Avatar
Search
Forum Scope




Match



Forum Options



Minimum search word length is 3 characters - maximum search word length is 84 characters
Lost password?
sp_Feed sp_PrintTopic sp_TopicIcon
25-20 for deer?
sp_NewTopic Add Topic
Avatar
RickC
Guest
WACA Guest
1
April 17, 2021 - 12:14 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

Anybody on here ever shoot deer with a 25-20 ? Obviously not my first choice but I do know an old timer who use to trap & says he shot many a deer with his 25-20 because that’s the only rifle he owned back in the day. ??‍♂️
There’s probably even bigger game known to be harvested with a 25-20 but I think deer would be pushing the limit.

RickC

Avatar
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 482
Member Since:
March 21, 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
2
April 17, 2021 - 12:31 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Don’t believe the 25-20 would be the preferred caliber for many, however if good enough marksman it would probably be adequate for deer. 

IMG_0805-Copy-Copy-Copy.JPG

Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886

Avatar
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 852
Member Since:
March 23, 2010
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
3
April 17, 2021 - 1:05 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

 The 25-20 would not be my first choice as a deer rifle,but close enough and a well placed shot would work.Many deer have been taken with a 22 rimfire, under certain conditions.

 

 I remember reading about the Jordan Buck,the  top record buck at one time,being shot with a Winchester Model 1892 in 25-20.From what I remember reading about the taking of the buck,it was shot with a 25-20,but the bullet did not kill it right away it fell in water and most likely had drowning as part of the reason for its death.Smile

 

 The 25-20 is a nice calibre in its own right.Fun rifle to shoot and quite accurate.Found IMR 4198 to work really well in the 25-20.Smile

Avatar
Northern edge of the D/FW Metromess
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 5635
Member Since:
November 7, 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
4
April 17, 2021 - 1:27 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Kill? Probably. In many cases eventually. Recovery could be tricky in thick brush or if the deer decides to run. As much as I like the old cartridges I like the quick, humane kills afforded by high energy rounds. Some of the old rounds do just fine but I’ve had to track some well-hit critters “killed” with rounds much more powerful than the 25-20. 

The Jordan Buck is an interesting story.

 

Mike

Life Member TSRA, Endowment Member NRA
BBHC Member, TGCA Member
Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe
I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call, Lonesome Dove
Some of my favorite recipes start out with a handful of depleted counterbalance devices.-TXGunNut
Presbyopia be damned, I'm going to shoot this thing! -TXGunNut
Avatar
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 482
Member Since:
March 21, 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
5
April 17, 2021 - 1:37 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

28 gauge said
 The 25-20 would not be my first choice as a deer rifle,but close enough and a well placed shot would work.Many deer have been taken with a 22 rimfire, under certain conditions.

 
 I remember reading about the Jordan Buck,the  top record buck at one time,being shot with a Winchester Model 1892 in 25-20.From what I remember reading about the taking of the buck,it was shot with a 25-20,but the bullet did not kill it right away it fell in water and most likely had drowning as part of the reason for its death.Smile

  The 25-20 is a nice calibre in its own right.Fun rifle to shoot and quite accurate.Found IMR 4198 to work really well in the 25-20.Smile  

Since you brought up the 22, I will risk de-railing this thread with a fond hunting story from near 60 years ago.

I started deer hunting with family and friends when I was about 6 years old (which was typical in my family) with a single shot bolt action 22 rifle. The older boys would always tease me saying that I was wasting my time and that I would never kill a deer with than old 22. 

So one hunt, my grandfather asked me if I would go with him that day and if he could use my 22. So I was thrilled and sure enough he killed a huge buck (not sure how big, but with me being under 4′ tall, looked like a moose to me).  He shot it in the head from what seemed a long ways away to me.  

From that day on my brothers and other older boys never teased me about my 22 again. 

Here’s what my 6 year old grandson uses. A nice little Henry 22 I bought him. 

IMG_2823.jpgImage Enlarger

sp_PlupAttachments Attachments

IMG_0805-Copy-Copy-Copy.JPG

Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886

Avatar
RickC
Guest
WACA Guest
6
April 17, 2021 - 1:39 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Great story Kevin. Enjoy all the responses.

