Marlin 1894cl in .32-20

[Marine Sgt 2111]

I just recently picked up yet another gem, a .32-20. When it comes to feeding her, should I stick with sizing cast bullets .002 over bore diameter as is common with micro groove?

I have an older Hornady manual that gives loads for condomed 85 grain bullets at 2300 fps and a 110 grain, .308 round nose at 2100 fps. Now these are at one end of the spectrum, does anyone have a favorite load/bullet for this cartridge that runs around 1400 - 1800 fps and shoots well in the Marlin?

Thanks for your input...:drinks:

[missionary5155]

Good morning
For cast i would find out what the Throat area is at the beginning of the rifling. If it is badly eroded it may be rather large in diameter. I would imagine you are going to find a need for a .312+ boolit.
Do you have any Molds around the 110-130 grain plain base ? That is where I would start with this nice little cartridge. I have a 73 winny (weak action) and it is a pleasure to shoot with 5 Grains Unique.
Mike God Bless you.

[Harry O]

I have one of them and it is a gem. Attached is a picture. Are you absolutely sure it is a micro-groove? Mine is from the early 1990's and it does NOT have microgroove rifling. I shoot both lead-gas-check bullets in it and jacketed. It works well with both of them. I size the lead bullets to as large as I can an still fit the chamber easily. From memory, it is 0.314"OD. A very light, handy, quick, and accurate rifle. PS. My rifle loads are way above the loads given in handloading books.

[Marine Sgt 2111]

I'll see what she has as rifling when she gets here. I saw the end of one shipping box on Gunbroker and it said microgroove rifling....but like anything else...we shall see what challenges this one brings....

[9.3X62AL]

The late '80-early '90 1894CL in 32-20 were Ballard-rifled. There was (or still is) a series from roughly 2007 forward that is listed as having MicroGroove rifling form.

My Model 62 in 30 Carbine has MG form, and shoots castings as well or better than J-words to the caliber's full velocity potential, which is close to 2100 FPS in that 22" barrel. It dotes on both the Lee Soup Can and Lyman #311316, sized at .311".

I would first try matching the throat diameter, if it were mine.

[dubber123]

My CL is Ballard rifled, and LOVES the RCBS 98 gr. SWC. I neck size only, size boolits to .312" and generally load 5 grs. of Herco or Unique. I believe these are in the 1,450 fps range, and will do an honest .5" at 50 yds., for 5 shots. Much over the 5 gr. charge and accuracy drops off with the PB boolit. You'll like it!

[johnly]

My 218 Bee CL is Ballard, but if I spotted a nice 32-20 CL I'd buy it with MG or Ballard rifling.

John

[Bret4207]

Sarge, what Hornady manual is that with the data? That seems really, really hot. The old High Speed loading for the 80 gr jacketed gave something like 2000 feet using 4198 or 4227. I've never seen published data taking anything in the 100-115 gr jacketed past 17-1800 fps. I got up to 1700+ with the 311316 in a Savage bolt rifle. I'd use Starline brass for heavy load work.

[9.3X62AL]

Add-on........Marlin also did a 1894CCL in 32-20 in 2004 or thereabouts, this with a 20" heavy hex barrel and full-length mag tube. This is the example I have, and it is Ballard-rifled. I think the CL is a 22" round barrel and half-magazine (my 25-20 is a late-80s CL).

[NHlever]

9.3x62AL not to hijack a thread, but I'm not having much luck so far with my 25-20 CL. Any advice? I have both the 257420, and 257312 molds, and haven't had much luck with either. The firing pin indent is way off center, and the firing pin hole is large........ those things don't help.

[6pt-sika]

9.3x62AL not to hijack a thread, but I'm not having much luck so far with my 25-20 CL. Any advice? I have both the 257420, and 257312 molds, and haven't had much luck with either. The firing pin indent is way off center, and the firing pin hole is large........ those things don't help.

I have a 1894CL in 25-20 . I also have used both the Lyman 257420 and 257312 in this rifle with good enough results for use in lever silhouette out to 100 meters .

I tried both the above mentioned bullets with 5 grains of Unique and they would certainly do the job on the rams at 100 meters .

I however tried my 1894CCL , 1894CL 80's to 90" , and 1894CL recent production with the Lyman 311316 and 311419 . Again I used 5 grains of Unique with these two bullets . And the 113 grain 311316 did the best job on the rams but then it was the heaviest bullet !

I suppose the 311316 knocked them over best with the 311419 and 257312 tied for second and the 257420 coming in 4th . But the 257420 knocked them over also but just not as much room for error I would say . But then I know folks who shoot 22 MAG's in the "Pistol Cartridge" class and do very well .

[NHlever]

Your load of five grains of Unique is the best I've found so far in my 25-20, but still groups 1 5/8"-2" at 50 yards. I'm still looking for a better load. I have some different (1-15) alloy that I'm going to try too as well as shooting them as cast. I have been sizing them to .258.

[Boerrancher]

Your load of five grains of Unique is the best I've found so far in my 25-20, but still groups 1 5/8"-2" at 50 yards. I'm still looking for a better load. I have some different (1-15) alloy that I'm going to try too as well as shooting them as cast. I have been sizing them to .258.

