.32-20 subsonic heavy bullet load. [Archive]

JeffinNZ

03-17-2007, 04:49 PM

Team.

I few years back I designed and had built a Martini action (converted rimfire) in .32-20 with a SMLE .303 British barrel fitted cut to 18 inches and an over barrel suppressor. Basically I found that subsonic rimfire was not dropping hares unless a solid head or neck shot was made as the 40gr HP bullet just didn't have the energy for the BIG bunnies. Suppressors on rifles are very legal in New Zealand you see and we use them quite a lot for rabbit control to reduce the game disturbance.

I shoot the .32-20 with Lyman 311008, 331316 (full power loads), 311466 and it's FN conversion I had cut. For a hoot though I thought I would try my CBE 314 220 I sourced last year for my SMLE.

This is the result of a charge of 8.5gr of AR2205/H4227 over a Fiocchi primer with air cooled WW bullet at 222gr bare at a range of 50 metres/55 yards. Velocity is 1080fps. Group is just a shade over 3/4 inch. I will back the load off to 8.2gr however to drop the velocity a little more to be 100% the bullets remain subsonic at high altitudes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/314220subsonic.jpg

The bullet has quite the thump even at this velocity and sheds VERY little speed over 100 yards.

dubber123

03-17-2007, 05:15 PM

Thats just plain cool, I love experiments! (Especially when they work).

Dale53

03-17-2007, 05:27 PM

I use a similar load in my TC Pistol for "Hunter Pistol". It is a .30 Carbine with a 170 gr bullet. It sure takes down the Rams! It shoots so flat that I don't have to adjust the sights (just hold on the Rams back and "right on" for the others).

Dale53

Scrounger

03-17-2007, 05:40 PM

Jim Harris at LASC has done a lot of experimenting with heavy bullets in the .32-20. Here is the data he sent me if you're interested. I imagine it should be easy enough to drop each load a bit in powder and use cast bullets...

Here’s everything I have on 32-20. Sorry no 32 H&R.

Jim

85 gr. Sierra SP
1.690
Bullseye
**4.5
1205
W S R
Starline
80°
6/26/97

85 gr. Sierra SP
1.690
Bullseye
**5.0
1365
W S R
Starline
80°
7/14/97

85 gr. Sierra SP
1.690
Bullseye
**5.5
1420
W S R
Starline
60°
11/2/98

85 gr. Sierra SP
1.690
Univ Clays
*5.0
1210
W S R
Starline
80°
6/26/97

85 gr. Sierra SP
1.690
Univ Clays
*5.5
1315
W S R
Starline
70°
6/20/97

85 gr. Sierra SP
1.690
Unique
5.0
1165
W S R
Starline
80°
6/26/97
inconsistent

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
Bullseye
**5.0
1155
W S R
R P
60°
4/9/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
Bullseye
**5.0
1175
W S R
Starline
60°
4/9/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
Univ Clays
*5.5
1150
W S R
R P
55°
3/31/97

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
Univ Clays
5.5
1160
W S R
R P
60°
4/9/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
N340
5.0
1025
W S R
Starline
70°
11/20/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
N340
**5.5
1105
W S R
Starline
70°
11/20/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
N340
**5.5
1125
W S R
R P
60°
4/9/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
N340
*5.5
1135
W S R
R P
55°
3/31/97

110 gr. Hornady SP
1.820
N340
**5.5
1125
BR 4
Starline
70°
11/27/98
best

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.000
Unique
5.0
1050
BR 4
Starline
70°
11/27/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
Unique
*5.5
1120
W S R
R P
55°
3/31/97

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
Unique
**5.5
1140
W S R
R P
60°
4/9/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
Unique
6.0
1185
W S R
R P
60°
4/9/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
SR4756
5.5
1030
W S R
R P
55°
3/31/97

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
Blue Dot
6.5
1075
W S R
R P
60°
4/9/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
1.900
N105
6.5
990
W S R
Starline
60°
10/30/98
inconsistent

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.000
N105
*6.5
1095
W S R
Starline
60°
10/30/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
N105
*7.0
1195
W S R
Starline
60°
11/2/98

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
N110
7.5
1090
W S R
R P
55°
3/31/97

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
N110
**11.0
1515
CCI 400
Starline
90°
5/30/02

