I am looking for some load advice from some one with experience with the 25-20? I am shooting it out of a 24" single shot. I have a supply of 75, 87, and 100 grain bullets for max loads and I am also looking for a 1000 fps load for 117 gr roundnose bullets for plinking critters out of the cat's food after dark.
Thanks.

quote:

I am looking for some load advice from some one with experience with the 25-20? I am shooting it out of a 24" single shot.

Are you referring to the .25-20 single shot or the .25-20 WCF?

They are two entirely different cartridges.

25-20 Winchester Centerfire...

quote:

Originally posted by eskimo36:
I am looking for some load advice from some one with experience with the 25-20? I am shooting it out of a 24" single shot. I have a supply of 75, 87, and 100 grain bullets for max loads and I am also looking for a 1000 fps load for 117 gr roundnose bullets for plinking critters out of the cat's food after dark.
Thanks.

Most 25-20 WCFs have a 14" twist which will be a bit slow for the reduced 117 gr loads you're looking for. A good FN jacketed or cast bullet at 1000 fps or less will do just as well. You might look for some cast bullets also. With a 70 gr Lyman 257420 over 11 gr of AA5744 is very accurate at 1840 fps. 9.5 of 4759 or 10 gr of H4227 do just as well. Cast really soft (recovered 22LR lead) both the GC'd 257420 and Lymans 257283 (a PB'd HP'd cast bullet) over 2.5 gr of Bullseye runs right at 1000 fps.

Larry Gibson

I have a TC barrel with a 1-10 twist was a reason I thought I might could shoot the big bullets slowly and accurately. Thanks for the load info on the lead bullets Larry.

Wow it's been a long time since I've even heard anything mentioned about this caliber. I had a friend of mine use it to take mule deer here in Idaho about 25 years ago. I was amazed at what he had done when I saw the size of the shells.

I don't remember the exact model of the Winchester that he used but it was in a fine patina and looked really classic. Although at that time is just looked old to me.

Could it have been a '92? What other models from Winchester were made in that caliber?

quote:

Originally posted by eskimo36:
I have a TC barrel with a 1-10 twist was a reason I thought I might could shoot the big bullets slowly and accurately. Thanks for the load info on the lead bullets Larry.

Even the 1-10" twist at .25-20 WCF velocities might not stabilize the bullets over the length of the 75 grain HP.

My experience with the .25-20 WCF is limited to the 60 grain FP from Hornady and it's a very fine smaller big game load. I'd limit it to animals under 100 pounds but I have killed deer with it.

searches on "25-20" on four forums:

http://forums.accuratereloadin...&forum_scope=6711043

http://forums.accuratereloadin...&forum_scope=9411043

http://forums.accuratereloadin...&forum_scope=2511043

http://forums.accuratereloadin...&forum_scope=9421043

My brother relined some Low Walls to their original .25-20 chamberings years ago.

quote:

Originally posted by eskimo36:
I am looking for some load advice from some one with experience with the 25-20? I am shooting it out of a 24" single shot.Thanks.

I use 10.0 grs/IMR-4198/86gr.Soft Point or 7.0 grs. of SR-4759 in my Winchester Model 43 bolt action in .25-20. I used 75 gr. Gas Checked lead cast bullet for awhile and used 4.0 grs. of Unique. This was an accurate load I used for Squirrels. I never used any bullet weight over 86 grains.