't count the 2 pts for cutting the jack. That is NOT part of scoring your hand.