Deer Hunting With a .25-20 Winchester
- Thread starter 28 gauge 2
- Start date
DeerHunter898
Member
If it’s all someone had, it shouldn’t hold them back from deer hunting, but I think that’s an unlikely scenario in 2026.
I consider it as more of a novelty for an experienced hunter. If you are willing to take your time, hunt within its limitations, and pass up shots when you should, there’s nothing wrong with using something like that. I have a 100+ year old 44-40 that I’ll take out again someday, just for fun.
It’s funny, in another 50 years, someone will be writing this same type of comment about “underpowered” 30-30s being too light for whitetails.
I consider it as more of a novelty for an experienced hunter. If you are willing to take your time, hunt within its limitations, and pass up shots when you should, there’s nothing wrong with using something like that. I have a 100+ year old 44-40 that I’ll take out again someday, just for fun.
It’s funny, in another 50 years, someone will be writing this same type of comment about “underpowered” 30-30s being too light for whitetails.
There are some that are already saying that with all the wizzbang and super dipper ubber magnums now.
As you said knowing the guns limitations along with the 25-20’s it is a capable round.
Many a deer have been killed with the 22 Hornet and even the .22 Rimfire.
I had one for a short while and enjoyed the gun for what it was … factory ammo today is $$$$
Buy one if you find a good one and relive the days gone by.
Rob
spelling errors corrected .....
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Very Kool 
It would pass right through a deer if you hit the boiler room. Just lie a 44-40 would. Hit the lungs or heart and it will be dead deer. I would rather a 25-20 over any shotgun with buck shot. Just make sure it's a good angle and well within range.
22lr and a spotlight is very effective around my area and somehow traditional
struff55, struff55, struff55, there are countless written accounts of guys shooting deer with those mentioned cartridges.
I never said I condone such antics, but history is history.
Where in the BC regs say the 25-20 is not allowed ?
For review of past discussions https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/threads/22-for-deer.2391002/page-2
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unstableryan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Beautiful Okanagan Valley
If the deer doesn't know you are there, no problem. If it does, pass on the shot or maybe get the deer.
A lot of deer are killed with arrows not much energy there ? I would think shot placement is the key. We had a young kid at deer camp years past that was a helicopter pilot in training show up with his grandpa's Win 25-20 he jumped a 300 lb 14 point buck and unloaded his 25-20 The buck was shot the next stand over with a Ruger 44 mag with no 25 cal holes only proves he missed the buck with the 25-20 . By the way the young fellow crashed and survived a helicopter crash the next spring. I agree the 25-20 is not a good choice for a deer cartridge .
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No the .25-20 would not be my first choice for a deer rifle either.However if you place your shot and keep it below 50 yards it will work.Some one wanting a bit more of a challenger to their deer hunt,no doubt would enjoy it.
As you say, shot placement is the most important aspect of taking game.
For the guys saying it not a good choice, yall need to learn how to hunt. And no not drive around in your pick up or atv and spot a deer and shoot it but actually hunt. Walk the land get close to your target and be patient enough to wait for the right shot opportunity. The 25-20 is more than enough gun to kill a deer.
- Location
- Central Ontario
Distance and shot placement.
Just know your cartridges' limitations.
This should apply to all cartridges .
Just know your cartridges' limitations.
This should apply to all cartridges .
Arrows don't kill by energy transfer, they kill by cutting. Not really a fair comparison.
Will 25-20 kill a deer at close enough ranges? Sure. 357mag from a handgun is in the same ballpark energy-wise, and guys are using those stateside.
My only issue would be not trusting others to respect it's limitations - a lot of hunters don't respect their own limitations (eg. taking shots they have no business taking whether it's because it's too long or a bad angle or brush is in the way) so I'd be concerned about people respecting the limitations of the cartridge... But that's a problem with hunters, not the cartridge.
Very ineffective… hmmmmm like so many here like to say dead is dead and it can’t be deader, so looks to me that it is effective, would I use it probably not, but I’ve shot caribou(2) with my old 38-55 carbine in the winter when people told me it was inadequate for that animal especially in winter(possibly less velocity)… both died quickly!
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535 ft lbs at the muzzle it's not more than enough mr Daniel Boone
mattgoulding, in this day and age there are far better choices.
I am pretty sure you know that and I know I know that there are better choices and a 25-20 would fit in bare minimum imo.
I am not going to be the guy that uses a rimfire round for deer unless it is the end of the world and there in the one and only blk tail left in Burns Bog in Delta.
We are biotchin about hypothetical situations well maybe some of us are biotchin I mean.
It wasn't two months ago and someone was going on about how great a 223 Ackley Improved is the next best thing to sliced bread for deer.
It is unfortunate that I went to school with and eventually worked with relatives of poachers who shot before , after hours over their daily limit used rimfire for migratory game birds and big game local to me, so I have heard the stories before I started hunting.
Anyways, I'm out lest a certain moderator comes on and calls me daft again for voicing my opinion regardless of whether it fits the conversation or not.
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