Try 9 grs of AA#9 on an 85 gr boolit in that 25-20. My little bolt action just eats that load up. 1 inch groups or less at 100 yds is not uncommon for mine. The load is only about 1700 fps but I have had great luck with it.

Best wishes from the Boer Ranch,

Joe

[Marine Sgt 2111]

Bret,
My source for reloading information about the hot .32-20 loads came from two sources one was “Hornady’s Fourth Edition Handbook of Cartridge Reloading”, page 378 and from “Cartridges of the World”, 11th Edition page 71.

The Hornady manual lists (the test vehicle was listed as a Marlin 1894cl rifle) 3 maximum loads at 2300fps for the 85grain JHP using AA#9, IMR 4227 and Win 680.

In the same manual there are two max loads for .30 cal 110grain RN jackets boolits at 2100fps using H110 or Win 680.

Turning to “Cartridges of the World” the same 85gr load at 2300fps is listed using again IMR 4227 as well two others that are running around 2100fps. There is a single load, using H110 driving a 110gr SP at 2100fps and a load of IMR 4227 driving the same bullet at 2000fps.

As I read and then re-read the velocities, while I am sure that the max loads are hard on brass, this really brings this cartridge, in a strong, well-made modern rifle into a new realm of effectiveness. Using a gas checked flat nose cast bullet at these hunting velocities lets this old girl be viewed in a new light to be used on bigger targets more effectively.

I have already got my hands on a RCBS 98grain plain base SWC to begin to toy with and I can see this rifle being great fun on sneakin' up on pasture poodles with.

[NHlever]

Thanks for the AA 9 tip! I don't have any on hand right now, but perhaps I'll pick some up the next time that I'm in the big city. :D

[Goat]

I have had good results with the Lasercast 115gr and 4.0 gr of Universal Clays powder. Velocity runs about 1450fps and accuracy out of my late production 1894CL runs just over a half inch at 50 yards and one and a quarter to one and a half inches at one hundred yards.
Goat

[Bret4207]

Thanks Sarge, I'll take a look.

[NoDakJak]

NHlever My 1894CL is not shooting any better than yours with either jacketed or a variety of cast boolits. The really crappy trigger doesn't help matters any so I guess that I will have to do something about it. I have fired more than 3,000 test rounds through six different 25.20s during the last several years. My favorite boolit at this time is still 257312. I haven't tried that load of AA9 but will and also try it's stablemate, Enforcer. Enforcer is just a tiny bit slower burning than AA9 and I have been having very good luck with it in 30.30 and 3040 loads. Neil

[dubber123]

NHlever My 1894CL is not shooting any better than yours with either jacketed or a variety of cast boolits. The really crappy trigger doesn't help matters any so I guess that I will have to do something about it. I have fired more than 3,000 test rounds through six different 25.20s during the last several years. My favorite boolit at this time is still 257312. I haven't tried that load of AA9 but will and also try it's stablemate, Enforcer. Enforcer is just a tiny bit slower burning than AA9 and I have been having very good luck with it in 30.30 and 3040 loads. Neil

Theres a fellow on here that gave me some directions to doing your own trigger job on Marlin levers. He had a link to an AGI video too, so it was an approved, (safe) method. My CL now has a 2.25# creep free trigger. The best part is other than a stone, it's FREE, no springs need changing.

[Cherokee]

AA9 is my choice for higher speed loads in both my 1889 32-20 Marlins. Very accurate with 115 cast FN PB bullets.

[Marine Sgt 2111]

well gentlemen what a great day this is turning out to be....it is my first day of offical retirement and in the good Lords own sense of humor, my new .32-20 arrived at the gunshop this morning. Wooooohhhhoooooooo.....

And to boot I was lubing and sizing cast GB311466'ers and GB 168gr sillies last night to shoot in the new 788 in .30-30. And here is the kicker, my Canadian girlfriend came down this weekend and we chamfered and primed 300 brass for said 788. It just doesn't get any better.....

[GOPHER SLAYER]

9.3X62AL,is a hex barrel one that has been cursed? Kidding aside, if Buckshot and I drove to the Gobi desert, which is, I believe where Ridgecrest is located, would you spring for coffee and donuts?

[EDG]

Guys are the so called Ballard rifled barrels really deep Ballard rifled or are they 6 groove shallow rifling. It seems that Marlin made "Ballard" barrels for the H&R .38-55 Target and the .45-70 Buffalo Classic. The rifling in the H&R guns is very shallow.

[Jon K]

EDG,

My 1894 CL, same vintage as Al's CL, the rifling is as deep as my Winchester.

Jon

[Marine Sgt 2111]

Gentlemen,
well she's home now, I purchased an RCBS 32-98, 32-115FNGC and a SAECO 118grain FN molds, 500 Starline brass and away we go. I picked up a Williams peep sight for shooting around the farm to boot. She is sporting a "ballard" style barrel.

The question is "Does anyone know what the exact finish that is used on factory walnut stocks?" This little rifle has beautiful figured wood and I would like to use tung oil to bring out the grain but the old finish must go first.

