Anyone shoot the .25-20 wcf?

K

kal52

New member
I have a chance bid on a Marlin 1894cl DU edition in .25-20

I really like the older dash cartridges alot, though I havent shot one of these yet, and if the gun goes for way too much, which im sure it will, Im thinking of getting a T/C barrel in .25-20 (or maybe even in the .32-20.)

Other than the nasty cost of the ammo, anyone have something to say about it? anyone use one?


thanks a bunch

Dave
 
The 25-20 is a really fun cartridge, especially if you can find lead bullets to load and shoot. Report is mild, Kinda almost like a big 22 LR that you can reload. And as long as you dont try to make it perform like a 257 roberts accuracy is good and brass lasts fairly long.

I have an old savage 23b in 25-20, but would love to have an old 92 or maybe one of those marlins they made about 10 years ago.

BTW Ammo is getting really expensive for this, the 218 and the 32-20, and one store in southern Ohio had 76 bucks on a box in Winchester 25-20. Guy showed me where his cost on it was close to 60 bucks. That hurts the pocketbook and gets expensive real quick. Luckily 32-20 brass isnt so bad, and it makes just as good ammo.
 
I have owned and shot a Savage Sporter 25-20 for nearly 40 yrs. Almost no recoil and I have killed about everything that walks (in S. Texas) with mine.

If you don't handload, the cost of 25-20 factory ammo will convert you. The bullets are cheap, they use very little powder, and you can usually find brass pretty cheap.
 
I think I still have 2 or 3 boxes of 25-20 for my win 92. It was a hand me down from my great grandpa, I used it to shoot several deer when I was 10 or so. Also have a 38-55, another hand me down from an Uncle. Haven't shot either for 30 yrs or more. The 25-20 barrel has it's own built in windage, it's warped to the left. Don't think I would shoot either of them now. I bet the 25-20 would make a fair coyote gun just for the joy of shooting a old cartridge.
 
I have a Kimber of Oregon, single shot bolt action in 25-20. Doesn't shoot lead bullets at all but does fairly well with 87gr. Speers. Fun to shoot.
 
say you were to use it coyote hunting, what would the practial range be, 100ish? more?

sounds like its perfect for a handgun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

thanks for the replies

Dave
 
I would say limit it to no more than 75 yds for good clean kills. The 60s run right at 2K fps so there's not a lot of 'knockdown power'.
 
Have a Winchester model 92 saddle ring carbine that was handed down from my uncle when he passed. I used it to kill my first Wisconsin deer when I was 12. My aunt knew how much I loved that rifle and made sure I got it when he passed. Love to shoot it and have killed a couple yotes with it in the past. Now it stays pretty well hid in the back corner of my gun safe and only comes out about once a year for a coat of oil. Even as a carbine it will hold 12 rounds in the tube magazine. Tony
 
Thanks guys,

Unless I get that rifle at the auction, Ill probably just stick with my hornet.

I did some more research and the price of the ammo is nuts, seems like the brass is available but from what ive read reloading is a bit tricky (more than a few articles stated this).

I am just now slowly getting set up to reload, I think ill wait until I get some more experience to reload something like that.

Still gonna bid on it, because i want it, but if I dont get it, ill most likely not get a .25-20 (for awhile anyway /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif )

That and It was a close family friends, his widow is auctioning off a ton of his guns, and I mean a ton, but there is still the m14A, the Pistole 27, win 62, and a tikka m698 .338 (no idea what i'd do with this /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/shocked.gif but i have a feeling ill need it someday ), a pioneer 28ga and a 870 28ga and to fuel my .410 addiction a mossy 500 pump /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

The choices are killing me /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

I wish this thing was sooner, its giving me way to much time to think of reasons why I need all of these guns /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-006.gif

Thanks again everyone I appreciate your input

Dave
 
Quote:
but from what I've read reloading is a bit tricky (more than a few articles stated this).



Not true, reloading is easy. You can't do a slam-bam, thank you mam. But there are no real problems if you take care.

/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif
 
I was reading about some of the components not always working, the necks having to be opened up, the necks getting smashed and some other problems here and there, mostly depending on the authors.

I am glad to hear that it really isnt as bad as what ive read online, and renews my interest greatly.

For the price of a box of ammo, I could probably buy the die sets and some componants /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

thanks again

Dave
 
First gun I ever shot was an old winchester leaver action in 25-20 that gun will be willed to me when my grandfather passes on to be with the Lord rp
 
Quote:
I was reading about some of the components not always working, the necks having to be opened up, the necks getting smashed and some other problems here and there, mostly depending on the authors.

I am glad to hear that it really isnt as bad as what ive read online, and renews my interest greatly.

For the price of a box of ammo, I could probably buy the die sets and some componants /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

thanks again

Dave



They are very thin cases and the necks will tear or crush easily if you are not careful. But to put it in context, I have been loading for mine for many years and have damaged maybe a half-dozen pieces of brass.
 
My neighbor is a dealer that does the gun show circut. He had one of the DU Marlins about a year ago. I came close to buying it from him a couple of times, but never did because i just hate inlaid coins or other dodads on a stock. Hind sight being what it is, I probably should have.
He bought it for around 350.00 and sold it for 500.00, I could have probably got it for around 400.00...
If it would have been one of the octagon barreled 32 H+R Mag's I think I could have learned to live with the coin in the stock..........
You probably better buy it, and then get a 32-20 to keep it company at a later date.
Good Luck
 
I had a Remington model 25 pump in 25/20 and it was a neat little rifle. I shot a lot of jackrabbits with it a few yotes. I reloaded for it and never shot any factory loads through it.

Shooing the 60g Hornady Sp, it had quite a thump on yotes, noticably more than a 22 Hornet.

The bullet has quite the drop, but if you just put a little daylight over the top of a yote at 150 yards, they usually drop.

The Marlin 25 was sure a nice jackrabbit rifle, which was my main use for.
 
You can get Meister Hard Cast plain base flatnose prelubed and sized 85gr bullets for the 25-20. They are very reasonable $38./500 shipped. I use them in my 250 Sav and 25-204 for small game and plinking loads.

AWS
 
About 5-6 years ago, I was checking out an old rocky jeep trail road that ran into some steep abrupt hills in central CO (north of Wilkerson Pass on Rt 24). Turned out there were some quarries in a little hidden valley tucked between two of the big hills (mountains to you easterners!). On the way out I found an old brown mashed .25-20 empty on the trail. Always wondered how old it was, who was digging there, and what they for digging for.
 
One of my coyote huntin' buddys shoots a 25-20. Actually he has several different models including lever actions, pumps and a bolt gun that he built. The one he takes coyote hunting is the Marlin, (I think?) Pretty accurate for an old lever gun. Lots of fun to play with. I think he shoots the 60 grain 1/2 jacket bullets? He's never shot a coyote with it yet, but he will someday.
 


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