25-20 Win

[powdersmoke]

   Anyone loading the 25-20 Win? Just got a 14" Contender barrel and looking for some loads. I've got several load books, but there's not a whole lot on the 25-20. I bought a Lyman 65 gr. FNGC mould and so far I've loaded some with ACC. 1680 and it shows promise, but I'am about of the 1680 and would like to know what other powder works well that I might have. ACC. no. 5, IMR. 4198, Unique or whayever works best for you. Thanks      Stan

[Graybeard]

I do but my load would be of no help to you as I use a long long discontinued powder for it. W680. I just happen to have an excellent stock of it left over which should be more than I'll likely ever shoot my .25-20 Win.

[jedman]

    Heh  Bill,

   I am still waitin to hear how your rebored 25-20 handi shoots ?
Or did you post it at some point and I did not see it ?     Thanks,   Jed

[Graybeard]

Yeah I think I've posted it somewhere last year. I've not fired a single shot from anything other than an air rifle so far this year. First it was too dang cold then the grass popped out and between mowing and trimming and taking care of the garden I've just not done much else.

I have only the factory irons that came on the barrel back when it was a .22 Hornet and that's all I plan to use with it as that's how I picture that old rifle from the days of my youth that I found the fired case from in that stream. It shoots with the irons better than my eyes are really up to seeing the sights. I'd have to do some searching thru my records to see if I still have the specifics but I found two loads that put then in tiny clusters and loaded up all my ammo with them half with each.

With my health these days walking up the bank to my range is not an easy task. That's one reason it takes me so long to do the routine chores around here that must be done. As soon as the insurance company gets satisfied by me sending them a copy of my Medicare card if it ever arrives I'm supposed to go on oxygen 24/7 which is sure gonna put more limitations on what I get to do outside.

[manatee1947]

I checked my loading manuals- my 44th edition Lyman shows an accuracy load with the Lyman 257420 bullet Bullet + GC @ 69 gr  #2 alloy, of 13 gr IMR 4198. It also shows 5 to 6 gr of unique, or 9 to 11 gr of 2400. Although my newer books dont show it, Lyman made  a 87-89 gr bullet #257312 that may still be an available mold, the accuracy load there was 5.5 gr Unique, @ 1625 fps. Let us know how it turns out.

[Lloyd Smale]

same powder as aa1680 Bill. Might be a slight differnce in lots but its basicaly the same thing.

I do but my load would be of no help to you as I use a long long discontinued powder for it. W680. I just happen to have an excellent stock of it left over which should be more than I'll likely ever shoot my .25-20 Win.

[Graybeard]

AA1680 is a supposed substitute but load manuals show different data and in my comparison testing of the two powders there is quite a lot of difference in performance and accuracy. AA1680 is a rather poor substitute for W680.

[powdersmoke]

   Doing OK so far with IMR 4198 if I seat the 65 gr. lead bullets out to touch the lands. No problem with the 86 gr. jacketed. Have a good supply of Sierra 90 gr. JHP so I'll see what they'll do. I'm using reformed brass from 32-20 and 218 Bee so after the first firing things may look a little different. It's getting better.

[HAMMERHEAD]

Where are you guys finding brass?
My shooting partner has a vintage 1892 in 25-20 and can't find brass at all.

[Larry Gibson]

The following 25-20 loads shoot very well out of my Savage 23B under the Lyman 257420 cast of 16 - 18 BHN alloy with WSP primer, Hornady GCs and Javelina lube;

9.5 gr SR4759
11 gr 5744
10 gr H4227

All are in the 1850 fps range out of the 20" barrel (it was shortened).

4.5 gr Unique pushes that bullet at 1543 fps.

Larry Gibson

[powdersmoke]

      Have you tried 2400 with the Lyman bullet? Yesterday I thought I'd struck gold with 2400 and the Lyman bullet. less than 1/2"@50 yds. then I don't know what happened, the groups opened up to an inch or more. I was using a bipod so I'll try without it and see what happens. On the question about brass I'm using 32-20 and 218 Bee brass. That was one of the reasons I got the 25-20 barrel, because I had plenty of that brass. I fire fromed the 218 Bee brass, but had a problem forming the 32-20 brass to 25-20 so I had to get a form die, which a friend made for me. No problems with the brass after that. I want a good accurate load and the velocity comes second. I'll work with it some more today if I can, also got to make more bullets.