RepackboxTitan ReloadingWidenersLoad Data
Inline FabricationLee PrecisionMidSouth Shooters SupplyRotoMetals2
Reloading Everything
Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12
Results 21 to 28 of 28

Thread: .25-20 low power load ?

  1. #21
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Switzerland of Ohio
    Posts
    6,313
    The Stevens round was considered the best small game round of all in the black powder era. Originally intended by the designer to use a 70 grain bullet for small game, but the ammo companies pushed 86 grains as better for target shooting. Either way, a MV of about 1200 fps works and doesn't blow the game to smithereens. What it is not, is a 100+ yard varmint round. The relatively high trajectory sees to that, given that game is shot at "surprise" distances. At known distances it is pretty good up to 200 yards, in light air. Not a wind-bucker.
    Cognitive Dissident

  2. #22
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Switzerland of Ohio
    Posts
    6,313
    Only the advent of smokeless .22 ammo finally displaced the .25-20 Stevens and its' stablemate the .25 Stevens Rimfire from the top of the heap. Stevens was still selling the Model 44 chambered .25-20 up into the 1930s. It was second only to the .22 as a chambering for the popular Model 44.
    Cognitive Dissident

  3. #23
    Boolit Grand Master


    Larry Gibson's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2005
    Location
    Lake Havasu City, Arizona
    Posts
    21,304
    I've shot/killed a lot of squirrels with bothe 22 hornet and the 25-20 WCF with 45 and 70 gr cast bullets at 1100 fps. Neither would "blew them apart". However, the softer cast HP'd bullets would do more damage. I wasn't eating them as they were vermin ground squirrels. Even the very small "picket pins" were not "blown apart' any more than at HV 22LR would do.

    This is my current most favored small game shooter. A 22 Hornet suppressed shooting a soft 40-1 alloyed Lyman 225415 over 1.8 gr Bullseye for 1050 fps. It is quieter than my springer 22 cal air rifle.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	0628211259.jpg 
Views:	22 
Size:	26.2 KB 
ID:	307109

    Haven't suppressed my Savage 23B 25-20.....yet! After looking at ATCDoktor' numerous posts on his I'm seriously considering it.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	001.JPE 
Views:	19 
Size:	31.8 KB 
ID:	307110

    I've also used the same 225415 soft cast bullet over 2.1 gr Bullseye in my Contender 223 Carbine which I put the same suppressor on. That load runs right under 1100 fps and is very quiet......and deadly on small game.

    Click image for larger version. 

Name:	0801200944a.jpg 
Views:	20 
Size:	18.5 KB 
ID:	307111
    Last edited by Larry Gibson; 11-21-2022 at 10:46 AM.
    Larry Gibson

    “Deficient observation is merely a form of ignorance and responsible for the many morbid notions and foolish ideas prevailing.”
    ― Nikola Tesla

  4. #24
    Boolit Grand Master uscra112's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2006
    Location
    Switzerland of Ohio
    Posts
    6,313
    1100 fps - there's the open secret to minimizing damage to game. Half the MV of normal Hornet or Bee ammo.
    Cognitive Dissident

  5. #25
    Boolit Master Rodfac's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2008
    Location
    Oldham Co., KY
    Posts
    637
    In my Winchester M-65, .25-20, Lyman's 258420 with 5.5 gr of 2400 will group into 3/8" at 35 yds with a tang peep sighting arrangement. As will 3.0 gr of Win 231 though capped with WSP's. Alloy is WW/Pb, 1:3 ration, sized 0.259" with an annealed Hornady GC. These are all low velocity rounds, but I have no doubt that flat point bullet would land with a bit of smack. Head shots only I'd guess, but the accuracy is certainly there.

    The same loads without the gas check are equally accurate...an area for experimentation....as is the substitution of mag vs. standard primers in both pistol and rifle types. Win 231 responds better to the pistol type in my work ups.

    Best regards, Rod
    Rod

  6. #26
    Boolit Grand Master Good Cheer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    the Ark
    Posts
    5,276
    Shot sub-MOA groups at 100 yards with small charges of Unique.

  7. #27
    Boolit Buddy
    Join Date
    Aug 2019
    Posts
    372
    Quote Originally Posted by BLAHUT View Post
    Might try and see if any of the .25 air gun pellets might work ???? With a reduced load ??
    If its aa true 257-58 bore the air rifle pellets might be a little small.

  8. #28
    Boolit Master

    tward's Avatar
    Join Date
    Oct 2009
    Location
    Rochester, NY
    Posts
    613
    Buffalo arms shows 25-20 single shot cases, $4.79 each but how many do you really need for hunting, 5-10? Tim

Page 2 of 2 FirstFirst 12

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
Abbreviations used in Reloading

BP Bronze Point IMR Improved Military Rifle PTD Pointed
BR Bench Rest M Magnum RN Round Nose
BT Boat Tail PL Power-Lokt SP Soft Point
C Compressed Charge PR Primer SPCL Soft Point "Core-Lokt"
HP Hollow Point PSPCL Pointed Soft Point "Core Lokt" C.O.L. Cartridge Overall Length
PSP Pointed Soft Point Spz Spitzer Point SBT Spitzer Boat Tail
LRN Lead Round Nose LWC Lead Wad Cutter LSWC Lead Semi Wad Cutter
GC Gas Check