Avatar
NY
Member
Restricted
Forum Posts: 7119
Member Since:
November 1, 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
7
April 17, 2021 - 1:51 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

28 gauge said
 The 25-20 would not be my first choice as a deer rifle,but close enough and a well placed shot would work.Many deer have been taken with a 22 rimfire, under certain conditions.

 

Preferred choice of many pro poachers & homestead butchers.  But why stop at deer?  ‘Close enough and a well placed” would bring down moose & elk.

I’ve had 3 .25-20s but could never quite figure out what to do with them beyond plinking at rocks, for which purpose they’re ideal.  Otherwise, they’re too much for small game (nor as accurate as .22LR), & too little for large game.  For turkey hunting, they’d be perfect, except that most hunting regs prohibit rifles. 

Avatar
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 4692
Member Since:
November 19, 2006
sp_UserOnlineSmall Online
8
April 17, 2021 - 2:56 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Kevin – 

That was a fun story.  Derailed threads are often some of the most interesting.

Avatar
RickC
Guest
WACA Guest
9
April 17, 2021 - 3:01 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

My other thought on the 25-20 was rifle or carbine? I don’t think a rifle would be my choice but I guess if you prairie dog hunting it might be more accurate than your bush hunting carbine.

Avatar
Northern edge of the D/FW Metromess
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 5635
Member Since:
November 7, 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
10
April 17, 2021 - 3:04 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

25-20 doesn’t make any more sense than a 32WCF but I like the little cartridge. I’d never take it hunting but it’s fun to plink around with and I suppose either cartridge would be helpful for keeping varmints out of the garden and chicken coop. Gentle, relatively quiet round, easy on the lead and powder supplies. Deer season doesn’t last all year, plenty of time for shooting the smaller calibers.

 

Mike

Life Member TSRA, Endowment Member NRA
BBHC Member, TGCA Member
Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe
I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call, Lonesome Dove
Some of my favorite recipes start out with a handful of depleted counterbalance devices.-TXGunNut
Presbyopia be damned, I'm going to shoot this thing! -TXGunNut
Avatar
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 104
Member Since:
April 2, 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
11
April 17, 2021 - 3:10 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

If you want the deer to suffer then the 25-20 would be a good  round.  Here in Missouri, at least were I live , most of the deer are killed in brush.  You miss your target just a little bit and you will be tracking for a long ways and may never find your kill.  Why not just take a nice 30-30 and get the job done.

Avatar
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 4692
Member Since:
November 19, 2006
sp_UserOnlineSmall Online
12
April 17, 2021 - 3:17 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_EditHistory sp_QuotePost

It is interesting to ponder how popular the .25-20 was at time of production.  A large portion of the late Model 1892’s you see are .25-20’s.  Also there was the Remington M25 pump (both carbine and rifle) and the Marlin M1894 the Model 27 (pump) were also made in this chambering.  Let’s not forget the Winchester M53 and M65.  There were bolt actions too – such as the Winchester M43 and Savage made some bolt actions in .25-20 as well.  My point is, a lot were sold and I very much doubt they were primarily sold for plinking.  Most people who wanted to plink used a .22 rimfire.  That leaves animals.  I suspect most the .25-20’s were originally sold to people who had animals in mind.  

Avatar
RickC
Guest
WACA Guest
13
April 17, 2021 - 3:21 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

steve004 said
It is interesting to ponder how popular the .25-20 was at time of production.  A large portion of the late Model 1892’s you see are .25-20’s.  Also there was the Remington M25 pump (both carbine and rifle) and the Marlin M1894 the Model 27 (pump) were also made in this chambering.  Let’s not forget the Winchester M53 and M65.  There were bolt actions too – such as the Winchester M43 and Savage made some bolt actions in .25-20 as well.  My point is, a lot were sold and I very much doubt they were primarily sold for plinking.  Most people who wanted to plink used a .22 rimfire.  That leaves animals.  I suspect most the .25-20’s were originally sold to people who had animals in mind.    

Good points Steve. I have to look into this a little more. Very interesting.

Avatar
Northern edge of the D/FW Metromess
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 5635
Member Since:
November 7, 2015
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
14
April 17, 2021 - 3:34 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I agree, Steve. Some of my first hunts were on a Texas ranch owned by a man who hunted deer with a 25-20. His ranch was near Bellevue and deer were often 200+ on the hoof, much bigger than the S Texas deer I’m used to. He seldom shot a deer but I have no doubt he got the job done. More powerful rounds such as the 30-06 were available over 100 years ago but rifles chambered for the smaller, less powerful rounds still sold well. Most show more than a little bit of use, would be interesting to know how the little rounds were regarded back in the day.

