Thoughts wanted, 25-35 or 32-40 as the better deer round

[jjames]

I have found a couple of Savage 99s that would appear to meet my price range and other requirements. One is chambered in 25-35 and the other in 32-40. My gut would tell me the 32-40 would be the better deer round out to 100-150 yards but would appreciate opinions as I have never own either cartridge and have no idea about the terminating (not terminal) ballistics. Thanks

[bsaride]

haven't used either but my feeling is the 32-40 will be easier to find
components, dies, ammo, etc.

[Kansas Ed]

I would disagree on the availability of components, as I think the 25-35 is easier to modify components for. Say flatpointing partitions and adding cannelure. Finding .321 bullets with the proper cannelure for the 32-40 might be tougher, and of course jacketed offerings in .321 are slim. Cast bullets are an entirely different story.

I have never used my 25-35 on deer, so can't say from firsthand experience, but would prefer the .32 caliber in general over the .25 for larger game.

Ed

[Old Savage]

25-35 is a good one - components and dies available. Very accurate.

[Marlin .35]

I have never used either one of these cartridges, but the 32-40 would seem to be a better round to me!! Art

[jjames]

Thanks all,

Winchester is still making 25-35 ammo not so for the 32-40. Reading up on Ken Waters Pet Loads 32 Special jacketed bullets do not have the cannelure in the correct location for 32-40 rounds. Further research is on-going.

John

[jorgy]

My vote goes for the 32-40. Very mild recoil very accurate. Both brass
dies & bullets are available for both. I have a friend in N. Dak. who hunts
deer with a 32-40. He has taken a deer every year except one with the
32-40. They are usually one shot kills but never over 150 yards. I own
4 32-40's myself & they are far more accurate than a 25-35 or 25-36.

[mescalero1]

JJAMES,
That 25-35, blown out to 25 Bullberry; that would be a sizzler.
This is not a hard to accomplish alteration.
Think about it

[reddnek]

Loved my 25-35 when I had it accurate negligible recoil and muzzle blast. I'd sure use it

[jjames]

I am bummed. I got an email this morning that they both just sold. The search continues. All things happen for a good reason in my life. There is a better one out there for me and I enjoy the journey of finding it.

[spurgon]

jjames

I'm told by men who would know that there is no better white tail or black bear chambering than the 32-40. I'm on the road to working up loads and cast bullets for on that I have. Like the others say mild recoil and report.

[Ben_Rumson]

The 99 Savage magazine probably wouldn't accomodate the 25 Bullberry w/o modification...

[marlinman93]

Sorry the 99's are both gone. The 99 in .32-40 is a much better choice, (especially in that gun) as it's a rare caliber in a 99, plus much better for deer, and in a 99 it can have great bullet selection due to the magazine which accepts pointed bullets. 99's in .32-40 are huge premiums over a .25-35 in a 99.

[AJMD429]

Supposedly lots of Old Timers got their deer with .32-20's, or so I am told. If that's the case, obviously the .32-40 should do a little better, all else being equal.

I'd just get the one you really LIKE the most, or want to reload for the most; you'll get your deer either way, I'm thinking.

[Charles]

I have never fired a round through a 32-40, but I have killed three deer with a 25-35 Winchester and another two with it rimless cousin the 25 Reminghton. Both the WCF and Rem. versons killed deer just fine.

[Leverdude]

Too bad theyre gone but I think I'd choose the 32/40 as well.
Theres alot of cast bullets made for it & if you want to shoot the jacketed you could trim the brass or just use 30/30 brass & it'll be the right length or real close.

[mescalero1]

Ben,
Why not, it does fine chambered in 30-30

[Ben_Rumson]

mescalero1.. I beleive in the older Savages the magazine rotors are specific to the caliber..The Bullberry shoulder is farther forward than the 25-35 and may not correctly nest in the 25-35 rotor..

[Slick13]

I have found a couple of Savage 99s that would appear to meet my price range and other requirements. One is chambered in 25-35 and the other in 32-40. My gut would tell me the 32-40 would be the better deer round out to 100-150 yards but would appreciate opinions as I have never own either cartridge and have no idea about the terminating (not terminal) ballistics. Thanks

Depends on how hard you want to push the .32-40. According to Accurate Powder, you can get close to 2000 fps with a 170 grain bullet. But with smokeless I've never seen anyone trying to push that cartridge beyond 1600-1700 fps. With BP you probably won't get above 1400 fps.

