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25-20 Marlin vs. 25-20 Win
jkh7742
Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
I recently purchased a Marlin Model 27s in 25-20 Marlin caliber and am trying to determine my best course of action. Is it safe to use as is with 25-20 Winchester ammo? Should I have it rebarreled or the barrel relined if it isn't? Also, can someone tell me the differences, if any between the two cartridges. I called Marlin and they said that the 25-20 Win is not safe to shoot in this gun. Thanks in advance!
Comments
Thing is, Marlin does not want to go on record as saying ANY of their guns that old is safe to fire. They put out real scare stories about their old pump shotguns to the point that SASS banned them.
I fear you are on your own as to the gun's condition and safety.
There is no difference in the two cartridges... the original load specifications are identical.
WACA Historian & Life Member
Who makes those dies?
Sorry guys I am going to have to disagree. The 25-20 Marlin and 25-20 Winchester are not the same and I don't think you will be able to chamber a 25-20 Winchester in the 25-20 Marlin chamber. The shoulder angle and the body length are less on the 25-20 Marlin. But all is not lost. 25-20 Winchester brass can be easily reformed into the 25-20 Marlin by running it into a 25-20 Marlin full length die. And yes you can still buy reloading dies for the 25-20 Marlin.
Disagree if you like, but that does not mean that you are correct. Several sources state that the 25-20 W.C.F. and the 25-20 Marlin are fully interchangeable. Frank Barnes "Cartridges of The World" is one of them.
http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/2520.html is another
Randy Lyman provided the following;
CARTRIDGE INTERCHANGEABILITY CHART
Cartridges within the groups shown are interchangeable. Other
substitutions should not be made without specific recommendation
of the firearms manufacturer, since improper combinations could
result in firearm damage or personal injury.
RIMFIRE
22 W.R.F.
22 Remington Special
Both can be used in a 22 Win. Mag Rimfire but not conversely
CENTERFIRE
25-20 Remington
25-20 W.C.F.
25-20 Win.
25-20 Win. High Speed
25-20 Marlin
25 W.C.F.
6mm Rem. (80 & 90 grain)
244 Rem.
25 Automatic
25 Auto. Colt Pistol (ACP)
25 (6.35mm) Automatic Pistol
6.35 Browning
7mm Express (TM) Rem.
280 Rem.
30-30 Sav.
30-30 Win.
30-30 Win. Accelerator*
30-30 Marlin
30-30 Win. High Speed
30 W.C.F
32 Colt Automatic
32 Automatic Colt Pistol (ACP)
32 (7.65mm) Automatic Pistol
7.65mm Automatic Pistol
7.65mm Browning (not interchangeable with 7.65mm Luger)
32 Short Colt in 32 Long Colt but not conversely
SEE NOTE C
32 S. & W. in 32 S. & W. Long but not conversely
32 S. & W. Long
32 Colt New Police
32 Colt Police Positive
32 W.C.F.*
32 Win.*
32-20 Win. High Speed*
SEE NOTE A
32-20 Colt L.M.R.
32-20 W.C.F.
32-20 Win. and Marlin
SEE NOTE G
38 S. & W.
38 Colt New Police
380 Webley
38 Colt Special
38 S. & W. Special
38 Targetmaster (R)
38 S. & W. Special Mid-Rage
38 Special (+P)
38-44 Special (+P)
38 Special
38 Special Flat Point
SEE NOTES B & D
38 Short Colt in 38 Long Colt but not conversely;
Both can be used in 38 Special
38 Marlin
38 Win.*
SEE NOTE A
38 Remington*
38-40 Win.
38 W.C.F.*
SEE NOTE A
38 Automatic in 38 Super (+P) but not conversely
380 Automatic
9mm Browning Short (Corto, Kurz)
9mm Luger
9mm Parabellum
SEE NOTE E
44 S. & W. Special
SEE NOTE F
44 Marlin
44 Win.
44 Remington
44-40 Win.
44 W.C.F.
45-70 Government
45-70 Marlin
45-70 Win.
45-70-405
NOTE A: *High-speed cartridges must not be used in revolvers.
They should be used only in rifles made expecially for
them.
NOTE B: Ammunition with (+P) on the case headstamp is loaded to
higher pressure. Use only in firearms designated for
this cartridge and so recommended by the gun manufacturer.
NOTE C: Not for use in revolvers chambered for 32 S. & W. or
32 S. & W. Long.
NOTE
revolvers but not conversely.
NOTE E: 9mm sub-machine gun cartridges should not be used in
handguns.
NOTE F: 44 Russian and 44 S. & W. Special can be used in 44
Remington Magnum revolvers but not conversely.
NOTE G: Not to be used in Win. M-66 and M-73.
SOURCE: 1993 Remington Products Catalog
Not listed in Remington's information are the following:
.38 Special and .357 Mag. in .357 Maximum, but not conversely
.44 Special and .44 Mag. in .445 Super Mag, but not conversely
.45 Long Colt in .454 Casull, but not conversely
Also, there are many examples of cartridges that can be "fire-
formed" in larger chambers (eg. firing a .300 H&H in a .300 Wby)
but I'll leave off here for now.
. . . . . . . . .
WACA Historian & Life Member
So, to be on the safe side and assume 5mmgunguy is correct, would I have the chamber recut to 25-20 Win? I know the rifle I have will chamber the 25-20 Win cartridges, but I haven't fired it yet. Also, I definitely want it in the 25-20 Win caliber, since I also have an 1892 Winchester in 25-20.
Let us not assume that 5mmgunguy is correct. Leave the chamber on your gun alone... it is fine just the way it is.
WACA Historian & Life Member