Marlin .32-20 and M-1 carbine boolits

[Marine Sgt 2111]

I loaded some 120gr plainbase .30 cal RN's (last Lee group buy), sized to .313 over 4.5gr, 5.0gr, 5.5gr and 6.0gr of Unique. Used Carnuba Red for lube, new Starline brass and CCi small rifle primers and an OAL of 1.580".

The first shot at 4.5grs went into the 1 inch square on the target at about 9:00 o'clock. The next three shots went through the target next to the one I was aiming at, 12 inches to the left and sideways. I was shooting 50 yards. All loads with the 120gr RN bullet showed signs of tumbling. I had tumbling at 25 yards.

I then shot 7 odd rounds I had previously loaded which contained 11.0 grs of 2400, new Starline brass and the RCBS 115gr FNGC bullet sized (at least the gas check is) to .313. Five holes forming one large hole in the middle of the target with the other two holes just touching.

She just doesn't seem to like those pointy carbine bullets but loves flat points. We shall have to see how they, the 120gr RN's fair in the 788 in .30-30.

[Nobade]

I've been shooting #311410 in my 788 30-30 over a case full of Trail Boss with very good effect. It's easy to hit golf balls at 150M off the bench, no leading and no recoil. I never had gotten that bullet to shoot very well in anything, but this 30-30 sure likes them! I wonder if the twist in your 32-20 isn't a bit slow for bullets that long?

[Jack Stanley]

I can't say what your Marlin is doing the one I had I didn't keep long because of it's quality control issues .

The 788 however I bet will run pretty well for ya . On the low side I've used a 311466 , plain based , almost any lube and near six and a half grains of 700X and got good groups . Also in my 30-30 bolt rifle I've use thirty grains of "Special Ball" surplus powder and a heavier flat nose bullet with gas check . The old 788 hasn't found a load it doesn't do reasonably well with .

Had a 788 in .308 Winchester that I used a H&G number 67 with a charge of about sixteen and a half grains of IMR 4198 . It gave excellent groups , well enough for head shots on tree rats and dime size holes through the rest of the small critters if ya missed the head . I sold the .308 when Remington came out with a left hand seven hundred in the nineties but thankfully I kept the mold . Three point two grains Bullseye , Winchester cases and primers shoots better than the load the old Remington had . It might have something to do with the Browning launch pad though :>)

Jack

[Cimarron Red]

Howdy Marine Sgt 2111,

Can I ask what the diameter of your RCBS 115 FNGC bullet is? I notice that Buffalo Arms lists it as .313" nominal, but Midway list the same bullet as .310". I phoned RCBS, and they said the bullet (manufacturer's number 57942) drops from the mould at .310", which is thinner than I would prefer for my Winchester 1892 rifle (Miroku.) However the bullet seems to shoot for you despite the fact that it is, apparently, smaller than .313". Thanks.

[9.3X62AL]

SGT2111--

No experience with your GB 120 grainer, or the RCBS 115. The Lee Soup Can that I have (113 grain FN) barely makes .311" in 92/6/2 alloy, but my Lyman #311316 runs a fat .314" and gets the call for 32-20 WCF rifle work, sized @ .313" for my Marlin 94CCL. With 10.0 to 11.0 grains of 2400, it has done under 2" at 100 yards pretty consistently in 5-shot groups. Small pistol vs. small rifle primers don't affect grouping significantly, and I haven't chronographed the loads to assess whatever velocity variations are occurring.

[Cimarron Red]

9.3X62AL,

You wouldn't have a spare Lyman 311316 mould you'd like to sell by any chance, would you?

[Marine Sgt 2111]

Red...the RCBS bullet you mentioned drops out of my mold at .3105". So....since my barrel slugs .3122", I stick the gas check in place with a smear of bullet lube and size it to .313 or .314 through a star die. Or I have also put the gas check on the back of the bullet and sized it in my saeco or lyman 450 the same way.

As with me, you may question "if the boolit is .3105 and the die .313" how accurate is it. If you take that undersized boolit and put 10 or 11 grains of 2400 underneath it then gets "fitted" to the bore. 10 Grains of 2400 gives me 1 3/4" groups at 150yds. The alloy I use is 92-2-6 so it's about a 15 brinnell but 23,000 cup kinda makes up for the size difference. With a milder, lower pressure load, it may not shoot as well.

I think the long nose of the 120grain carbine bullet is the problem here. I think the twist for this rifle is something like 1 in 18". I rolled up some round ball loads of 2.5 grains of unique and the same load with the RCBS 98gr swc. Will write back after the weekend when I can test them. Am looking for near silent, in the barn anti -coon loads.

[Cimarron Red]

Sgt,

Thanks very much for the information. I have a Model 53 Browning that likes the Saeco 322 bullet (.313), but my new 92 ain't having any of it. It does show some promise with the Lyman 311008, though. My shooting is mainly lever action silhouettes, so I don't need to drive the bullets more than 1300 to 1400 fps. I got in on the group buy for the 115 grain .32 cal. bullet. This may work, or so I hope. Thanks again.

[NickSS]

I have an old Lyman 4 cavity mold in 31108 bullet that I have used in several rifles. I have shot it in a Marlin in 32-20, M1 Carbine, 30-30 in both winchesters and marlins and I have also used it in 308 and 30-06. It worked great in all of them. Mostly they were shot with either Red Dot or Unique powder in rather light chages (5 to 8 gr) It makes a dandy small game bullet in a 30-30 which is what I mostly use it in.