25-20 Marlin

[161]

I have wanted one of these every since they came out in 1989.(I think it was 89). I just mounted the scope to work up a load, but I can't find a flat point jacketed boolit anywhere. I'm not apposed to shooting cast, I'd like to I just would rather buy some first. It's in great shape. Any ideas where to get something to load it with. I have 3/4 of a box of brass and dies coming.
85928

[RickinTN]

Nice rifle there. I also would like to have one someday. Midsouth shooters supply has the Remington 86 gr. soft point bullets in stock @ $22/100. Their item number is 050-22735100. I could be wrong, but I think this is the 25-20 bullet.
Good Luck and enjoy your rifle,
Rick

[Full Mold Jack]

I've shot plenty of hornady 60 grain flat points in the 92 carbine they seem to work well, not sure on availability looks like brownells is back order.

I've just bought an old ideal loading tool with the single cavity mold on its way that should make for some cheap shooting.

Nice rifle you got there.

[161]

Thanks for your help,I stopped at a local gun shop. He had two boxes of Hornady 60 gr. FP. He said he had some brass also just needed to find it.

[SGTM9]

32-20 brass can be necked down if you can't find 25-20. I may have some bullets cast from the RCBS 25 cowboy mold I have. Will need to check.

[Buckrun]

I have the sister to that Marlin. Mine is the 32-20. I bought it when they first came out in the 1980's. I have always loved that gun shot many ground hogs and a 8 pt. buck in GA. I want to get a Marbles or Lyman tang sight for mine. Always shot the factory sights but my eyes are getting old. Thought I'd use the factory iron sights out to about 50- 75 yards and set the tang sight up for longer shots.

I'd like to get the 25-20 and the 218 bee but the price of these little rifles has gone through the roof!

[Jon K]

Most jacketed pills are .257or.258 if you're lucky, while groove diameter is more like .259+.
This is..CAST BOOLITS.

Try NOE 260 80gr works great in 25-20 WCF, or 25-20 SS.

nuff said.

Jon

[snaketail]

I want one of those too! How does the rifle shoot?

[161]

Haven't sot it much but I let you know when I set down an get to work with it.

[UBER7MM]

32-20 brass can be necked down if you can't find 25-20. I may have some bullets cast from the RCBS 25 cowboy mold I have. Will need to check.

25-20s cases are not commonly stocked. The 32-20s are a bit short and 218 Bees are longer than 25-20s. I've necked up 218 Bees and then cut them down. Whatever you can get your hand on!

[wrench man]

I have wanted one of these every since they came out in 1989.(I think it was 89).

According to the Brophy Bible the 1894 in 25-20 came out in about November 1894, mine dates to 1909.;)
I prefer Winchester brass, the Remington is garbage, every one I've shot has split in the shoulder and about 75% of them split thru the neck!, it's like they didn't anneal then properly?
I've got several boxes of the Hornady 60grn bullets at Sportsmans Warehouse, and a box of the SPEER 75grn's at the LGS.

[uncle joe]

I have some 25-20 loaded ammo and components. I bought a lot of reloading stuff from an estate sale. The little old lady that was selling it was waiting to sell the stuff in the shop before selling the guns so I am waiting to see if she has the 25-20 in the safe. I was hoping to buy it or another one of the same caliber.

[uncle joe]

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/2900155498/winchester-super-x-ammunition-25-20-wcf-86-grain-soft-point
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1601362546/remington-reloading-brass-25-20-wcf
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/619905/meister-hard-cast-bullets-25-20-wcf-258-diameter-85-grain-lead-flat-nose-box-of-500
most is out of stock, but it looks like they have it sometimes

[beagle]

Look for a Lyman 257420 mould. Marlins have a twist that don't handle the heavier bullets that well. I rebarrelled mine with a 1-12 twist and a 24" barrel with a full magazine. Makes for a nice all day shooter./beagle

[161]

Well I went out today with some 60 gr. Hornady FP. 13 gr. H4198. Didn't really see anything that impressed me so I loaded some with 14gr. I blame the poor accuracy to the wind. I shot 5, 87 gr. and all of them key holed at 25 yards. Then I found something that made me sick. The rear sight dovetail is cut a few degrees counter clock wise. The rear sight is canted to the right looking straight down at the barrel. I noticed that the gun shot to the right with the iron sights. When I looked at the front and rear sights they looked centered. Can't believe I missed the rear sight not being straight. After you see it it stands out like a sore thumb. Going to shoot it some more with the scope. Then I'll look at a set of Skinner sights Maybe.

