Hey all you 25-20 shooters

[GunnyMack]

I'm wondering what gun you have and specifically do you know what bbl twist is?
A Savage 23B is in my safe, I've shot it a long time, mostly 60gr Hornady SP. Years ago I splurged for a 60gr mould . I've also shot 75s and 85s out of it.
Now I'm on the verge of haggling for a 92 circa 1910, 16.5" bbl and it's a takedown.
I read that some 25-20s were 1:14, others 1:12. The 1:14( possibly Marlin's?) don't like 85 grain cast bullets.
So what loads, bullets do you like in your 25-20?

[earlmck]

Ya know, I never really checked my twist rate. I just thought they were all 1:14. I shot the old Lyman 87 (90 with my alloy) grainer for many years and then I got a 70 grain gang mould from Arsenal and both my old girls prefer the 70. And the 6-cavity thing turns out a lot of bullets in a short time which my crickity old back appreciates.

I've got an original '92 that my dad bought when he was a youngster (and never shot much 'cause of the cost of the shells) and an older m92 that somebody put on a barrel that is stamped "m53". Real fond of both of them and the grandkids like them too. I thought the 87 grain bullet was fine until we got to shooting on out to 200 and 300 yards at our little monthly shoot and I find I get more consistent hits with the shorter bullet.

[GunnyMack]

Thanks Earlmck, I read some stuff yesterday that was inconsistent regarding twist rates. Apparently the very early BP guns were 1:16, going to 14 with smokeless. Then I read a 1:20 and even 1:24( which I believe was a typo) .
I also found the Arsenal 70 gc mould and I might get one of those. 70grains should be the sweet spot for weight/ velocity.

I really wish the gun companies would do a run of newly chambered 25-20 guns so ammo producers would tool up and flood the market with brass and bullets...I know- fat chance!

[earlmck]

Thank goodness Starline makes a run of 32/20 occasionally. Most of my 25/20's are formed from that...

[Shasta]

GunnyMack,

Here is a link to an old thread I wrote that contains some .25-20 load data you might find interesting...

viewtopic.php?t=49661&hilit=yaw

Shasta

[GunnyMack]

Great thank you Shasta!

I just lucked into some NEW primed Winchester brass, plus what I have that is 30 yrs old I should probably anneal .

[GunnyMack]

Shasta, I read that exact thing on i believe castboolits, I assume that was your post?

I do not have that RCBS mould so I'm not worried about that too much. However I do have a 500 count box of another 85gr cast that I'll have to try at some point.

I'm still thinking that Arsenal 70gr is the ticket!

[Shasta]

Gunny, I would stay away from 70+ gr. cast lead bullets. They just don't stabilize well in older rifles. Take a look at the 257420 Lyman, a 60 gr. gas check bullet that shoots well. Of course the gas check nearly doubles the cost of the bullet, but they are at least stable and accurate. If you want to see for yourself, shoot me a PM with your mailing address and I will send you both some gas checked and plain base lighter bullets.

Shasta

[GunnyMack]

Pm sent.

[marlinman93]

The older Marlin Model 1894, and pumps used a 1:12" twist rate, and handled heavier bullets fine. My Hepburn is a rebarreled rifle with a 1:12" twist and shoots heavier than 85 gr. bullets fine also. I have a 97 gr. bullet I've tried in it and gotten good groups, but 85 gr. are good at almost any distance I've tried. I push an 85 gr. gas check at about 1800 fps and it's great for varmints.

[GunnyMack]

Yes Val, it's a great cartridge, probably my favorite.
Years ago when I lived in Colorado I would bring 3 guns on the prarie dog towns, a .22 the 25-20 and either my 17 Remington or 22-250. I have 2 witnesses that watched me swat a pasture poodle that I later paced off at 273 steps. I took me 1 or 2 to get the windage but it did the job.
Heck if the ol 25-20 was good enough to kill a world record whitetail it's good enough for me!

[earlmck]

Val's post about the older rifles not stabilizing 70 grain and heavier bullets got me curious so I checked the twist on both my rifles (tight patch, how far to get a turn method). 1:14 on both. As I said, they both like the 70 grainer fine but I've never shot anything lighter. And I would still be happily shooting the 87 grain bullet if I never shot past 100 yards.

My straight '92 was made in 1926 and the other one in 1903 or so but somebody installed a m53 barrel in it. So neither one would count as an "old" rifle.

[GunnyMack]

I have shot 60s, 75s and 85s from my Savage and not seen a real issue but that was years ago. The Savage is 1:14 and maybe it's time for a retest before I go buying a mould...

From what I have read, the issue isn't so much with the twist as much as that old rcbs bullet design. I think the design of those two rather large lube grooves do not give the rifling much bearing surface causing the inherent yaw experienced by many.

[GunnyMack]

I just dug out my 257 mould, it's an NEI 65gc, 2 cavity. Then I found some of the bullets i cast from it and they are spot on 70gr w gc.

[bgmkithaca]

I have a 1885 lowall that I rebarreled years ago with a 1-14 twist barrel. I shoot 85 grain cast bullets with 6 grains of imr 4759. It would be hard to beat it at 100 yards- groups go around .800 to .860" if the nut on the trigger is tight. It has a 6 power scope on it and has kept shooting in that range for over 20 years now.