Opinions on Win '92 in 25-20?

[.45Cole]

I was at the gun show over the weekend and I think that the gen there was a '92 in 25-20. I have been entranced with 32/20 and 25/20 since findinga vintage shell in the mountains (25wcf). I have been debating which one, but I am now sure that I want a '92 in 25-20. Anything I should know, or look for in the '92 ar what I should beware of??? :confused:

[45 2.1]

Either caliber is FINE, just get yourself one that is mechanically good and has a good bore/crown.

[NickSS]

I had a 25-20 for some time and it was a fine gun. I used it for small game hunting and it would put down rabbits with no problem out to a 100 yards or so. Beyond that the open sights would not shoot close enough.

[WARD O]

I've had 92 rifles in both calibers. I found the 32 to be easier to load for and it was also a better killer on small game and varmints. Some years back I found my self in need and sold the 32 as it was the lesser condition rifle. I kinda regret that .... The 25 is still an excellant shooter and every now and then it will go out and kill a gopher or tin can or such. I find the 92 actions to be of the smoothest to operate of any lever rifle. Very classy little rifles.

Ward

[Bret4207]

I have both calibers, in bolt guns. Either is fine, the 32 is a bit easier to load for and kills a bit better. The 25 is easier to use longer ranges.

[Four Fingers of Death]

I have 92s in both. Nice cartridges. The buckhorn sights are the only real limiting factor. I am sniffing about looking for a few bolt Savages in those calibres so i can use a low powered scope.
Four Fingers.

[NoDakJak]

Ditto what Bret said. Either is fine. Owning both is much better! Neil

[Four Fingers of Death]

I don't know what it is like where you are, but 92s in 32/20 in good condition are pretty easy to come by here (many have been re-barreled), but 25/20s are a lot rarer. Either should be like money in the bank, you'll always get good money for them and they are fun to use.

My 32/20, built in 1927 from memory, I haven't got around to organising a pic of the 25/20 yet.

http://i89.photobucket.com/albums/k228/4fingermick/Leverguns/d1a1d367-1.jpg

Four Fingers.

[Marvin S]

I have four 32-20's two are rifles, a 92 win mfg 1899 with a redman liner and a marlin 27s. I love the 32's but also want to get a 25-20. I would get either one when the right deal comes by.

[Bret4207]

Marv- that Marlin 27 or the little Remington slide gun are on my constant "look for" list. You're a lucky guy.

[Junior1942]

If I ever run across a 92 in 25-20 and I have money in my pocket . . . . Well, you know what will happen!! SOLD!!!

[.45Cole]

Dang I didn't know I had so much competition. Thanks for the info and making me jealous. I have been looking around online and see that '92s are still going for around 1400 for a boat oar/fire poker. I thought that the dig-whatever-says-winchester-out-and-sell-it period was over... WRONG. I hope that I can run into the guy from the gun show again, problem is I owe about as much as he wants in college bills. Uhmmm, which one. :?

[Marvin S]

Thanks, the little Marlin is a real sweet gun and as a bonus has a perfect bore. Don't pass one up if it's decent shape.

[Marvin S]

Oh, one thing you can look for that was wrong with mine was the loading gate was broke. I think I went through two junk miss made ones until I got one from Winchester Bob.

[Four Fingers of Death]

The 92's in good nick are so expensive in the States, maybe you'd be better off re-barreling a Rossi. I'm in the process of getting a gundealer's license. Maybe I should investigate export rules as well, sure seems to be a market for them over there.
Four Fingers.

[JDL]

Four Fingers, that's a fine looking 92 and the button magazine really turns me on!!
JDL

[GOPHER SLAYER]

.45COLE, I had a model 92 in 25-20 and it was a beaut. The smallest group I ever shot was with that gun. The group measured 1&1/8 inches at 100 yrds. I know that doesn't sound all that great but I just never was able to get those small groups that you read about in the gun mags. It could be because I shoot with my gun and not a typewriter. I sold that gun to my brother about 35 years ago for a whoopin 100 bucks and I have not seen it since. I had six .92s at the time but it was the pick of the litter. They are my favorite of all lever guns.I should point out that guns of all stripes were much cheaper then. But then, what wasn't?

[marlinman93]

I can't speak for the Win. 92, as I don't own any, but I do own a lot of 94 Marlins in .32-20 and .25-20 calibers. Of the two the .32-20 is far superior in my opinion, and much easier to get shooting accurately.
The .32-20's just seem to be inherently more accurate, and when looking at bores of old levers I see most .32's have good or great bores, while for some odd reason I find .25-20's with good bores much less common.
I can't seem to go out shooting without a .32-20 tagging along, but I rarely shoot any of my .25-20's.

[Four Fingers of Death]

Four Fingers, that's a fine looking 92 and the button magazine really turns me on!!
JDL

The button half mags were the most common variant in Australia apparently. My 25/20 is a full length mag and looks quiet different.

Four Fingers.

[downunderrunner]

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!! Four fingers, any chance your 25wcf is pre 1900..................??????? LOVE the .25wcf, and i've been trying to chase one down for an age! mainly bcause the old man taught me to shoot with one!

[Four Fingers of Death]

ARGH!!!!!!!!!!! Four fingers, any chance your 25wcf is pre 1900..................??????? LOVE the .25wcf, and i've been trying to chase one down for an age! mainly bcause the old man taught me to shoot with one!

No, made in 1908 anddddddddddddd it's not for sale. It has been rebarrelled and reblued. One young guy saw it at the range and asked who was selling them, he thought it was new, haha!

