25/20 rptr

[covert]

I picked up in a package deal a Lyman 25/20 RPTR dies anybody know what that is. I know 25/20 WCF . Thanks in advance

[Eutectic]

I picked up in a package deal a Lyman 25/20 RPTR dies anybody know what that is. I know 25/20 WCF . Thanks in advance

Long ago, the .25-20 WCF was referred to by many 'oldtimers' as the ".25-20 Repeater". There were two different .25-20's back then (and still are) the other being the .25-20 single shot.

You probably got 'old stuff' I would venture to guess; with old terminology. My father had a .25-20 single shot and whenever a .25-20 conversation came up his first question was: "Single shot or repeater?"

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[Digital Dan]

Not important but there were 3 as I recall. .25-20 Marlin, .25-20 Win. and .25-20 SS. First two were quite similar albeit with very slight difference in dimensions. There were also one or two .25 caliber Stevens rounds.

[Eutectic]

Not important but there were 3 as I recall. .25-20 Marlin, .25-20 Win. and .25-20 SS. First two were quite similar albeit with very slight difference in dimensions. There were also one or two .25 caliber Stevens rounds.

Ah yes.... The .25-20 Marlin! But Marlin guns for over 100 years have had a .25-20 WCF chamber!!!!

But, and it's a big BUT! Marlin's cartridge showed up FIRST!
In 1894 Marlin brought out the .25-20 Marlin beating Winchester to the punch!! Winchester came out with the .25-20 WCF the following year!

w30wcf, who posts here has a most interesting thread on the Marlin forum on this subject! My friend John (w30wcf) knows as much about early lever guns and early ammunition as anyone I know! He states the very early Marlin guns had a slightly different chamber dimension-wise but they changed to the Winchester dimensions even while still in the 1890's! John goes on to say even the Winchester barrels should have been stamped .25-20 Marlin as they had the 'thought' first...

My father's .25-20 SS was a Stevens Model 44. Stevens also chambered for a .25-21 and a .25-25. The .25-25 is worth seeing if you haven't! It must be as long as a loaded .30-30!

The "Repeater" name addition was always for the Winchester number. I did see one of the very early 'Ideal' (310 type) loading tools with mold attached once marked .25-20 Marlin! It was late 1890's manufacture though.

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[Chev. William]

There were also the short lived .25 Stevens Short (.25-5-43) RF and the .25 Stevens (Long) (.25-10-65) which lasted much longer and Winchester did chamber as the "25-10" to avoid using 'Stevens' Name on their rifles.
Best Regards,
Chev. William

[Eutectic]

There were also the short lived .25 Stevens Short (.25-5-43) RF and the .25 Stevens (Long) (.25-10-65) which lasted much longer and Winchester did chamber as the "25-10" to avoid using 'Stevens' Name on their rifles.
Best Regards,
Chev. William

You know, I shot a good bunch of Cottontail rabbits one morning many, many, years ago..... with the .25 Stevens rimfire.. I was quite impressed with its performance as compared to the .22 Long Rifle.

Elmer Keith in his book "Sixguns" toted the .25 Stevens highly saying the 'factories' should bring back the ammo and guns for it, as it was such a good small game round!

I liked the copper casings...

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