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Thread: Rechambering a single shot rifle to 25/35 winchester.

  1. #1
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Rechambering a single shot rifle to 25/35 winchester.

    I'm wanting to purchase a single shot that I can rechamber to this cartridge at the most inexpensive way possible. But I don't know what to look for as far as a donor rifle. I know the barrel has to be 25 cal, but what existing caliber in the donor will give me the correct twist for cast boolits? If a single shot bolt action, the bolt face must work in the rim of course. If Henry made a 25 caliber suitable in their single shot it would seem it might be a donor without a great deal of modifications if the twist was workable. But, I'm not aware that Henry is chambering anything that's usable. Maybe a bolt action savage in 30-30. Just have a new barrel reamed and threaded for the savage action. Wishing I knew more on this. Hopefully y'all can provide some more information and ideas for me. What I'm not looking for is a lever action. Either a bolt, roller or break action. It would be great to just have to ream a new chamber but I'm never that lucky on my projects.
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  2. #2
    Boolit Master Jedman's Avatar
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    Your kinda up Schitt’s creek really. I like 25 cals. myself but in a single shot there’s not much to work with.
    Just recently I seen a Winchester low wall chambered in 25-35 go for under $ 900 on gunbroker # 922194404 and was temped to bid myself. You can find martini cadet rifles occasionally for sale in 25-20 or 256 win mag and those could be rechambered. Depending on what weight of boolits you want to shoot you probably want a 12 twist or faster for up to 90 grs. 10 twist for 100 grs. and faster twist if you want someone heavier.
    I don’t know of any currently made single shots in a 25 cal. that could be simply rechambered to 25-35.
    With bolt actions you would need to build it and the few that came in 30-30 like the Savage would need a rebarrel and is not the action you want if your planning on scoping the rifle.
    If you like break action single shots you can have a barrel stubbed and rebarreled to 25-35. I have a handi rifle barrel I built in 256 win mag. by turning a 25 cal. barrel and epoxied
    in to a light contour 20 ga. barrel and it has a ejector. That would probably be the lowest cost way to get a gun like you want.
    You didn’t mention if you plan on scoping the rifle or using iron sights, that has quite a bit of influence on what you would start with to build a rifle.
    So here are your choices that I can think of unless you find a rifle already built and what you want.
    A fixed barrel rifle like a falling block or a rolling block then have a barrel fitted and chambered and would need extractor work. Probably most expensive choice and not a good choice if you want a scope.
    A small action martini cadet rifle that someone has already rebarreled with a 25 cal barrel in a smaller caliber cartridge. They can be rechambered to 25-35 about the maximum size cartridge that will fit in them. Also not a good choice for a scoped rifle but it can be done.
    A break action, If your working from converting a shotgun to a rifle be sure it has been done before as some are not strong enough to be safe. Have a stubbed barrel made or reline a shotgun barrel. Either can be used with a scope or sights but consider what sight will cost because their is nothing on a shotgun barrel to start with so iron sights or a base for a scope must be considered.
    A bolt action, There are some old Mauser 93’s and others that can be modified to work with the 25-35 as a single shot. At minimum you would need to rebarrel and rework the bolt face to work with the rim.
    I am sure there are other ways to get what you want but finding a older single shot already built in 25-35 would be easiest. There are many SS rifles built in Europe that were chambered in 25-35 they have a metric designation for the caliber.

    Jedman
    Last edited by Jedman; 04-02-2022 at 10:52 AM. Reason: Added gunbroker item number

  3. #3
    Boolit Buddy

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    For a break action rifle the Thompson Contender would be a good choice. I never seen a factory T/C rifle barrel in 25-35 but I'm sure they are out there. But MGM and Bullberry both chamber it.
    For bolt action Remington 788's where chambered in 30-30 so you have a bolt that works with just a rebarrel. But these rifles bring premium prices.
    Are you that set on the 25-35? The old 30-40 krags have been rebarreled to 25 krags. I am not sure if it is just the 30-40 necked down to 25 cal with no other changes. If it is then the 25 krags would give you the same cast friendly long neck as the 25-35.
    Anything can be done for the right price. Like jedman mentioned you could stub a H&R handi. But from what prices I have seen if you can't do it your self or have a Machinist buddy the price of the stubbing is about the same as a T/C barrel.
    Last edited by Kylongrifle32; 04-02-2022 at 09:55 AM.

