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David LaPell
10-27-2017, 10:00 AM
I have cast for a few calibers over the years, the .357 and .38 Special were by far the most I did, with some .41 Magnum and .45 Colt behind it. Now that I have a Winchester 1885 (original) in .32 WCF I want to cast for it, and it seems to really enjoy .312" but I want to try with the heavier bullets, the 100-115 grain bullets. It's an older gun, made in 1889 so I don't want to push the round too hard. I want to use this gun on coyotes, although here in the northeast, our deer killing range in some parts is well under 100 yards and a really well placed shot would do well with a good hard bullet I would think.

Kraschenbirn
10-27-2017, 10:18 AM
IMO, it's hard to beat the Lyman 311008 (plain-base, 115 gr) in the .32-20. I powder coat before sizing to .313 for my 1885 (Cimarron Low Wall repro) and tailor my smokeless loads to match original BP ballistics. Sub-2" iron-sight (rear tang/globe front) groups at 100 yds and no problem staying on an 8" plate at 200 yds. Paco Kelly's article is one of the best source I've found for .32-20 info. http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3220wcf.htm

Bill

Outpost75
10-27-2017, 10:28 AM
Original blackpowder loads achieved about 1300 fps in rifles, and used soft alloys. Hard bullets aren't necessary for standard ballistics in the .32-20 and will give better game performance than "hard" bullets of 12 BHN or greater, which will not expand at all below about 1600 fps.

The Accurate 31-105T bullet is a close match with the shape of original factory .32-20 bullets and performs well for me in both rifles and revolvers when cast of 1:40 tin-lead alloy from Roto Metals. The ballistics of pre-WW2 full-charge smokeless loads using Sharpshooter powder can be very closely approximated using 4.2 grains of Unique, 4.5 grains of Herco or AutoComp, 10 grs. of IMR4227 or 13 grs. of IMR4198.

While Alliant #2400 is frequently recommended for this cartridge, in my experience it does not give satisfactory ballistic uniformity or accuracy at safe pressures suitable for older rifles and revolvers, so I do not recommend that you use it.

The Lyman #3118 and #311008 bullets which are frequently recommended do not have a crimp groove, which is necessary for use with smokeless powder. These bullets were originally designed to be used with a compressed charge of black powder which provides base support for the bullet, so as to prevent compression of the magazine spring in tubular magazine rifles from telescoping the bullet back into the case. Of the suitable smokeless powders currently available only IMR4198 provides this condition at standard pressures, but is not suitable for use in revolvers.

While in your 1885 single-shot it is not absolutely necessary that your bullet have a well defined crimp groove, if you wish to use your .32-20 loads also in a revolver, it is highly recommended that you choose a bullet which does. If you want a heavier bullet, Accurate has several suitable ones for the .32-20 which follow the traditional shape, but which have a crimp groove, and are shown below:

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blue32
10-28-2017, 05:51 PM
I could never get Lyman 311008 to drop more than .312 with any alloy (manufactured 7/15) but it works ok at a COAL of 1.575". I prefer the RCBS 32-098-SWC, which is more like an RNFP that drops to 100 gr. at .314. I size those to .312 and they dont have a crimp groove either. The only time I've had trouble with telescoping or jumping crimp is when I size under .312. With your 1885, none of that should be an issue as long as there is proper tension on the necks.

Guesser
10-28-2017, 06:03 PM
I cast an old SC Ideal 3118, it gets sized to .313 and used in a variety of Colts and Ubertti revolvers. At one time I used a Bisley Colt in 32-20 and cast 311316 GC and sized to .313. I pushed that one hard and got some pretty impressive down range results, a coyote and a bunch of long range winter jack rabbits. You might try 311359, I liked the bullet but it was too long for revolver use but I know others that used it in single shots.

runfiverun
10-28-2017, 07:14 PM
I use what Blue 32 uses but have the rnfp version.
I keep the alloy on the light side like Outpost does otherwise I get nothing but holes in small game.
for stuff like grouse that is enough.
on rabbits I had to use head shots, or go look for them afterwards which quite often limited my chances.[only made that mistake once]

samari46
10-28-2017, 10:21 PM
Haven't seen a lyman catalog recently, but besides the 311008, 3118 they may still make the 311316 which used to list about 115 grains and is a gas checked bullet. Had a low wall in 32-20 many years ago and that bullet with either IMR 4227 or 2400 was all that I used. Frank

silhouette_shooter
10-28-2017, 11:02 PM
Check out the 115 grain, gas checked mold that Magma Engineering makes, very nice mold, mines a .312.

Harry O
10-29-2017, 01:53 PM
I started loading the 32-20 in the early 1960's. I used to think that it was difficult. Now I know better. It will shoot anything in the 0.312" to 0.315" range without any problems. I have used the 311008, 311316, the 32-98, and several others without problems.

If you want to make it easy, do two things. Trim the overall length of all the cases to match your shortest one. Winchester, Remington, and Starline all make substantially different lengths. Unless you have equal lengths, you will have inaccuracy problems. The second thing is buy a Lee 32-20 Factory Crimp Die. Set whatever bullet seater/crimping die to just turn the flare back to straight (DO NOT crimp it with the same die). After doing that, crimp it with the Lee FCD. Do those things and you won't have any problems.

Outpost75
10-29-2017, 02:03 PM
Both my Colt Police Positive, manufactured in 1920, and S&W 1905 Hand ejector, made in 1917, have .315" cylinder throats. I cast bullets 1:40 tin-lead, lube with Lee Liquid Alox and size bullets .314" using the Lee push-through sizer.

I shoot the same mild, factory-equivalent loads in my Savage "Sporter" which pre-dates the Model 23 and was made in the early 1920s. The Savage boltgun in .32-20 firing with its simple, plain iron sights is more accurate at 100 yards than my M1 Carbine.

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KenT7021
10-29-2017, 02:32 PM
I use the Ideal 31133 HP in the .32-20.I used it for small game hunting years ago in Missouri.

Cherokee
10-29-2017, 06:53 PM
Lots of good info on the 32-20. Uniform length, crimp for pistol and magazine rifle use, I use the RCBS profile crimp die. Main bullet for me is the Magma design @ 112-115 gr. rounded flat nose. My original Marlin 1889's (two, both relined) like 8.5/AA9 for 1250 fps and great accuracy. 231 is great for plinking loads in rifle and pistol with the RCBS 98 gr.

Cherokee
10-29-2017, 06:54 PM
Lots of good info on the 32-20. Uniform length, crimp for pistol and magazine rifle use, I use the RCBS profile crimp die. Main bullet for me is the Magma design @ 112-115 gr. rounded flat nose. My original Marlin 1889's (two, both relined) like 8.5/AA9 for 1250 fps and great accuracy. 231 is great for plinking loads in rifle and pistol with the RCBS 98 gr. The Lyman 3118/311008 also works for me. I have not found any need for gas checks.