How to get a good 25-35?

[yooper2]

First of all, I (and my brother) have one already and the 25-35 is one of my favorite cartridges. The problem is that my rifle is a family heirloom with a 26" octagon barrel so it isn't the handiest thing and while we both hunt with it occasionally we're very careful with it. I'm looking for a carbine I can toss in the truck or tote along the trapline all day without worrying about rough handling.
Given the prices I'm seeing on gunbroker for anything in decent shape I'm thinking that making one is going to be my best bet. So:
1. Should I find an old 94 or 336 to rebarrel?
2. Should I find an old 94 or 336 to get lined? (Is this even an option? I don't know how much meat is needed in a barrel to be relined.)
3. Should I stick it out and just try to find a carbine that began life as a 25-35?

Also, who would be good to have do the work? If you have had good experiences with somebody please share them. Thanks for your opinions,


Eric

[Mescalero]

I have a project gun in this genre already.
If I were starting from scratch I would go Marlin and rebarrel to .25 Bullberry.

[3leggedturtle]

^^ Or get a 35 Remington and rebarrel to a 250 Savage with shoulder pushed back to get a longer neck for cast bullets and so factory 250's wont chamber. Paco did a write up on that one. I passed on a 26" octagon M94 at Cabela's for $799. Jonhn Taylor does relining if you go that route.

[ollogger]

Id stick it out for awhile, I did & in short time I had 2, a rifle & a carbine
I have seen 25-35 bbls on Ebay



ollogger

[Sixgun]

Putting one together is like buying a Harley Sportster when you really wanted a Fatboy. Buy what you want from the git-go. It will be near impossible to get what you want (financially) from the normal avenues of obtaining nice guns such as gunshops or the internet.

90% of my guns have come from auctions and estate sales, mostly auctions. It takes plenty of time finding out and researching where all of the auctions are and then driving there and dealing with all of the idiots who just inherited a million bucks, but........at auctions, knowledge is more important than money.

But......if you insist, get a 336 in 30-30 and just rebarrel it. No brainer. Unless you are well versed in reloading and case forming, stay away from the wildcats or other high pressure cartridges as other issues come up with the rear locking actions.------6

[BenT]

Most relinings deal with lower pressure pistol calibers. It sounds to me like you are looking for a gun of function. I would rebarrel a post 64 Win 94. They are cheaper to rebarrel than a Marlin. Set it up the way you want and you will be happy.

[JerryB]

Pitchy, you could do like Ben says and pick up a good 70's something and just have it rebarreled and start shooting. My 94 38-55 was my son's 1972 94 30-30. He sent it to Jes in Oregon to be rebored . That's what I got the big doe with. I don't have any trouble with the 94's in those years, but then a poor old man can't afford to be snobbish. That 38-55 ain't got a 90% blue and the stock a could use some work but it did kill that deer just fine.

[Mescalero]

.25 Bullberry is just .30-.30 necked to .25, nothing else.

[3leggedturtle]

.25 Bullberry is just .30-.30 necked to .25, nothing else.

That or Francis Sell's version, the .25 Tomcat

[Mescalero]

The Tomcat is a lot of case work,IE reforming.

[AJMD429]

If you just want to shoot the cartridge out of a quality and accurate firearm, and don't mind it being a single-shot, consider an Encore - http://www.eabco.com/barels01.html. You will be able to wring far more potential out of the cartridge than you will get from most 'vintage' leverguns.

Here's some discussion on the topic - http://www.go2gbo.com/forums/tc-encorec ... n-carbine/.

And another source of barrels - http://www.bullberry.com/encore_barrels.html

[yooper2]

Thanks for all of the advice gents. I've done the wildcat thing in the past, mostly with a contender, but I'm going to go with the 25-35 as I like the history as well as the performance. I think I'm going to keep looking and hope for the best. Should I get really impatient I guess the option of making will always be open.


Eric

[44-40]

I'm in for two cents - Reline a 336. A couple of years ago, I realized I "needed" a 25-35, but all I could find were a bunch of tired, overpriced Win. Mod. 94's. I ended up taking a 336 I had picked up on the cheap ($200), and having it relined (about $180 at the time). It is probably the most accurate lever gun I've ever owned - and I have "a few". The 25-35 is an absolutely great little round. It's easy to load for, adequate for eastern whitetails, and an outstanding coyote popper. Go for it, you'll never regret it.

[Old Savage]

+1 on that idea.