I would dearly love to get a used 25 caliber mold from a member for a newly purchased 25-20 rifle. A PBFN bullet mold is desired. A RCBS 25-85-CM would be perfect but any PB FP mold about 90gr would work. Also seeking 25-20 brass.
Check way back in that closet. I'll bet you have some brass and a mold. 
With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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What rifle did you get?
Jon
Jon Welda CW5 USA Ret.
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What rifle did you get?
A nice Marlin 27s
With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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Here's one...........
https://www.mp-molds.com/product/mp-257-640-3-cavity-hollow-point-mold-gc-or-pb/
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RCBS.com shows two in stock, though the asking price is pretty high!
https://www.rcbs.com/bullet-casting/moulds/bullet-mould-.25-85-cm-630/16-82301.html
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Looking for a used mold that a member has no further need of. Thanks for the internet links but seeking used.
With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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not 90 gr, but a nice mold:
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Mold, NEI double cavity .257 60 gr and 257 75 gr gas checked
aluminum blocks condition 9
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$75 shipped, 1 week inspection . this is the original Walt NEI, not the later one.
ken
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I apologize for hijacking your thread, but just a quick thought. You might try the lighter 60gr bullets in your new rifle before buying the ~80gr mold.
I have two 25-20 rifles, and they both prefer the lighter projectiles. I have the Lyman 257420 65gr GC mold, the NOE 65gr FNPB mold and a NOE 85gr FNPB.
If you scrape up some brass, let me know and I will send you some to try just for giggles.
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Sure sounds like a fun rifle! Wish I had a mold or brass I could contribute to your project. Let us know how it shoots when you get what you need!
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I apologize for hijacking your thread, but just a quick thought. You might try the lighter 60gr bullets in your new rifle before buying the ~80gr mold.
Digging and reading have shown me the value of the lighter 60gr bullets. At this point I am still pulling up articles and data about the 25-20. Researching mold makers has yielded a bunch of information as well. I am planning to take my time with this one and procure some cast bullets from available sources and get some 60gr jacketed bullets when they become available again. Since I will have to make my own brass from 32-20 brass, I won't be shooting this rifle as much as some of my other rifles in more common calibers.
I appreciate your jerk on my reins to inform me of the value and potential of the lighter bullets. In my naivety I assumed that since I had half a box of 86gr bullets, that was the best weight to use. I have since learned there are other options.
As I write this, I am still waiting on reloading dies and a Redding forming die. I have a lot of time to decide on which mold to get. In the meantime, I have a box of cast bullets inbound from Madman to satiate my initial desire to shoot this rascal.
With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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Sure sounds like a fun rifle! Wish I had a mold or brass I could contribute to your project. Let us know how it shoots when you get what you need!
I'll post an initial range report when I get some loads worked up within a month. At this point I am still cleaning the rifle and removing lead from the bore. Fortunately there is only very minor pitting there and it has strong rifling. Most of the crud in the bore was leading from shooting those Remington 86gr lead bullets.
There is not a lot of literature out on the internet about these rifles and I am taking my time with it. I found a disassembly process on the Marlin Collector forum but that is about it. The one shot I did fire through it (to see if it in fact fired) was surprising to me. There was actually some recoil! Of course the rifle is pretty light but still, it surprised me.
With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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Shoot me your contact info in a Private Message and I will send you a few brand new 25-20 cases and (if I have some already cast up) - a few projectiles to try out. I had to start shooting mine with converted 32-20 until I could scrounge up brass without paying $1 a case. It is a pain to have to do, but doable nonetheless.
I would hate for you to have dies and no brass or projectiles. Especially with such an interesting rifle to shoot.
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You all are an amazing bunch of rascals. I am proud to be counted among you.
With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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hah ! ... look what i found !! ... about 120 of Hornaday 60 gr 257 mj .... ... just right for a 25-20 ... pm me if ....
geeze, wonder what else is in the back of my stash ?? ... fer shurr not gonna stick my hand back there ...
ken
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... Hey for old guns you need old books ... right ?
here is an old book ... and some suggestions for the 25's ...
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Now that is a nice old book!
With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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ok, while on a roll ... ( g ) ... here is another old book m... modern bond ...
hey, i don't see anything for the 350 Legend ...
how about the price for that brass !! ...
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Aaron you might check Arsenal molds. Jared has multiple 25 caliber molds available 60, 70, 85 grain starting at $73 for a two cavity aluminum, $88 for a five cavity. You can specify the diameter of your choice.