110 gr. Hornady SP
2.010
2400
8.0
1130
W S R
R P
60°
4/9/98

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Bullseye
3.6
860
W S R
R P
70°
1/30/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Bullseye
*4.5
1045
W S R
R P
60°
2/4/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Univ Clays
*4.5
990
W S R
R P
70°
1/30/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Univ Clays
5.0
1050
W S R
Starline
70°
6/20/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Univ Clays
*5.0
1080
W S R
R P
60°
2/4/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Univ Clays
5.5
1115
W S R
Starline
70°
6/20/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Univ Clays
**5.5
1130
W S R
R P
60°
2/4/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Unique
*5.0
1095
W S R
R P
70°
1/30/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Unique
5.2
1095
W S R
R P
55°
1/22/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Unique
5.5
1145
W S R
R P
55°
1/22/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
N340
*5.5
1095
W S R
R P
60°
2/26/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
N340
6.0
1205
W S R
R P
60°
2/27/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
4756
*6.0
1140
W S R
R P
60°
4/3/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Blue Dot
*6.5
1140
W S R
R P
60°
2/27/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
Blue Dot
7.1
1180
W S R
R P
55°
1/22/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
N110
*7.5
1110
W S R
R P
60°
2/27/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
N110
8.0
1170
W S R
R P
60°
2/26/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
N110
8.5
1265
W S R
R P
60°
2/26/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
2400
7.5
1060
W S R
R P
60°
2/4/97
inconsistent

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
2400
*8.1
1125
W S R
R P
70°
1/30/97

110 gr. Speer SP
1.955
2400
8.5
1200
W S R
R P
55°
1/22/97

110 gr. Sierra HP
1.900
Bullseye
*4.5
1050
W S R
Starline
80°
6/26/97

110 gr. Sierra HP
1.690
Bullseye
*5.0
1195
W S R
Starline
80°
7/14/97

110 gr. Sierra HP
1.900
Univ Clays
*5.0
1020
W S R
Starline
80°
6/26/97

110 gr. Sierra HP
1.895
N340
**5.5
1115
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/23/00

110 gr. Sierra HP
1.900
Unique
5.0
1010
W S R
Starline
80°
6/26/97

110 gr. Sierra HP
1.900
Unique
*5.5
1130
W S R
R P
60°
1/8/97

110 gr. Sierra HP
1.900
Blue Dot
7.5
1220
W S R
R P
60°
1/8/97
inconsistent

110 gr. Sierra HP
1.900
2400
*8.5
1170
W S R
R P
60°
1/8/97

123 gr. RCBS
1.785
Univ Clays
5.0
1175
W S R
Starline
70°
11/20/98

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
Univ Clays
*6.0
1360
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/23/00

123 gr. RCBS
1.785
N340
**5.0
1150
W S R
Starline
70°
11/20/98

123 gr. RCBS
1.725
N340
*5.5
1205
W S R
Starline
70°
11/27/98

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
N340
**6.0
1325
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/23/00
best

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
N340
**6.5
1410
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

123 gr. RCBS
1.725
Unique
**5.0
1120
W S R
Starline
70°
11/27/98

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
Unique
*6.0
1330
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/23/00

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
Blue Dot
7.5
1245
CCI 400
Starline
75°
11/8/02

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
Blue Dot
*8.0
1480
CCI 400
Starline
75°
11/2/02

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
Blue Dot
**8.5
1550
CCI 400
Starline
75°
11/2/02

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
Blue Dot
*9.0
1580
CCI 400
Starline
75°
11/2/02

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
Blue Dot
*9.5
1640
CCI 400
Starline
75°
11/2/02

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
Blue Dot
10.0
1690
CCI 400
Starline
75°
11/2/02
NM/Max

123 gr. RCBS
1.725
N105
7.0
1125
W S R
Starline
70°
11/27/98

123 gr. RCBS
1.725
N105
7.5
1240
W S R
Starline
70°
11/27/98

123 gr. RCBS
1.710
N105
8.0
1450
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

125 gr. Remington SP
1.900
Blue Dot
**9.0
1425
CCI 400
Starline
75°
11/2/02

125 gr. Remington SP
1.900
Blue Dot
**10.0
1535
CCI 400
Starline
75°
10/25/02

125 gr. Remington SP
1.900
N105
**8.5
1335
CCI 400
Starline
75°
5/30/02

125 gr. Remington SP
1.900
N105
**9.0
1375
CCI 400
Starline
75°
10/25/02

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
Univ Clays
5.0
1025
W S R
Starline
70°
6/20/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
Univ Clays
*5.0
1020
W S R
R P
60°
2/4/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
Univ Clays
5.2
1030
W S R
R P
60°
2/26/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
Univ Clays
*5.5
1090
W S R
R P
60°
2/4/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
Unique
5.5
1040
W S R
R P
60°
1/7/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
Unique
6.0
1160
W S R
R P
60°
2/27/97
inconsistent

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
N340
5.2
990
W S R
R P
60°
2/26/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
N340
**6.0
1145
W S R
R P
60°
2/27/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
4756
6.0
1065
W S R
R P
60°
4/3/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.000
N105
6.5
905
W S R
Starline
60°
10/30/98
inconsistent

