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50target
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25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Apr 25th, 2018 at 10:53pm
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I have a Stevens 44 in 25-20SS  and no dies or brass. I also have 25-20Wçf so am familiar with the cartridgej. 
Is it possible to reload the SS round with the 25--20 WCF  die set?

Tanks for the help.


Bob

  
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Jeff Houck
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #1 - Apr 25th, 2018 at 11:28pm
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No, they are two different cartridges.
  

Jeff Houck
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #2 - Apr 26th, 2018 at 1:52am
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You can use the WCF dies to necksize, expand and load the SS if you have the right shell holder and you are careful.  The fired brass has to fit your chamber, of course.
  
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50target
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #3 - Apr 26th, 2018 at 4:43am
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Bent_Ramrod, I shoot the shorter WCF version & was thinking I could,but this is my first foray into this caliber. Will the shellholder for the 25-20WCF not work?

Appreciate everyone's reply. Great forum. My other vintage calibers are more widely used; 25-20WCF, 32-20WCF & 38-55.
Bob
  
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art_ruggiero
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #4 - Apr 26th, 2018 at 7:29am
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the shell holder for cal. 223 works fine   and breach seat the bullet   art
  
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notlwonk
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #5 - Apr 26th, 2018 at 7:49am
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I bought a lee collet neck sizer for the Hornet and opened up the collet (and made a new decapping rod) for the 25-20 WCF. Works well. For the Stevens SS I made a spacer to go over the SS case to make up the difference in case length.
  
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #6 - Apr 26th, 2018 at 10:48am
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As Art mentioned, a .223 shell holder works.  Usually.

Sometimes, though, the cases will have thicker rims, or, in worst-case scenarios, oval rims.  The last factory runs of obsolete calibers and some of the cruder modern reproductions of same (I am not mentioning Bertram  Smiley) can have these problems.

I would spring for a specific SS shell holder or look for one for the .32 Long Colt.  It will at least hold the thicker rims correctly.  If the oval rims are too bad, out comes the fine file.
  
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Green_Frog
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #7 - Apr 26th, 2018 at 8:29pm
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FWIW, Lyman's shell holder listing showed the #19 as being right for the 22 Lovell (22-3000) which is of course nothing but a necked down 25-20 SS.  My #19 fits my 25-20, but of course I have some random old WW and Rem-UMC cases that may not be typical of what you find.

Froggie
« Last Edit: Apr 26th, 2018 at 8:36pm by Green_Frog »  
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waterman
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #8 - Apr 26th, 2018 at 9:09pm
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art_ruggiero wrote on Apr 26th, 2018 at 7:29am:
the shell holder for cal. 223 works fine   and breach seat the bullet   art


+1  Works fine.  Punch out primers with almost anything.  If the .223 shell holder works, use it for priming.  Or a tong tool for anything close.  I have an old tong tool for 25-20 WCF.  I use the hole in the lower handle and the little post on the upper handle to prime 25-20 SS.
  
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50target
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #9 - Apr 27th, 2018 at 5:41am
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Thanks guys. Been reloading since 75, 1975 that is. Depriming no issue as old Lyman decal rod with pin & holder inserted in case & gentle tap deprimes  & 223 shell holder for my Lee priming tool should work & bell & seat with 25-20 wcf dies. At least till I see if me & this gal are going to gee haw as my old Granpappy used to say.
Many thanks.
Bob
  
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ww
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #10 - Apr 27th, 2018 at 9:02am
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On the subject of 25-20 SS ,  where does a person find brass.  Making it from 223 don't sound like much fun. The reason I ask is important building a rolling block in 25 caliber  32" #2 Green Mountain barrel 14 twist. The other choice is 25-20WCF which I have brass for. But the 25-20SS is different enough to make it interesting. 
WW
  
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: 25-20SS dies needed to reload this calibrate
Reply #11 - Apr 27th, 2018 at 9:58am
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Scrounge all the shooting sports emporia, like Buffalo Arms, Graf’s, Huntington’s, etc.  there may be some leftover stocks of Jamison/Captech .25-20 SS or Basic Brass still around, but it is getting snapped up quick.

Haunt Gun Shows and Wanted/For Sale sections of shooting web sites.  Bertram Brass has gotten somewhat better over the years, although more expensive as well.

Rocky Mtn. Cartridge will turn you a handful out of bar stock, if you have the money.  It’s good stuff, but not being drawn, it will not go through sizing and expanding dies for very long, at least IME.  However, with a stop ring bullet like Westerner shows, or breech seating, or black powder, this won’t matter much.

It’s very weird.  For one brief, shining moment, .25-20SS brass was actually easier to find and cheaper to buy than the WCF version.  Then, poof!!
  
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