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Common uses: Small Game, Varmint
| Type | rifle (centerfire) |
| Typical load | 86gr Winchester Super-X X25202 |
| Muzzle velocity | 1460 fps |
| Muzzle energy | 407 ft-lb |
| Published G1 ballistic coefficient | 0.191 |
| Case length | 33.5 mm |
| Overall length | 40.6 mm |
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | Energy (ft-lb) | Drop (in) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 1460 | 407 | -1.5 |
| 100 | 1191 | 271 | 0 |
| 200 | 1026 | 201 | -23 |
| 300 | 926 | 164 | -79.1 |
| 400 | 853 | 139 | -175.6 |
| 500 | 792 | 120 | -320 |
At 1,000 yards, .25-20 Win. (86gr at 1460 fps, 100 yd zero, standard conditions) has a modeled come-up of about 196.6 MOA / 57.2 MIL, retaining 571 fps (subsonic).
| Range (yd) | Velocity (fps) | State | Drop (in) | Elev (MOA) | Elev (MIL) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 300 | 926 | Subsonic | -79.1 | 25.2 | 7.32 |
| 400 | 853 | Subsonic | -175.6 | 41.9 | 12.19 |
| 500 | 792 | Subsonic | -320.0 | 61.1 | 17.78 |
| 600 | 739 | Subsonic | -519.8 | 82.7 | 24.06 |
| 700 | 691 | Subsonic | -783.6 | 106.9 | 31.10 |
| 800 | 648 | Subsonic | -1120.5 | 133.8 | 38.91 |
| 900 | 608 | Subsonic | -1541.5 | 163.6 | 47.58 |
| 1000 | 571 | Subsonic | -2058.1 | 196.6 | 57.17 |
Extended predictions beyond 500 yards are modeled from the same G1 engine — useful for initial DOPE, but outside the 500-yard manufacturer-table validation audit. Confirm with observed DOPE, especially near transonic.
Small-game/varmint context — the deer- and elk-sized energy references aren't applicable to the cartridge's listed uses. When a downrange table is available, its retained-energy column can provide context; verify the exact load and follow local game regulations for legal methods.
Your barrel, ammunition lot, and conditions will differ — always verify against the manufacturer's data and your own rifle.
The .25-20 is a mild, quiet, low-recoil cartridge long favored for small game, pest control, and close-range varmints. Firing a light bullet at modest velocity, it delivers little meat damage on rabbits, squirrels, and similar game, and its soft report and negligible recoil made it a popular choice for farm and trapline use. Its trajectory drops off quickly and it lacks the energy for larger animals, so it is essentially a short-range proposition rather than an open-country varmint round. Today it survives mostly as a nostalgic classic for lever-gun enthusiasts, with limited but continued factory ammunition and a devoted handloading following.
Winchester introduced the .25-20 WCF (Winchester Center Fire) around 1895, chambering it in the Model 1892 lever-action rifle. It was created by necking down the .32-20 Winchester case to accept a .257-caliber bullet, producing a light, low-recoil small-game round. The cartridge saw wide use in lever-action and single-shot rifles through the first half of the 20th century.
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