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
Blue Dot
6.5
1110
W S R
R P
60°
2/27/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.100
N105
*6.5
905
W S R
Starline
60°
10/30/98

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
N110
7.5
1050
W S R
R P
60°
2/26/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
2400
**7.5
1025
W S R
R P
60°
2/4/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
2400
8.5
1120
W S R
R P
55°
1/22/97

125 gr. Speer TNT
2.105
IMR 4227
9.5
1080
W S R
R P
60°
1/7/97
inconsistent

130 gr. Hornady SP
2.020
N105
**8.5
1340
CCI 400
Starline
90°
5/30/02

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N340
5.5
895
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N340
**6.0
990
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N105
*5.5
700
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N105
*6.5
915
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
Blue Dot
6.5
840
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
Blue Dot
*7.5
1010
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
2400
*7.5
880
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
2400
*8.5
1050
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
#9
*10.0
1310
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/23/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
#9
**10.5
1375
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
#9
**11.0
1390
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/23/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N110
*7.0
815
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N110
*8.0
980
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N110
**10.0
1250
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N110
**11.0
1350
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.150
N110
**11.0
1400
CCI 400
Starline
90°
5/30/02

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N110
**11.0
1430
Rem BR
Starline
80°
9/15/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N110
**11.5
1415
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/23/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N110
**12.0
1465
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/23/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
W-296
*11.5
1380
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/23/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
W-296
12.0
1445
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/23/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
W-296
**12.5
1520
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
H-4227
12.5
1385
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
5744
*12.0
1150
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N120
13.0
1280
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N120
**14.0
1390
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Hornady SP
2.125
N130
*14.0
1220
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

150 gr. Sierra SP
2.140
Blue Dot
**9.5
1425
CCI 400
Starline
75°
11/8/02

150 gr. Sierra SP
2.140
Blue Dot
*10.0
1435
CCI 400
Starline
75°
10/25/02

150 gr. Sierra SP
2.140
N110
**11.0
1390
CCI 400
Starline
75°
10/25/02

150 gr. Sierra SP
2.140
N110
**12.0
1500
CCI 400
Starline
75°
10/25/02
Max

150 gr. Sierra BT
2.100
N110
**11.0
1390
CCI 400
Starline
75°
10/25/02

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
Unique
5.0
940
W S R
R P
60°
1/8/97

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
Blue Dot
7.0
1170
W S R
R P
60°
1/8/97

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
2400
7.0
1040
W S R
R P
60°
1/8/97

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
2400
7.5
1110
W S R
R P
60°
1/8/97

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
2400
8.5
1140
W S R
R P
60°
1/8/97

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
2400
**10.0
1380
Rem BR
Starline
65°
10/13/00

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
N110
**9.5
1385
Rem BR
Starline
80°
9/15/00

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
N110
**10.0
1430
Rem BR
Starline
80°
9/15/00

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
N110
*10.5
1455
Rem BR
Starline
80°
9/15/00

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
N110
*11.0
1500
Rem BR
Starline
80°
9/15/00

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
E - FFFg
**18.0
705
W S R
Starline
60°
10/30/98

158 gr. RCBS FP
1.795
E - FFFg
19.0
730
W S R
Starline
60°
10/30/98

165 gr. Rem SP
2.135
N110
**11.0
1345
CCI 400
Starline
75°
10/25/02
NM

165 gr. Rem SP
2.135
N120
**14.0
1355
CCI 400
Starline
75°
10/25/02
more recoil than N110

165 gr. Hornady SP
2.150
N120
**13.5
1335
CCI 400
Starline
90°
5/30/02

168 gr. Sierra MK
2.100
N105
*7.0
955
W S R
Starline
60°
10/30/98

168 gr. Speer Match
2.145
Univ Clays
5.2
890
W S R
Starline
70°
6/20/97

168 gr. Speer Match
2.145
Univ Clays
5.2
850
W S R
R P
60°
2/26/97

168 gr. Speer Match
2.145
N340
6.0
925
W S R
R P
60°
2/26/97

168 gr. Speer Match
2.145
N105
*7.0
955
W S R
Starline
60°
10/30/98

168 gr. Speer Match
2.145
N110
7.5
950
W S R
R P
60°
2/26/97

168 gr. Speer Match
2.170
N110
**10.0
1260
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

168 gr. Speer Match moly
2.170
2400
10.0
1250
Rem BR
Starline
65°
10/13/00

168 gr. Speer Match
2.145
AA 9
*10.0
1250
W S R
Starline
70°
6/20/97

168 gr. Speer Match moly
2.170
AA 9
*11.0
1295
Rem BR
Starline
65°
10/13/00

168 gr. Speer Match
2.170
W-296
**12.0
1450
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