 

Mike

Life Member TSRA, Endowment Member NRA
BBHC Member, TGCA Member
Smokeless powder is a passing fad! -Steve Garbe
I hate rude behavior in a man. I won't tolerate it. -Woodrow F. Call, Lonesome Dove
Some of my favorite recipes start out with a handful of depleted counterbalance devices.-TXGunNut
Presbyopia be damned, I'm going to shoot this thing! -TXGunNut
Avatar
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 4692
Member Since:
November 19, 2006
sp_UserOnlineSmall Online
15
April 17, 2021 - 3:40 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

Mike – that’s a good point.  Many .25-20’s I’ve encountered show years of outdoor use.  I suspect many who owned them saw advantages of a lighter rifle, less recoil, less noise, less expensive ammunition.  They probably saw the .25-20 as more versatile than larger rifles such as .30-06.  

Avatar
NY
Member
Restricted
Forum Posts: 7119
Member Since:
November 1, 2013
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
16
April 17, 2021 - 4:03 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

steve004 said
 I suspect most the .25-20’s were originally sold to people who had animals in mind.    

No doubt.  Does that mean they were exercising good judgment?  Does that mean they were skilled hunters capable of stalking to within “sure-kill” range?  What it meant in most cases was lots of wounded animals never recovered.

Avatar
RickC
Guest
WACA Guest
17
April 17, 2021 - 4:14 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

clarence said

No doubt.  Does that mean they were exercising good judgment?  Does that mean they were skilled hunters capable of stalking to within “sure-kill” range?  What it meant in most cases was lots of wounded animals never recovered.  

Corporate America. Profit driven. Animals second.

Avatar
Member
WACA Guest
Forum Posts: 482
Member Since:
March 21, 2016
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
18
April 17, 2021 - 4:47 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

steve004 said
Kevin – 

That was a fun story.  Derailed threads are often some of the most interesting.  

My grandfather told me years later that he had been watching/observing that buck’s movements for months and was just waiting for the right time to take it. 

IMG_0805-Copy-Copy-Copy.JPG

Winchester Model 1873 44-40 circa 1886

Avatar
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 4692
Member Since:
November 19, 2006
sp_UserOnlineSmall Online
19
April 17, 2021 - 5:36 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

clarence said

No doubt.  Does that mean they were exercising good judgment?  Does that mean they were skilled hunters capable of stalking to within “sure-kill” range?  What it meant in most cases was lots of wounded animals never recovered.  

I have the mental picture of farm and ranch use.  Small critters such as porcupine, badger, ground hogs, coyotes and the like.

Avatar
Santa Clara, CA
Member
WACA Member
Forum Posts: 865
Member Since:
January 27, 1992
sp_UserOfflineSmall Offline
20
April 17, 2021 - 6:13 pm
sp_Permalink sp_Print sp_QuotePost

I became a 25-20 fan due to the Model 1892 rifle my great grand father had.  He butchered for neighboring Kansas farms, mostly in the spring and fall each year.  The 25-20 was his choice after the 22 rifle he had been using failed to put down a large steer after several attempts.  My uncle, who was helping him that spring with butchering, walked to the neighboring farm to borrow their “high powered Winchester rifle”.  When the butchering was completed, my great granddad traded the Winchester’s owner,  beef for the Winchester.  The rifle remains in the family as far as I know.  It was well used and put away wet like most tools back in the 1930’s. I saw my great grand dad stick a “kitchen” match in a fence post and light it on the third shot with the rifle.  “The good old days”.  RDB

Forum Timezone: UTC 0
Most Users Ever Online: 4623
Currently Browsing this Page:
1 Guest(s)
Top Posters:
clarence: 7119
TXGunNut: 5635
Chuck: 5037
steve004: 4691
1873man: 4494
Big Larry: 2452
twobit: 2357
mrcvs: 1973
TR: 1796
Forum Stats:
Groups: 1
Forums: 18
Topics: 13552
Posts: 119702

 

Member Stats:
Guest Posters: 1909
Members: 9314
Moderators: 4
Admins: 3
Navigation