You should have no problem getting the .25-35 into the 2100 to 2300 fps range. Factory ammo is available for it, reloading components are easy to find, and you have several bullet choices (though the 117 gr Hornady RN is probably the only one suited for deer).

My one and only deer so far has been with my .25-35 Model 94. I look forward to taking a lot more deer with it.

~Michael

[Hobie]

I think that overall it is a dead heat. The .32-40 had more bullet weight and diameter and the case is easier to form. The .25-35 bullets are easier to get and the velocity makes up a bit for bullet weight. Both had about the same reputation when I was a kid in WV and KY. Both are interesting cartridges and fun and comfortable to shoot. Neither is a "powerhouse"

[John in MS]

"My one and only deer so far has been with my .25-35 Model 94. I look forward to taking a lot more deer with it.

~Michael"

How about sharing the details of your deer with the .25-35? It's a caliber you don't hear much feedback from the field on, these days. What bullet, range, velocity, angle of shot, and how did it perform? Inquiring minds wanna know!!
John

[Leverdude]

I forget the exact dose of RL7 but I got 1900 with a 170 Hornady in 32/40 with no evidence of stressing anything. It wasn't a max load either, I think around 28000 psi.
Never got to shoot a deer with it & I'v moved on to cast bullets now. But If I decide to take it out in the fall I'll sight in again with that load.

[Slick13]

How about sharing the details of your deer with the .25-35? It's a caliber you don't hear much feedback from the field on, these days. What bullet, range, velocity, angle of shot, and how did it perform? Inquiring minds wanna know!!
John

Bullet was the Hornady 117 gr. RN. I grabbed whatever was handy before going out that day so the cartridge was probably loaded with BLC-2 at around 2150 to 2200 fps. Hit the doe in the spine just ahead of the shoulders, at about 40 yards on the run. Dropped it head first into the ground. It was flailing around a little, trying to push itself away from me. In my excitement over my first deer didn't make the smartest finishing shot. Shot it in the back, just to the right of the spine. Bullet went into the right lung, out the right arm pit, and then through the right front leg into the ground.

When we butchered the deer, we couldn't tell what happened to the bullet that hit the spine. Didn't server it, and didn't crush things up too bad, but there was no sign of the bullet. Don't know if it deflected or disintigrated. The second shot left a good portion of its jacket behind in the arm pit meat, and the rest of the bullet kept on going on through the arm and into the dirt.

~Michael

[mescalero1]

Ben,
OK, more thought is required for this

[gtaylor]

My grandfather's only rifle was a Model 94 25-35, and during Dad's "growing up" years (born in 1936), every bite of meat they ate came from that rifle (Mule Deer, Antelope and Elk: beef was for selling, not eating, unless you were visiting the neighbors!) Dad recollected one elk hunt where the cow had to be finished with the luger, but no losses to his knowledge. His favorite story was the winter of 19 coyotes for a box of shells.

I picked up one of the recent run, and have found it to be MOA accurate with a scope (my eyes fault, not the gun's) The 117 grain Hornady's are my bullet of choice, and I have found MOA loads with Rel 15 and H4895.

[Sixgun]

I shoot, reload, own, and hunt with both of them. My vote goes for the 32-40 in 1899 Savage's because they all have smokeless steel barrels, where the some Marlins and Winchesters have blackpowder steel, thus keeping a reloader from obtaining the full potential of the 32-40. Its common knowledge the heavier bullets are more dependable performers than the smaller ones.

32-40 brass is easier to make from 30-30's than 25-35's are, due to the smaller base of the 25-35. Bullets for both are readily available. But, in reality, for hunting deer those two cartridges are six and one half dozen of the other. Go for the one which stirs your soul more. (I have since read that they are both gone--you snooze-you loose)------------Sixgun

[Hecter]

I'm leaning for the 25-35. I have both in a Sav. 99 and think the 25-35 will be a better hunting load. This cartridge is very accurate with the 117 bullet.