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Yesterday I grabbed 25-20 cartridges to get rid of a groundhog and mistakenly fired it in my 32-20 model 53, twice. Seemed louder than usual. Doesn’t seem to have hurt the gun. Will be more careful next time.
Noticed that the brass will now fit a 32-20 bullet. Expensive way to create brass since 25-20 is so scarce.
May 2, 2009
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In the reloading circles that is called fire forming brass.
Bob
WACA Life Member--- NRA Life Member---- Cody Firearms member since 1991 Researching the Winchester 1873's
Email: [email protected]
September 19, 2014
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The real question now is, did you get the groundhog?
Tim
December 31, 2012
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Me hopes he got away. Big Larry
November 7, 2015
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Depending on the shape of your sizing die you may be able to size it back down to the correct neck size. OTOH my 32-20 sizing die ruins more than the occasional piece of 32-20 brass. My clumsy fingers don’t do well with small cartridges. I used to see some very interesting fire formed cases when I spent a lot of time on a public shooting range.
Mike
tim tomlinson said
The real question now is, did you get the groundhog?Tim
no
November 7, 2015
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The sound of the bullet rattling down the barrel scared it off. 
Mike
March 20, 2010
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[email protected] said
Yesterday I grabbed 25-20 cartridges to get rid of a groundhog and mistakenly fired it in my 32-20 model 53, twice. Seemed louder than usual. Doesn’t seem to have hurt the gun. Will be more careful next time.
It happens to the best of us. Made the same mistake many years ago running a couple 38-40 cartridges through a 44-40 chamber. Had I not noticed the sound of the rifle report was off a bit after a couple rounds and then that I was drawing from the wrong box (had both boxes on the bench), I probably would have chalked the less than optimal shooting performance up to the old worn out barrel in the 73. In the end there was no harm or foul, just a reminder to pay better attention.
1892takedown @sbcglobal.net ......NRA Endowment Life Member.....WACA Member
"God is great.....beer is good.....and people are crazy"... Billy Currington
March 23, 2007
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I once fired several 41 magnum cartridges in a 44 magnum revolver. Didn’t seem to harm anything except some of the casings split. Embarrassing to say the least.
December 21, 2006
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I had 3 rounds go off at the same time in a Colt Navy ’cause I didn’t grease seal the chambers after loading. Now let Me tell Ya’ll that was an experience I don’t ever want to have again. The round to the left went thru the left sleeve of a brand new suede leather coat, burning My arm, I was holding it over My left arm to steady it, and the round to the right of the chamber hit My truck , I was standing beside. My ears rang for a week and My right hand stung for days. Sometimes I amaze Myself that I’m still alive at 72.
W.A.C.A. life member, Marlin Collectors Assn. charter and life member, C,S.S.A. member and general gun nut.
October 29, 2019
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I have shot .30-30 in a .32 Special on purpose when I was a kid and ran out of .32. Was just plinking anyway. My dad grabbed the wrong magazine for his Remington 760 and flung .270 rounds out of an .06 at a fleeing deer. Deer didn’t get a scratch.
Shoot low boys. They're riding Shetland Ponies.
November 7, 2015
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Can get ugly when the bore is smaller than the bullet. I recall one day at a public range a .308 bullet was somehow fired down a .270 bore. Can’t recall the exact cartridge or the chambering of the rifle but it generally happened at least once this time of year. Generally need a mallet to open the bolt and extract the case. Believe it or not many passed a gunsmith’s inspection. One classic is a 300 Win Mag fired in a 300 Weatherby. Cases come out with a very short shoulder!
Mike
November 19, 2006
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Yes, it is embarrassing. I have fired a 25-20 in a 32-20. No damage to anything and actually, didn’t notice the report was any different. The best example I have is many years ago I was helping my Dad sight in his two deer rifles – a Winchester M100 .308 and a Remington M7400 .30-06. At one point, the .308 cartridges got stuffed into the .30-06 clip. The Remington cycled them all through but we did notice accuracy fell off. We didn’t understand the accuracy issue until we picked up the .308 brass. They turned into straight-wall cases. In fact, the way to make .44 automag cases is to cut down .308 to length. I joked that we had merely fireformed some .44 automag “long” cases – a new cartridge!
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