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Normal Topic 25-20ss chamber rim depth? (Read 891 times)
bobw
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25-20ss chamber rim depth?
Feb 5th, 2023 at 7:00pm
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Does anyone have the spec for the chamber rim depth?  I ended up with the wrong gage.  The book I have says .060 rim but all the brass I have measures .045-.047 so I cut the rim to .051.  All the brass has worked so far but it is really close to being flush. Don’t want problems down the road so I’m trying to decide if it should be cut a little deeper.  Not sure where the .060 rim thickness number comes from, but if I cut the chamber rim depth to .060 I’m afraid the head space would be way off.
Bob
  
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38_Cal
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Re: 25-20ss chamber rim depth?
Reply #1 - Feb 5th, 2023 at 7:04pm
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If the brass you are using and reloading is consistent at .045-.047", disregard the print dimensions.  .051" rim cut will work just fine.
  

David Kaiser
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JLouis
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Re: 25-20ss chamber rim depth?
Reply #2 - Feb 5th, 2023 at 7:18pm
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I personally and it depending on just how much brass you might have.
I would take the thickest rim that you have and use it as a go and a no go headspace gauge.
  

" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
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Bent_Ramrod
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Re: 25-20ss chamber rim depth?
Reply #3 - Feb 6th, 2023 at 9:00am
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The multiple sources of “new” (as of a few years ago), as well as some of the old stock, which could also vary some, makes these obsolete cases a law unto themselves.

It’s very common to find shells made toward the end of production due to obsolescence with dimensional variations that would give the SAAMI people the vapors. I’ve noticed it in the lengths of late production .32 Long Colt and .32-20, before the latter’s revival.  By that time, few people bought the calibers and precision production was not a priority; hacking the old slow-seller out, getting the dies changed and the production switched over to the latest hard-hittin’, brush-bustin’, wind-buckin’, tack-drivin’ marketing effort was top priority.  Some Bertram brass has only a nodding acquaintance with dimensional drawings, dimensional differences abounding even in the same box of 20.

I got some surprisingly good repro .25-20 SS decades ago from a place called Nelsdale Gun Shop that even so had varying rim thicknesses. I made a collet chuck by chambering a piece of barrel, sawing it horizontally into four “leaves,” threading the outside for a screw-on closer, “chambering” the shells in it on my lathe and thinning the rims to two different thicknesses.  I separated and used these in two different .25-20 rifles with different rim seat depths.  Still use the stuff, in the different rifles, and wish sometimes I’d bought more.  The Bill Ballard .25-20s, made from .223 brass, had very thin rims, but the shoulders fireformed out OK.  No headspace problems; the shells typically ended their service life by cracking along the sides, probably due to the stress on the brass in forming.

So I would second Mr. Louis’ advice to set your rim seat by the thickest rim you have.  If you are still on the scout for cases, you might give it a few thousandths extra, just in case.  After fireforming, nick size only and you should be fine.
  
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Dellet
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Re: 25-20ss chamber rim depth?
Reply #4 - Feb 6th, 2023 at 10:27am
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I measured some UMC, Peters and WRA, both large and small primers. Evens some Griffin & Howe 2R. Some of that was unfired, some with not much headstamp remaining.

All is over .050”, Some as thick as .056”.

Jamison is .047” or so.

Something to keep in mind if you come across original brass and want to use it.
  
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bobw
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Re: 25-20ss chamber rim depth?
Reply #5 - Feb 6th, 2023 at 12:19pm
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I did cut the rim to fit the brass I have but was having second thoughts.   

I’m working with both Winchester and Bertram brass, have some that is buried and can’t get to it currently and not sure what it is.  I have about 250 rounds total.

The rims on both the Winchester and Bertram measure the same.  The rim diameter on the Winchester in .010 larger than the Bertram.  And, for what it’s worth, both bases are the same diameter just in front of the rim.

Since it’s not my reamer, I have options if I run into issues in the future.  I can turn the head down as bent said or in the extreme, single point the rim depth deeper in the lathe.
Thanks
Bob
  
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