Thanks gents..

[9.3X62AL]

SGT 2111--

CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR RETIREMENT, and many thanks for your years of service to our country.

Gopher Slayer--

You bet I'll bounce for the coffee & donuts! There's a good little shop right across the street from where I live. If yer compression ratio is up to the task, a restaurant across the same lot serves the best chorizo con huevos I've ever had, too. You guys better hurry up and get out this way, dunno how much longer we'll be here--the District pink-slipped 4 administrators last week, and Marie is among them. Gobi Desert, indeed.

The 25-20 is the "hex-barrelled" rifle, as far as cast boolit fortunes are concerned. It runs the j-word Speer 75 grain flatnoses VERY WELL, my goal of getting castings to work to the j-word standard is a venture still in progress that finds numerous cul-de-sacs to drive into. The CCL in 32-20 barely has 700 rounds through it, and is beginning to show signs of civilized behavior from its HEXAGONAL form barrel. The eyesight problems of the past year haven't helped a lot, either.

[Jon K]

Hey Al,

Sorry to hear about Marie's dilema. Where's the next move going to take you? Coming back this way?

Have to get up that way to see you, and visit the gunstore & range there.

Jon

[Marine Sgt 2111]

Gentlemen,

Well into every sunny day it seems rain must fall and mine fell last night. I slugged the barrel on the marlin (.32-20), it was snug for about 3" in front of the chamber, two fingers pushed the piece of buckshot through all but the last 3" of barrel near the muzzle which snugged up again.

The slug measured from .3119 to .3122 across the flats of the slug. So what to do about this "open" barrel sectionj in the middle. Is this a fire lapping looking me in the eyes? Does anyone know what the grit grades are that are used in fire lapping? I would rather just buy the small cans of Clover lapping compound and have the stuff on hand.

It is snowing right now, but when it stops, I will take her for a ride to see what she will do with moderate (1200fps) loads and .312" sized 98gr RCBS bullets. Mean while, the girlfriend and I are headed to the reloading room to show her how reloading is done and to make up some .30-30's with 311466's for her to shoot.:drinks:

P.S. 9.3x62AL: it was my pleasure and I would do it again in a heart beat...

[6pt-sika]

Sarge , I've have the Saeco mold you purchased and it's shot very well in my 32-20's although I prefer GC bullets .

I would suggest that you keep your eyes open for a nice used Lyman 311316mold . This is a pretty decent 113 grain bullet and at some point I WILL use it to kill a deer in both the 32-20 and 32 H&R MAG rifles .

You also might want to keep your eyes open for a nice Lyman 311419 mold . This again is of GC design but of only 90 grains in weight .

I've used both these molds quite a bit and they preformed well in all four of my Marlin 32-20's and my Marlin 32 MAG .

I also recently recieved a Ranch Dog 313-115GC mold . I'm sorry to say I haven't had a chance to give this one a try . But hopefully when the weather warms a bit I'll be ready to go with this one and Ranch Dog's 259-80GC mold as well . I have a pair of Marlin's in 25-20 as well to try this other mold . And if it does well in them I have a 1893 Marlin in 25-36 Marlin I may try it in as well !

[Marine Sgt 2111]

6pt,
I did, begrudgingly, cough up the money and got one of those RCBS 32-115 FPGC molds that is a special order item. I used to use Lyman molds exclusively but since I got a ballisticast auto caster, I buy molds that I can readily modify to fit it (RCBS, SAECO or H&G molds from Ballisticast.)

What is interesting is that my Lyman manual recommends sizing to .311 and yet even though the Marlin is of recent manufacture the bore measures .312. Interesting.

Since the average shot here in Michigan, when deer hunting in the woods is 50 yards or less, if I can get this rifle to shoot 1" with a gas checked 115 grain boolits scooting along at 1600 fps plus...it's a deal....

I have to check out that Ranch Dog bullet though...thanks for the info..

[Dean D.]

Sarge, I'm happy to hear things are moving along for you on your new Marlin!

My "Baby" is a 1914 vintage Win. mod. 92 that was originally purchased and used by an old local trapper and early county deputy sheriff who was a friend of my Dad's family. A lot of history with that gun. The interesting part of that history to me is the fact that the old man considered it to be his "Big gun" and he only used it for bear and elk. Deer and smaller critters were taken care of by a .22 rimfire. I'm sure several of you are already choking on your <substitute drink of choice here> but the old man always came home with the game, as the story goes and never took more than one shot to do so. I personally do not feel comfortable trying to repeat his actions but I can tell you that the rifle does drive tacks.

I cast and load the 311316 in this rifle to great success. Blammer was working on a GB for this mold in a Lee 6 cavity but it sorta died on the vine. If more interest was shown that GB might come back to life though.

Enjoy your 32-20, it is a sweet but sadly overlooked cartridge in this magnum age.

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Dubber, would you care to share the info on the trigger work? I always like to see what others are doing to improve their lever guns, I have been stoning parts for many years, but others may have a better or more efficent method. Not to Hi Jak the 32-20 thread, I don't have one , Yet.......Thanks, S.L.