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    Boolit Buddy
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    I built one on a Remington #5 rolling block action with an unknown maker 9.5/10 twist barrel. The reason, because I had a receiver and a 25 caliber barrel. Like most projects it cost more than planned. But it's done and working.
    Bill

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    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Jedman. Thank you so much. That info is just so helpful. It fills in lots of empty holes in my knowledge of what I can do.
    Again, many thanks.
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  6. #6
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Thank you Kylongrifle. I have a 30-30 handi I'm going to ream to the 30-40 krag. It's a great cartridge. Just trying to locate a local good Smith to do the work. If not I'll have to send it out for reaming. Either way I hope to get that project off my plate. I'm already putting away the components for the 25-35. I've got dies and some brass already. I'm difinatily going to scope it for these old eyes to hit anything at distance.
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  7. #7
    Boolit Grand Master Nobade's Avatar
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    I second the TC Contender. MGM will make you a nice new barrel for much less than most any other way of going. Don't have a Contender? Well you should, everybody needs one.

    As for 30-30 to 30-40 Krag, what do you expect to achieve with that conversion if you are shooting cast bullets besides very difficult to obtain brass? Been there done that. Not a nickels worth of difference between them using cast bullets.

  8. #8
    Boolit Master Jedman's Avatar
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    Another idea but not cheap would be to get a Henry SS in 223 and send it someone like Wayne York to be rebored and chambered to 25-35.

    Jedman

  9. #9
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
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    .25-35 needs a much faster twist than any other single shot cartridge I know of, unless you plan to stick with 85 grain or lighter bullets. In which case, why bother?
    Cognitive Dissident

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    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nobade View Post
    I second the TC Contender. MGM will make you a nice new barrel for much less than most any other way of going. Don't have a Contender? Well you should, everybody needs one.

    As for 30-30 to 30-40 Krag, what do you expect to achieve with that conversion if you are shooting cast bullets besides very difficult to obtain brass? Been there done that. Not a nickels worth of difference between them using cast bullets.
    Nobade. I've already got a 30-30 with my XLR. And I've got lots of krag brass. I grabbed up Krag brass when ever I could about 5 years ago when I was contemplating doing a 40-60 Maynard project using Krag brass. It's on a back burner for now, but I still hope to do it down the road.The handi-rifle gives me a nice, short, carry stalking rifle that's good with heavy for caliber boolits than the 30-30 is. I've got the brass, dies, and mold for the Krag, but for now I gathering info on the costs and difficulty in a 25-35. And I guess the reason why I bother with the Krag...cause I can. Do I need it....no. I've got 40's an 9.3's in Ruger single shots if needed. I just like rifle projects. I started covering all my rifle hunting needs with specialty calibers in specific rifles over 40 years ago. Can't really think of a caliber or rifle I need that I don't already own that won't cover the hunting scenario whatever it is.
    But, a TC might end up being the ticket. Ya never know.
    Last edited by MOA; 04-02-2022 at 05:47 PM.
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  11. #11
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by uscra112 View Post
    .25-35 needs a much faster twist than any other single shot cartridge I know of, unless you plan to stick with 85 grain or lighter bullets. In which case, why bother?
    True dat. 1:8 would be needed, maybe 1:7, but it's a fast twist.
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  12. #12
    Boolit Grand Master Nobade's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MOA View Post
    Nobade. I've already got a 30-30 with my XLR. And I've got lots of krag brass. I grabbed up Krag brass when ever I could about 5 years ago when I was contemplating doing a 40-60 Maynard project using Krag brass. It's on a back burner for now, but I still hope to do it down the road.The handi-rifle gives me a nice, short, carry stalking rifle that's good with heavy for caliber boolits than the 30-30 is. I've got the brass, dies, and mold for the Krag, but for now I gathering info on the costs and difficulty in a 25-35. And I guess the reason why I bother with the Krag...cause I can. Do I need it....no. I've got 40's an 9.3's in Ruger single shots if needed. I just like rifle projects. I started covering all my rifle hunting needs with specialty calibers in specific rifles over 40 years ago. Can't really think of a caliber or rifle I need that I don't already own that won't cover the hunting scenario whatever it is.
    But, a TC might end up being the ticket. Ya never know.
    Can't argue with that! Since you already have the brass and dies, why not?
    I thought the 25-35 normally used a 1:10 twist. But I have been known to be mistaken!

