WTB. 25-20 SS supplies

[mudygmc]

Hey guys, I'm looking for some reloading supplies for a 25-20ss. I was given a winchester 1885 in 25-20ss from my grandfather. It was my great grandfathers rifle. I would like to shoot it some. My grandfather didn't know of any ammunition for the rifle and it was never reloaded for. I don't have anything other than the rifle at the moment. So brass dies bullets all are welcome and of interest. Also any suggestions on l9ads or anything about the gun would be great. I understand it was a black powder center fire load. Seems some people are using smokeless such as 4227 in them. I have found some items on the internet but figured I'd look for used before I spent the money on new. Any info or suggestions would be great.

Thanks,
Adam

[RobertS]

I think you'll find the American Single Shot Rifle Association website to be a good resource, if you have already.

it's at www.assra.com

[Reverend Al]

I haven't had a chance to shoot either of my .25-20SS rifles yet either, but with some scrounging around I have dug up about 60 + rounds of brass, an original Winchester mould, an Ideal tong tool, and a 3 die set of CH4D dies in .25-20SS. I have a Stevens 44 and a Maynard 1882 model and plan to shoot very low pressure smokeless loads out of both of them. Not happy about shooting black powder only loads in such a small bore due to fouling issues. At best I MIGHT try some duplex loads with a small "kicker" charge of smokeless topped with BP. From posts on the ASSRA site it sounds like about 3.0 grains of Unique isn't a bad place to start and work up slowly to about 1,100 to 1,200 fps. Slightly slower burning powders like 2400 or 4227 might be an option, but I'm not looking to try any "hot rod" loads in these old guns, I just want to try to duplicate factory velocities at safe pressures. Accuracy is far more important than velocity as far as I'm concerned. Good luck with your family heirloom rifle and please keep us posted as to your results.

[labradigger1]

Wonderful cartridge. Brass will be the hard part to obtain. Most brass of the past was converted to other calibers. C-H should have the dies.

[Bad Ass Wallace]

Bertram sells brass in Australia and through his agent, Old Western Scronger

[mudygmc]

I couldnt find any 25-20SS at old western scrounged. Huntington die specialist list dies and brass. Found a couple places with Bertram brass. Read a few places that it wasnt the best quality. Looks to be my only option that I can find though. Really for what the rifle is and the amount of shooting. I cant see it really being an issue. I was kind of surprised I couldnt really too much on it.

Adam

[Reverend Al]

Yes, Bertram is poor quality brass and WAY overpriced (in my humble opinion) so I'd consider that as an absolute last ditch option. For the amount you will likely shoot your rifle I'd try to find 10 to 20 original cases on the ASSRA site and just load the cases without sizing. (There was some .25-20SS brass for sale on there just a few days ago.) If you really felt that you needed to then you could use a set of regular .25-20 WCF dies to neck size only with the sizing die turned up in the press, and do the same with the seater die to seat and crimp the bullets. If you could find a few .22-3000 Lovell cases they were originally a wildcat that was made from .25-20SS cases necked down to .22 calibre, so you could blow them back out to the original .25-20SS dimensions in the chamber of your rifle. (Using a blank load with cornmeal.) Then simply load them as above. Just keep at it and you'll find some brass somewhere!