Looking over my reloading die collection last night and came across a set in .25-20 that included some empty brass. Short, bottle neck, with a rim. Some loads are listed in some of my old catalogs. Are there any rifles out there for sale in this caliber? It really looks like it would be a neat cartridge for a single shot rifle. Can any be rebarreled or rechambered? I don't want to spend a mint but this sure peaked my interest.

Mike:

A real good shooter that my be had for $300.00 to $500.00, are the old Model 23-B Savage. I also have one in 32-20, and 22 Hornet.

If you find a 25-20, that is afforable, and a shooter, not a collector, stick with the 60 grain bullets, they shoot a lot flatter than the 86's, and I believe deliver more energy at usable ranges.The load I use is 5.8grs Unique/60 Grain Hornady/@1835fps.

Have fun, and if you have more questions, let me know!!

Jerry

I believe Marlin makes or made some lever rifles in 25-20.

Rich
DRSS

The T/C Custom Shop will build you a 25/20 barrel for your Contender or Encore.

I have a Winchester Model 53 levergun in 25-20 WCF. It is quite accurate with my handloads using a Hornady jacketed 60 grain flatpoint. Be aware there is another 25-20(25-20
Single Shot) which is a different cartridge.
Pete

quote:

Originally posted by Jerry Eden:
Mike:

A real good shooter that my be had for $300.00 to $500.00, are the old Model 23-B Savage. I also have one in 32-20, and 22 Hornet.

If you find a 25-20, that is afforable, and a shooter, not a collector, stick with the 60 grain bullets, they shoot a lot flatter than the 86's, and I believe deliver more energy at usable ranges.The load I use is 5.8grs Unique/60 Grain Hornady/@1835fps.

Have fun, and if you have more questions, let me know!!

Jerry

Ditto what Jerry says, I've got Savage 23's in Hornet and 25-20. Still looking for one in 32-20. There getting a bit over priced, collectors have "discovered" them.

Mine is a 100 year old Marlin M'94 with the 24" tapered octogon barrel. The bore has been sleeved and it shoots cast bullets well. Current favorite is out of a custom mould that weighs 80 grains. Had good luck for several years before that with a Lyman 257420 mould. 13 gr. IMR4198 gave 2000 fps and made a wonderful small game and walk about rifle. If you had plans for the pot, better hit a squirel or rabbit in the head with that load!

I believe the Model-92 Winchester is the most popular 25-20. It has a 1-16" twist so the short bullets work best.

I used mine in Africa for Duiker and Springbok....the 60 grain bullet shoots about 2,200 feet/sec and does a fine job of smaller big game to about 150 yards.

quote:

Originally posted by ole_270:
Mine is a 100 year old Marlin M'94 with the 24" tapered octogon barrel. The bore has been sleeved and it shoots cast bullets well. Current favorite is out of a custom mould that weighs 80 grains. Had good luck for several years before that with a Lyman 257420 mould. 13 gr. IMR4198 gave 2000 fps and made a wonderful small game and walk about rifle. If you had plans for the pot, better hit a squirel or rabbit in the head with that load!

I have a 1893 Marlin in 25/20... that is in beautiful shape for that period... I feel lucky to own it.. it came from a friend who died, and it had been in his family for over 100 years, bought new by his great grandfather...

.25-20s have been priced out of reach. I'm fortunate enough to have a Savage 23 with good metal and really ratty wood I picked up 20 years ago or I would not have one. I strongly prefer the bolts and SS for the ability to use spitzer bullets. My aged eyes demand a scope.

Closest thing I see to a cheap way into a .25-20 would be to reline a suitable donor rifle. Brownells has liners for under a hundred bucks.

Leftoverdj (or anyone else for that matter), What would be a good donor rifle for me to look for?

Mike, donor guns are tough to come by. Cadet Martini would be great. So would one of the baby rolling blocks that Navy Arms imported a while back. I have a Stevens 44 in .25 Stevens that is tempting me, but mine is really too nice to alter.

The least expensive and most readily available are the Handis. If you already have one, you can get a spare barrel for $100 and be gambling nothing but the spare barrel and liner. The .22 Hornet ejector can be readily altered to the .25-20.

I built myself a Martini Cadet years ago but parted with it in a moment of stupidity. It WAS a shooter too. Oh Well?? I got another Martini action now and????????
Aloha, Mark

I own a Winchester Model 43 Bolt Action in .25-20 Win. Great Squirrel Gun! I use 7.0 grains/ SR-4759/ 86 grain Factory bullet in my Winchester M-43. IMR-4198 also works fine, and I use 10.0 grs. with 60 to 86 grainers. When shooting cast lead bullets of 75 grains I like to use 4.0 grains of Unique and a "Gas Checked" NEI .257" bullet. VERY ACCURATE!

I think my grandpa has a winchester and it has a octagon barrel. He said my grandma shot a lot of deer with it. It sounded like it was a good shooter. He always used a 8mm.

However the barrel is bad in it now.

I've got one of the Marlins. Fun little gun for plinking. I've only loaded the 86 grain bullets for this and they shoot decently at ranges out to 100 yards. Easy to load and cheap to shoot. Don't know what good it is other than a fun round for plinking.

quote:

Originally posted by Reloader2:
Don't know what good it is other than a fun round for plinking.

Downloaded to 1500 fps or so, it's the best small game cartridge going. Loaded with 75 grain spitzers for a bolt or SS, it's a quiet suburban 150 yard varminter. It's about perfect for turkey, where legal, like here in Virginia. It's also enough gun for called predators without tearing the hides up.

My Savage 23 is probably the most useful rifle I own. I've got a wall full of varmint and deer rifles, but the country is settling in around me. Big booms make the neighbors nervous, but the .25-20 is no louder than a .22 mag pistol shot.