New levershucker 25-20

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:11 pm

Just what I need, another caliber to scrounge brass, bullets and dies for. Couldn't pass this one up, 1909 Winchester 1892 round 24" barrel full magazine . This one has had the barrel re-lined, seems to be a 12 or 13 inch twist. Lots of history on the finish, but solid, no cracks. Should make a great shooter. Here she is.

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:14 pm

Couple more

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Fri Aug 21, 2015 9:19 pm

One more

gamekeeper · Post by **gamekeeper** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 3:15 am

Nice, very NICE....

.45colt · Post by **.45colt** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 4:13 am

That one will be a fun one for sure. Nice Snag.

.

EdinCT · Post by **EdinCT** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 5:52 am

Looks like a honest rifle, can't wait to hear the range report.

M. M. Wright · Post by **M. M. Wright** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 7:20 am

Oh yes, you found a nice one and thanks for the pics.

I remember a movie where some guy is buying ammo for his 25-20 and someone asks what that is good for. The asker has been slipping around to see the guys sister, whistling like a whip-poor-will to get her to meet him. The guy tells him "it's my whip-poor-will gun".

Grizz · Post by **Grizz** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 8:56 am

had one. stupidly sold it. for rent money. Aaaach.

it is just plain fun to shoot.

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 2:57 pm

Les,
Check your PM. I have some 25-20 stuff I'm ready to part with. RCBS Cowboy dies, twice fired brass, and some lead bullets. Didn't do anything for me so I've stuck with 32-20's.

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 4:51 pm

Thanks , Jdad. PM sent

Griff · Post by **Griff** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 5:21 pm

Les, that's a great lookin' rifle!

Dusty Texian · Post by **Dusty Texian** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 5:41 pm

Looks like a good old 92 , I like it !!!,,DT

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 5:59 pm

Nice!! Have fun!

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 8:41 pm

An old '92 in any caliber is a great rifle. I do like your choice, my '92 is a 1917 32wcf 24 inch rifle also, enjoy it.

plowboy 45 · Post by **plowboy 45** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:19 pm

Good lookin rifle
92s are my favorite

Post by **Ysabel Kid** » Sat Aug 22, 2015 9:49 pm

Very cool!

PriseDeFer · Post by **PriseDeFer** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 10:45 am

Being miserly with lead and powder in fine style, you are a wise man. And you are, no doubt, eager to put up a range and load report.

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 1:15 pm

Range report will be later this week.

Booger Bill · Post by **Booger Bill** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 6:04 pm

I would be tempted to chamber that one to .256 Win Mag. It`s already been relined. I have had a Martini chambered in it plus a Ruger Hawkeye and a T/C barrel in it. Have seen another 92 in one. It`s a fine cartridge.

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 8:05 pm

Put a Marbles tang sight (current production with windage adjustment) on the 92. Found some Winchester white box 85 gr JSP. Groups shown in first picture at 69 yds. My 85 gr lead cast bullets came today and a set of RCBS dies I won on flebay, including a neck sizer die. Loaded up 10 rounds of the cast over 3.4 gr of Trailboss. Seems to want to like them. Two unexplained fliers, maybe from too much lube on the bullets. Will try removing the lube from the front band. [img]http://i1215.photobucket.com/albums/cc5 ... jpg2_6.jpg[/img][/img]

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 8:08 pm

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Mon Aug 24, 2015 8:10 pm

This target shot at 50 yds

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Fri Aug 28, 2015 8:42 pm

I've only had one 25-20 but I found that gas check bullets gave nice tight groups, but plain base bullets always had flyers.

3leggedturtle · Post by **3leggedturtle** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 9:49 am

KirkD wrote:I've only had one 25-20 but I found that gas check bullets gave nice tight groups, but plain base bullets always had flyers.

Well thanks for that, Loaded up 100 25WCF with cast, 70 of'em are plain based. Hopefully the lighter charges will give squirrel head accuracy to 75yards wiht open sights.

daisygordoninc · Post by **daisygordoninc** » Sat Aug 29, 2015 1:15 pm

My grandpa had one similar to that, my dad and I killed many deer with it, destroyed very little meat, was generally close range out the woodshed door. Loved that gun, my dad sold it in a garage sale
late in his life for little to nothing, I would love to have it. Have replaced it with a nice 92 made just before 1900. They are amazing little guns. Congratulations

PriseDeFer · Post by **PriseDeFer** » Fri Sep 04, 2015 6:25 pm

daisy...that's the kind of story I read leverguns for, that is what levergun means. In my opinion.

