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25-20 Marlin vs. 25-20 Win

jkh7742jkh7742 Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
edited February 2008 in Ask the Experts
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!
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    Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,368 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    As far as I know .25-20 in a Marlin 27 is the same as .25-20 Winchester (actually .25 WCF, just that Marlin did not want to put any reference to the competition on their guns.) I know a guy who shot one regularly until the CAS stages got too long for its magazine capacity.

    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.
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    Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Marlin (the current company) is full of Bull Poop[xx(].

    There is no difference in the two cartridges... the original load specifications are identical.
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    reddnekreddnek Member Posts: 1,552 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Another example of CYA
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    5mmgunguy5mmgunguy Member Posts: 3,853
    edited November -1
    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.
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    Hawk CarseHawk Carse Member Posts: 4,368 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I know that the .25-36 Marlin is not the same as .25-35 Winchester but have not seen that said of the .25-20 repeater round.

    Who makes those dies?
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    5mmgunguy5mmgunguy Member Posts: 3,853
    edited November -1
    Hornady makes them on a custom basis. Also think Redding will too, but not sure on Redding.
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    Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by 5mmgunguy
    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 D: All 38 Special cartridges can be used in 357 Magnum
    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.
    . . . . . . . . .
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    jkh7742jkh7742 Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    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.
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    jkh7742jkh7742 Member Posts: 7 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Just a thought. Does anyone know if drawings for the 25-20 Marlin cartridge exist? Also, does RCBS make a die set for this? I can get a discount on RCBS. Thanks again for some great responses and a lot of help!
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    Bert H.Bert H. Member Posts: 11,279 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by jkh7742
    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.
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