25-20 bolt rifle ideas

[chuckshooter]

Must it be a repeater? The Miniature Martini actions are perfect for that case and they handle like a broomstick...

I also think the Martini is a great little rifle choice in these smaller cartridges, but they are not repeaters. three of these are 20 killer bee's that use the 218 bee family of cases. great round for squirrels.

 

[bobcat93]

What a fantastic collection you must be very proud.. As for the TC22 no thanks.. I'm not a fan of that one.. I like the 32-20, and the 25-20 I think it's important to keep these old cartridges alive.. Just because there fun, and accurate enough
You guys gave me alot to think about.. Are the old savage 25-20 a smaller brush gun, or are they a full size rifle
.
Thanks for all the comments it means alot.. And I respect your guys opinions as long as they alinematch mime.. Hahahaha

 

[rockrat]

Maybe a Savage 340 in 22 hornet could be modified to work with the 25-20. Maybe you could find an old Win '92 with a sewer pipe bore and have it relined to 25-20.

 

[bobcat93]

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.........

Very well said with alot of good points..see this is why I'm here..haha thank you

 

[JSH]

I would look at the Howa Mini.
Prefered Barrels offers a prechhamber with a nut in 25-45 sharps. You can always load down.

 

[Powercat]

I just had a 25-20 bolt rifle built up. Started with a Savage 110 Storm Lightweight in .223 My goal was to shoot heavier bullets, like 115-117-120 gr So I got a McMillan barrel in .25 cal with a 1:7 twist. Had my gunsmith throat the chamber longer to accommodate the almost 2" OAL of this cartridge with these longer bullets. He opened up the bolt face to accommodate the 25-20 rimmed cartridge. Because of the rim, it will only cycle with 3 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. If you put a 4th in the magazine the rims stacking on top of each other puts the nose of the 4th round down too low and it will not clear the feed ramp. But with 3 in, it cycles just fine. We have only tried a few loads so far with the longer bullets and it looks promising. Surprised to find that some factory (shorter) rounds we tried shot to the same point of aim as the longer heavier ones even with the longer throat. Still need to do much more load development with a lot of combinations to try, but happy with how it is turning out. I may try putting a Teflon spacer on the magazine follower to raise the bullet nose to see if I can add that 4th cartridge to the magazine.

 

[RegionRat]

Welcome to the forum @Powercat

 

[Powercat]

I just had a 25-20 bolt rifle built up. Started with a Savage 110 Storm Lightweight in .223 My goal was to shoot heavier bullets, like 115-117-120 gr So I got a McMillan barrel in .25 cal with a 1:7 twist. Had my gunsmith throat the chamber longer to accommodate the almost 2" OAL of this cartridge with these longer bullets. He opened up the bolt face to accommodate the 25-20 rimmed cartridge. Because of the rim, it will only cycle with 3 rounds in the magazine and one in the chamber. If you put a 4th in the magazine the rims stacking on top of each other puts the nose of the 4th round down too low and it will not clear the feed ramp. But with 3 in, it cycles just fine. We have only tried a few loads so far with the longer bullets and it looks promising. Surprised to find that some factory (shorter) rounds we tried shot to the same point of aim as the longer heavier ones even with the longer throat. Still need to do much more load development with a lot of combinations to try, but happy with how it is turning out. I may try putting a Teflon spacer on the magazine follower to raise the bullet nose to see if I can add that 4th cartridge to the magazine.

I wanted to have open sights on this gun since it is primarily for close-range lightweight small game hunting and plinking. The first ones installed, the front blade was a little too tall so my gunsmith reworked them. He also decided to change out the extractor for one that was a little beefier, as he felt it would help with the occasional extraction failure. It's ready for me to pick up now, but waiting for another gun I purchased to arrive at his shop before making the run down there.
I have been thinking that with the current ammo and component shortages, and because the 25-20 is not the easiest one to source, that I may build another version of this rifle using a wildcat based on a .223/5.56 case and duplicating the 25-20 eliminating the rim. This way a standard .223 bolt could be used without having to modify it, and without the rim, 4 cartridges would stack in the magazine and feed. This little Savage 110 Storm Lightweight is perfect for this at 5.5lbs and the 22-inch barrel makes it handle like a dream.

 

[JSH]

As you mention, availability of components is major.
I am a 25-06 fan myself. Bullet styles and weights can be very spotty, even more so with the small ones. I would guess you have 6 or less options for a varmint bullet that will expand. If you cast, that gives you more.
221 brass is not any easier to find than it was 20-30 years ago.
Maybe a necked down 300 Blackout? That would make brass fairly easy and feedin from a magazine may well be easier to work with.

 

[Powercat]

I wanted to have open sights on this gun since it is primarily for close-range lightweight small game hunting and plinking. The first ones installed, the front blade was a little too tall so my gunsmith reworked them. He also decided to change out the extractor for one that was a little beefier, as he felt it would help with the occasional extraction failure. It's ready for me to pick up now, but waiting for another gun I purchased to arrive at his shop before making the run down there.
I have been thinking that with the current ammo and component shortages, and because the 25-20 is not the easiest one to source, that I may build another version of this rifle using a wildcat based on a .223/5.56 case and duplicating the 25-20 eliminating the rim. This way a standard .223 bolt could be used without having to modify it, and without the rim, 4 cartridges would stack in the magazine and feed. This little Savage 110 Storm Lightweight is perfect for this at 5.5lbs and the 22-inch barrel makes it handle like a dream.

Here is my completed Savage 110 LW Storm rechambered/re-barreled to 25-20 WCF also some of my loaded rounds with the 115gr bullets.

 

[OLeveraction]

I have a beautiful Marlin 32-20, and a 25-20.. But those are my favorite and they don't go afield..

I feel sorry for your Marlins.

 

[357Mag]

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

bobcat -

Howdy !

Wondering whether a .357Magnum M-77 could have its bolt head modified by addition of materiel inside to accomodate the smaller rim diam of the .25-20 ? Hmm.....


With regards,
357Mag

 

[crustyrusty]

sako built bolt action L42 and L46 rifles in 25-20