25 WCF?

otis24 · Apr 23, 2009

I just sold a new truck to an older gentleman (85 yrs old). He had a single shot Winchester drop-block rifle that belonged to his grandfather. It was chambered in 25 WCF. I was trying to help him find ammo for it. All I found on-line was 25-20 and 25-35 ammo. Will this work in his rifle or does it shoot something else? Where can I find this ammo?

otis24 · Apr 23, 2009

I just sold a new truck to an older gentleman (85 yrs old). He had a single shot Winchester drop-block rifle that belonged to his grandfather. It was chambered in 25 WCF. I was trying to help him find ammo for it. All I found on-line was 25-20 and 25-35 ammo. Will this work in his rifle or does it shoot something else? Where can I find this ammo?

Bruce51 · Apr 23, 2009

I know the Old Western Scrounger loads them. Bruce

http://www.ows-ammo.com/catalog/index.php/cPath/21

john traveler · Apr 23, 2009

The Winchester single shot rifle was probably the M1885 "Low Wall" Winchester.

Thge 25 WCF designation is for the .25-20 cartridge, and not the .25-35, a much longer cartridge based on a necked-down .30-30. It is a revolver and pistol caliber carbine cartridge based on a necked-down .32-20.

You will have to browse well-equipped gun shops that stock Cowboy Action Shooting calibers, as this caliber has gained in popularity with the competition shooting sports.

john traveler · Apr 23, 2009

OOPS! I just realized that an old designation for the .30-30 was .30 WCF.

You need to inspect the chamber diameter to confirm that it is the right cartridge. A .25-35 chamber is the same diameter as for the .30-30, but the .25-35 chamber is much smaller, like the .32-20 cartridge. If you can see into the chamber and detect a distinct shoulder about two inches deep, it is the .25-35 cartridge. If you can only see a should about one inch into the chamber, it is the .25-20 cartridge.

VAdoublegunner · Apr 23, 2009

Yep, aka the .25-20. I shoot a Win '92 made in 1927 chambered in 25WCF for cowboy lever action silhouette. It is a great little cartridge, flat shooting and accurate. It does well with both jacketed and cast bullets if the rifle has a good bore. Compared to other necked WCF proprietary cartridges, it is an easy one to reload. I get far fewer crushed or buckled cases. It is reputed to be a great turkey round where rifles are legal.

Bruce51 · Apr 23, 2009

John you are probably correct. I checked my oldest manual and the 25-20 is listed as W.C.F.. I thought the same thing about the 30-30 WCF. The 25-35 is not listed as WCF So it is most likely a 25-20. Bruce

2152hq · Apr 23, 2009

They marked the Winchester Single Shots in 25-20WCF caliber '25WCF'.

They also chambered the rifles at the same time in another caliber called '25-20 Single Shot'. Those are generally marked '25-20SS'

The 25-20 Single Shot cartridge is an entirely different case from the 25-20WCF. (It was the parent case for the wildcat R-2 Lovell,, IIRC)

I suspect the WCF chamberings were marked '25WCF' so they didn't have two different chamberings with '25-20' in them.

Some early rifles may have the full 25-20WCF markings.

Neat cartridge. Like the 32-20, they are cheap to load and fun to shoot.

Gun 4 Fun · Apr 23, 2009

I own a Savage model 23 Sporter that is chambered in .25-20. It is marked 25-20 Winchester on the barrel. It is very accurate. It was made some time in the '20's, possibly very early '30's. The bore is mirror bright, unlike a lot of the older guns like it, that saw a lot of black powder ammo, and have pitted bores.

25WCF is indeed the .25-20.

s&wchad · Apr 23, 2009

Originally posted by 2152hq:
Some early rifles may have the full 25-20WCF markings.

Some late ones too.

2152hq · Apr 23, 2009

great looking rifle there!!
But it doesn't look like a Model 85

I had ment my remark in reference to the Single Shots but I probably didn't explain myself very well.

Your 53 looks like it never goes out much! That is truely a beautiful condition rifle. Thanks for posting the pic.

I did recently come accross a really nice Low Wall in 32-20 with a 1/2oct barrel, pistol grip stock, etc. Closer examination showed the barrel was from a lever gun,,a 53 IIRC and had been modified & refitted to the L/W action. Looked nice though! I wonder what it really was before the make over.

Bruce51 · Apr 23, 2009

Gun 4 Fun, I own one of the Savage Sporters as well. Lots of fun to load for and shoot. Here's mine. Bruce

jag312 · Apr 23, 2009

I bought a Winchester Low-Wall in .25-20WCF for my son about 15 years ago. It was a half octagon, half round barrel. Because it is a single shot, he isn't limited to flat point bullets. I believe he uses 75 grain pointed soft point or hollow point bullets. It is a darn good rifle. He's happy with it.

zercool · Apr 24, 2009

Remington and I think Winchester are still doing factory loads for it... Figure on a buck a shot when you can find it.

If you handload, Midway and Midsouth have the brass when it's available. Only a seasonal run because of low demand. I snagged a couple hundred pieces last time I saw it. A few bullet options, 60gr and 86gr JFP, or gas-checked cast are reported to work well.

I just loaded up a box for dad using 9gr of 2400 behind the 60gr JFP; we'll see how those shoot for him.

mississippi revolverman · Apr 24, 2009

Brue Lee and G4F agree with both on the Savage sporter 25-20. I lucked up on one for $85 with a 4 power Weaver. Nice shooting gun. Droped a feral dog at 75 yd coming in on my predator call back last winter

Jerry in SC · Apr 24, 2009

Great cartridge, I had one of the reintroduced 1894 Marlins that would cloverleaf three shots at 75 yards. Sweet little rifle.

Sako chambered some of their L46 bolt rifles in .25-20, pretty rare these days.

Jst1mr · Apr 25, 2009

I believe the "Jordan Buck", a monster whitetail deer shot in Wisconsin in 1914 fell to a .25-20. The 12pt (typical) deer weighed over 400lbs and stood as the world record whitetail until fairly recently, I believe.

otis24 · Apr 25, 2009

I did locate a box, and it is about a $1 per shot. However, I understand that there is a difference between .25-20 single shot and .25-20 repeater. The ammo I am seeking is for a single shot.

mesabi · Apr 26, 2009

There is indeed a difference... Buffalo Arms would be a good place to start searching, but I would first make sure of the actual chambering. If the rifle is marked ".25 WCF" it is probably the .25-20.

feralmerril · Apr 26, 2009

One slight correction. Someone said the 25-20 was made for rifles AND revolvers. I used to get around, and I have never seen or heard of any revolver chambered in 25-20. Now, I have a 32/20 colt single action, had both colt and smith double actions in it, but dont belive any ever existed in 25/20. Probley someone has tried a contender barrel in one, no doubt.

25 WCF?

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