25-20 loads

cslcal · Post by **cslcal** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 4:58 pm

I just picked up a Marlin 94 CL in 25-20. Would anyone care to share their pet loads with me? There is not a lot of good data for this round. Thanks,
Al Foust

jlchucker · Post by **jlchucker** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:22 pm

I used to have one of those. It really didn't take long to work up loads, because I had few notes in my notebook. My two loads were with the 86 Gr Remington bullet made for 25-20, and I think still available from Midway. I used that with 8.5Gr 2400. My notes said "very accurate to 100 yd." I also had a note that advised that "for better case life use 8.0 gr 2400. I also used a cast bullet (wheelweight 90percent, lead 10 percent). Lyman mold 257420, over 5.6 gr Unique. My notes said that this shot to the same point of aim as the Remington jacketed load. I use Winchester primers for everything that I load.

This is a pleasant little cartridge to shoot. You'll have to work up your own loads, but the Lyman manual still has info for this cartridge. Since the cowboy action folks started shooting some of these old timey cartridges, Hornaday, Speer, and others make bullets for a lot of them--including 25-20. I think these types of cartridges are made to be enjoyed--but not horsed up to magnum style velocities. There are plenty of other calibers around for that sort of thing. Good luck.

PJA · Post by **PJA** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 5:25 pm

60 grain Hornady FP (#2510) over 11.7 grains of H4198 works well for me in my Model 53.
Pete

M336 · Post by **M336** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 7:22 pm

I've got the same rifle and you're going to have a ball with it! I mostly shoot the Speer 75grFP and recently got a mold for an 80grGC cast bullet thats working out great. The best powder I've found in the 25-20 and the 218 Bee is Accurate Arms 1680, great accuracy and velocity and it's very fine grained so it meters perfectly which is important because you're going to be loading a lot of these once you get started. Accurate lists all their loads on their website.

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 8:45 pm

Congrats cslcal! But... where are the pictures?!?

I just picked up a Winnie 1892 in .25-20. Looking forward to trying it out as well!

I just picked up a Lyman bullet mold, some Remington 86-grain jacketed flat heads, and 1000 .25-caliber gas checks. MidwayUSA was all out of .25-20 brass though. For those who responded - what are your sources for cast bullets and brass?

morgan in nm · Post by **morgan in nm** » Mon Mar 24, 2008 10:22 pm

For brass, you might try Buffalo Arms. At least, that is where I bought all of mine from a couple of years ago.

By the way, congratulations on your new Marlin.

cslcal · Post by **cslcal** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 11:47 am

Thanks for the replies. I did try IMR 4198, and it did shoot fairley well. I will definately try the AA 1680 as I like to use my B&M powder measure for these cartridges, plus I also just bought a 94 CL in 218 Bee also. Thanks, AL Foust

colo native · Post by **colo native** » Tue Mar 25, 2008 12:25 pm

R&R Bullet 233 Goffena Rd Chadron NE 69337 800-865-1312

As I remember this guy makes a cast pill that is unreal, coupled with 4.5 gr Uniq, I have 2 marlin 25-20's what a hoot to shoot...

almost forgot , I wanna trade one of the 25cwf's for a 218 B

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 6:19 pm

Al, Remember that 25-20 I was using at the state champs to beat you bad?

Well, it was loaded with the 70 gr. Lyman gc in front of 5.5. of Unique.
Don't believe the first comment

Al was the Pa. state champ last year and I think I came in around 15th in my class

-----Sixgun

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Wed Mar 26, 2008 7:19 pm

I use a Lyman 257420 GC bullet that weights 74 grains, over 5 grains of Unique, for 1,587 fps. See http://www.winchestercollector.org/foru ... 0122d172bc for a report.

cslcal · Post by **cslcal** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 1:14 pm

I have been testing my 25-20. I really likes 75 gr. speers with 5.5 grs. of Unique. I tried 1680 and Imr 4198 and they were ok but the Unique loads were more consistant. I will update you all when I have shot a Cowboy silhouette match with it later in April. Thanks to all who replied. Al Foust

Hecter · Post by **Hecter** » Sun Mar 30, 2008 6:00 pm

I use 9.5grs. of 4227 behind a 86gr. Remington bullet. This shoots very well in my '92 winchester.