Second levergun..

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EG73
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Second levergun..

Post by EG73 »

Well, I picked up levergun number 2. Got my first 14 years ago (Erma werke eg73, German copy of a winchester 9422m in .22wmr) and only just now starting to get a real interest in then (well, starting to do something about the interest).

It’s a Winchester 1892, made 1912. In the mightiest caliber, of course - .25-20.
Bores not great, but will give it a go and worst case scenario just fork out more than I paid for the rifle to get it relined but hey if it keeps one in use. Or just keep range short. Plans to get a hare with it.
Shot some cans with it yestersay, hitting about 4-6” high but got a higher front sight with it when I bought it. Geez it’s got a nice trigger, too! We loaded 40 rounds, and got a couple hundred cast 80gn bullets.

Have to say - having put a few rounds through it I love it already!

The question now is - what next? A .356 win or a .32-40?

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Last edited by EG73 on Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:17 pm, edited 1 time in total.
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GunnyMack
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by GunnyMack »

It's a great caliber! One of my favorites. It'll take small game handily and at 1 point the
" lowly " 25-20 killed the long standing whitetail record buck.
BROWN LABS MATTER !!
EG73
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by EG73 »

GunnyMack wrote: Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:14 pm It's a great caliber! One of my favorites. It'll take small game handily and at 1 point the
" lowly " 25-20 killed the long standing whitetail record buck.
Yeah, if you do research online you’d think it couldn’t kill a mouse! :lol:

If it shoots ok I’ll try and see what I can bag with it :)
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GunnyMack
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by GunnyMack »

I have a Savage 23B and I've shot it well past 25-20 should shoot- prarie dog at 273 paces!
BROWN LABS MATTER !!
Gunstore Commando
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by Gunstore Commando »

GunnyMack wrote: Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:14 pm at 1 point the
" lowly " 25-20 killed the long standing whitetail record buck.
To be fair, that guy shot that buck like eight or nine times.

On the other hand, although I certainly don't need another caliber to reload, I keep hearing the .25-20's siren song.
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GunnyMack
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by GunnyMack »

Gunstore Commando wrote: Sun Sep 24, 2023 12:32 am
GunnyMack wrote: Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:14 pm at 1 point the
" lowly " 25-20 killed the long standing whitetail record buck.
To be fair, that guy shot that buck like eight or nine times.

On the other hand, although I certainly don't need another caliber to reload, I keep hearing the .25-20's siren song.
And a person could shoot a buck with an '06 multiple times if they screw up. All about bullet placement.
BROWN LABS MATTER !!
EG73
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by EG73 »

Gunstore Commando wrote: Sun Sep 24, 2023 12:32 am
GunnyMack wrote: Sat Sep 23, 2023 7:14 pm at 1 point the
" lowly " 25-20 killed the long standing whitetail record buck.
To be fair, that guy shot that buck like eight or nine times.

On the other hand, although I certainly don't need another caliber to reload, I keep hearing the .25-20's siren song.

With my mighty 10 rounds of experience with a .25-20 I can say you won’t regret it :lol:
FLINT
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by FLINT »

congrats on the 25-20! Sounds like a pretty fun cartridge!

If you find accuracy isn't great, clean your barrel out super good and try jacketed bullets. they can be more forgiving if the bore isn't perfect.

I have a 32-40 with a less than perfect bore and it shoots jacketed bullets great.

as far as your 'next rifle' options, i'll have to say, I like your style. I too am attracted to the uncommon / obsolete cartridges.

I agree - that your next rifle should be in that ballpark - something in a 30-30 length action.

32-40 is a great option, especially if you like paying a lot of money for old worn out guns, haha. like I said, I have one and really like it. especially if you can get one with a nickel steel barrel, you can load it up for deer. Here's mine

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the 356 winchester would be a much more powerful cartridge and would only be available in "newer" guns (old guns compared to now, but super new compared to a 32-40)

Other options to consider.

38-55 - probably "better" in many ways than 32-40, but the one challenge is that over the last 100+ years bore diameters have fluctuated from .375 - .381+
or if you could go 375 winchester - which is the new version of the 38-55 and is an older brother to the 356 winchester in that it was released around the same time for the same group of winchester 'big bore' rifles.
32 special is cool and fun
35 rem is great (but not if you want a winchester).

I guess depends on what kind of rifle you want. and what style. if you like the old style classy winchester rifles like your 25-20, then you should look for a 32-40, 38-55 or even a 25-35. If you want a newer carbine style winchester rifle, you could look at the 375 or 356 or even 307 winchester. or if you want a marlin, you could look for a 35 remington OR one of the cool newer marlin rounds like the 308 or 338 marlin express. those are thumpers. OR........... you could go to the lever darkside and get a 250-3000 or 300 savage in a 99 or 1899............if you want a scope, get a marlin or savage. or a newer winchester, but......ew........don't do that...... (jk)

obviously, the most logical thing to do would be get a 30-30, which you can get in any of the above styles and makes of rifles, and its almost the only option if you don't want to reload for it. in theory, some of the above cartridges are still factory loaded, but good luck with that these days.

Here are a couple more of mine.

375 big bore - regret selling it
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35 rem
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300 sav
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1903 30-30
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2003 30-30
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I don't have any pics of any of the others yet......

Then............. once you get something (or a dozen somethings...) from the 30-30 class, you need to step up to the big boys...... and you could get a cool classic rifle like a winchester 1886 or a newer marlin in 45-70 (some guys here have some beauty examples). the only two "big" levers I was ever interested in were the .444 in a marlin or the 348 in a winchester. Just got a 348 this year, so I'm all set! I have a really bad shoulder so I have no desire to shoot the heavy thumpers for fun. Other possibilities would be, 450 marlin in a marlin or if you really go to the dark side of lever guns, you could get an 1895 in 33 or 405 winchester. All I need is the one rifle from this group. here it is my 348 compared to an old 1894

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EG73
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by EG73 »

Don’t talk about 95’s to me.. 4 years ago I passed on a .405 with the express sights in .405 for $2k AUD (about $1600USD at the time) and I’ve regretted it ever since :oops:

Would love a 348 but they’re rare here.
Any 1886 is on the list. I’d love a 1895 in .35WCF though, probably choose it over a .405.

A .45-70 would be nice. Maybe another 1892?

As for the .32-40 - the shop has a few shot out 94’s in this chambering..but they also found a good bore original stainless steel .32-40 barrel I’d get with it.
FLINT
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by FLINT »

I've never heard of a stainless steel 32-40 winchester barrel.
Bill in Oregon
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by Bill in Oregon »

Any 92 with the button magazine is a very tough act to follow, in my book! 8)
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Rube Burrows
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by Rube Burrows »

Nice pick up.
JFE
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Re: Second levergun..

Post by JFE »

Congrats on the 25/20. They’re a cute little cartridge.

Since you’re in Oz, I’d suggest considering a 94BB in 375 Win. Quite a number were sold in Oz when they didn’t sell in the US. When the 94BB was revised to become AE version, Winchester fitted a heavier barrel (as well as making a few other changes). To me the earlier top eject versions were markedly lighter and handled better.
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