Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Centerfires, rimfires, pistol cartridges and everything in between.
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by boats »

Sold d my 32/20 new Marlin when I found a nice original Marlin 1894 in 25/20. Ran the 32/20 on Unique and cast bullets. 25/20 started with Unique now loading 6.5 of 4227 and cast bullet. It’s about 1200 FPS. Have a Marlin 1894 in 38/40 use Unique in it too.

Low recoil quiet load is a good thing if knockdown is not required. Have shot indoor Schuetzen matches that require Sub Sonic. Mostly 32/40 & Unique but have shot the Military rifle class with a Trapdoor 45/70 using Unique. Way that club calculates sub sonic listen for the “crack” no crack it’s allowed.

I work up a sub sonic load with a fixed rotor pistol measure until it sounds super sonic, then drop down one rotor. No need for further testing. Based on scores, not groups, the sub sonic center fire loads are as accurate as .22 LR. This in a switch barrel single shot. Same action stock sights etc 32/40 & .22lr.

My opinion, can’t prove it, small case lead bullet, 4227 for higher velocity up to 1400 FPS, Sub sonic or around 1150 FPS Unique. Others may work well too personally don’t get too concerned with powders. It’s just fuel long as the burn rate is right little difference one to another.

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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by Porpoise »

My 25 20 shoots 60 gr. Hornady pretty good with 5.7 gr. N32c. (Tinstar) 1540 FPS
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by DAVIDMAGNUM »

Another Dang 9 wrote: Fri Jan 24, 2020 7:38 pm I wish they made a PC rifle in 38 sp. I've had good luck shooting those even in a .357 mag chamber. The powder to case ratio is perfect. The extra long chambers of .357 mag aren't perfect for it but in a bind for ammo it works fine.
The Uberti 1866 Winchester (Yellowboy) is available in 38 Special. I know a fellow in PA that uses one to great effect in lever action silhouette at Seitzland and Atglen.
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by edgehit »

Porpoise,
I wondered if Tinstar would work in the 25. I like that velocity, fast enough to stay supersonic to ram line but not so fast that it marks targets. Thanks for sharing.

I found 3.5 gr Titegroup under the same 60g with federal SP shoots like a 22lr.

Recently discovered a 32-20 moa load of 14gr RL 7 under 100g XTP that’s crazy accurate. 1380 FPS. Literally rips open a hole in 10-shot groups in 2 rifles I’ve tested it; Marlin 94CL and Browning 53.
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by edgehit »

Oh, almost forgot. Remington released 86g 25-20 bullets a month ago. Dig around the net and you might find some remaining.
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by Porpoise »

Yes, tinstar is my fave powder for the 60 gr bullet, 5.7 gr. Of it fills the case to the bottom of the neck and you can only fit a bit more than 6 grains. My rifle is old and because of the firing pin hole I get craters primers with loads that I read on the net are normal for the cartridge so 5.7 is good for mine. I used n110 at first but I was getting unburned powder down the barrel which I can’t stand although it shot ok. That was in cold weather
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by Ojaileveraction »

No matches for sometime now but I've been turning the 25-20 into a Varmint rifle with the 60g Hornady's showing up here and there during this time.
Shooting AR500 steel 1/5 size targets at 150 and 200 meters.
Been using a top load of H4198.

I gotta say I missed a whole part of the 38sp stuff.
Thanks Anothe Dang Nine and Dennes,
confimes my thinking at least and gives me some meat to chew on.
already order a short flexable Chamber Cleaning Tool.
Thanks again
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by JohnHenry »

Dennis, this is an interesting topic.

I am currently shooting an original 1894 Marlin (circa 1901) that has a pristine barrel. There was an issue with this rifle in that the first shot invariably went low 4" and left 1.5". The barrel was sent to a company that does cryogenics(barrel freezing), and that treatment eliminated the problem.
My load is Hornady 60 grain jacketed bullets with 14g H322. Muzzle velocity is 1800 fps. I use 32-20 cases necked down and they last indefinitely. I do not expand the case or crimp when loading. This load averages 1 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards with iron sights benchrest.

It is not only very accurate, but never fails to take down any of the animals hit. The only complaint is from the spotter, who says it is almost impossible to see the hits on chickens and pigs because the bullet moves so fast. When the shot is fired, the animal is down almost instantly.
You mention recoil bothers you. The 25-20 with the above load doesn't have any more recoil than a .22 rimfire in my estimation.

