.32-40 low pressure loads

[725]

I'll take all the help I can get with this one. I want to load for a 1893 Marlin .32-40 take-down rifle. I've searched all over the barrel/receiver for a notation on "smokeless" powder and see none. This makes me think it might be so early an example that it was made for black powder only. I would prefer to err on the side of safety but don't know where to start. Anybody have well founded advice on powder (I guess I can go back to black powder) & boolit. Barrel slugs to .316 x .325. Thanks, 725.

[rhbrink]

Have you looked at the Hodgdons web site they list some low pressure loads for the 32-40 in the Cowboy Actions, Long Range rifle. Using a 196 grain cast boolit with 13 grains of H-4227 gives 1267 fps with 18,000 CUP. Also Trail Boss with 6 grains gives 935 fps with 25300 CUP.

Richard

[gundownunder]

Why not first find out how old the rifle is?
Do a search for a site that does Marlin year of manufacture.
All you need to do is put in your serial number and it tells you the year it was made.
Once you know the age you should be able to work out what loads it is suitable for, assuming that it is in good mechanical condition.

[Bret4207]

Pretty sure Ken Waters has a write up on the 32-40 in "Pet Loads". Kens data was always very conservative, and if you're a reloader you NEED the book anyway.

[725]

Got the Ken Waters' book. Just concerned that it doesn't appear to be one of those new fangled smokeless tubes. The gun is in unbelievably good condition. Thanks all I'll check those sources.

[L Ross]

725
I shoot 4 different 32-40's the oldest was made in 1889 and I shoot 14.0 gr of IMR-4227 in all of them with 180 to 205 gr cast bullets with perfect satisfaction. I use the same load in old 30-30 leverguns. Congratulations on owning a fine old rifle.
Good luck and good shooting,

Duke

[smithywess]

725

Is that .325" slugged diameter the groove diameter because it's quite a bit overbore. My understanding was that most of these .32-40's had groove diameters of between .321" and .323". If it really is .325" you're going to need a boolit sized to .326" at least. My own Marlin .32-40 slugs to .321" and I fire an 8 m.m. (.323" ) Mauser roundnose gas checked boolit through it to 1750 f.p.s. with excellent effect. I tried boolits sized to .321" with dreadful accuracy. What are the markings on top of the barrel? I'm amazed it isn't marked 'For Black Powder', but as you say it may have been a left over. If you're erring on the safe side just keep the smokeless loads to blackpowder speeds of 1300 f.p.s. with whatever powder you decide to use.

[Gtek]

14 gr. 4227 is my load with 203 Borden. <1" all day long. Gtek

[725]

I did my best to get an accurate slug to measure. My fat fingers are of no real help when dealing with tiny buckshot which is what I used to drive through the barrel. Think I'll cast up a pure lead 8mm and see what those measurements are. Thanks to all. Keep 'em coming.

725

ps -- Anybody paper patching for this gun?

[missionary5155]

Greetings
Why not just fill cases near full of 3F with a 170-190 grain 40-1 boolits well lubed with 45-55% olive oil & beeswax... You will discover that the old round still can do the job.
Mike in Peru

[725]

Cast a few 8mm's from a NOE or BRP mould. Slugged the bore and had good land marks but barely any groove evidence. It should slug up nicely at the discharge. I plan on two primary efforts; 1- 13 to 14 grs of 4227 and, 2- a load of FFFg just to see how it goes. Might get to it by the weekend (if I stay up way past my bedtime to do the work). Thanks to all, as always. I'll report back with some preliminary results.

[725]

Shot a few 13 grain loads of 4227 with my 326407 boolit -- wow -- what a sweetie. Just cast a bunch more and will move up to the 14 grain load this week. Think I've got a winner in the works. Thanks fellas.

[725]

smithywess
The micrometer puts it just over .325. I've got a .326 "8mm" mould that fits the bill. I think it slugs up at the discharge because I'm getting very rewarding groups, so far. It's an 1893 model manufactured in 1895 that simply says "Marlin Safety" on top of the receiver. It may be so early an example that the question of smokeless powder wasn't an issue yet.

[smithywess]

smithywess
The micrometer puts it just over .325. I've got a .326 "8mm" mould that fits the bill. I think it slugs up at the discharge because I'm getting very rewarding groups, so far. It's an 1893 model manufactured in 1895 that simply says "Marlin Safety" on top of the receiver. It may be so early an example that the question of smokeless powder wasn't an issue yet.

Although a buyer could special order an 1893 with a blued receiver most were shipped out with case hardened receivers. If your rifle's receiver is blued rather than case hardened and coloured then it's just one more indication that it started out as a blackpowder rifle.

If you're getting good groups with your .326" diameter bullet then well done. Not much more to worry about. Are these good groups with blackpowder or smokeless ? Not that it matters a great deal but just would be interesting to know. With that diameter bullet I would think the smokeless is fine.

[barkerwc4362]

The Grade B Model 1893s were originally produced with blued receivers and barrels marked "For Black Powder". The regular Model 1893s had case colored receivers and the barrels marked "Special Smokeless Steel". The top of both receivers would have been marked with "Marlin Safety".
The patent dates on top of the barrel can help determine the possibility of originality of barrel to the receiver. If you can send me the patent dates from the top of the barrel I can look them up in Brophy.

Bill

[CWME]

I have an 1893 made in around 1902 if memory serves me. Mine likes the fat .325 boolits as well. I am running the Lee 8mm 170ish with 12gr of 2400. Really light load but fun to shoot. Gets the old girl out of the safe anyway. It is marked on the barrel for smokeless powder.