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Author Topic: 25-35 Rifle  (Read 1263 times)

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Offline Creedmoor

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25-35 Rifle
« on: March 08, 2006, 06:18:24 PM »
Need some advice gents.  I'm thinking of getting a rifle for my son to use for deer hunting for the first time.  He's well broken in on bolt and semi-auto 22's and is a good shot.  He's only 11 and kinda a little guy - not a lot of meat on his bones yet.  He shot my 270 once and really didn't like the recoil.  So, given my love (some would say obsession) with lever guns, I am looking to find one in 25-35.  I only know for sure that Winchester chambered for this cartridge a while back and recently with their "Trails End" '94.  However, given the sad state of affairs with Winchester, these rifles will surely cost more than I want to spend.  Therefore my question is:  Who else chambered for this cartridge? (preferably in recent times)  I know Marlin had a competitive round called the 25-36 but that's really not what I'm after.  I need to find something as I went about this backwards and picked up a set of dies at a gun show for a real bargain and now need the rifle to go with 'em.

Thanks.

Creedmoor
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Offline Oldtimer

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25-35 Rifle
« Reply #1 on: March 10, 2006, 09:00:29 AM »
The prices I have seen for .25-35's makes me think that you would be better served in several other calibers.  If you reload, then loading a .30-30 with 125-130 grain bullets would reduce recoil a good deal.  The 7-30 was designed with smaller shooters in mind and can also be reloaded with lighter bullets.  Browning made the BLR in .243 and all it would need was a shorter stock to make a fine rifle for a young person.  If you think it is a bit high, you would still pay less than the premium you would have to pay for a Model 94 in .25-35.  Whatever you get, have your son shoot a lot with low-powered loads, to get used to the gun.

A further possibility is to get a Model 92 in .44-40 ( my favorite) or another pistol caliber, and get it cut down for him to handle.  Any caliber from .357 up will do the job, and I took two deer this year with .44-40 loaded with lead bullets and black powder.  While the smoke was impressive, the recoil is not bad at all.  The advantage of a .357 would be you could use .38 Special for practice, and it has about as much recoil as a .22 Magnum.

I think it is great that you are doing this with your son.  You are creating memories that will last as long has he lives.  He is a lucky kid to have a dad like you.
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Offline DakotaElkSlayer

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25-35 Rifle
« Reply #2 on: March 11, 2006, 01:21:12 PM »
Why not get a lever in .45 Colt?  Heck, my handloads for deerhunting with my revolver is really easy on the hands and out of a rifle the kick would be so light...

Jim
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Offline RugerNo3

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25-35 Rifle
« Reply #3 on: March 15, 2006, 02:53:33 PM »
Factory 25-35's are very anemic. Hand loading will help, but there is only one round nose bullet available to work with. Something to think about.
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Offline Swamp Yankee

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25-35 Rifle
« Reply #4 on: March 15, 2006, 03:22:03 PM »
It;s been a long time since I've seen a 25-35 for sale. I'd look at a 94 in 30-30. There are alot of used ones around and can be had for reasonable money. Old Timer had mentioned 125 gr bullets, I load 125 gr Sierra's flat nose hp's with IMR 4064 for my 14 year old daughter to shoot.  Light recoil and very accurate. Just something to consider.......Jim
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Offline Siskiyou

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25-35 Rifle
« Reply #5 on: March 15, 2006, 04:07:14 PM »
I started out with a Winchester M94 in 25-35.  A good thing my oppertunty came at a few yards.  The deer almost ran over the top of me.  A Marlin 336 in 30-30 is a far better choice.  A slip on recoil pad can be added.  Things got better when Dad gave me a .270.

I promised myself I would never burden my son with a rifle at the 25-35 power level.  I gave him a M700 in .270 Winchester.  His load was a low recoil load.  A 110 grain Serria pushed by 44 grains of IMR4064.  Recoil was about 11 pounds.  Recoil of the 25-35 is about 7 pounds.  A thirty-thirty with 150 bullet produces about 12 pounds of recoil.

I cut the stock for him and installed a thin rubber butt pad.  Later to length it I added spacers and a recoil pad.  The rifle was an investiment that was good at the time and adjustable as he grew.  The 25-35 is a marginal 100 yard deer round for a inexperienced hunter.
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Offline Dr. A

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25-35 Rifle
« Reply #6 on: March 16, 2006, 02:45:08 AM »
I have a Trails End 25-35, and would say its anything but a kids gun.  True, the kick is minimal, but shot placement must be perfect for a kid.  The above recommendation for a 30-30 is sound.  There is a 336 Spikehorn floating around on one of the forums for sale.  I have a 6 year old son that shoots a 357.  He routinely will shoot 125gr. bullet at about 1100fps for practice, and can easily handle the high velocity 180gr. cast bullet we use for pigs and deer.  Granted, its only good to about 100 yards, but thats all the further he needs to be shooting.  My girls, both 11 and 9 shot the 357 the other day and both did very well with it to 100 yards.  Its a great gun to download and get experience with.  When the time comes for taking game, its also up to the task.  The 6 year old is big for his age, but I bought an old birch stock and cut it down.  This is perhaps the most important thing I did.  

Good Luck!
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