Decisions, decisions.

velocette · December 24, 2014, 07:45 PM

I am contemplating rebarreling or re lining the barrel of my Whitney rolling block 2nd model rifle. Rifle is in nice condition and tight, with a totally rusted out bore. It was originally chambered in .38 CFC, a cartridge of .375" and a case just shorter than a .38 special. Not a powerhouse or noted for accuracy.
My choices for its new cartridge at this time are, .25 20 WCF or .32 20 WCF.
My question is which is noted for better accuracy. It appears that brass and bullets are moderately available, so my choice will be for the one with better accuracy potential.

Roger

salvadore · December 24, 2014, 11:11 PM

My limited experience with these cartridges has the 32/20 is more accurate than the 25/20.

salvadore · December 24, 2014, 11:13 PM

And the correct designation, is32 wcf, or 32/20.

Old Stony · December 25, 2014, 05:50 AM

Good thing you didn't say you were rechambering to 45 long Colt !

hartcreek · December 25, 2014, 06:09 AM

Why not think about .32 Winchester Special. 25-20 puts you with the same problem of everyone else that being Hornady not making special runs of jacketed bullets so you would be stuck with casting like most of us with 25-20, 25-35 .357 Roberts.......ect.

25-35 would work but there seems to be a brass shortage. You could just keep it simple and go with 30-30.

velocette · December 25, 2014, 09:28 AM

Two reasons for the choices of .25/20 or .32/20 are that it will be a cast lead bullet rifle only and also limiting the pressure of the cartridge in sympathy for a 130 year old rifle.
In fact, I don't believe that jacketed bullets were available back in the late 1800s, until the beginning of the smokeless powder era of military weapons. all of the weapons were using cast or swaged lead bullets.
In any case, lead bullets it will be.

Roger

December 24, 2014, 07:45 PM	#1
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	Decisions, decisions. I am contemplating rebarreling or re lining the barrel of my Whitney rolling block 2nd model rifle. Rifle is in nice condition and tight, with a totally rusted out bore. It was originally chambered in .38 CFC, a cartridge of .375" and a case just shorter than a .38 special. Not a powerhouse or noted for accuracy. My choices for its new cartridge at this time are, .25 20 WCF or .32 20 WCF. My question is which is noted for better accuracy. It appears that brass and bullets are moderately available, so my choice will be for the one with better accuracy potential. Roger __________________ Trigger control + Breath control + Sight alignment = Gun Control. http://www.hrpclub.info/ NRA Smallbore Prone Master, High Power Master

December 25, 2014, 09:28 AM	#6
velocette Senior Member Join Date: May 25, 2007 Location: South Florida Posts: 924	Two reasons for the choices of .25/20 or .32/20 are that it will be a cast lead bullet rifle only and also limiting the pressure of the cartridge in sympathy for a 130 year old rifle. In fact, I don't believe that jacketed bullets were available back in the late 1800s, until the beginning of the smokeless powder era of military weapons. all of the weapons were using cast or swaged lead bullets. In any case, lead bullets it will be. Roger __________________ Trigger control + Breath control + Sight alignment = Gun Control. http://www.hrpclub.info/ NRA Smallbore Prone Master, High Power Master Last edited by velocette; December 25, 2014 at 11:21 AM.

December 24, 2014, 11:11 PM	#2
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	My limited experience with these cartridges has the 32/20 is more accurate than the 25/20.

December 24, 2014, 11:13 PM	#3
salvadore Junior member Join Date: January 1, 2007 Location: Idaho Posts: 2,282	And the correct designation, is32 wcf, or 32/20.

December 25, 2014, 05:50 AM	#4
Old Stony Senior Member Join Date: May 31, 2013 Location: East Texas Posts: 1,705	Good thing you didn't say you were rechambering to 45 long Colt !

December 25, 2014, 06:09 AM	#5
hartcreek Junior member Join Date: April 22, 2014 Location: Washington Posts: 1,549	Why not think about .32 Winchester Special. 25-20 puts you with the same problem of everyone else that being Hornady not making special runs of jacketed bullets so you would be stuck with casting like most of us with 25-20, 25-35 .357 Roberts.......ect. 25-35 would work but there seems to be a brass shortage. You could just keep it simple and go with 30-30.