[Patrick56]

My Winchester 65 in 25-20 is a nice gun to shoot. Of some strange reason it throws j-word bullets all over the target but shoots well with cast Meister bullets and a moderate load. The action is really great. Wish my 94 44mag would be like it.

[shdwlkr]

I have shot the 32-20 and enjoy it. found and action years ago and it is being turned into a .256 win mag the '92 is fun to shoot. I have shot a new '92 in .357mag and that was fun also. I don't think you can go wrong with either a 32-20 or 25-20 if you reload, are not in a rush and just enjoy old calibers.

[clum553946]

I don't know how it crept up on me, but I have three 25-20's, all Win 92's! Love shooting them, there's something about racking the lever for your next shot that gets my blood flowing. I also have a 32-20 & like it as well, but I just like shooting the little 25's a little better!

[bob208]

I have a 92 rifle in .25-20 octagon barrel button mag. beaches front sight lyman tang sight. if I can see it I can hit it. have a 92 carbine in .25-20 it has killed a few ground hogs. it is kept in the pantry by the kitchen door. also a 92 rifle in .32-20 it has taken a few groundhogs too. the story with that one is I bought it cheap because we thought the barrel was shot out. it was just leaded up the guy had shot a box of lead pistol loads through it.

[downunderrunner]

No, made in 1908 anddddddddddddd it's not for sale. It has been rebarrelled and reblued. One young guy saw it at the range and asked who was selling them, he thought it was new, haha!

i fear for the intelligence of the young! pity your not gonna sell, but i can understand! i've been chasing a full mag, but looks like i'll have to settle for the half mag, unless you know someone selling?

[Four Fingers of Death]

He was a new shooter, so we will cut him some slack. I have a 32/20 that has been converted to a full mag using steel tube that my mate welded on. Works ok.

[downunderrunner]

interesting to hear about the mag conversion, and, yeah, i guess we should cut the newbs some slack, i hope he was educated?

[enfield]

I used a piece of steel curtain rod to replace the boogered mag on my 92 25-20. I had to get some parts from "Homestead Parts " great place to deal with.

[clum553946]

+1 on Homestead Parts for old Winchester levers!

[50target]

When younger I shot the biggest baddest kickinest caliber I could get my hands on. Fast Forwar30 years and it is 218Bee, 25-20 and 32-20.All guns are vintage so no juiced up loads. I have in 25-20 a Marlin 94 of 1908, Remington Model 25 and a Win. M92. All have cherry bores. On of the reasons that the small bores were so prevalent to go bad was due too not having a small rod. The bigger calibers you could use just about anything to get down the barrel. My recommendation is to get the very best bore you can find, even though the exterior is finish challenged. No pitting allowed of course. My Win. 92 doesn't have a dab of finish and ir shoots marvelously. My load is 6.5 gr. IMR 4227 and a Meister bullet and a relative of mine put 8 rounds into one ragged hole at 50 yards using the tang sight on the Rem. M25. Don't even need ear muffs. I like'em a lot and the 32-20 as well. For the 32-20 juiced up loads I have a Uberti Low Wall with a 30" barrel on the way. Can't wait to speed'em up a bit.
Enjoy and take care.
Bob

[JHeath]

i fear for the intelligence of the young! pity your not gonna sell, but i can understand! i've been chasing a full mag, but looks like i'll have to settle for the half mag, unless you know someone selling?

Saw a .25-20 full mag not long ago in a shop in Kennewick WA. Probably Hole In The Wall. Was in fair condition at best, I think.

[TXGunNut]

Not a 25-20 fan but I've enjoyed my 92 in 32-20 so much if I found a 25-20 with a nice bore it might just follow me home. Cost per round pretty close to 22rf and double the fun.

[downunderrunner]

what was the date on it? any idea how i could contact them regarding condition?

[OverMax]

My advice: Far and away the 32-20 is the better choice between the two. (25-20 __32-20) As its been said: "Bigger is always better!!"

[lobogunleather]

I have a '92 Winchester rifle in .25-20 (1914) and a '92 Winchester carbine in .32-20 (1910). I enjoy them both, always handloads and always cast bullets. These are strictly small game cartridges, and range is limited (both by the original open sights and by my great-grampa eyes). Either cartridge will do the job on critters under 50 lbs. or so within 100 yards, as long as I do my part correctly.

When looking at old Winchesters condition is everything. A rifle can be well worn from honest use, but if maintained properly it will continue to provide good service indefinitely. Rusted or pitted bores and damaged crowns are best avoided (and corrosive primers remained in common use well into the 1950's when many of these rifles had already seen a half-century of use). Examine magazine tubes closely because dents and dings can be difficult to repair and will never allow the rifle to function properly. Parts for repairs have been nearly nonexistent for decades, so any rifle requiring repairs must be approached with caution. Any alteration, refinishing, or non-standard parts will cut into value a great deal.

Most of the early Winchesters that I see these days are way overpriced for the condition. It seems that everyone tries to get the price of a pristine example for guns that wouldn't make very good wall hangers. Over the years on more than one occasion I have purchased worthwhile specimens by making a firm cash offer and leaving my phone number to call when they decided to actually sell the piece rather than continue trying to get an unrealistic price.

[JHeath]

what was the date on it? any idea how i could contact them regarding condition?

This seems to be their URL. I'd say phone or email them. Three hours from my home or I'd stop by and check.

[JHeath]

Oops. URL http://www.tricityguns.com/

[downunderrunner]

AH! thanks JHeath