Joe S. · Post by **Joe S.** » Sun Sep 06, 2015 10:59 pm

Oh man thats sweet!!

Little jealous here!!

twobit · Post by **twobit** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 8:20 am

Hello Les,

Congrats on the new rifle! I love the 25-20 caliber. You can shoot all day with almost no recoil and the shoulder is not sore. Could I ask for a photo of the upper tang, the barrel address stamp found between the front and rear sights, and the serial number of the gun. I am working on a research survey and would like to add it into my work. I will be glad to answer any questions you might have.
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=606355

Thanks so much for the help
Michael

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:33 am

Michael, will be glad to oblige, but not today. Have a killer chest cold and not feeling like doing much. The tang sight is covering the upper tang info. Says "trademark registered in US patent office". The serial # dates it to 1909 according to Maddis . Please PM me in a couple weeks and remind me. Les

twobit · Post by **twobit** » Mon Sep 07, 2015 11:49 am

Les Staley wrote:Michael, will be glad to oblige, but not today. Have a killer chest cold and not feeling like doing much. The tang sight is covering the upper tang info. Says "trademark registered in US patent office". The serial # dates it to 1909 according to Maddis . Please PM me in a couple weeks and remind me. Les

Sorry to hear of the bad cold. Never any fun for sure. Get better and I will get back to you.

Michael

DiamondD · Post by **DiamondD** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 10:44 am

Some great info on reloading for the .25-20 here:

http://www.marlinowners.com/forum/reloa ... aders.html

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 11:27 pm

KirkD nailed it. I bought a Lyman 257420 mold that drops a 70 gr boolit for a gas check. Lubed with alox thinned with lighter fluid and sized at 258 it groups great and also eliminated first shot fliers and the unexplained fliers in the middle of a string of fire. Shot the head off a grouse last week with it. DiamondD, have read all 134 pages of that thread, some several times. A GREAT tutorial on cast in the 25-20.

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Tue Oct 06, 2015 11:36 pm

Bill in Oregon · Post by **Bill in Oregon** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 7:29 am

Les, sniping that grouse with your .25-20 had to be gratifying. Lovely little rifle.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Wed Oct 07, 2015 6:35 pm

Bill in Oregon wrote:Les, sniping that grouse with your .25-20 had to be gratifying. Lovely little rifle.

The PROOF is in the PUDDING....

fordwannabe · Post by **fordwannabe** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 12:17 pm

So what load did you finally come up with? I got the Lyman 257420with a check sized at 258. Would you please share what powder and what grain. YOU CAN PM ME IF YOU DO NOT WANT TO PUT THE LOAD OUT IN CYBERSPACE. Thanks. Tom

twobit · Post by **twobit** » Fri Oct 09, 2015 5:14 pm

twobit wrote:Hello Les,

Congrats on the new rifle! I love the 25-20 caliber. You can shoot all day with almost no recoil and the shoulder is not sore. Could I ask for a photo of the upper tang, the barrel address stamp found between the front and rear sights, and the serial number of the gun. I am working on a research survey and would like to add it into my work. I will be glad to answer any questions you might have.
http://forums.gunbroker.com/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=606355

Thanks so much for the help
Michael

Hello Les,

Not shot on the partridge! Can I get the SN of the rifle so that I can add it into my survey?

Thanks
Michael

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:02 am

PM coming at ya!

Les Staley · Post by **Les Staley** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:11 am

twobit · Post by **twobit** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 10:21 am

Thanks Les!!

I greatly appreciate the help. Is the two line barrel address on the top of the barrel or on the left side? Winchester was transitioning to the left side position at the time your rifle was manufactured, mid 1909.

Michael

Ragnor · Post by **Ragnor** » Sat Oct 10, 2015 12:51 pm

Looks like a keeper. Havin fun with your lever gun. Congrats. We all need to make more time for levergun playtime.