I have the 70 and 85 grain molds which like every mold I’ve purchased from Jared cast well. Beautiful molds. I have finally scrounge up some brass so as time and my Alaskan weather allows I will be giving these two molds a bit of testing in my 25-20’s.
I have 2 Remington model 25’s one a full 24” rifle and a 18” carbine. The carbine is well used and the rifle is in nice shape, both have very good bores.
A friend up the road, a couple of years ago offered me his Marlin model 27 which has problems in the mag tube and the liner for the mag tube. He offered it to me for next to nothing, but I’m unsure of repairing this rifle. I think I will see if Dave still has this little Marlin. Nice rifles. I’m still trying to come up with a Winchester 92 that I can afford.
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Well I love pictures of firearms. Aaron please post a picture of your Marlin.
Top 2 are model 25’s in 25-20 and the bottom is a model 12 in 22LR.
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Couple pictures of the 25 caliber Arsenal molds
I have cast with these molds but haven’t shot any yet.
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OK. So.....I either have the ONLY nickel plated Model 27-S worth a gazillion dollars or a previous owner, for whatever reason, decided to have this rifle plated. Ugh.
At least the bore is sweet.
With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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Glaciers,
Which of those two molds do you have a preference for? The look pretty similar. Thanks for the suggestion on the Arsenal molds.
With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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Aaron, I have yet to load either of these castings, but the 70 grain is of more interest and I intend to pick up the 60 grain as well. The 85 grain which should work fine in the 25-20, I wanted that one more for my 14 inch twist 250/3000.
When recently asked to do a 2 different remodel jobs, I have a bad habit of just say “sure”. So combine that with Alaskan winters I don’t get to do this hobby of shooting, loading and casting hardly at all. This year I did turn those two jobs down, with the idea of getting something done on the homestead plus the above mentioned hobby, and golf and a little fishing.
So unfortunately with the limits put on my life by not saying “NO” I’ve been more of a mold collector then the caster, shooter that I want to be.
As far as your rifle goes if you’re ashamed of it I could help you out with that problem. You can’t help what the previous owners taste’s are, but it looks nice to me. I’m a blue steel and lumber kinda old school guy, but I would have a hard time walking by that rifle at a gun show if I had the jingle in my pocket.
Just last week I went to a gun show and there was a Ruger Security Six, 4”, but it was stainless. So I passed, had the cash, if it was blue it would have come home with me. Got to looking at my GP100 stainless tank and started thinking about the Security Six and went back Sunday morning, it was of course gone.
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An update for everyone.
The executive overview is that due to the GENEROSITY of hporter I have some 25-20 brass and some resized 32-20 brass to work with. Not only did he send me brass, he supplied some bullet samples. I have also acquired a box of Badman Bullets (85gr plain base) to load. After returning the Lyman die set to MidwayUSA for crushing cases, I ordered and am using the less expensive Lee die set to make the loads. With the use of a Lyman M-Die, the cast bullets seat just fine. The Lee factory crimp works great too. I have the first run of ammunition ready and will be making a range trip soon to chronograph and group the loads.
The rifle gave me a fit due to it slam-firing. I had to diagnose that issue and correct it before I could safely chamber cartridges like the rifle was designed to do. We are all ready to head to the range. Again - a huge THANK YOU to hporter for his generous help getting the fixings for this old girl to shoot again. After I get the range trip under my belt, I'll write all this up for a future issue of The Fouling Shot.
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With rifle in hand, I confidently go forth into the darkness.
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Looking forward to the range report.
Nice looking loaded rounds there!
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I will be following this thread with interest as well!
I just had my first casting session in a long time Wednesday, which I did cast for 5 different bullets 2 of which were the 257 caliber, 70 grain and 85 grain Arsenal.
First 2 - 22 caliber a 36 grain slick and 47 grain, next two the 70 and 85 grain, and the last a 350-250 FN hopefully for the 348. Bought the last one for a good price used, not sure that it’s going to work in the 348.
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Those sure are pretty bullets.
I will be interested in learning how the 25 caliber ones shoot (and the rest for that matter).
I have a lot of molds from NOE, MP, and Accurate, but I have yet to try Arsenal. I might have to give them a try?
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jeff houck
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Aaron
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Wilderness
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Tom Acheson
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John Carlson
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sghart3578
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Spindrift
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alphabrass
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SkinnerD
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cfp4570
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