I have experimented with cast bullets with different, lower powder charges, but have never been able to shoot acceptable groups( they average 3") like I have with the jacketed bullets.
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by JohnHenry »

Edgehit, are you sure Remington has released 86grain 25-50 bullets? I have seen loaded ammo for sale, but not just bullets. :)
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by cedestech »

JohnHenry wrote: Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:41 am
My load is Hornady 60 grain jacketed bullets with 14g H322. Muzzle velocity is 1800 fps. I use 32-20 cases necked down and they last indefinitely. I do not expand the case or crimp when loading. This load averages 1 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards with iron sights benchrest.

Teresa shoots the exact same rifle with the exact same load! I settled on 322 because it was the most accurate powder but it leaves a ton of unburned powder. I was talking to someone at the Louisiana State match and they have the exact same problem with Accurate #7.

Just bought another 500 of the Hornady but am going to try to transition to Meistercast 86gr with a powder that will burn cleaner.

I picked up a 24" 1923 '92 that hopefully I can shoot the same load out of both.
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by PAndy »

Last summer I switched my fussy 32-20 to a 115 cast bullet and 13 gr of accurate LT-32 powder. It is an oddball powder but very nice to handle and measure. Similar speed to h322 so in a 32-20 it doesn't burn well at all. But for some reason it has been more accurate than others.. Velocity under 1300 fps. I wish 4.5 gr of unique worked in this gun! I use the LT-32 in 30-30 loads also
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by edgehit »

Yes, I bought 86g bullets. I just happened to be reading the last pages of 35 Remington’s notorious 25-20 reloading thread and there was a mention of ET Brass having Remington 86’s. ET is a small outfit without online shopping cart so I emailed for availability and confirmed they were in stock then bought a couple thousand over the phone x old school! They were great people to buy from. Hopefully they’ll shoot as well as the Hornady and Speers which are remarkable. Someday they’ll all be gone and manufacturers won’t make any more, that’s when I’ll take up bullet casting. I once bought some custom cast gas checked lead and they showed promise. I gave them up because Speer released their 75’s and got them shooting.
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by TheBugFather »

JohnHenry wrote: Wed Dec 30, 2020 9:41 am I am currently shooting an original 1894 Marlin (circa 1901) that has a pristine barrel. There was an issue with this rifle in that the first shot invariably went low 4" and left 1.5". The barrel was sent to a company that does cryogenics(barrel freezing), and that treatment eliminated the problem.
My load is Hornady 60 grain jacketed bullets with 14g H322. Muzzle velocity is 1800 fps. I use 32-20 cases necked down and they last indefinitely. I do not expand the case or crimp when loading. This load averages 1 inch 5 shot groups at 100 yards with iron sights benchrest.
H-322 was the favorite load for Derek Greenway, I asked him a while back.

Tony was have the same issue with his 25-20 shooting low and left for the first shoot too. But that was only with Little Gun powder. His was also a original, Winchester 1892? also from the early 1900's. His rifle did look its age, not too sure about the bore condition.

Thanks everyone for the updates on this link!

Dennis
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by K Danz »

12 years ago when Obummer was elected I sold a Marlin 1894 in 32-20 that was super accurate in order to purchase an AR10 rifle in 308. Kinda got caught up in the panic. Then, not surprisingly, Remington/Marlin discontinued the 1894 in 32-20. That was one of those, "guns I regret selling".
Last year, I purchased a Cimarron 1873 in 32-20. I still miss the Marlin, but this Cimarron shoots just as well. Even one of my old loads from the Marlin shoots good in this rifle. I put a Marbles tang sight on the gun. No way to put a scope on it. These groups were all fired with the Marbles tang sight off sandbags. All loads use Starline brass and Fed 205 primers. These loads are all taper crimped. The jacketed bullets are taper crimped at the crimping groove. The 92 gr Cast Polymer Coated is taper crimped and the over all length is 1.60" to function through the gun.

C&P Loads
3.6 gr Trailboss - 92 Gr RN King Polymer coated bullet. - 1138 FPS - .965" at 50 M. This bullet is available from Kings Shooters Supply in King of Prussia PA
3.5 gr Trailboss - 85 gr Hornady HPXTP - 1060 FPS - 1.23" at 50 M

T&R Loads
13 gr AA1680 - 100 gr Hornady HPXTP - not chronographed - 2.2" at 100 M.
14.1 gr AA2015 - 90 gr Sierra HP - 1331 FPS - 2.85" at 100 M. The one downside to this load, is that it leaves a lot of yellow, unburned kernels of powder. Similar to IMR4227.
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Re: Favorite 32-20 Load and 25-20 too!

Post by 1894User »

Use 7.7 gr of Longshot capped with a 90gr Sierra HP. Not sure if subsonic, but very mild and gave consistent sub 2in groups at 100m with my Marlin CL using peep sights.

Good luck with your loading adventures.

JW
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