Sure shot wrote on Jan 13^th, 2026 at 4:23pm:


I have to assume that you mean .257" groove diameter. If the bore diameter is .257" then the groove will be about .008" larger at about .265"   A .257" groove diameter should have about a .249/.250" bore diameter.  It can get confusing if we dont all use the same terminology. 
So it seems that with a Stevens rifle we can not assume anything.  I used to believe that a Stevens rifle with the barrel stamped 25-20 was chambered for the 25-20 SS and when chambered for the 25-20 WCF they were stamped 25-20 R for repeater.  That was until I purchased a model 44 that is stamped 25-20 but is chambered for the 25-20 WCF. I have been shooting  all the same bullets in it that I use in a Winchester model 92 in 25-20 wcf and they shoot just fine. I never did slug the bore or measure the twist because I had no accuracy issues with those bullets. 
BTW - I cast some of the Rapine 75gn bullets today in a BHN-8 alloy.  First time I have used it. It cast easy without issues and made very nice clean bullets. I was able to run at five cast per minute and it ran smoothly and without issue. Bullet dropped from the mold when the blocks were parted. Dont ya just love when they work like that !

I tried some of the 75 grain Rapine bullets in the model 44 in 
25-20 wcf. BHN-8 sized to .257" and lubed with Bullshop Lotak smokeless powder lube.  They shot very pleasingly well.  By pleasingly well I mean about 2" at 25 yards using the barrel mounted buck horn rear and blade front sights.
While I was getting out the 25-20 and since they have been put up for awhile I looked through another model 44 in 32 S&W long and it looked like a dry spider carcass right at the opening of the chamber.   Got the 32 out too just to clean it up and well since its out shoot it a bit.
I found a stash of old Lyman 3118 bullets that were quite soft and sized to .313"  I loaded for the 32 first and having a good supply of old Alcan 101 powder to use up I set my powder drop to throw 2.2gn of the Alcan #101.
The little 32 really liked that load with the old 115gn Lyman bullet.
After I had some fun with the 32 I went to the 25.  With the 75 grain Rapine bullets I thought whut-da-hek that 2.2gn  charge of Alcan 101 should be about right for that to and that turned out to be spot on.
Both guns were as I said very pleasingly accurate with the same powder and charge weight.
These two rifles and another model 44 in 22 RF are the rifles we use for family competition.  We have a set of five steel gophers we set up and shoot from various ranges and shooting positions.
   I still have two of our nine children at home both girls and they like to shoot so one weekends in warm weather we go for a drive in the hills and shoot at our steel gophers.  Its lots of fun and these rifles are perfect for it and at the low velocities do no damage to the steel gophers.  I bet the Rapine 75 grain will see some use on the steel gophers when the weather gets warmer. The girls dont like to go shooting when its cold.