92 Winchester 25-20

[StevenDale]

I have a chance to buy a 92 Winchester in 25-20, however I have not yet seen the rifle and the people I am talking to are not gun people. I have been told that the gun is in great condition and the bore is clean with no pits. I do not know barrel length, only that it is not a saddle ring. Question for the multitude, what would be reasonable price ranges depending on condition and does anyone have any experience with this rifle/cartidge combo? Thanks for any information you can provide.

 

[akodo]

the 25-20 is basically in the same class as the 22 hornet. In a pinch in the past it has been used on white tail, but really it's best off shooting pretty much the same critters as you'd probably use a 22LR on. Possum, coon, rabbit, javelina, porcupine, whatever.

So before I'd consider getting that rifle I'd consider the chambering. It's one you are going to have to hand-load, very little factory 25-20 is still floating around. Plus those cases are notoriously fragile, they tend to take a ding or dent really easy, so while the priced of the powder to fill that little cartridge up isn't much, they can be a bit of a head-ache to work with.

In the end a gun for this chambering is a real soft shooter and easy on the ears too. For just a fun shooter IF you are the kind of guy who really likes to tinker around as he reloads, I think it would be fun. For anyone else, no.

As far as the price range, it really depends on the age range that the 92 is in as well as condition, and if it is in an unusual combination.

I.E. I don't think anyone is going to be able to give you anything close to a solid answer until you have a bit more information.

 

[VA27]

A '92 SRC, even reblued and drilled for a scope will set you back $800+. A gun in original finish (or no finish, as long as it's not rusted/pitted) with no extra holes will be higher. Anything other than an SRC will be higher.

Factory ammo is north of a buck a shot, so it's not a Sunday plinker for folks with shallow pockets.

If you reload and/or cast your own bullets, it's as cheap to shoot as anything else. I use it as a sort of reloadable 22 magnum, ie., if you wouldn't think of shooting it with a 22 magnum, you probably shouldn't shoot it with a 25/20.