I've been looking for an interesting old rifle ( that I can reasonably afford ) in .25-20 or .32-20 and I'm considering trying to track down a Savage "Sporter". I was hoping you guys can help me out with some questions. I don't see much online about them and am wondering if "Sporter" is the actual model name of the rifle. What are your opinions of these? Also, I read that the .32-20s are a little tricky to reload because of thin case walls. Any truth to this?

Thanks.

Model 23’s, also known as Sporters. 23B is 25-20, iirc, and 23C is 32-20. Might have those backwards.

Must be cold out there Rory, fingers got numb! little typo, 25-20.

What do you want to know? I think they are interesting little rifles but I also think that they were always intended to be a more economical means of delivering the wrath of a 25-20 or 32-20 when compared to what Winchester had to offer. I have a nice little 23C in 32-20 though I haven't yet found time to shoot it. I had a 23D in 22 Hornet, but unfortunately some stinkin' thief made off with that one. I think they are underappreciated and in the right situation you might get one for a steal. I snagged mine for about $225.00.

Mainly wondering if they're decent quality. My first choice would be an old Winchester 1892 but in 25-20 or 32-20 those things are pricey, even for a shooter.

I like the Sporters also. I have a 32-20, 22 Hornet, and a 250-3000.

Joe

The "Sporter" line included the 23A/23AA, 23B, 23C, and 23D chambered in 22, 25-20, 32-20, and 22 Hornet respectively.

The "Super Sporter" line included the 40 and 45, both chambered in 250-3000, 30-30, 300, and 30-06.

The 1919NRA, 19H, and 19-33 are kissing cousins to the 23s.

They all share a common negative, the triggers are universally crappy.

They are solid built little guns, perhaps a little on the simple side when compared with later guns. The barrel and receiver are machined out of the same stock of metal so you can't change barrels. Some on the forum find this a detriment. I'm a bit indifferent to it. The top of the receiver has three factory holes drilled at the rear. The early 23s may have only two but the holes are for fitting Savage's No. 10 and 15 receiver sights. Lyman also made a 48Y that fit the 23s. I wouldn't pass on a non-factory drilled 23 with a Weaver side mount and scope if the work was clean and everything was in good shape. You could also use the factory receiver holes for making your own scope base. I did so for my 23D by using a length of dovetail stock I got from Brownells. There are always a few on Gun Broker, albeit most are asking way too much money.

No particular problems in reloading .32-20's. I've heard that rumor about thin walled .32-20's presenting a problem and I swear I don't know how that got started.

That whole receiver/barrel in one piece deal always rankled me.

A Remington model 25 pump in a 25-20 is a fine little shooter if you can find one.

Can't argue with that!

damnesia,

I have a Savage 23C, a Winchester 1892, and two Remington Model 25's (one 25A and one 25R). Both Remingtons are tack drivers. The other two, not so much. If speed of follow up shots is an issue, the 25's rule! On the other hand, I've never needed a follow up shot with any of them...

All in 32-20.

Doug

The only draw back to the Remington 25, is it doesn't have a lever or a schnabel, one of the two would be ideal :-D All joking aside, I haven't heard of the model 25 before and that is now a contender as well. This all got started because my dad has a very old Winchester 1892 SRC in 25-20 and one in 32-20, and I love to shoot them. But being collector guns, they don't get fired very often. I don't really want to spend $1500 - $2000 so am looking for something cheaper that I can shoot more often. He said the same thing about reloading 32-20s ( that he's never noticed any issues ), but he's been reloading for 60+ years, compared to my ~30 years, and I thought he may have forgotten. Something I remember about him reloading 25-20s, is he did it with some sort of manual reloading setup that involved a hammer. I was pretty young the last time he did it, but I was always terrified of using a hammer to reload them. Next time I talk with him I'll ask what he was using, definitely not something he made because I think I recall it being in a Lee box. But I was a teenager and probably more interested in my girlfriend than the old man reloading with a hammer.

Thanks guys.

I had a model 25 carbine that I used to shot down sugar pine cones when I was in the mountains away from people. Sent the seeds to wifes family in central America that were fascinated with the trees. Father-in-law germinated them ok and got them going good but couldn't keep them going long term. Too much of a difference in climate between snowy cold winter regions and Nicaragua I guess!

There goes another opportunity to leave a legacy. Oh well.

damnesia,
You are thinking correctly by searching out these early Savage Sporters in the caliber you mention, as just about every other surviving rifle of the other manufacturers are now pretty spendy. The Winchester M-43 was also chambered in 32-20 and I have one. Turns out I also have a Savage Sporter in 25-20 that is a great shooter. I prefer 25-20 over 32-20 and it can be hand loaded many different ways.
There is always a way to scope a rifle, and this rifle, factory drilled as it was, will accept the old Stith scope mount using the period Weaver 3/4 and 7/8” scopes. That’s how I have set mine up for a rabbit rifle.
My favorite load is:
11.0 gr. WW-680, 98gr hard cast gas check bullet, @ 1900fps. Of course my guns don’t blow up but I can’t speak for anyone else’s guns as this load exceeds factory specs., so load with care.
Tomygun1

To me the weak spot in 23s of all flavors is finding workable magazines. Original ones are easy to lose and then hard (and expensive!) to find. Replacements are often useless, although a recent one (Triple K) worked fine for my .25-20. And there are two distinct types of magazines, which are NOT interchangeable.

I was thinking the same thing about detachable magazines, I don't like them on any gun. I'm not really a pistol guy, although I have 5 of them, but the only non-revolver I have is a S&W 4516 ( it's actually a 4516, with a 4506 barrel, slide, etc ) and the one of the reasons I bought it is it came with 25 magazines. I like the gun, but it took a while to get used to shooting it because the longer barrel on the compact frame throws the weight off. Wish I could find a used slide for a 4516 because all the other parts to put it back to a 4516 are still available new.... Anyway I think I'm going to try to find a Remington model 25 unless I can find a good deal on a sporter.

I've had them in 22 Hornet, 25-20, and 32-20. All decent rifles, fun little shooters.