The Firing Line Forums

Go Back   The Firing Line Forums > The Hide > The Art of the Rifle: General

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old August 18, 2018, 07:26 PM   #1
Roamin_Wade
Junior member
 
Join Date: July 11, 2018
Location: Baytown, TX
Posts: 220
Little 25’s (not 25 ACP’s)

I collect bullets as some of you may already know, and I’ve got a question about 2 different rounds that are close in size and shape. One is an older Winchester round and the other is newer, I think. The first is the really neat 256 Win Mag and the other is the must-be-comparable-round-because-of-almost-same-size 25-20 Win round. The first round is interesting because its parent case is the 357 Mag but the 25-20 Win probably has many older guns on the market ready to buy and shoot. Any input or experience with either round? I seem to remember reading a story about a guy who killed his first deer with a Winchester rifle in 32-20, iron sighted, at about 70 yards.
Roamin_Wade is offline  
Old August 18, 2018, 07:29 PM   #2
Roamin_Wade
Junior member
 
Join Date: July 11, 2018
Location: Baytown, TX
Posts: 220
I’m trying to post a picture but I don’t have a working knowledge of how to do everything in here yet.
Roamin_Wade is offline  
Old August 18, 2018, 07:30 PM   #3
Dufus
Senior Member
 
Join Date: December 10, 2014
Posts: 1,965
I have a 25-20 and a 25-35. Both are old fun guns and shoot great.

The 25-20 is credited with the James Jordan buck.

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/James_Jordan_Buck
Dufus is offline  
Old August 18, 2018, 08:09 PM   #4
Roamin_Wade
Junior member
 
Join Date: July 11, 2018
Location: Baytown, TX
Posts: 220
Roger that Dufus. I knew I had read about that round killing a big deer. I’m betting the 256 Win Mag is a bit sportier. Just on cartridge capacity, it should be a hotter round.
Roamin_Wade is offline  
Old August 18, 2018, 08:17 PM   #5
Scorch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2006
Location: Washington state
Posts: 15,248
256 Win Mag and 25-20 are worlds apart as far as performance. 256 Win Mag will launch a 60 gr bullet at 2,700 fps, a 25-20 will launch the same bullet at a milder 2,000 fps. Trajectory for the 256 is flatter, good out to 200 yds, the 25-20 out to about 100 yds before drop makes it hard to put to use. Neither is much good for anything bigger than coyotes, although I do know people who have killed deer with a 25-20 (close range). About 30 years ago, a friend of mine used to shoot his Marlin 61 LeverMatic at jackrabbits with good effect.
__________________
Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs.
But what do I know?
Summit Arms Services
Scorch is offline  
Old August 18, 2018, 09:37 PM   #6
Roamin_Wade
Junior member
 
Join Date: July 11, 2018
Location: Baytown, TX
Posts: 220
Thanks for sharing that, Scorch. I thought the 256 Win Mag was a newer round but it came out in 1960! It’s already had its day and is now obsolete. I’d like to have one in a Remington Model 600 or maybe in an over and under 256 Win Mag/ 20 Gauge single shot like a Savage Model 24 with peek-through rings and maybe a 4 x 32 scope.
Roamin_Wade is offline  
Old August 18, 2018, 10:03 PM   #7
44 AMP
Staff
 
Join Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Upper US
Posts: 28,677
the .25-20 was developed from the .32-20 and introduced in either 1893 or 1895 (sources vary).

The .256 Winchester magnum was based on the .357 Magnum case, and introduced about 1962. The Marlin Levermatic, the Ruger Hawkeye, and the T/C Contender are the only guns I know of that chambered it, but there may be others.

The Remington 600 action is unsuited to the .256 Win. It is over long for the round, and was not set up for feeding rimmed rounds (though this can be overcome with good machine work.)

bolt face alteration would also be needed, as the 600 series came in .222, .308, and .350 Mag head sizes. Making a 600 single shot would be easier than getting it to work as a repeater, but getting a Contender single shot would be easier still.
__________________
All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.
44 AMP is offline  
Old August 18, 2018, 10:16 PM   #8
std7mag
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 23, 2013
Location: Central Taxylvania..
Posts: 3,609
Aside from a TC Contender good luck finding a 256 Win revolver.
__________________
When our own government declares itself as "tyrannical", where does that leave us??!!

"Januarary 6th insurrection".
Funny, I didn't see a single piece of rope...
std7mag is offline  
Old August 19, 2018, 12:35 PM   #9
Roamin_Wade
Junior member
 
Join Date: July 11, 2018
Location: Baytown, TX
Posts: 220
44 Amp, I was just imagining the size and function of the 600 as being what I'd prefer it be in. I am going to check out that Levermatic. Thanks for your input.
Roamin_Wade is offline  
Old August 19, 2018, 12:36 PM   #10
Roamin_Wade
Junior member
 
Join Date: July 11, 2018
Location: Baytown, TX
Posts: 220
It would be a sweet revolver round too. I'd like it with at 6 inches of barrel and with scope. Thanks std7mag.
Roamin_Wade is offline  
Old August 20, 2018, 02:03 AM   #11
44 AMP
Staff
 
Join Date: March 11, 2006
Location: Upper US
Posts: 28,677
Quote:
Aside from a TC Contender good luck finding a 256 Win revolver.
Sharply bottlenecked cartridges historically don't do well in revolvers. The most famous failure in that regard is probably the .22 Rem Jet, and the S&W (I'd have to look up the model, 53?? maybe?).

Very SLIGHTLY bottlenecked rounds do ok, the .32-20, .38-40 and .44-40 come to mind, but they are all black powder pressure rounds as well.

