Savage Arms "Savage Sporter" chambered for 25-20 WCF

This video briefly describes an old rifle in my cabinet. This rifle belonged to my paternal grandfather, he obtained this rifle in a trade for some clothing and a pair of boots back in 1930.
This rifle was used on the farm to dispatch beef bound for the larder and was used on occasion by neighbours for deer hunting in the area.
These rifles were offered in 25-20 WCF and 32-20 WCF, the latter being much more popular at the time. Factory ammunition was loaded with either 60 grain or 86 grain bullets and factory ammunition is still available from time to time. I mistakenly identified 32-30 as the other chamber offering for this rifle, when instead I meant 32-20.
I would highly recommend this rifle for plinking and small game, it is light to carry and is surprisingly accurate. See Toadley Browne's channel and the video challenge that urged me to make this brief video.
• 22 Rimfire Challenge @...

[@nutfarm215]

I own two Savage's in Australia a 23C 32-20 and 23C that has been rebarreled to 25-20 both nice little rifles + two Winchester model 92's a 32-20 and a 25-20. love these little calibres

[@markcarew6724]

My apologies for the very late reply, nutfarm. I love these calibers as well, I think they may be the most useful of rifle calibers for the rural/farm property in Canada and, possibly, Australia as well. Thank you for watching a leaving a comment. All the best from Ontario, Canada.

[@tractormandeere]

May good friend sold me his, a couple of years ago. Exactly the same rifle. He shot his first bear with it when he was eight years old on their ranch in northern California. I used to barrow for my daughter to carry when we deer hunted together when she was a teen. Now it is mine.

[@markcarew6724]

Thank you for watching, most of these rifles have an interesting story in their past. I'm glad you took the time to share part of your rifle's history.

[@ToadleyBrowne]

I want one:) I can't remember ever seeing one of those. That is a very interesting caliber.

[@markcarew6724]

Thanks for watching! I greatly enjoy this rifle and caliber, I think it may be one of the best centerfire plinking and small game cartridges. Next to no recoil, not too loud but powerful enough to bounce the steel reliably at 100 yards. All the best for Christmas, despite the ongoing plague nonsense.

[@brettkoski]

This is awesome! Thanks for the upload and the info! Happy holidays!

[@markcarew6724]

Thank you for watching and subscribing, The 25-20 WCF is an old cartridge, yet very capable and a great fun gun.

[@rmjrmj40]

Wow didn't think I'd see another .I just used one yesterday for whitetail in a brushy area hunt.also have one in 30-06 love them.

[@markcarew6724]

It's a decent rifle in a reasonable caliber, thanks for watching! I think one of the biggest trophy deer in the USA was taken with a 25-20 WCF many years ago.

[@GhostRiderUSA]

Great story about the trade. I read about a similar one where someone was told to sell their garments to buy a sword if they did not have one. No serial numbers? That's what we call a "ghost gun".

[@markcarew6724]

My grandfather told me that story to me when I was in my teens, and I knew one of our neighbours that had used this rifle in past deer hunts. The 1930s were very tough times for many people and barter was one way to get by when there was absolutely no money available. I read some time ago in a a Savage Arms history notation that the first 25,000 of these rifles had no serial numbers. Then later the serial #s were recorded on the butt-plate, and again later, on the barrels. Sell one's garments and buy a sword is from the New Testament, Luke 22 verse 36; I looked it up to be sure. I knew the quote as well and I had to think about the source before answering your comment. Thanks for watching.

[@GhostRiderUSA]

@@markcarew6724 Merry Christmas to you as well.

[@markcarew6724]

And all the best for the coming year!

[@mathewgoebel4078]

Back in the day, a farm or ranch could only afford one gun so that caliber or like that little big For squirrel or Rabbit little light for medium size Game deer or Black bear, but it would do the job You can buy a 30 30 load that was really downloaded from the factory. Actually, federal puts some out just a couple years ago.

[@markcarew6724]

This rifle was largely used to dispatch beef cattle on the original Carew farm during the Great Depression and onwards into the 1960s. I don't think it was used much for hunting, other than a few unlucky groundhogs. As a boy, I wasn't allowed to handle this rifle as it was viewed by my parents as too powerful for a 13 year old. Instead, my father bought a Squires Bingham bolt action rifle in 22 Magnum for me. RIP Howard Carew, my father.

[@cw2a]

My Buddy has a Savage Sporter. I can try to borrow for Video. I have Savage 23's I like allot. A 22LR, 25/20 & 32/20 never got the Hornet but I do have a Savage 340 & 219 in Hornet.

[@marksterlson]

A awesome little cartridge in a nice action, am about to try cast bullets in mine

[@markcarew6724]

My apologies for the very late reply; I briefly used 86 grain cast bullets in this rifle quite a few years ago. A friend cast these projectiles with a Lyman mold, ran them through a lube sizing die and applied a gas check. For whatever reason, the accuracy was very poor but the velocity was excellent. Perhaps I was pushing the cast bullets too hard for good accuracy. I should try these cast projectiles again, as I still have 150+ to try yet. Thank you for watching the crude video.

[@anthonyfairbanks2952]

Nice old gun

[@markcarew6724]

Thank you for watching!

[@anthonyfairbanks2952]

@@markcarew6724 do you do any hunting with it

[@markcarew6724]

I still hunt coyotes with this rifle, it knocks them down instantly yet does virtually no pelt damage. I think it is just as effective as the 223 but it isn't anywhere nearly as flat shooting as the 223 Remington. Perhaps the larger, heavier bullet makes this caliber so effective on thin skinned game?

[@anthonyfairbanks2952]

@@markcarew6724 nice

[@allibani]

Hey mark I have the barrel of a 25 20 I need to find a stock for I have hundreds of rounds and really want to get this back to working condition. It was my great grandfathers varmint gun. Is there anywhere to get a stock

[@markcarew6724]

If you are in Canada, you could try Ellwood Epps in Orillia or Western Gun Parts in Alberta. In the USA, you could try the Old Western Scrounger, however, I don't know if they are still in business. Thank you for watching and leaving a comment.

[@michaelmacek9433]

When Bishops gun stocks was going out of business I believe in the 1990s, I bought a 4 pack of semi inletted stocks made of walnut. I figured they would someday be useful. I own several model 23 savage rifles. I think I could spare one if you still need one. I doubt that I will ever need all of my stocks.