Hornady is now making .218 Bee cases and Starline has .32-20 brass...and I shoot .25-20 (and no one makes cases for them at present).
So, would it be better to neck-up 218 cases or neck-down 32-20. I'm sure I'll lose some either way.

The Marlin 1894 25-20 is the most accurate lever-gun I own. It fits me well and I don't want to stop shooting it when my current stash runs out. (I suspect Midway brass is going to be easier to find than Hornady brass.)
Michael

I'ld go with 32-20 brass, but the last batch of that I got from Starline is harder than a rock, you'll want to anneal them before resizing.

Contact edgehit. He may be able to help as he shoots 25-20 in PC.

I made my 25-20 cases from Starline 32-20 cases. I first started out with the 25-20 SEATING die and then sized with the sizing die. Take it slow and easy. I think there's a video on you tube about doing it this way. I had about 1000 new Winchester cases, but sold my 25-20 , all the brass and 86 grain bullets to a bud that wanted a project. I had had enough of the worry about finding and making brass so I bought another Marlin 32-20. Jeanne and I have three 32-20 marlins and have had two 25-20 marlins. We really like our 32-20 Marlins.

I made them from 32-20 Starline brass per Greg G. Neck sized first then FL sized. Out of a bag of 500 only lost 11.

YMMV,

I have never formed 25/20 cases but have done tons of 25/06 cases from 30/06 cases. I found that running all of the 30/06 cases thru a 30/06 sizing die made the job much easier. You probably should run the 32/20 cases thru a 32/20 sizing die first before using the 25/20 die.
Rick

Glen gave you the scoop on making them from 32-20 brass. It's a pain. I size them in 32-20 FL sizer. Square up the mouth. Then set up Dillon 550 with bullet seater die in stage 1 (no stem) and FL sizing die in stage 2. Every brass gets Imperial wax.

Once finished, I chamfer mouths then anneal them. It's a good winter time project. But the brass is top notch and lasts longer than factory 25-20 brass that begin to split necks after 3 firings.

My preference in making brass to another caliber is to neck up, not down. So I would definitely try 218 bee brass before 32-20. You can neck up in one step and be done.

It's a shame there aren't more bullet choices for the 25-20. Its the perfect round for this game. My goal is to develop a subsonic 65 gr lead bullet load, but I just haven't invested the time. No recoil, no muzzle blast, least amount of wind drift, and perfect rammentum

edgehit wrote: and perfect rammentum

Love it.

Al

cslcAl wrote:

edgehit wrote: and perfect rammentum

Love it.

Al

I think I heard that term a couple times before ;)



- Tim

Thanks Joe, Al, Tim. I'm in the process of moving - once I settle in I'll invest in the equipment to make 25-20s.
I like a challenge - and this seems to be my next one (Once I get over the trama of downsizing and moving back to Texas.)

Michael
Soon to be in Rockport

Rockport! All my family is from there.