wachtelhund1
New member
I picked up a .25-20 Marlin 27-S pump last November. It was in very bad shape. Extremely rusted and pitted. Did a write up on its restoration here:http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=537486 Had to replace the bolt, cartridge lifter, left side plate and make an ejector. Repair the forearm, rust blued it and had my gunsmith re-line the barrel. Asked my gunsmith to shorten the barrel from 24" to 21"; well he messed up and it has a 19" barrel now. But it is a hoot to shoot. The Marlin 27-S had two 8-40 holes in the receiver for a Hepburn peep sight. I used the two holes to make a base and mounted a Burris mini 4X scope on it, fits perfect; not too big for the samll frame rifle. I leave it in my truck for an occasional coyote shot.
I have fired about 3,000 rounds this spring and summer, most trying to find a good lead cast bullet load. Tried four different bullet molds, 67 and 86 grain molds, plus Rem 86 gr JSP bullets, four types of powder: IMR 4198, RL-7, IMR 4227 and WIN 748. The Win 748 14.5 gns worked well with the 86 gn cast bullet. I know it is way to slow of a powder, but it shot consistent 2.5" groups at 100 yards.
RL-7, 12.2 to 12.5 worked best with the Rem 86 gr JSP bullet, consistent 2" to2.5" groups at 100 yards. Cases formed from .32-20 Win brass. Fleet & Farm in my area sells .32-20 Win brass for $15.00 for 50. I bought about ten bags. To resize .32-20 Win brass to .25-20, I lube and run the cases through the .25-20 bullet seater die without the bullet seater first. I do it slowly in steps so not to crush the case. Then run the cases through the normal .25-20 sizer die. Out of 50 I might lose 5 cases.
I load my .25-20 rounds on an old Ponsness Warren P-200 press set up with a primer feed and Lee Auto Pro powder measure. Old press for an old cartridge. Works great. Yesterday, I loaded almost 200 rounds in less than an hour. I also use an M die to expand the case mouths to except the bullets since the brass is so thin.
I've got 800 Sierra 75 gn JSP bullets which I haven't tried yet.
I have fired about 3,000 rounds this spring and summer, most trying to find a good lead cast bullet load. Tried four different bullet molds, 67 and 86 grain molds, plus Rem 86 gr JSP bullets, four types of powder: IMR 4198, RL-7, IMR 4227 and WIN 748. The Win 748 14.5 gns worked well with the 86 gn cast bullet. I know it is way to slow of a powder, but it shot consistent 2.5" groups at 100 yards.
RL-7, 12.2 to 12.5 worked best with the Rem 86 gr JSP bullet, consistent 2" to2.5" groups at 100 yards. Cases formed from .32-20 Win brass. Fleet & Farm in my area sells .32-20 Win brass for $15.00 for 50. I bought about ten bags. To resize .32-20 Win brass to .25-20, I lube and run the cases through the .25-20 bullet seater die without the bullet seater first. I do it slowly in steps so not to crush the case. Then run the cases through the normal .25-20 sizer die. Out of 50 I might lose 5 cases.
I load my .25-20 rounds on an old Ponsness Warren P-200 press set up with a primer feed and Lee Auto Pro powder measure. Old press for an old cartridge. Works great. Yesterday, I loaded almost 200 rounds in less than an hour. I also use an M die to expand the case mouths to except the bullets since the brass is so thin.
I've got 800 Sierra 75 gn JSP bullets which I haven't tried yet.
