The Frontier Sixshooter Community Message Board - This is depressing.......

This is depressing....... (reply)

Gunner — Mon, 12 Jan 2026 01:07:43 +0000

I saw the title and got excited, then I read the post

Thought maybe Paul acquired a 414 Supermag firearm, I always wanted one of the Dan Wesson 414 Supermag revolvers. Years ago I ran into a really nice 7.5" Ruger 357 Max, cheap, bought it with the idea of converting it to 414 SM, after a while I lost interest in the project and sold off the 357 Max

Gunner

25-20 brass (reply)

Hoot — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 18:23:10 +0000

We were at a little show south of us a couple-three weeks back. A vendor there had some brass and, knowing it was scarce and usually lots more than what he was asking, I bought it all---maybe 200 rounds. Once we got home, I went to put it away in the coffee can with my other brass only to find that can was full! Probably don't need to source any more .25-20's...

25-20 brass (reply)

Otony — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 17:10:56 +0000

I should have mentioned that I also have supplies of old 25-20 brass by Remington and Winchester, but that Winchester brass quality has been a bit problematic. A real shame considering they introduced the cartridge!

Otony

25-20 brass (reply)

Otony — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 17:05:51 +0000

I have a fair amount of 25-20 that is headstamped Starline. They make occasional runs of it, but only to contracted purchasers, never for general sale.

The last batch I purchased was through Huntingtons, just a short time before they closed up shop permanently. Unfortunately the demand was so great at that time they restricted the amount you could purchase, else I would have stockpiled more.

I warned Bryan about the lack of both brass and ammo when he announced the purchase of his 25-20, which I believe took him off guard. He may have assumed, as I had, that it was simply a matter of trotting down to the local gun store/bait shop and buying whatever you wished, but “shortages” and Covid pretty much ended that for many niche cartridges.

As you mentioned, 32-20 brass is often larger at the base, so converting it can result in out of tolerance specs. But like everything else, not all 32-20 is the same. Some appears to be similar in base diameter to 25-20\218 Bee.

Remington has recently resumed production of 25-20, but the scalpers seem to have cornered the market, and prices are hovering around an astonishing 100+ bucks per box, over 2 dollars a round! I remember as a kid in the mid 1960’s a relative who owned a Winchester Model 70 that had been rechambered to 300 Weatherby. He bragged then that every time he fired it, he was throwing a silver dollar at his target. That has stuck with me over 60 years, and now I find myself doing the same (and more!) firing the most mundane of rounds.

Holy smokes, I am officially an old codger!

Otony

32-20 Magnum Loads (reply)

JimT — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 15:54:44 +0000

.32-20 Magnum Loads
Fired in Model 1894 Marlin CL

SPEER 100 gr. JHP
12.0 gr. 2400
1912 fps average
LEE 95. gr. CAST
12.0 gr. 2400
2061 fps average

............

SPEER 100 gr. JHP
14.0 gr. WW296
2108 fps average
LEE 95.gr. CAST
14.0 gr. WW296
2159 fps average

............

LBT 140 gr. CAST
12.0 gr. WW296
1541 fps average

............

SPEER 125 gr. .311" SPITZER (load single shot only)
14.5 gr, WW296
1975 fps average

32-20 Magnum (reply)

Paul — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 15:25:30 +0000

Way back in the 20th Century the local sporting goods store owner got his hands on a CBC break action singleshot in 32-20. He came up with some dies and started loading his own ammo for it. I always wished I had a chronograph back then. It would have been interesting to see how hot he loaded it. The CBC was built like a bank vault with VERY heavy chamber walls. His philosophy was, "if a bit of powder is good, a bit more is better." I heard rumors that a few older 38's blew up using his ammo, he loaded it the same way, by guess and by golly!

414 Super Mag (reply)

Hoot — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 14:48:25 +0000

Re: .25-20's converted from .32-20's...

I know Bryan Pettit (sp?) had issues with some rifle of his not tolerating converted brass. And here I thought it was identical except for the neck. I have a bunch of converted brass but both my Marlin and my Husky seem to be able to use it although one or the other (can't recall) takes a little 'push' for them to chamber.

I REALLY need to shoot them more....(sigh)....

414 Super Mag

Paul — Sat, 10 Jan 2026 13:58:51 +0000

That's the only pistol caliber brass that's NOT in stock at Starline right now. That is, of the calibers they normally produce. 30-06 Springfield, 308 Winchester, 45-70 Government and 8.6 Blackout are the only rifle calibers listed as not in stock. It's great to see availability again. Just wish I had the funds to stock up on a couple calibers before the next political panic hits.

I wonder why they don't do a run of 25-20 or 25-35. They do mention that "The SAAMI spec for .25-20 & .218 Bee is smaller at the base than the .32-20 which can cause clearance issues on some rifles." so they're aware of a market for other calibers. I guess the market, or their perception of it, just isn't great enough to justify tooling up and doing a run.