25-20?

Mgderf

Hope I'm not a bother, but I have more questions than answers. One more reason I come to these forums.

I was handed some OLD ammunition today. Some was green from sitting entyirely too long in a leather bandolera.

Anyway, after wiping off what appeared to be 50+ years of dirt and grime, I found a headstamp that reads,

REM-UMC
25-20

I did a wikipedia search and found the origin of this cartridge dates back to 1895, and the parent cartidge was the 32-20. It said, although not recommended, a record whitetail was taken with a 25-20 back in 1914.

O.K. I know REM is Remington, and UMC= Union Metallic Cartridge. I would really like to know when this round dropped out of favor.
Is this still in wide use as a wildcat round.

Albeit an anemic looking round, it is still quite intriguing.

rufe-snow

When the 22 Hornet became popular in the 30's, it pretty much was the death knell for the 25-20. Although rifles continued to be chambered for it. Marlin made some as late as the 90's.

Not a popular cartridge nowadays. Unless you reload, ammo is way expensive and hard to find.

slumlord44

The single shot guys and black powder shooters still use it. I think loaded ammo is still available and components are definately available.

perry shooter

Fun cartridge to shoot if you look on ammo section you will see both Remongton and winchester still load for this cartridge Great turkey and medium to small game, might be slightly much for squirrels . I have a O/U in 410/25-20 great little walk about gun 4 pounds 6 OZ.

EDIT.Goferboy No not a savage It is a Grade 3 Greifelt made in Germany and sold oct.15 1926 from Von Lengerke & Detmold of New York City To H.R. Kunhardt

golferboy426

hey perry that O/U combo is way cool never heard of one like that, Savage? Custom?

tsr1965

Mgderf,

Honest questions are never a problem here, and you are almost always sure to get an answer or three along the way.

As has been stated, the 22 Hornet, was the straw that broke the camel's back. The 25-20 was the premier varmint caliber at the turn of the century, even though most of the rifles for it were lever guns, and not as accurate as some of the single shots...mainly the Winchester Low Wall.

As perryshooter states, it is still loaded, and the reloader can find tons of brass out there, and it is a very fun cartridge to shoot. It is a very graceful turkey cartridge, if legal in your state, and yes, it is capable of taking deer in the hands of a good marksman, who places his shot well. It is certainly not the recommended deer cartridge.

If you intend on purchasing a rifle, be certain to see, or ask a lot of questions about the bore, as a lot of older, turn of the century ammunition was corrosively primed.

Best

EDIT 1

Yes, the 25-20SS was a straight walled case, while the 25-20 W.C.F., was a bottle neck. However, the 1885 Winchester, was produced in 25-20 W.C.F., and most likely 25-20 SS too.

Best

USN_Airdale

a Winchester M-92 25-20 was my first high power rifle and one of the first box of ammo was in a green & red box the ammo was head stamped REM-UMC 25-20.

someone mentioned "single shot", single shot 25-20 is waaaaaaay different than 25-20 "REPEATER"

22hipower

I use a Winchester 1892 (1913 vintage) in 25-20 most every year for turkey hunting. It is still a very accurate rifle and the 25-20 is a lot of fun to shoot. As previous posts mention, the cartridge is still loaded commercially but is fairly expensive and not always easy to find. It is reasonably easy to handload though. Old Winchesters in 25-20 often come up for sale although it is hard to find a good one for less than a $1000 or so. The Marlins made in the 90s or maybe 80s are good too and are in the $500 range gently used (also made in 32-20 and 218Bee and maybe a few other odd calibers). Thompson Contender barrels in 25-20 turn up on the used market occasionally too. There are lots of "better" varmint rounds available now but the 25-20 is as much fun to use as any of them and maybe the best turkey round going, where rifles are legal for turkey of course.

golferboy426

I've got factory ammo listed on the auction side no reserve

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=267706550

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=267705912

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=267705364

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.aspx?Item=267704816

v35

The 25-20 is a necked down 32-20 and can be easily formed from the more available 32-20.
Barnes of "Cartridges of the World" believed the 32-20 was the better of the two for any purpose.

Bert H.

quote:Originally posted by tsr1965
EDIT 1

Yes, the 25-20SS was a straight walled case, while the 25-20 W.C.F., was a bottle neck. However, the 1885 Winchester, was produced in 25-20 W.C.F., and most likely 25-20 SS too.

Best


The 25-20 S.S. is not a straight walled case. It is classed as a bottle-neck. It is essentially a 22 Hornet cartridge case on steroids.

Winchester manufactured just over (7,500) Model 1885 rifles in the 25-20 S.S. cartridge (starting August of 1890), and fewer than (100) in 25-20 WCF (repeater), starting in 1895.

Of the two cartridges, the 25-20 S.S. is inherently more accurate. Stevens also made a lot of single shot rifles for it.