32.40 Bullet.

[Col4570]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/32-40MartiniBlackPowderRifle001.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/32-40MartiniBlackPowderRifle001.jpg.html)
This Martini Rifle is proofed for Black Powder and is designated 32.40 Cal.I am looking for an ideal Bullet Weight for it.The Barrel slugs out at .325" and has a Twist of 1 in 14". Any input would be appreciated.
P S,The two rounds on the Right are 45.70 and 50.70 comparison,the others are 32.40.

[Anschutz]

I think the standard load is a 165 grain bullet. I have seen load data for up to a 206 grain bullet.

[4060MAY]

I have a 32-40 with 1-14 twist, No.1 ruger
I shoot smokeless in it
Lyman 323471 works well to 500M...Ram silhouettes
RCBS 32-17-FN does well to 385M...Turkey
for paper I use a Barnett Bullet...tapered, Breech seated, weighs 214grs, 1-20 alloy
I also have a Ranch Dog 32 cal 6 cavity mold...shoot well to 200 yds..GC fixed ammo, and Plain base..Breech seated

I also have a Greener/Martini I built in 304-40 Krag, only shoot fixed in it

[4060MAY]

sorry I didn't answer your original question
the 323471 lubed and GC weighs 222gr
the Barnett bullet weighs 220gr
the RD weighs 180gr
The RCBS weighs 178 GC and lube

looking at your picture, the paper patched cartridge doesn't look like a 32-40

[Col4570]

4060May,Thanks for the info,I will explore along those lines.The Paper patched Round is in fact a 50.70 next to a 45.70.I put them there for comparison against the actual 32.40 cases.
Regards.

[4060MAY]

Col4570
took a look at your pictures
have never seen a Greener/Martini takedown before
how does the breech seater work? looks cable operated...

[Col4570]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/Breach%20seater%20For%20Martini%20003.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/Breach%20seater%20For%20Martini%20003.jpg.html)
This is my breach seater.just a simple lever,the slot is so that the tool doesn't contact the primer.

[Col4570]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/Breach%20Seater%20For%20Martini%20002_1.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/Breach%20Seater%20For%20Martini%20002_1.jpg.html)
Another view.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

(http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/32-40MartiniBlackPowderRifle001.jpg.html)
This Martini Rifle is proofed for Black Powder and is designated 32.40 Cal.I am looking for an ideal Bullet Weight for it.The Barrel slugs out at .325" and has a Twist of 1 in 14". Any input would be appreciated.
P S,The two rounds on the Right are 45.70 and 50.70 comparison,the others are 32.40.

If you are asking purely about weight, I wouldn't go significantly over the 165gr. which was the usual load for lever action Winchesters with the 14in. twist. If you are undecided about further details of the bullet, you are of course free from the tube magazine's restraint on bullet nose shape. There are some very satisfactory looking moulds in .324 and .326 fro,m http://www.neihandtools.com/catalog.html

The big question has to be whether a more cheaply available .323in. bullet would bump up to seal the bore. I think it would if it isn't unduly hard, particularly if it was used with a grease cookie between card discs.

I recognized the Greener action, which should be amply strong enough for smokeless .32-40 loads if the firing-pin diameter is small enough or is made so. I once helped someone with the takedown stop device on a rebarrelling job. A piece of high speed steel toolbit is let into the steel block, so that it remains hard after silver soldering in place.

145492

[Col4570]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/GreenerLockup001.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/GreenerLockup001.jpg.html)
Yes I did similar with this build,On my Photo you can just see the Barrel lock up stop.Yes the Rifle is robust enough but I will at present stay with the BP proof specs.
Regards.

[Col4570]

http://i1052.photobucket.com/albums/s452/livebattery/GreenerLockup001.jpg (http://s1052.photobucket.com/user/livebattery/media/GreenerLockup001.jpg.html)

[Ballistics in Scotland]

That looks exactly like the original. Is it sleeved in the shotgun barrel? There should be nothing at all wrong with that if the weight suits you.

[Col4570]

This Rifle came to me as a set of Castings a 12 gauge Barrel and the timber,all in the white and the Wood inlet but not shaped.These Kits where once Retailed by Brownells and where almost exact Copies of a Greener GP Shot Gun.I still have the Barrel.The 32.40 Barrel is a smooth 20 bore Barrel from a Sharps repro relined to 32.40 and Chambered.I case Hardened the Frame using Leather,Cows Horn,Sheeps Horn and Bone Meal,packed around the Parts in an old Ammo Box on a Make shift forge using a cylinder Vacuum as a blower.After 2 hours I turned the lot into a tub of cold water.

[Ballistics in Scotland]

A worthy project. I think there would be quite a risk of inward warping of the sides of the Martini action in the quenching, and you would need packing pieces secured by screws through every hole. To produce colours there has to be something uneven about the way the water contacts the metal. One way gunmakers sometimes do it is to wrap the workpiece loosely in wire, too thick to actually lie against flat surfaces.