25/20 vs 32-20 Which one?

[sghart3578]

Hello neighbors,

I am thinking about buying and old Marlin 1894 as a new plinker. I have seen 25-20's and 32-20's.

I have no experience with either. This will only be a range toy used for light assaults on clay pigeons and paper plates.

Is there and advantage to one over the other? I have several newer 1894's in 357 and 45 Colt already.

Thanks in advance for your time,


Steve in N CA

[ulav8r]

Starline makes 32/20 brass but not 25/20. For plinking either would be great. Also, one of each would be great.

[Wayne Smith]

Relatively easy to turn 32-20 brass into 25-20 - I would judge on the accuracy of the individual rifle offered. That's more important than the particular cartridge imho. Both shoot cast well.

[sharps4590]

I have both but honestly prefer the 32-20 for no other reason than I just like it better and, have had a 40+ year long love affair with the cartridge. A Colt Army Special in 32-20 was my decades long companion on the farm.

They're both fun, accurate, good for small game if called upon and, miserly on powder and lead. For the purpose you mentioned what Wayne said is significant. Beyond that, pick the one that puts the biggest grin on your face.

32-20 brass easily forms into 25-20, as has been mentioned. All of my 25-20 cases are reformed 32-20. I would stay away from nickel cases if you decide on 25-20 and forming brass. The loss rate is unacceptably high....and you may ask me how I learned that.

[fiberoptik]

Do you have a bunch of .25 or .30 cal moulds? If I have lots of .30 moulds already, then add .32-20!


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[ReloaderFred]

Myself, I would choose the .32-20. There are plenty of .32 caliber bullet offerings, and the brass is readily available.

It's true that .25-20 isn't that hard to form from .32-20. It's one of the steps I take in making .218 Bee brass, but it's another step in the loading process. The bullet choices in .25 caliber aren't as plentiful as the .32 caliber choices, so that's also something to consider.

Hope this helps.

Fred

[John Boy]

Sghart, here’s some reading material for you

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.25-20_Winchester

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/.32-20_Winchester

[Drm50]

I have Marlin 32/20 and 25/20- also Winchester in both. I had the new Marlins in both when they came out. I didn’t like them at all, in either cartridge. My 1894 Marlins are early 1900 rifles, oct barrels. Wins are m53s, rifle version of 1892, made in 1920s. One thing all four have in common is that they shoot really well with cast. The 32/20s both outshot the 25/20s. The Marlin a hair better than Winchester, hurts me to say that. I like them both but take the 32/20 as my favorite.281853

[Bad Ass Wallace]

I have both, a Winchester '92 in 25/20 and a Lowwall in 32/20, both fed exclusively with cast boolits that are unsized. Hard to pick a winner as they both shoot well! Powder coating has allowed boolits to be driven to 1,800fps with no decrease in accuracy.

https://i.imgur.com/6AFUHJM.jpg

[Mk42gunner]

I've only got one a Husqvarna single shot in .25-20. I will second the statement to not use nickel cases when converting. Somewhere around a 10% loss rate IIRC.

There are an awful lot of .30 cal and .32 cal handgun molds that will work with the .32-20. And Starline brass, ready to load is just a click away.

Robert

[bigwagon]

If you have or can get molds for both, I think it's a toss up. But if you are buying bullets, especially jacketed, 25-20s are much harder to find. Brass is also much harder to find, but as noted, you can form it from 32-20. I have guns in both and really like 25-20 in a Winchester 92. 32-20 is also fun to shoot, especially in revolvers.

[farmbif]

I shoot 25-20 only because the gun followed me home from a gun shop many years ago, it a lot of fun and when I used to go to public range was always a conversation started it seemed. I lucked into a case of genuine Remington 86 grain ammo and several bags of new Winchester brass not long after getting the gun. I'm also a big fan of marlins. but it seems the 1894cl's are hit and miss as far as accuracy if that's what your looking at getting.
I've seriously toyed with the idea of getting a 32-20 and after much shopping and deliberation realized for what the marlins are selling for these days I would be much better off in spending a little bit more and getting a browning model 53. I've yet to get one though mostly because the calibers I have now keep me busy enough.

[rbuck351]

I have both 25/20 and 32/20 in Win 92s. I have never been able to make the 32/20 shoot as well as the 25/20 so the 25/20 is my choice.

[uscra112]

Second what farmbif said. Much as I hate to say it, the Japanese-made Browning is much the better gun. Mine is .32-20, and while it's not as accurate as my single shots, it's plenty good as a fun-gun. I use the traditional Lyman 3118 bullet exclusively in all my .32-20s. It's also very useful in the .30-30 and .30-06 as a reduced-load bullet. Lots to be said for that. BTW one of my Stevens single shots shoots the 3118 with close to 1MOA accuracy out to about 80 yards. It 's a good bullet when the rifle is chambered right for it, but it's not a long range bullet.

[smkummer]

For reasons other have said, 32-20. You also can add a revolver ( old or new) in this caliber as well should you choose. 32-20 imho does everything 25-20 and more.

