32-20 2400 115

[r80rt]

looking for a good load to use in both my Marlin 1894CL in .32-20 using 2400 powder and the lyman 311008 bullet.

[19112TAP]

I have not used 2400 in my Marlin 32-20 but I have had great success with the 311008 and 31133 HP with Unique at 4.5 to 5gr and AA#7.

[btroj]

Any particular reason for wanting to use 2400? For a woods bumming round I can't imagine bearing 5 gr of Unique.
If you want more velocity I could see it but for a 1200 to 1200 fps load in the rifle it is hard to beat Unique.

[btroj]

Try around 8 gr of 2400 and go from there. You may find it tough to find a balance between unburned powder due to low pressure and leading due to the plain base bullet. Be sure to use a size that fits, find an alloy that works, and use a good lube.
You might want to try a powder like 231 or AA5 instead. Work well at lower pressures and meter well too.

[canyon-ghost]

http://i758.photobucket.com/albums/xx228/3rdshooter/contenders/32-20WCF800x6002.jpg



8 grains is a bit high for that one, may spread out too much. Here are mine, from TC Contender, like the avatar shows.

Ron

[Bret4207]

I used 10.0 2400 and the Lyman 311316 for years and years in a variety of rifles and handguns. These days they say it's too hot a load for handguns, maybe they are right, I don't know. I do know that in a rifle it's a killer load up in the 1500 fps range. Were I starting over I'd probably start down in the 7-8 gr range and see what the rifle said. Your 311008 being a PB may or may not like 2400 in the hotter loadings. Proper fit will go a long way towards happy trails with 2400 in the 10 gr range.

FWIW- St Elmer recommended that load with PB boolits.

[35remington]

You'll usually find that 2400 outshoots the fast pistol/shotgun powders in the 12 to 1400 fps range.

And for those of you with Contenders in 25-20 and 32-20, it's a miracle if you can get any cast bullet to shoot well. Do a chamber cast some time and you'll see why.

[Bent Ramrod]

I got up to 10 grains of 2400 with the Ideal 3118 in Colt SAA pistols, but since have backed off to 9 grains. I use this load with boolits from 100-115 grains. As long as there is a good crimp, there is only a small amount of unburned powder. The load seems to work OK in the Savage 23 and Winchester low-wall rifles, too.

[enfield]

the new lyman cast book starts with 6.6 grains of 2400 with a 115 gr boolit. thats what I tried in my Lee Enfield 32-20 ( just the right size bore to convert to 32-20 and the action is plenty strong )

[quilbilly]

After trying multiple other powders, my load finally became 9.2 gr of 2400 for my 32-20 in my T/C Contender. Been using it for years and love it. Minute of coyote at 200 yards accuracy and better if I have a rest.

[linus]

Your post is 3 years old , so i imagine you have found what you want, but I use 7.5 grains of 2400 with the 311008 cast soft (1:50) in my rolling block. I found harder bullets and some powders (Unique) caused leading.

[G. Blessing]

Your post is 3 years old , so i imagine you have found what you want, but I use 7.5 grains of 2400 with the 311008 cast soft (1:50) in my rolling block. I found harder bullets and some powders (Unique) caused leading.


Well, regaurdless of him finding what he needed, thanks for the post, and bringing the thread back to the top! It looks like I'm building a 32-20 shortly(Remington M25) and it good to see the discussion and data on the cartridge. :)

[quilbilly]

My Contender 32-20 likes about 9-1/2 gr of 2400 with 110-120 gr. boolits but that might be a little hot for other types of firearms.

[Reg]

Have used 8.5 gn. 2400 with the Lyman 3118 since the early 60's as a go to load. Bit on the hot side for pistols and quite low for rifles but seems to have been a good shooting load no matter what.
Did quite a bit of testing years ago and no matter what is said about the "cornmeal", just ignore it as it seems to have no effect on accuracy in any way and to those who say it will jam up their guns, best to just clean that gun every twenty years or so. Might need it for reasons other than cornmeal.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

I'm currently shooting two Uberti 1873-type revolvers in .32-20, using a 115 gr. cast semi-wadcutter. Do you folks think a 5.0 gr. charge of Unique is too stiff? It seems very accurate at 25 yds.

[rintinglen]

I would be leery of the 5 grain load in revolvers with that boolit. I use the RCBS 32-98 SWC and 5.0 grains, but that is about 10 % lighter. Lyman lists 4.0 grains as top end for that boolit. I'd be inclined to stretch that a mite, their loads are very light in deference to old pre-heat treatment Smiths and dinky Police Positives, but 5.0 grains seems too much. That said, my Browning 53 gets nothing else.

[Der Gebirgsjager]

Many thanks for the reply, rintinglen. I'll drop it back to 4.0 grains and maybe creep back up to 4.5 grains. The Ubertis seemed to be o.k. with 5.0, but I don't know what the long term effects would be on wear and tear.

[Mohillbilly]

My Buckeye eats those like gumdrops .

[quilbilly]

You'll usually find that 2400 outshoots the fast pistol/shotgun powders in the 12 to 1400 fps range.

And for those of you with Contenders in 25-20 and 32-20, it's a miracle if you can get any cast bullet to shoot well. Do a chamber cast some time and you'll see why. My Contender 10" barrel 32-20 loves 9.4 gr. of 2400. It is accurate (at least as far as my old eyes allow with open sights) out to 150 yards and hits a golf ball regularly at 75 yards. Any coyote that sits still long enough for my eyes to focus at 150 yards or less is in serious jeopardy from that 32-20 and the 113 gr Lee gas check boolits.

[leftiye]

Anybody tried Blue Dot? Should be good accuracy and burn really well in the pressure range.

[beefyz]

Anyone shooting a marlin '94 CL in 32-20 ? (w/Ballard rifling) Mine's a tack driver with jacketed (Hornady XTPs) but I can't seem to get it to shoot lead. Using a 115gr RRFP from Hunters Supply out in New Mex & recipes straight out of Lyman. Started low end, first few shots very good. After about 10 or so, accuracy drops way off. I ladder up towards the max end, same thing happens. It appears i'm leading. Powder choice doesn't make a difference.

[fouronesix]

I've tried several cast bullets, loads and powders in my 32-20s. They include Win 92s and Win 73s. The best load I've found for my carbines and rifles is: Lyman 311316 GC at about BHN 12 sized to .312 over 11.5 gr of Reloader 7.

[beefyz]

I must be missing something here. i'm figuring with the low velocity i'm shooting the lead with I wouldn't need a GC. I don't use checks on similar velocities in a 30-30 & .357 and have had excellent results.

[fouronesix]

Well, I have no idea exactly why you are losing accuracy and maybe leading (nor will anyone else with absolute certainty). When shooting smokeless loads even at BP vels and pressures, I've had good success with fairly soft, GC bullets…. in all calibers I shoot.

I don't know if you are missing anything or not? You said, I didn't, you are losing accuracy and probably leading after about ten shots…. Do what you like.

[leftiye]

Undersize (for bore) boolits? Probly better to size for freebore - if there is any. Sounds like bad lube could be happening too.

[rintinglen]

+1 on the undersize issue. Those are probably .312 boolits harder than a hang man's heart and you likely need .313-.314 diameter boolits to do right in your marlin..

[claude]

I don't like their 45/70 boolets, same reason, leading.

[beefyz]

"Undersize issue"...... thanks gents.... working on this idea also & checking back with manufacturer. will report back on this when I get some numbers.