[Scharfschuetze]

I shot 5, 87 gr. and all of them key holed at 25 yards.

Key holed at 25 yards? Something's seriously wrong other than the off center rear sight. Have you slugged the bore yet? Do you think that, as noted earlier, the 87 grain bullet may be to long for the rifling pitch of the Marlin?

I've only shot 60 grain Hornady FPs through mine and I can't really report anything spectacular with them other than they don't key hole. I use a Williams aperture rear sight on mine.

[44man]

That is strange. Long ago, longer then I care to say of course, I had an original Marlin 25-20. It had a perfect bore but all the blue was worn, no rust at all. I shot cast and with open sights it would do 3/4" at 100 all day. I could see back then!
Sadly as I get rid of guns I give all the load info with the gun. I do remember it was a Lyman mold. I see only one mold listed and can't remember if it is the same boolit.
I sure wish I could help.

[2wheelDuke]

Carolina Cast Bullets (site sponsor here) sells boolits from the Ranch Dog mold for 25-20. I can't saw how they are just yet, as I only ordered some recently and haven't got to load them yet.

[snaketail]

The keyholing could be a result of your 4198 load. 13 gr is a bit above recommended max. Try 10.3 and you may get better accuracy- driving a boolit too fast will cost accuracy.
I dont care for buckhorn sights on my lever guns - and the canted mount makes it even worse. I have a tang sight on mine, but you will have to drill and tap to mount one.
Maybe yours likes a scope best. And Midway sells an insert to fill in the buckhorn sight mount.

M

[beagle]

The M1894 Marlin .25-20s were made with a 1-14 twist. This causes the heavier/longer bullets to keyhole. The only way to overcome this is with velocity. I was able to shoot the 257312 at a fairly high velocity and was able to finally attain a 1 1/2" group at 100 yards but the bullet holes were oval which indicated to me that they were still slightly unstable. Using the 257420 resulted in round holes. Since I was wanting to shoot the 257312, I rebarrelled with a 1-12 twist and all was well. Try the 257420 or the 257463 and you'll see a difference./beagle



Key holed at 25 yards? Something's seriously wrong other than the off center rear sight. Have you slugged the bore yet? Do you think that, as noted earlier, the 87 grain bullet may be to long for the rifling pitch of the Marlin?

I've only shot 60 grain Hornady FPs through mine and I can't really report anything spectacular with them other than they don't key hole. I use a Williams aperture rear sight on mine.

[starmac]

Hornsurgeon has 3 new bags of brass listed pretty reasonable right now in the swapping and selling.

[Canuck Bob]

If resizing 32-20 brass be aware that Remington brass is longer than the others if that is important. I really enjoy my 92 32-20. With that rifle you can load to sensible power levels if you choose.

[LtFrankDrebbin]

I recomend this one to everyone when I see 25-20, slip on over to the Marlin owners forum there is a sticky in the reloaders section for 25-20. Well worth the visit!

My Winchester 92 25-20 is my favorite in the cabinet, crook chamber and all.

Very nice looking gun you have there by the way.

[LtFrankDrebbin]

Higher velocity to stop keyholing? Aaarrr um how bout this.

1450fps
86965

1300fps
86966

1100fps
86967

900fps
86968

All shot with 1:13 twist Winchester 92 Sportco barrel RCBS 25-85 with lube grooves reamed out by approx 2/3rds.

[Multigunner]

There was an earlier .25-20 cartridge intended for single shot rifles. The .25-20 we know today was designed for use in the Winchester lever action rifles.
I have an excellent condition Savage 23B bolt action in .25-20. I haven't fired it very much as of yet, just enough to confirm that the sights are dead on.

I found a few very old lead bullet cartridges and opened one up. The bullet used has a domed cavity base for best sealing, no gas check.
I obtained a single box of jacketed bullet loads, and have a partial box of the same that came with the rifle, along with a few once fired cases.