How about the 25-20?

[Rickster]

Tell me I am not the only one with a 25-20. Mine are a Savage Sporter (old style) and 2 Remington 25s. What a sweet little cartridge the 25-20 is. I enjoy shooting it more than any other. It is easily as accurate as I am with a peep sight, cheap to shoot, and packs a surprising whallop. I know a guy who claims his grandfather kept his family fed with a Rem 25 in 25-20 by taking Michigan deer during the depression. Claims he shot 7 out of 11 one evening (or something like that). OK, I am not saying it is the ideal deer cartridge, but I do know that shooting it puts a smile on my face.

[Supersporter40]

I have never shot one personally but thats not to say I don't wish I had one. A friend who guides for cats up here is trying to get one in some sort of take down lever or pump gun. That way he can fit it in a pack and keep up with the dogs easier.

What are you using for components?

Both those rifle models you have are great IMO, do you have a preference for one or the other? Remmy breaks down easy but I bet the Savage is lighter and maybe better shooting......does it wear the aperture receiver sight or the leaf?

I have a sporter coming too but it is in 32WFC.

[Rickster]

For carrying, I like the Mo 25 a lot better. It is my favorite carry rifle. I have one with a barrel cut back to 20 inches, with a globe front sight, set up to suit me, not collectors. It is so light and handy I can carry it all day and hardly notice. These little guns are the same as the Mo 12 22lr, except that the frame is 0.5 inch longer, if that gives you an idea of how light they are.

The Savage sporter is more accurate due to the added weight and length. They must have been popular for target shooting at one time because most have been drilled and tapped for long scopes. The two I have are great shooters. The bolt works super fast and smooth. The 25-20 has a small accuracy edge. It is as good as I can hold. There arent many choices in 25-20 bullets. But the ones that are available are all good. I run the Sporter a bit hotter than the Mo. 25. I'll post some data later.

For the 32-20 - I had good luck with all jacketed bullets. And acceptable luck with most cast bullets. There is an article out there by an esteemed factory ballistician that says the reason it is difficult to get cast bullet accuracy out of a 32-20 rifle is because of the way the throat is cut (too sharp). In my rifles, the 100gr. .308 Hornady half jackets are top dog if pushed hard enough to make them slug up to the bigger bore. 2000+fps is easily achievable with (scoped) accuracy approaching moa. The soft nose mushrooms beautifully and the cup portion remains intact. All jacketed pistol bullets I tried worked well. The 60gr Speers are a hoot. I usually run them around 1400fps, but 3000fps is achievable.

[Supersporter40]

3000! That would be entertaining! Not sure when I will get a chance to start shooting this sporter. I forgot how petite the 25 is compared to the 12's. No wonder you like to carry it. Have never held one yet, maybe better that way.....

[Greywuuf]

I have only shot My Fathers original Win '92 in 25-20, I have only ever found one box of brass for, most all of the handloads I have are built on 32-20 brass. it was because of this rifle I bought my first contender ( .256 win mag) at one time it was popular to convert the old rifles to .357 I had thought about doing a .256 on it, but with my Fathers passing I think it will stay just as it is.