[uscra112]

One thing the .25-20 can do better is muzzle velocity. If you compare factory ammunition, you'll find that the .32-20 is loaded down, favoring older guns which can't take high pressure. The .25-20 WCF is not thus hampered. The .32-20 SAAMI limit is 16,000 CUP. The .25-20 is 28,000 CUP.

[45workhorse]

Get them both and in few years let us know which one YOU really like! There problem solved!

I have two, a contender barrel and a Winchester. In 32-20. Both sweet shooting and accurate!

Would like a 25-20, just so I can compare the two!

[redneck1]

I'm partial to the older marlins myself , here's my 1907 ish '94 in 32-20
In my area the 32-20's are a little easier to find and tend to be a few hundred bucks cheaper then the 25-20's .

I don't think a person would be disappointed with either

281880

[.45Cole]

32-20 can be had in a pistol too and the browning 53 is excellent. The 25-20 is faster (long shots) but doesn't carry the momentum the 32 does. Both are light pops and no recoil. History has heavily favored the 32-20 - probably for a reason. The 32-20 /218 bee just takes this difference to the extreme, super fast and blows up on impact, but no momentum for the 218.

[ulav8r]

when I was in high school and buying ammo for a Win 92 32/20, I bought the high speed ammo. If memory is correct it was 115 grain softpoint at 1800 fps. That was about 45 years ago.

[uscra112]

True,, but try to find that today, outside of collector ammo sources. It was in the 25,000 psi pressure range, which blew up old revolvers and even 1873 Winchesters.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/32-20.htm

Modern rifles can stand it, but you'll have to handload to get there today.

The lawyers have spoken.

[Shawlerbrook]

Don’t have a 32 20, but love my 1906 Winchester 1892 in 25 20. No wrong answer here.

[Cowboy32]

I would have to lean toward the 32 WCF. I have both (25 WCF, 32 WCF)and shoot them in bolt, lever guns and pumps. Not much difference from what I see till ya get past 100 yds. or so. Then I think the .32 just shines.

[John Boy]

sghart ... have you made a decision?

[sghart3578]

sghart ... have you made a decision?


I am leaning towards the 32-20. I should know in 2 or 3 days.

Thank you all for your input. As usual it was all informative and thought provoking. I see the merits of both but the 32-20 gets my vote.


Steve in N CA

[ulav8r]

True,, but try to find that today, outside of collector ammo sources. It was in the 25,000 psi pressure range, which blew up old revolvers and even 1873 Winchesters.

https://www.chuckhawks.com/32-20.htm

Modern rifles can stand it, but you'll have to handload to get there today.

The lawyers have spoken.
This is the rifle I was using it in. It was in much better condition back then. I have not seen it since the summer of 1967. 281979

[sghart3578]

UPDATE!!!

I decided to buy this Marlin 1894 in 32-20. It was built in 1899 according to the serial number. It has been restored and from the photos it looks pretty good. It was a little extravagant maybe but it is my retirement gift to myself after 32 years with the same outfit.

Thanks to everyone for their input. It was a big help. Now I have to look for brass, etc. I think I have a set of dies out in the shed but I'm not sure.

Steve in N CA

282102

[uscra112]

Nice! Congratulations.

Powder Valley has Starline in stock.

[shdwlkr]

buy starline brass from starline direct free shipping great brass out of stock just checked

[smkummer]

Good for you. If your going to cast with it, some have issues using Lyman’s classic 311008 bullet with smokeless powder as it doesn’t have a crimp groove. A friend of mine uses lee’s 93 grain RN in his original 73 with good luck.

[sharps4590]

Well done, sg. I cannot imagine that you won't be happy with it. Now, once you get that one all figgered out and shooting well, you'll need the 25-20....just 'cause!!!

[sghart3578]

Well done, sg. I cannot imagine that you won't be happy with it. Now, once you get that one all figgered out and shooting well, you'll need the 25-20....just 'cause!!!

Already working on it! Ha!


Steve in N CA

[redneck1]

That's a nice looking rifle , not being a collector the refinish wouldn't bother me either .
I like the early rifles better myself as well .
Congrats

[Zingger]

Nice looking rifle there Steve- I have had both and far/away prefer the 32-20 to the 25. Have had a turn of century Marlin, currently have the classic model (mine shoots well) and the Ruger Buckeye special. The 25 was a 92 reline which just didn't have the same feel. My go-to is the 311-316 NOE just under 5 grains of unique.

Enjoy!
Zingger

[missionary5155]

Growing up in SW Michigan there was a running debate which caliber was the better. It all comes down to what critters do you intend to hunt.
50 pound racoons, groundhogs and yotes are tough old beasts and need far more thwap than a 20 pound ground hog and those wabbits and tree rats. Throw in the occasional corn cruncher or repel boarders the caliber .32 is going to hit harder always.
But if paper, cans and hanging stuff are mainly plinked it does not make any difference at all.