Back from a month-long hunt in Montana, with the primary goal to take a Pronghorn with a recently-acquired '85 High Wall, caliber .25-20 Single Shot.

The Gun: 1885 Winchester Special Sporting Rifle (1904 mfg), #3 barrel, 32" length, #2 wood, close-coupled double-set trigger, Lyman tang sight.  When purchased, the front sight was an ivory fine bead, marked "Lyman 1890", but regrettably it had been mashed to a 90-degree bend, and did not survive the attempt to straighten it.  Pressed for time, and still in research phase for a "correct" front sight, a modern brass-bead sight was hurriedly installed just prior to the hunt.

Time restrictions also precluded preferable load development to include cast bullets, and so also with field performance in mind, a jacketed bullet load recommended for the .25-20 WCF was quickly cobbled together.  Perhaps not surprisingly to others with more High Wall experience, the rifle grouped 1.22" at 100 yards despite such brief effort toward sighting equipment and ammunition.

The cartridge proved adequate, but not immediately decisive toward the goal.  The Pronghorn buck was at 91 yards, and the first shot hit high in the ribs.  As he stumbled, the rifle was reloaded, and the second shot to the shoulder knocked him down.  A third was deemed necessary for a humane finish.

Having hunted Pronghorn for 44 years, I have seen many of them that have taken more than one shot to kill with cartridges deemed far more "capable" than this one.  In this instance, the rifle did its job, the cartridge did what it could, and if any fault can be assigned it should be to the shooter.  Any designs toward asking this much from this fine rifle and cartridge again will be seriously and self-critically pondered.

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Would be real interested in distance point of impact bullet performance and effect.  No Pronghorn experience but fair amount of deer as well as lot of 32/20 rounds in Silhouette.  Don't think of it as a deer cartridge in any way and 25/20's don't hit as hard as the 32's.   

Of course they can be killed with Arrows and Pistols if hit right. Appreciate if you pin down the exact details

Boats

I have a Remington Model 25 in 25/20 Win. I've shot up to 16.0 gr of Rx7 with the Seirra 75 gr hollow point spitzer, loaded single. I got groups in the 1" range with the 16.0 gr load. I didn't chronograph it but, my estimate of that load is 2000 fps in a 24" barrel.

If you have the time, I'd start at 14.0 gr of Rx7 and work up. AA1680 might be a very good powder, also.

Frank

Man, That is just a BEAUTIFUL picture!

THANKS!

Damn, that's a FINE Looking Model '85!!

Terry

No short comings in using a 25-20 for Deer. It was my Aunts rifle of choice back in the day and I don't recall any survivors. She was a very accomplished marksman / women and shot placement is everything not caliber size.

J.Louis