The Ruger Hawkeye was a unique one. Basically it was their SA revolver, but didn't have a cylinder. It was a single shot, and used a "rotating breech block" instead of a cylinder.
__________________
All else being equal (and it almost never is) bigger bullets tend to work better.
44 AMP is offline  
Old August 22, 2018, 12:34 AM   #12
Scorch
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 13, 2006
Location: Washington state
Posts: 15,248
Making a sharp bottleneck cartridge work in a revolver can be done, but you have to do it the right way. Look up the 44/357 Bains-Davis. It is a 44 Magnum cartridge necked to 357. It will give rifle velocities out of a revolver BUT you have to use a little collar that goes around the neck area and seals the chamber, allowing the case to move in the cylinder after firing. Just chambering a revolver cylinder for a bottlenecked cartridge puts a solid surface in front of the shoulder, and when the cartridge is fired the pressure will push the shoulder forward and the head backwards so tightly that the cylinder cannot turn. So, could you chamber a revolver for 256 Winchester? Sure. Is it worth the trouble? I don't know, it sounds like a fun jackrabbit gun!
__________________
Never try to educate someone who resists knowledge at all costs.
But what do I know?
Summit Arms Services
Scorch is offline  
Old August 22, 2018, 07:11 AM   #13
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
I don't have much experience with the .256, but I do have some with the .25-20 in a Savage Model 23B.

Nice, polite round. It would be a good choice for a quiet round for pest control in a more populated area.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old August 22, 2018, 04:10 PM   #14
kraigwy
Senior Member
 
Join Date: June 16, 2008
Location: Wyoming
Posts: 11,061
I have a sweet little Remington pump gun Model 25 in 25-20. Neat little rifle a lot like my Winchester Model 62 Pump,22.

Its fairly accurate, fun to play with and good for small game, though not sure I'd take it deer hunting.
__________________
Kraig Stuart
CPT USAR Ret
USAMU Sniper School
Distinguished Rifle Badge 1071
kraigwy is offline  
Old August 23, 2018, 07:50 AM   #15
Mike Irwin
Staff
 
Join Date: April 13, 2000
Location: Northern Virginia
Posts: 41,374
I've been trying to find one of the Remington Model 25s in .32-20 (that I can afford) for a couple of years. I want to pair it with my two .32-20 revolvers.

But, all I can find that are halfway affordable are the .25-20s.
__________________
"The gift which I am sending you is called a dog, and is in fact the most precious and valuable possession of mankind" -Theodorus Gaza

Baby Jesus cries when the fat redneck doesn't have military-grade firepower.
Mike Irwin is offline  
Old August 29, 2018, 04:31 PM   #16
Nevmavrick
Senior Member
 
Join Date: January 2, 2010
Location: Sparks, Nevada, near Reno
Posts: 183
What would be fun is an M92 in .256!
Come to think of it, I have one.
Ok,ok, I took a Rossi clone, cut the stock to a shotgun-style butt, and installed a thin recoil pad.(so it won't skitter out across the floor when I lean it behind the kitchen door)
I also cut the magazine at the end of the stock so it holds 4 rounds, and installed a 22" 10"-twist barrel.
It has a tang peep sight.
It'll shoot 2" groups all day long at 50 yards, which I think is pretty good for peep sights and 70yo eyes.It is a little sweetheart, and shoots 60gr Hornadys, 69gr cast gas-checks, 75gr Speer, and 86gr Remington soft-points, when I can find them, to the same place at 50 yards.
Have fun,
Gene
Nevmavrick is offline  
Old August 29, 2018, 06:24 PM   #17
Tony Z
Senior Member
 
Join Date: September 29, 2013
Location: North Central Pennsyltucky
Posts: 749
Does my Stevens Favorite in .25 rimfire count?
Tony Z is offline  
Old September 23, 2018, 09:21 PM   #18
flashhole
Senior Member
 
Join Date: February 9, 2005
Location: Owego, NY
Posts: 2,000
I don't think my 25-06 qualifies for this thread but it's a heck of a cartridge. Mine is a Ruger #1V.
__________________
,,, stupidity comes to some people very easily. 8/22/2017 my wife in a discussion about Liberals.

Are you ready for civil war?
flashhole is offline  
Old September 23, 2018, 11:58 PM   #19
Drm50
Senior Member
 
Join Date: November 10, 2014
Posts: 1,371
I have shot 1 deer with a Winchester 53 in 25/20. I have shot at least one deer
with all my keeper CF rifles. I head shot it at about 40yds with Win factory Lubaloy cartridge. I've shot several with 32/20s, none more than 50yds. I wouldn't shoot at a running deer with 25/20 or 32/20. It's not any great feat
that I couldn't do with a 22.
Drm50 is offline  
Old October 19, 2018, 09:39 PM   #20
6.5swedeforelk
Member
 
Join Date: April 14, 2014
Location: N. Canada
Posts: 92
256 win

I used a Marlin Levermatic as a trapline rifle.

Never was impressed with the factory
60gr "open point expanding" loads.

My 60gr gas checked slugs, however,
accounted for everything from marten & fisher,
thru beaver, to the coupe de grace for
caught timber wolves.

For big game (yes, it was used for game)
87gr jacketed seemed the best.

The Levermatic was nowhere near the quality
one grew to expect from other Marlin levers.

I can expand on that but enough for this post.
6.5swedeforelk is offline  
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off

Forum Jump


All times are GMT -5. The time now is 06:39 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.7
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
This site and contents, including all posts, Copyright © 1998-2021 S.W.A.T. Magazine
Copyright Complaints: Please direct DMCA Takedown Notices to the registered agent: thefiringline.com
Page generated in 0.10224 seconds with 10 queries