Crazy looking 25 cal. Cartridge

[bobcat93]

I found this photo on line of a reloader holding the old 25-25 stevens cartridge.
Its the funniest looking cartridge ive seen to date..
Look at that thing!..
(Well excuse me while i whip this out)- blazing saddles hahaha.
After a lazy & quick search it appears the brass is all but gone, and out of production
I also did a lazy search on load data ..
Hahaha..i was amazed..that little pencil of a cartridge really zips along!. What fun! Why did it die? Is any one here familiar with it, or possibly even still shoots it?
ive entered some phase of nostalgia, for the perfect old cartridge..and the more i dig the more i find..
I think its pretty cool . Maybe alot of you folks already know about this cartridge but its new to me
This baby hit the market in 1903!.
And can shoot a 75gr bullet 1800fps (corrected)

I can picture some sort of a single shot rifle and little metal animal targets.about 50-75-100yrds out
Haha..you could pretend your Petter Chapstick hunting the dangerous 5 with a 500 nitro express
Pew-Ping!..hahaha..i like that..it makes my heart smile.
I just thought some one may enjoy some light researching of this cartridge for something to do .
Those old timmers are no longer around to let us know so we never really have a clue what we missed out on.
There quest in cartridges, was absolutely no different in 1903 then today in 2024.
Yes we have different technologies that allow us to push different boundaries.
But remove the new car smell, and that new car feel, and what are we left with.
more of the same thing.
I find that comforting, and romantic in a way.
its fun to dig around in the past..like going through grandpas closet..you just know there is something cool as hell in there somewhere.
Safe shooting

 

[coldboremiracle]

That looks cool, and old!

 

[fayettefatts]

If it interests you go here and do some reading. The forums are great!

https://www.assra.com/

 

[dellet]

The 25-25 actually came out around 1893-5 and basically died because it was a black powder cartridge. Too much powder in too small of bore. It fouled like crazy. It was replaced with the 25-21, which was basically the same case, shortened about a 1/4”. The 25-21 came out a few years later, @ 1897. It held its own at 200 yards on a calm day.

Velocities of the day were more like 15-1700 with cast bullets and black powder. There were some smokless loads and “metal patched bullets”, it velocities were still held low due to the weak actions that generally were chambered in the cartridge.

I shoot both a 25-21 and a 28-30, haven’t found a suitable 22-15 yet. All a straight taper 2-2 1/2” long. There was also a 25-20 single shot that barely had a shoulder.

 

[bobcat93]

Yes i thought about that when i was at the grocery store..i had said 2800 fps..haha..Oops..that would have gotten folks interested in it again.i did correct my post..i blame my fat fingers i hit the 2 instead of a 1.. from what i have been reading were looking at 1200-1800fps velocities..is that more realistic?, or correct
If they are gone..its gone..i would be just as proud with a 25-35. Those are sooooo fun to shoot..what a nice little cartridge..for plinking ,game, and its still popular..just not as romantic as the old old ones in my opinion..there is just more mystery about them.. i enjoy that alot for some reason. Its unexplainable yet every one here understand it..
BUT!..i couldnt play big game hunter with a 25-35..i still need that long silly cartridge so its like a mini 500 nitro express..hahaha.

 

[SKWERLZ]

View attachment 1604076
I found this photo on line of a reloader holding the old 25-25 stevens cartridge.
Its the funniest looking cartridge ive seen to date..
Look at that thing!..
(Well excuse me while i whip this out)- blazing saddles hahaha.
After a lazy & quick search it appears the brass is all but gone, and out of production
I also did a lazy search on load data ..
Hahaha..i was amazed..that little pencil of a cartridge really zips along!. What fun! Why did it die? Is any one here familiar with it, or possibly even still shoots it?
ive entered some phase of nostalgia, for the perfect old cartridge..and the more i dig the more i find..
I think its pretty cool . Maybe alot of you folks already know about this cartridge but its new to me
This baby hit the market in 1903!.
And can shoot a 75gr bullet 1800fps (corrected)

I can picture some sort of a single shot rifle and little metal animal targets.about 50-75-100yrds out
Haha..you could pretend your Petter Chapstick hunting the dangerous 5 with a 500 nitro express
Pew-Ping!..hahaha..i like that..it makes my heart smile.
I just thought some one may enjoy some light researching of this cartridge for something to do .
Those old timmers are no longer around to let us know so we never really have a clue what we missed out on.
There quest in cartridges, was absolutely no different in 1903 then today in 2024.
Yes we have different technologies that allow us to push different boundaries.
But remove the new car smell, and that new car feel, and what are we left with.
more of the same thing.
I find that comforting, and romantic in a way.
its fun to dig around in the past..like going through grandpas closet..you just know there is something cool as hell in there somewhere.
Safe shooting

Looks like a stubby pencil!
Cool looking cartridge!

 

[5spd]

Got those in my bullet collection.

 

[FNSafari]

The 25-21 was cool also. I used to have a Stevens 44 chambered for it.

 

[snert]

I once painted a house for a guy. When it came time to pay he offered a 25-25 Stevens target rifle (maybe a Walnut Hill?) but I needed cash so I passed. He died shortly after and his guns were auctioned off. I heard about it too late and that rifle went bye bye. I wish I had it to this day. he had two boxes of brass with it.

You might find more info on the Single Shot Rifle Exchange. Google Lee Shaver

 

[std7mag]

Yup, seen that one before.

If you really want to see an odd cartridge look at the 22 Savage High Power. Talk about taper!!
And chambered in the Savage 99 lever action.

 

[david12601]

I have an original box with 19 unfired rounds this has been kicking around my reloading room for years.......had no idea or info what it was for...........thanks for posting this

 

[snert]

Id love to see what it was chambered in...to recollect my memories of that rifle in a closet.

 

[D the D]

Interesting as it was probably one of, if not the, last cartridge developed for black powder when the smokeless era was well underway.

 

[ISS]

I have a very accurate Full Custom Sharps Borchardt in 25-35. I shoot the Hornady 75gr HP's about 3000fps. Kills Rockchucks about to about 400 yards on a regular basis if the wind isn't howling. It is one of a family Winchester developed from the 30-30.