deer an little levers ?-20 family

WhelanLad

WhelanLad

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Hey fellas, long an skinny on it all.

I have property to shoot as many deer as I see, although the problem is im hunting them at 20-40meters, carrying a .270 or .308 seems a waste of a premium projectile to me an that's how I see it.

So I want to go down the Scale a bit, an option could be the 300blk, but looking at the older Lever style guns, and so it popped into my head that the little 25-20 fed families in the depression, and im also sure the 32-20 did it a bit better?


Now I know theres a lot of knowledge on this forum! especially about the different Calibres!

So I am asking for your opinions and thoughts on chosing the right calibre for my job at hand.

the deer are Fallow, so a Doe can be 40-60kg say.. im mostly shooting Does. at distances out to an proberly no further than 100m at all.


Todays premium bullets make things interesting, as I could imagine with tinkering there could be option of filing projectiles off to see fit for tube, loading less rounds maybe too.


Ive heard some negatives in regards to reloading for these Cals. 25-20 & 32-20?


but im thinkin a 80gr at around 1600fps is plenty for my range, penetration? lung shots?

but the 32 would have a bit better an solid projectile to be sure of penetration.



Keeping in mind I don't really want Pass thrus if I can help it..


Hope to hear from you Guys

Thanks

WhelanLad
 
I dont think the cost is much different for 300blk and 308 if you're reloading... but i just watched this video and found the results to be interesting. a small bullet going very fast and expanding/fragmenting. no exit wound. .223. something like a nosler ballistic tip.

 
looks like a great time to get your self a little 20g slug gun and do some testing ,,you can get a mossy 500 rifled slug gun for a little over 300$ put a good scope on it and have a ball ,,my grandfather had a win 92 in 25 20 and he feed his family all winter with that little gun ,,a 22hornet could be a good idea as well ,,DUtch
 
Hayya Laddie, an old 250-tree towsands izz in order.
Oar go in style, an old 44-40 and chewt cast boolits.

Me lawrd, the possabillititties.............
 
kamlooky said:
Hayya Laddie, an old 250-tree towsands izz in order.
Oar go in style, an old 44-40 and chewt cast boolits.

Me lawrd, the possabillititties.............
Click to expand...

Mate i know!!! I know.

The shotgun Option may be possibilitie too but i think the price of a Sluggun down here is UP there, my smooth bore SxS might throw a OO SSG but for now the Shotgun is OUT.

The standard 22hrnt,222, 223 sound the go but Legalities here say 24 is smallest cal...but no Min Length etc, Hemce the 25/20 & 32/20 come to mind.

Keep this discussion and options open.... the kewl thang is you guys kinda get the gist on hunting downunder :)

Now I currently have

22hrnt
222rem
375bb
410- wonder if a Slug pops out of it nicely?? + add sights

and the rest are setup for either LR, Stalking or just the general hunting.


whats reloading the little ones like? 25 & 32

Cheers
WL
 
I haven't played with the -20's for deer, but the -40's have treated my family well including being used to dispatch a few moose. For little levers I'd probably look at them as well as the .22 hi-power, and .25-35. Not that a .300 savage, .250 savage or any other lever cartridge wouldn't be up to the task.
If you were going to make me pick a bolt action carbine, something like a 7.62x39 or .222/.223/.22-250 with a good 60 grain soft point would make me very happy.
 
I think a .410 is pretty whimpie for the task at hand.
Maybe pracktiss up awn toss'n an axe.
If'n yah make a good hit, heck the fur should bleed owt
bee'4'in yah git yer arse to it.
 
I don't have experience with the 25- or 32-20, but own and like a little Rossi lever action carbine in .38 special/357 mag. I think it would be about ideal for your purposes, and also easy to find one in a store.
 
The .25- 20 WCF is a fun rifle to shoot and hand load for.Have not shot anything with my Model 53 Winchester other than put holes in paper,but the cartridge is quite accurate.Been using the Hornady 60 grain bullet.
 
I've had both a .25-20 in a Model 92 Winchester and a Savage Model 23 bolt action. Both were nice little rifles and were deadly on groundhogs and other small game. I'm not so sure about deer size animals even though I know that some big deer (including a one time world record - the Jordan buck) have been killed with a .25-20. I've had big groundhogs just "hunch up" and make it down the hole with a chest shot.

I had a .32-20 in a Colt Lightening pump. It was a sweet handling rifle and with a 100 gr cast bullet I would take on a small deer at close range.

Both .25-20 and .32-20 are easy to load for but brass can be had to find.

I like Longwalker's idea of a Lever action .357 magnum.
 
I'm reloading 25-20. If I was shooting deer, which I wouldn't, I'd look for a gas checked bullet.
And maybe a bolt action. And a shot less than 50yds.
I think it's better suited to small game, like fox sized.
 
Although the .25-20 & .32-20 can do the job on deer sized critters, they call for surgical shot placement. I wouldn't poke a hefty Fallow deer beyond 50 or so yds. with these & I would use a scoped rifle to ensure a dead-on hit with the heaviest boolit each load would allow to function in each rifle. Super fun cartridges to load for and hunt with. Just don't push the envelope on chamber pressures to avoid grief.

Me own old time .32 caliber favorite is the .32-40 Winchester and it's a fine old target and deer round.
 
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