Need help identifying an odd caliber/rifle...

[EVIL5LITER]

My father and I were having a discussion about an old rifle his grandfather had and I'm trying to identify what it might have been.

All I know is that it had an octagon barrel, pump action, and was chambered in what he said he thought was .25 special ( I find no reference of any ammo named this anywhere). He said it was similar in power to a .22 magnum, and that you could chamber a .25 pistol round, but it wouldn't cycle with the pump action.

Even in the late 50's/early 60's, the ammo seemed to have been obsolete.

Anyone here have any idea what it might have possibly been? I may be able to track the rifle down when I make a trip back to his home state this winter, but I'm not holding my hopes up.

 

[Eightball]

I'm no expert on the subject, but the description sounds somewhat like the old Lightning rifle-slide action, but it was a .22. Maybe they made other calibre models than that ? Just a thought, don't know if it is worth even my $.02 . Good luck.

 

[Sam]

There were a lot of pumps available in that era before the war.
There was a 25 rimfire in long and short versions available untill 1942.
There were also 32 rimfires available commonly until tyhe 30's.

To identify the rifle we need some pictutres if there are no legible markings

Sam

 

[Jim Watson]

Marlin made their Model 27 pump rifle in .25 rimfire in the WW I era.
The .25 rimfire was a Stevens design but Blue Book does not list a Stevens (or Savage, after the merger in 1920) pump, only single shots.
Elmer Keith said the gun and ammo companies would have done better to modernize the .25 than to bring out the .22 magnum, but he always preferred the heavy bullet in any category.

 

[Chawbaccer]

I had a buddy with a, I think a Winchester semi, its been a long time and I can't remember the model but I do remember it was in 22 special, he could never find ammo and got rid of the gun.

 

[Bullet Bob]

Both Remington and Marlin had pumps in 25-20 at one time, there's always the possibility that could be what he's referring to.

 

[EVIL5LITER]

I know it was a rimfire for sure, if that helps.

 

[mainmech48]

I'm with Sam and Jim, it's most likely one of the .25 RFs that were popular with small game hunters in the pre-smokeless days.

Lots of them still around, many in surprisingly good shape due to lack of ammo availability since WWII. I've seen many pieces that were originally chambered for both .25 and .32 RF which were converted to .22 by sleeving the barrels.

Don't know of any current source for .25 RF, but Navy Arms has had newly manufactured .32 RF (Short and Long) and .41 RF "derringer" ammo off and on in the last few years.

 

[Onmilo]

.25 rimfie has been out of production for many years.

If anybody has it, Dangerous Dave of Old Western Scrounger might.
Be prepared to pay dearly but the stuff will fire.

 

[TechGuy]

Cabela's has some .25 Remington, not sure if thats the right stuff though.

 

[mainmech48]

.25 Remington is one of the two obsolete CF rifle cartridges in the trio introduced with the M8 semi-auto and also used in M14 slide action rifles. The others were the .30 Remington (basically a rimless .30-30) and the .35 Remington. Only the .35 is still available in currently produced firearms.

 

[Chawbaccer]

http://www.gunbroker.com/Auction/ViewItem.asp?Item=33698772

Remy pump, octo barrel in 22 special. What my money is on.