25-20 on a bolt action?

220Swifty

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What would be involved in building such a beast. Looking at load manuals, it appears that if i can open up a 223 bolt face by .030", i might be able to pull it off. What do you reckon an ideal barrel length would be? Ideas gents?
 
Savage 23b has a barrel length of 25 inches but a shorter one would be fine as the case capacity is small therefore powder is likely to be burnt in the first 15 inches of the bore.

Uses powders like 4227, H110, W296, lil gin.
 
Could likely have a H+R or NEF single shot in .22 hornet rebored to 25-20.Bolt actions other than Savage?Harold
 
I have 3 rifles in 25-20...all levers. why would a person want to convert a bolt into 25-20? This caliber seems not much more than a magnum .22. I like to shoot gophers with it but do not see it as a game rifle. The 25-35 i have is much more of a big game rifle caliber.
 
The 25/20 is a wonderful cartridge, but what is wrong with it's original platform, a Winchester or Marlin lever gun? If you are trying for the utmost in accuracy and that's why you want it in a boltgun, I think you may be headed in the wrong direction(IMHO). The most accurate of the old time/cast bullet .25 caliber cartridges was the 25/20 Single shot which is still used today by learned schuetzen shooters, as it hangs with the .32s unless lots of wind is present. In a good single shot, or possibly boltgun, it would be the bees knees.
 
Didn't Savage's 219 come in 25-20.Made a great turkey /trapline gun with cast bullets............Harold *would a BRNO/CZ in .22 Hornet work with a new barrel?
 
To justify my reasoning, i love bolt actions and it seems like a fun, one off thing to do. I couldn't really call myself a gun nut if i didn't dream this #### up.:D

Likely would be used to fill the void where a 22 hornet used to be. Short range coyotes around farm houses and closer to town.
 
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Saw one today and my Father has one too. Savage as mentioned by Kevan and brnolvr. Was $100 and the fellow had a matching one in 32-20 nest to it for $150.

They aren't the best built rifles but are fun to play with. Not sure why you would want to go to all the trouble of building one thou. Get a 22 hornet, 257 Roberts or maybe a 243 depending on what you want to do with it. There was a .25 that was (I think) made on a necked down 357 mag case for Ruger revolvers at one time too even. (http://www.chuckhawks.com/256Win.htm)

If you are wanting a 25-20 find a Marlin or build one on a single shot instead. A Contender action or H&R would be good modern frames to work from, a low wall or Stevens 44 1/2 or the like if you want to go classic.

All depends on what you are trying to create exactly I guess...

(Wow I'm slow today. 4 posts before I got mine off! You gotta love Gun Nutz!)
 
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"...To justify my reasoning..." 'I want one.' is reason enough. Wouldn't use a .223 though. The rimmed/rimless thing. A Savage Model 40 Varmint Hunter might do for an action. It comes in .22 Hornet. Single shot though
The Hornet's rim is 58 thou smaller, but the same thickness. It wouldn't be terribly difficult to open it bolt face that much. You would need a custom barrel.
 
Evolution in thought. Mention of the 256 Winchester got my mind going, has the 44 mag case been necked to 25 in any real capacity? This would be the way to go, as i could simply rebarrel a ruger 77/44 and be off to the races.

Any input here?
 
The Winchester 43 would be perfect if you could find one ( I once had a 218 Bee which shot real well). Apart from that, any small action which is adaptable to a rimmed cartridge would work. Feeding would be the major issue.
If you are open to wildcats, a 25-223 would work pretty well and there are a lot of suitable actions for it. Regards, Bill.
 
Have you looked at the Cooper Arms website. I am pretty sure that they make a singleshot bolt action that would be ideal for your purposes. Pricey though.
 
Seems like a waste of $$ to me.
Why not just watch for an old Sav or Winny bolt in either 25-20 or 22H.
I have a Win 43 in .22H & it's a great little plinking gun that'll do anything the 25-20 will do.
At least if you found one of those you could sell it when your tired of it & not loose any $$ :)
 
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