All around small game cartridge?

I know many of you are fans of a 22 rim fire for small game, but how about a pistol barrel chambered in 25-20 Winchester?

This cartridge would primarily shoot cast leads at sub-sonic velocities in order to keep meat damage to a minimum.

Any thoughts to this choice for a small game pistol cartridge?

leverman

I had a single six in 32HR mag that I shot a few ground squirrels with. I was running a 115 gr laser cast out at about 1250fps and it didn't seem to tear them up at all. I don't know what the cost comparison of ammo or reloading components would be between the 25-20 and 32 but the 32 ammo is more readily available if you don't load. I'm not familiar with the 25-20 ballistics but the other thing I liked about the 32 was that it was enough gun to handle coyotes or other similiar sized critters out as far as I could hit one with the iron sighted gun.

Should be fine, just use a flat point bullet. A round nose slug may just slip between the muscles and blood vessels that a flat nose bullet will cut as it passes through the critters body. Kinda like being jabbed with a nail or hit with a softball, much more wallop with a flat nose. It's one reason I use a Hanned tool to make my .22 LR's flat points for small game. You can reload a .25-20 but not a .22, so you have the option of bullet molds in different styles. If you don't cast your own, Hornady makes a 60gr. flat point that looks good. As for reloading data, you're on your own there.

D'Keyman, Non Sibi Sed Patriae (Not Self But Country)

The 25-20 is a neat little round. The 218 Bee is also cool. Both are necked down from the 32-20, which is another cool little cartridge. In 2005 SP did a group barrel buy in 218 Bee, and I was hoping that the SP barrel for 2006 would be the 25-20 but it never came to be.

Cast bullets at sub-sonic velocities would almost be the same as a 22 LR, but you would have the ability to load jacketed bullets at greater velocities when need. I say go for it.

That sounds compairable to the 22 Hornet. I thougt it could be loaded at 22LR velocities?

Duane

25-20 has been an all around fun cartridge. I got a 25-20 and 32-20 barrel, both are 12" length, from Coyote Barrels about a year ago. Both shoot very well. My 32-20 barrel is .308" bore.

John

I personally have a 32-20(308) that is great. I shoot Cast Performance bullets in it and hammer squirrels. A real sleeper would be 38spl with wadcutters and the standard 2.5grs of Bullseye.

Some of you older guy`s will remember the 224 Kay-Chuck that was a favorite of Al Georg.I purchased a S&W K-22 cylinder and a
8 3/8" barrel and had my gunsmith ream the cylinder to what is
basically a shortened 22 k-hornet and had this fitted to a single
action K-38 frame.My S&W m-48 22mag with a 6" barrel averages
right at 1400FPS with CCI 40gr JHP ammo. My 22 K-C with 8.0grs
of 2400 averages 1650FPS with a 35gr V-Max bullet and with 9.0grs
it runs along at 1754FPS. This is a justifiable increase in velocity over my 22 rim-fire mag, besides, I enjoy shooting a
bottleneck cartridge in a double action revolver. The muzzle blast is heavy with hardly any recoil.The round was first made by the wildcatter Jim Harvey who also converted S&W 22RF K-frames
to the center fire 22KC.An originally marked Harvey conversion
brings a good premium today on the collector market.This round was the forerunner of the ill-fated S&W 22 Jet, however ,it has none of the cylinder locking case set-back that doomed the Jet.
This is a very useful round for single or double action revolver`s. Good hunting, James

I loaned mine to a friend....he took it to CO and killed a 120# mountain lion with it. It was loaded with 115gr Penn FN's and Unique to make about 1100fps.