Disappointed in 32 mag Marlin

[Dave B]

I haven't had a lot of luck with my 32Mag loads. 90 gr and 98 gr using Unique. They shoot pretty good up to about 60 yds. At about 100 yds they start to spread out to about a foot or more. They also drop about a ft. I'd like to shoot this in silhouette matches but the long rams are pretty iffy at best. Anybody out there worked this out? I'm starting to think a 357 Marlin CB might be way better. Any thoughts on this?

[Flash]

If they are dropping 12 inches at 100 yards, you most likely aren't even breaking 700 fps. I shoot a 32-20 and i know for a fact that the 32 mag can be loaded to equal that. Try a different powder. Unique is fine for short barreled handguns where the charge is burnt fast but in a rifle, the bullet has to travel down 20 plus inches of rifling with Unique and that's after it's all burnt. Here is a table of loads and a chart for powder burn rates. I would personally try Herco first and them maybe W296 or H4227 if Herco doesn't provide good results.

http://stevespages.com/312p_1_100.html

http://www.reloadbench.com/burn.html

[Jon K]

More powder..........Bigger boolits.

Try 115-120 gr boolits and start out with 4.5 gr of Unique, and increase .5 grain increments til you find what you like.
Many other powders will work also 4227/2400/4756/Blue Dot/296/H110 just to name a few. keep in mind if the speed get kinda fast, you'll probably want a GC boolit.

Jon

[hyoder]

I'm using the 90 gr Lyman 311419 sized .313 in fron of No. 7 with very good results in Pistol Cartridge Cowboy Lever Action Rifle Silhouette. PM mey your address and I'll send you a few with my load info.

[Woolybooger]

Mine likes LilGun behind a 311419 GC. Does real well to as far as I can see

[WARD O]

HS-6 and H110 are fast becoming my favorite powders. I think that you need to pick up the velocity to do well at 100 yards. Check the Speer manual for the HS-6 data. Brian Pearce of the Handloader magazine staff recommended a very heavy load of H110 behind 100 grain bullets and it works very well in my Marlin and my Ruger SS.

Ward

[mike in co]

actually the rifle is no good. you should dispose of it safely...ahhh ship it to me and i'll get that part taken care of.



yes you should go shoot a 357.....



lol
mike in co

[runfiverun]

i'd try getting closer to the 100 yd marker.
a different powder might just be in order,don't be scared to make some 32 mag loads.

[WARD O]

Industry SAAMI standards for the 32 H&R list max pressure around 20-21,000. Your rifle is a Marlin 1894. Marlin also chambers the 1894 in 357 and 44 mag. Industry standards for these cartridges are over 35,000. The rifle is safe for more than 21,000.

The reloading data from Hornady, Speer, Hodgdon, etc will all fall under the industry standard.

A logical conclusion from this information is that you might be able to figure out some kind of +P loading for your rifle and get better preformance from it.

[Dave B]

Thanks for the info everybody, and thanks to hyoder for the bullet offer. I had a chance to shoot again and it shot a little better this time Maybe it was just me. I hope to get the 98gr Lee bullet to shoot better since it is a 6 holer I got from a group buy. I am going to try some Blue dot or HS6 or maybe a little more Unique. I'm thinking a little slower powder to make a little faster bullet.

[Bullshop]

Alliant Steel !!! About the same bure rate as 2400 but with greater bulk. Flake powder that compresses easily (where aplicable) and ignites easily. I have been having great success for 70% loads to top end loads with it in handgun and small rifle cases.
For very reduced loads I have found WST to work great. I have a few subsonic loads that are very nearly silent.
I tried these powder because its all that was left on the shelves at the Sportsmans place in FB. No one wanted it because there is nothing available from the makers accept shot shell data. Not a problem here. These two have now become favorites.
I use them for the 32 mag, 32 S&W long, and the 32 S&W.
I have a favorite load that uses .7gn WST which yealds 10,000 shots per pound if my math is correct. That is good economy.
These powders are sleepers that are being overlooked as to the versatile propellents they are.
Blessings
BIC/BS

[jimkim]

Sorry to hijack the thread Dave B. Bullshop have you tried Alliant Steel in 30-30 yet?

[Bullshop]

No Sir I have not tried it in a 30/30 yet. The only one I have is a 10" contender barrel and it dont get used much. I think it will be about perfect for boolits in the 30/30 though. I would start with 2400 load data -10% for starting loads. It has greater bulk than 2400 so in 30/30 size cases you end up at or very nearly at 100% density with top end loads. A case full of bulky flake powder of appropriate burn rate works wonders for ignition. Give it a go if you have some and I bet you will be pleased with the results.
If your worried about the lack of load data, dont worry. I have found Steel to have a smoother more predictable pressure rise than 2400.
2400 does not do that well below a certain pressure then when it comes into its working range does well but at the top of its range it tends to spike when pushed just past its limit. I got no spike with Steel, just a smooth predictable rise in pressure up to a predictable slight primer pocket streach. Hope I said that right. What I ment was that when I reached what I felt was a max adding more powder did what I expected and slightle streached a primer pocket, predictable, without spiking.
Because of its bulk resulting in greater load density for small to medium rifle cases and a seemingly wider range of pressure for good ignition I now prefer Steel over 2400.
BIC/BS

[jimkim]

Thanks. I do prefer a "fluffy" powder when at all possible.

[runfiverun]

steel works pretty nice in the 44 mag also.
and makes some screaming shotgun loads, BUT you need to weigh out your charges as it doesn't meter well ,even in a shotgun bushing.

[jimkim]

steel works pretty nice in the 44 mag also.
and makes some screaming shotgun loads, BUT you need to weigh out your charges as it doesn't meter well ,even in a shotgun bushing.

I was thinking it might be the ticket for 44 mag, and other big bore rounds. I guess not everything meters like 4227 or AA7.

[madcaster]

Maybe a few more cast bullets down that bore will help!:kidding:

[9.3X62AL]

I gots a question about Lyman #311419, since it came up earlier.......how does its low lube capacity work out in a rifle barrel? I've run the boolit in 30 Luger and 30 Mauser/7.62 Tokarev to 1400-1500 FPS, with zero leading--but I was always doubtful about its lube capacity in a rifle-length barrel at high velocities. What says y'all?

[Ekalb2000]

runfiverun,
Please pm me with details.

[Four Fingers of Death]

actually the rifle is no good. you should dispose of it safely...ahhh ship it to me and i'll get that part taken care of.



yes you should go shoot a 357.....



lol
mike in co

Mighty neigbourly of you, Mike in co!