  13. #13
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Nobade View Post
    Can't argue with that! Since you already have the brass and dies, why not?
    I thought the 25-35 normally used a 1:10 twist. But I have been known to be mistaken!

    Nobade, you and me both. I was suprised to see wiki showing it at 1:8, likely due to a short barrel in the lever that it's usually found in.

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  14. #14
    Boolit Master
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    The Savage 219 was made in 25-20, but pricey. Some of the single shots in 22 Hornet or other 22's could be rebored to 25-35 by some shops, NOT JES. Of course the Marlin 93's, 336's, some Savage 99's and Winchester 94's in 30-30 or 32 Special could be rebarreled. Some gunsmith might reline a larger bore to 25-35. The 25-35 had a 1-8(?) twist in the Winchesters to stabilize the 117 grain factory bullets.

  15. #15
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by MostlyLeverGuns View Post
    The Savage 219 was made in 25-20, but pricey. Some of the single shots in 22 Hornet or other 22's could be rebored to 25-35 by some shops, NOT JES. Of course the Marlin 93's, 336's, some Savage 99's and Winchester 94's in 30-30 or 32 Special could be rebarreled. Some gunsmith might reline a larger bore to 25-35. The 25-35 had a 1-8(?) twist in the Winchesters to stabilize the 117 grain factory bullets.
    Yes indeed. GB has a 219 in 25-20 right now.....8 bills. Plus you'd need to ream it AND likely the twist is to slow. I'd be surprised if the 25-20 has same twist as the 25-35. But, it would make sense from a manufacturing point of view. One 25 caliber barrel for both.
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  16. #16
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    Does the 25-35 really need a fast twist? Our .250 Savage has a 10" twist and shoots 25-35 level loads just fine. So does my 10" twist 25-06. Was it a marketing ploy by Winchester?
    I've wanted to put together a 25-35 break open (stub) rifle using a take off 25-06 barrel cut off, turned and rechambered- but a barrel hasn't turned up yet.

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  17. #17
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Well TBG we're on the same page. I really like agile carry guns. I think the quick twist has much to do with the short barrel Winchester put on lots of levers. Getting a 117 up to stabilizing parameters with a short launching deck and a less than voluminous case your kind of left to spinning them up a little faster to make everything work.
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  18. #18
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    Thanks, MOA. I had wondered if Winchester was inspired by the 6.5 European rounds of the day-(6.5 MS, 6.5 Swedish, Carcano) with their fast twists.

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  19. #19
    Boolit Master MOA's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by Texas by God View Post
    Thanks, MOA. I had wondered if Winchester was inspired by the 6.5 European rounds of the day-(6.5 MS, 6.5 Swedish, Carcano) with their fast twists.

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    I don't doubt those cartridges were influential to some degree. The Germans had their own clone in the 6.5 x 52R
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  20. #20
    Boolit Master
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    I think this is one of those places to pile up on research before you drop your coin... A 1:7 or 1:8 twist barrel slams into RPM threshold even faster than we're used to with 1:10. So instead of 1600-1700fps, you end up pushing down to 1400-1600 fps threshold. But, is the gun still fun with a slower twist barrel but you're stuck with 80gr pills? I mean, you might end up back with a 25-20... Maybe an AI version.

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