32-40 mold question.

[spurgon]

I'm trying to get set up to reload and cast for the 32-40 for my Marlin 93. Here is a link to an ebay item (I hope this is OK to do).............

http://cgi.ebay.com/Ideal-Bullet-Mold-32-40-185-Vintage_W0QQitemZ170182990600QQihZ007QQcategoryZ71 118QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem#ebayphoto hosting

Question #1...... Am I wasting my money on this mould sense I have't slugged my bore?

Question#2........ Is a 185 grain bullet what I need dor this caliber?

Question #3 ......Is this mold in good enough condition , judging from the picture, to do the job?

Thanks for your time

spurgon

[JeffinNZ]

My 2 cents worth: Slug the bore an throat THEN buy a new or newish mould.

[Bent Ramrod]

Spurgon,

The standard weight for the .32-40 was 165 grains, although target shooters typically shot (and shoot) boolits that go up to 200 grains. You really need a look at the boolit in the cavity to see whether the nose protrudes to far to feed through your Marlin. It's probably OK, but...

With the cavity filled and the mould closed, it's also kind of hard to gauge what it is like inside. My Winchester 165-gr 32-40 mould casts right at .319, which is small for the .32-40 barrels I've had experience with. The later detachable-block Ideal moulds I have are more on the order of .322" before sizing, so this older specimen may fit that pattern, if it's true that all Ideals of whatever vintage are somewhat oversize. I'm not absolutely sure of this, but I get the impression that they mostly are.

It's kind of a tossup. Unless you collect nice specimens of old moulds (which this looks to be) there will doubtless be others along in time, after you have slugged your bore. On the other hand, if you can get it cheap, it might work fine, or, at worst, you can probably trade it to a collector later for a more modern specimen of whatever size you want.

[Bent Ramrod]

Oops--didn't see the open mould picture. Nice specimen, in and out. It looks like a 165-gr to me; probably the stamping is blurred or weak. So far, the price is right, even for a collectible.

[jtaylor1960]

Saeco makes some nice 32 molds.I think they have a 165 and a 200gr.Like the Loverin style bullets they have multiple grease grooves that can be used to crimp at the desired length.

[KAF]

IDEAL MFG CO. NEW HAVEN CT U.S.A. 32-40-185

It is a 185 gr.

[IcerUSA]

Look here also :
http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/4,2970.htm
posted this in another thread also for the 8mm guys to look at too .

Keith

[DonH]

I have an old Idea .32-40 mold which drops .319 diameterl bullet of a moderately soft alloy. I "beagled" the mold and easily got it up to .321" - .322". Unless you are willing to go the route I took with my Ideal mold, buy a new one. I think most any recently made mold will cast a bullet large enough. I do agree with the advice to slug your barrel, particularly the throat., and also determine the rifling twist of your barrel. The old standard 1-16" twist will generally prefer bullets below 200 gr (i.e. 165 -185 gr).
What type of shooting you will be doing with the rifle can make a difference as to which mold you would buy. Many CB shooters just automatically go for a gas check bullet but if casual shooting at moderate velocity on a range is what you will be doing, a plain base design will work fine. If you need to push the bullet faster than 1400 - 1500 fps you may wish to look at the RCBS 170 FN gas check bullet as it seems to have been designed for .32 Special lever guns, in which case it will work fine in your .32-40.

Unless the price is really right and you are willing to tinker, a new (or newer) mold is probably your best bet. Buffalo Arms is a good place to look. Good Luck!

[Little Doc]

what jeffinnz said.
had a 93 one time and had to go to .325 to get it to shoot. anything smaller put the boolets on the tgt sideways. at least the ones that hit the tgt. .325 gave me a nice group. good luck