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25-20 bolt rifle ideas

bobcat93

Hello all,
So I've been playing around with the idea of magazine feed 25-20 light weight in the forest bolt gun
Now I see savage use to offer one from 1925.. But I'm talking modern now.. I have a beautiful Marlin 32-20, and a 25-20.. But those are my favorite and they don't go afield..
I would like something between if you're familiar with the 22 chipmunk rifle, or an M-1 Carbine
I even thought about rechambering a m1 carbine to 327 federal.. An Israeli arms model not a real one of course..
But I like the 25-20 is perfect for the small critters on my land..
What doner rifle and barrel, I need your ideas.. I'm no gunsmith.. Just mess around but very competent mechanically.. Worked on all my guns.. But would send stuff out for gunsming after I've collected the parts..
Maybe an Eliseo tube gun would be sweet or a chassis system of some kind
 
I was wondering is any one can confirm if the 25-20 wcf cartridge will fit and feed through the CZ 527 in that AK round.. I forget what it is 7.62×52.. Or something like that.. But that action with a custom barrel in an XLR chassis system.. New technology, super old cartridge.. Fucking sweet!!..
I have 30 Acres with bear and Moose but only hunt up to coyote size game.. and I'm one of those guys who feel responsible for my bullet once it leaves my gun, till it's resting on the ground and everything in between.. So I feel that cartridge is perfect for the game I intend to use it for, perfect to carry around the woods and isn't overpowered and with all the trees on my land I hope to hunt a little more responsibly
. and do my part to keep bullet travel on my property..
That is my goal
 
One could rebarrel a Savage bolt gun as a dIY project. Biggest question is identifying the correct bolt head or getting a gunsmith to open a .223 Rem bolt head to work with the 25-20.

The CZ 527 and Howa Mini rifles would also make fine donors.

The 25-20 might work very well with a 16” to 18” barrel and be handy to carry.

Buying a 25-20 barrel for a TC Encore might be the easiest path and a 16” barrel on this one would be handy indeed!
 
The issue is the rim diameter. An extractor sized for the 7.62x39 might not reach on far enough to grab the 25-20 rim. A bolt for the .2230 Rem might work and a gunsmith can readily open it to get the 0.03” larger diameter 25-20 rim if it doesn’t.

Rim diameters:

.223 Rem. 0.378”
25-20 0.408”
7.62x39. 0.447”

Cartridge dimensions from ammoguide.com
 
For a user rifle vs another safe queen, better use parent brass that is available.

I have shot the barrels out of several old Remington pump 25/20's, and those bullets ricochet more than most.

The cost of doing an odd ball is just unbelievable, figure $60-$95 per hour for machine time.

22 Hornet, brand new, are made in a couple of current rifles, and these new rifles would be much more cost effective to buy....by a long ways.

22 Magnums with 40g Win HP are awesome on animals the size of coyotes, short range, 85 yards.

Keeping the bullets on your property......hummm.........
 
If your pockets are really deep, the Sako l-46 came in 218, 25-20 and 32-20.

Your best bet would be building on a .378 boltface like the 25 Furball(25-221 Fireball) as mentioned, a 25 Copperhead(25-222), 25-223(25-45)(257 Ulgade/TCU), 25-222 Rem Mag(6.35x47), 257 Kimber(25-222 Rem Mag Improved), or 25-204 Ruger(257 Raptor).

I shoot a 25-204, great cartridge but it needs a mag of around 2.40 I do load it down with 85gr cast bullets to 25-20 velocities. The 25 Furball and 25 Copperhead would fit nicely in a mini action, CZ 527, Mini Howa or Mini Mauser(Zastava 85, Rem 799, Charles Daly)

There is a little 25 Hornet out there with data already, I looked at building one to the point of making some dummy ammo.

Actually the easiest way to a 25-20 Repeater is to buy another Marlin 94 CL in 25-25 and shoot one and keep the other in the safe. I have a 94 CL in 218 Bee and it is very accurate.
 
If you’re looking for a donor, you might have luck looking for a 218 Bee in a bolt action. Same parent cartridge, 32-20 or 25-20.

218 Bee has been a reasonably popular varmint round, so there are probably some higher quality rifles out there waiting for a new barrel. I know both Kimber and Cooper made them
 
Ricochet!! I haven't thought of that.. Those suck alot and make a good point of bringing up that subject.. Thank you sir.
Now I have to admit I'm a sucker for the 221 Remington fireball case.. I was going to ask if the 25-20 have been necked down to. 20 Cal... I'm sure it has.... and I thought of a CZ in 20 vartarg..
I love the. 32 cals also..
I'm out of the magnum phase and have graduated to the sophisticated cartridges.. With great shot placement and a pop.. I no long need a Boom!! And then hearl a sledgehammer through the forest.. I'm not in Alaska, or B. C... HAHA.. but I do like to take fresh game from time to time and cook it up, or have no problems dispatching some pain in the ass critters on my land...

I know this may seem off the topic but I want you guys to better understand my intentions with this rifle, it obvious I love shooting and reloading because I'm writing this in the best forum on the net.. I do like to form cases (to a point, nothing to crazy) moving the fireball case up or down, or a 32-20 case I'm cool with but some of the real tricky cases just isn't my thing yet.. So brass availability is an issue..

A 25 fireball would fit perfectly in a. 527 chambered in 221.. I have 3 527 in my safe now.. And they all have gone under the knife.. Now there perfect.. Those will go to the grave with me.. Then my wife or kids can prey them from my cold dead hands and do as they please..

I'm going to give this. 25 fireball so thought.. What are people using for load data?
Thanks for your response
 
bobcat93 said:
Hello all,
So I've been playing around with the idea of magazine feed 25-20 light weight in the forest bolt gun
Now I see savage use to offer one from 1925.. But I'm talking modern now.. I have a beautiful Marlin 32-20, and a 25-20.. But those are my favorite and they don't go afield..
I would like something between if you're familiar with the 22 chipmunk rifle, or an M-1 Carbine
I even thought about rechambering a m1 carbine to 327 federal.. An Israeli arms model not a real one of course..
But I like the 25-20 is perfect for the small critters on my land..
What doner rifle and barrel, I need your ideas.. I'm no gunsmith.. Just mess around but very competent mechanically.. Worked on all my guns.. But would send stuff out for gunsming after I've collected the parts..
Maybe an Eliseo tube gun would be sweet or a chassis system of some kind
Click to expand...
A bolt gun in 5.7 , the little pistol round that FN has , open the bolt face or cut the 25-20 brass to match the bolt . PTG makes a bolt head for the savage 10 series . A rather large gun for a small cartridge .
Or take a savage 25-20 model B and modify the receiver and rebarrel .
The receiver needs an external threaded piece around the existing receiver cause it's a one piece affair . After the external 4140 steel piece is fitted it needs to be attached permanent. Anyway , it works and would allow a light weight 25-20 .
 
If ricochet potential is a consideration, then going to the smaller calibers, e. g., 17 Hornet, Fireball, etc. might be a good move.

The smaller bullets will a fair bit of velocity and many are designed to disintegrate with very little encouragement.
 
I built a 25 caliber on a CZ527 ... Took the 223 case & re-bored the barrel. You want to buy it? PM me for details. mike in ct
 
Kimber or Oregon ( the now defunct company ) made a production run of their Custom Classics in .25-20 ( single shot configuration ). Neat ( but pricey ) little guns.
 
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