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Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS (Read 350 times)

bullshop Full Member Offline Posts: 245 Joined: Sep 14^th, 2017	Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Jan 11^th, 2026 at 11:50am	Print Post
	Could someone please tell me what rifling twist rate was used by Stevens in their 25-20 SS rifles ? I assume 1/14" but would like to be sure. Thanks !


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Sure shot Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1100 Location: East central Iowa Joined: Jun 22^nd, 2020	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #1 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 12:22pm	Print Post
	1 in 13"


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wildthing Junior Member Offline Posts: 78 Location: Oneida,wi Joined: Jul 7^th, 2010	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #2 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 12:27pm	Print Post
	Mine is also 1 in 13


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oneatatime Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4258 Location: Rocky Mountains Joined: Oct 30^th, 2011	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #3 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 1:30pm	Print Post
	Ditto.


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bullshop Full Member Offline Posts: 245 Joined: Sep 14^th, 2017	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #4 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 2:10pm	Print Post
	Thanks guys ! I want an idea of what bullet weight/length will be best suited. I am thinking about 85 grain in a flat nose design. I have two original Winchester molds at about that weight one solid nose one hollow point. They should be about perfect.


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Dellet Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1219 Joined: May 19^th, 2017	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #5 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 3:05pm	Print Post
	It’s worth checking, 1/12 could be ordered.


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oneatatime Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4258 Location: Rocky Mountains Joined: Oct 30^th, 2011	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #6 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 3:31pm	Print Post
	My Stevens doesn't like anything over 80 grains.


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bullshop Full Member Offline Posts: 245 Joined: Sep 14^th, 2017	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #7 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 4:29pm	Print Post
	Might I ask each of you what your preferred bullet is ?


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bullshop Full Member Offline Posts: 245 Joined: Sep 14^th, 2017	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #8 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 4:30pm	Print Post
	oneatatime wrote on Jan 11^th, 2026 at 3:31pm: My Stevens doesn't like anything over 80 grains. Is that with a cast or a jacketed bullet ?


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oneatatime Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4258 Location: Rocky Mountains Joined: Oct 30^th, 2011	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #9 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 6:33pm	Print Post
	My Stevens will never see a jacketed bullet;-)


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Babydriver Full Member Offline Posts: 210 Joined: Mar 22^nd, 2024	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #10 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 9:23pm	Print Post
	Just a curious question about the 25-20 SS. In short-why? I do a lot of matches ranging from .22bpcr to 220 yard offhand with no caliber under .32 allowed. And I am not a hunter of chipmunks and squirrels. I have a Maynard #16 in 25-20 SS. I don’t know why or how I got it. And have been thinking of relining it. So with all due respect, why?


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bullshop Full Member Offline Posts: 245 Joined: Sep 14^th, 2017	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #11 - Jan 11^th, 2026 at 9:30pm	Print Post
	That seems odd to me that your rifle with a 13" twist wont do well with over 80gn with a cast bullet. The 25-20 wcf with 14" twist has done well for me with cast bullets to about 90 grain. Just shows how different each rifle is. I think the traditional bullet for the 25-20 wcf was 85 to 87 grain. When I started shooting the 25-20 wcf in a Marlin 1894 I tried several different cast bullets of different weights but the one that shot the best was about 87 grain in a soft BHN-8 alloy from a vintage Winchester mold. The design has a short ogive with multiple drive bands and lube grooves. They seem to have had it pretty well figured out right from the beginning.


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Dellet Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1219 Joined: May 19^th, 2017	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #12 - yesterday at 11:36am	Print Post
	Babydriver wrote on Jan 11^th, 2026 at 9:23pm: Just a curious question about the 25-20 SS. In short-why? I do a lot of matches ranging from .22bpcr to 220 yard offhand with no caliber under .32 allowed. And I am not a hunter of chipmunks and squirrels. I have a Maynard #16 in 25-20 SS. I don’t know why or how I got it. And have been thinking of relining it. So with all due respect, why? Because the problem with any of the 25 caliber black powder cartridges was not accuracy, it was fouling control and reading the wind. In theory 32 was the smallest caliber that would hold efficiency of a black powder burn rate. For rules to exclude sub 32 caliber bullets to punch paper is pretty stupid. It might make sense for silhouette tho. So even in the day it was a very desirable cartridge due to its accuracy. It just took possibly a better shooter, and one who wasn’t lazy about maintenance of fouling. I personally like the 25’s, and would be interested in a Maynard with a good bore.


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oneatatime Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 4258 Location: Rocky Mountains Joined: Oct 30^th, 2011	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #13 - yesterday at 1:10pm	Print Post
	I've seen a reference that the original bullet for the 25-20 Stevens (aka SS) was 67 grains. I've been looking for a vintage box to verify that. My 44 certainly shoots best with a light bullet like that (and sized no larger than .257), for example the Lyman 257420 which is about 65 grains. I also have a Shoyen-Peterson mold for it that casts at 77 grains and does well. S&P may have known what they were doing back then. The Win 92 in 25-20 WCF is what started the 85 grain thing and killed factory production of lighter bullets. My rifle does not like 85 grain bullets as much as the lighter ones. Oh, babydriver, I have a friend with a 16 and its original 4 barrels. He shoots the 25-20 SS in our Cowboy silhouette matches. It would be a real shame to destroy an original barrel for the Maynard. Find a trashed one it you want to line it.
	« Last Edit: yesterday* at 1:18pm by oneatatime* »

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bullshop Full Member Offline Posts: 245 Joined: Sep 14^th, 2017	Re: Rifling twist rate of Stevens 25-20 SS Reply #14 - yesterday at 1:44pm	Print Post
	Well then I will have to try bullets under 85 grain weight. I do have the Lyman 257420 mold but for the most part with these low pressure/velocity type cartridges I try to stay away from gas checks. Leaving off the gas check in that short bullet eliminate a large percentage of the bullet bearing surface so I wouldn't expect good shooting without the gas check but you never know until you try. Trying to remember what I have available I seem to remember an Arsenal Molds 60 grain flat nose plain base. I will have to check my inventory . If I am remembering correctly that should work good.


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