168 gr. Speer Match
2.145
H-110
11.0
1260
W S R
R P
60°
2/26/97

168 gr. Speer Match
2.145
H-110
*11.0
1285
W S R
Starline
70°
6/20/97

168 gr. Speer Match
2.170
H-4227
*12.5
1405
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

168 gr. Speer Match
2.170
5744
12.0
1225
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

168 gr. Speer Match
2.170
N120
**13.0
1305
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

168 gr. Speer Match moly
2.170
N120
**13.5
1315
Rem BR
Starline
65°
10/13/00

168 gr. Speer Match
2.170
N120
**13.5
1345
Rem BR
Starline
65°
10/13/00

168 gr. Speer Match
2.170
N130
**14.0
1255
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00

180 gr. RCBS Sil

Blue Dot
**8.5
1395
CCI 400
Starline
75°
11/8/02

180 gr. Sierra BT moly
2.165
N340
6.0
920
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00
one shot

180 gr. Sierra BT moly
2.165
N105
6.5
890
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00
one shot

180 gr. Sierra BT moly
2.165
Blue Dot
7.5
1060
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00
one shot

180 gr. Sierra BT moly
2.165
2400
8.5
1040
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00
one shot

180 gr. Sierra BT moly
2.165
2400
10.0
1200
Rem BR
Starline
65°
10/13/00

180 gr. Sierra BT moly
2.165
N110
8.0
940
Rem BR
Starline
80°
8/18/00
one shot

180 gr. Sierra BT moly
2.165
#9
*11.0
1300
Rem BR
Starline
65°
10/13/00

190 gr. Hornady BT
2.055
AA 9
*9.5
1150
W S R
Starline
70°
6/20/97

190 gr. Hornady BT
2.055
H-110
10.0
1115
W S R
R P
60°
1/8/97

190 gr. Hornady BT
2.055
H-110
*10.0
1125
W S R
Starline
70°
6/20/97

190 gr. Sierra MK
2.095
H-110
10.0
1130
W S R
R P
60°
1/8/97

Ricochet

03-17-2007, 05:49 PM

The speed of sound is temperature dependent. The reason it drops off at high altitudes is because it's freaking cold up there! Unless you're planning on shooting in very cold weather you don't need to back off your loads; in the cold they might well slow down, anyway. 1080 FPS is pretty reliably subsonic, but it depends of course on the extreme spread of your load's velocities.

Slowpoke

03-17-2007, 06:43 PM

Team.

I few years back I designed and had built a Martini action (converted rimfire) in .32-20 with a SMLE .303 British barrel fitted cut to 18 inches and an over barrel suppressor. Basically I found that subsonic rimfire was not dropping hares unless a solid head or neck shot was made as the 40gr HP bullet just didn't have the energy for the BIG bunnies. Suppressors on rifles are very legal in New Zealand you see and we use them quite a lot for rabbit control to reduce the game disturbance.

I shoot the .32-20 with Lyman 311008, 331316 (full power loads), 311466 and it's FN conversion I had cut. For a hoot though I thought I would try my CBE 314 220 I sourced last year for my SMLE.

This is the result of a charge of 8.5gr of AR2205/H4227 over a Fiocchi primer with air cooled WW bullet at 222gr bare at a range of 50 metres/55 yards. Velocity is 1080fps. Group is just a shade over 3/4 inch. I will back the load off to 8.2gr however to drop the velocity a little more to be 100% the bullets remain subsonic at high altitudes.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v505/JeffinNZ/Shooting%20stuff/314220subsonic.jpg

The bullet has quite the thump even at this velocity and sheds VERY little speed over 100 yards.

Cool, I have had good 100 yrd accuracy with the 314299 and Nine gr. 296 in Starline cases

The Saeco 315 with the same Nine gr of 296 is the 100 yrd accuracy champ so far with a 20 inch TC Bull barrel that says 32-20 but is really a 30-20.

The load that gets the most use is the RCBS 150 CB with 9.8 gr of WC 820

Sorry no FPS, maybe this spring I will drag the Crony to the Range.

goood luck

shooter93

03-17-2007, 10:31 PM

That is basically a rimmed version of the 300 Whisper we have here. I've had good luck with up to 240 gr. cast bullets in it, suppressed. It was my first time toying with supressors. The second one is a 45 caliber, we used a 45-70 case and throw 500 to 550 gr. bullets...that's neat, bigger is always better...lol. The case is much bigger than needed but using Unique extreme spread is 4 to 4 fps. At 100 yds it shoots five bullets all cutting, one ragged hole.