Home Forums Lever Action Central Lever Actions - General Shooter/Hunter 1892 or 65 in 25-20?

If I wanted a Winchester 1892 or 65 in 25-20 to shoot and carry around (a shooter) - how much am I looking at spending? I have been watching gunbroker and the older 25-20s that are reasonable price look to be in really bad shape.

Also - did they ever make the browning model 53 (looks to be the same as the 65??) in 25-20?

Try Gunsinternational.com

There were more 92 Winchesters sold in Australia than anywhere else and even here it is not easy finding a rifle in a desirable configuration with a good barrel. Most have barrels in poor condition or have been rebarreled, sometimes poorly.

The configuration I particularly like is the octagonal barrel with the button mag. I finally found one in very good condition a couple of months ago and bought it after years of looking for a good one. I’m currently waiting for some forming dies as it’s virtually impossible at present to buy 25/20 brass here. I’ll be forming them out of Starline 32/20 brass.

Good luck with your search. They are worth the wait.

Since Winchester only made about 5,000 Model 65s total, around 1,000 in .25-20, prices are high ($2k+) even for a beater. You're better off looking for a Model 53 or 1892 which, depending on condition or lack thereof, can be had for under $1k. I don't know if Browning ever chambered the .25-20 in their replicas, their M65 was in .218 Bee and the 53 in .32-20.

All models and variants were available in 25-20. Best bang for the buck in my opinion is an early model 92, can find a decent shooter for around $700 (prices dropping). Unfortunately, tmitch is correct, the model 65's demand a higher premium. 25-20 utilizes the 32-20 case (same head size), the 218 bee utilizes the 25-20 casing, still one of the best rounds available.

After looking around on the internet I found a Model 53 on gunbroker - It went for 960. I did bid on it one time .. maybe should have went for it. I am liking the button magazine of the model 53.

If any of you want to depart with a Model 53 in 25-20, let me know

Don't know how you'd feel about one, but Remington made fantastic little pump rifles and carbines in 25-20, the Model 25. They shoot great and are very small and trim. Try Gunbroker.

Here's one for $500

https://www.gunbroker.com/item/857384481

Thank you - those are fun little guns. I had never seen one before. I am always amazed to learn about new guns I had never heard of from that era

I know you are looking at the Winchester 92 and 65 but another option and cheaper would be Marlin.

In the 1980s Marlin made a run of 25-20s along with the 218 Bee and 32-20 in the 1894. It was called the 1894CL. They used the Ballard rifling not the micro groove. These are really nice rifles. I would never part with mine.

A decent Winchester 1892 will be around a $1000+

If I can't find a decent 92/53/65 I am going to go with a Marlin 25-20. Those look like great little rifles. Thank you

Your welcome, and best of luck in finding something that you want.

I have an 1892 in 25-20, really enjoy it. You’ll be happy when you get one.