| .25-20 Winchester | ||
|---|---|---|
| Type | Rifle | |
| Place of origin | United States | |
| Service history | ||
| Used by | ranchers, trappers, small game hunters, varmint hunters, and deer hunters | |
| Wars | none | |
| Production history | ||
| Designed | 1892 | |
| Manufacturer | Winchester | |
| Produced | 1895 | |
| Number built | 90750 | |
| Specifications | ||
| Parent case | .32-20 Winchester | |
| Bullet diameter | .258 in (6.6 mm) | |
| Neck diameter | .274 in (7.0 mm) | |
| Shoulder diameter | .333 in (8.5 mm) | |
| Base diameter | .349 in (8.9 mm) | |
| Rim diameter | .408 in (10.4 mm) | |
| Rim thickness | .065 in (1.7 mm) | |
| Case length | 1.330 in (33.8 mm) | |
| Overall length | 1.592 in (40.4 mm) | |
| Primer type | small rifle | |
| Ballistic performance | ||
| Bullet weight/type | Velocity | Energy |
| 60 gr (3.9 g) FP | 2,101 ft/s (640 m/s) | 588 ft·lbf (797 J) |
| 75 gr (4.9 g) FP | 1,877 ft/s (572 m/s) | 587 ft·lbf (796 J) |
| 86 gr (5.6 g) SP | 1,673 ft/s (510 m/s) | 535 ft·lbf (725 J) |
| Source(s): Hodgdon [1] | ||
The .25-20 Winchester, or WCF (Winchester center fire) was developed about 1895 for the Winchester Model 1892 lever action rifle. It was based on necking down the .32-20 Winchester. In the early 20th century, it was a premier small game and varmint round, developing around 1460 ft/s with 86 grain bullets.
While the SAAMI pressure rating is a full 28,000 CUP, modern ammunition is often loaded lighter in deference to the weaker steels used on many of the original guns. The early black powder cartridges were loaded to about 20,000 psi, but the SAAMI rating is close to that of the high velocity smokeless rounds produced later. The high velocity loadings developed 1732 ft/s.[2]
It was easy and economical to reload, and was once a favorite with farmers, ranchers, pot hunters and trappers. Though the .25-20 was undoubtedly used on deer and the like with some success, this is not advisable due to the sedate ballistics and light bullet construction for this cartridge. As it happened, though, a whitetail deer of long standing record was taken with a .25-20 rifle in 1914.[3]