Load test 32 WS for comment

[Hick]

I've reloaded thousands of rounds-- but all jacketed. Today was my first excursion into using a CB. So, I'm posting results and some questions. Please feel free to comment and/or critique.

Winchester Model 94 in 32 WS (1949 vintage)
170 grain FN CB (non-GC) rated to 1600 fps (Hunter Supply)
H380 powder

I used some Hornady load data ladders for H380 as my starting point-- they were for a jacketed 170 grain flat nose. Their load data went in steps from 2200 fps down to 1700 fps. I extrapolated a little down from there to get to 26.5 to 27 grains as an estimate for 1600 fps.

It's a little cool here and Speer says to use magnum primers-- but I tried both, since I don't normally have trouble with spherical powder and standard primers. All rounds fired fine.

I set up three load sets (10 rounds each) for chrono: (1) 26.5 grains, WLRM, (2) 27.0 grains, WLRM, (3) 27.0 grains, WLRS

I used Winchester brass and a cartridge length of 2.44 (for the Hunter Supply CB this puts the base of the bullet right about the base of the neck on the cartridge).

Calculated powder volume for these is 74-75% of the case volume under the boolit.

Chrono results: 26.5 grains came in at 1608 fps with a standard deviation of 63 fps
27.0 (WLRM) 1628 fps, stdev 54
27.0 (WLRS) 1622 fps, stdev 59

After shooting I checked the bore and it was glossy with a little bit of unburned powder, but maybe not a shiney as a clean bore. I have no idea what leading should look like, so i'm not sure about any leading.

When I fired the rounds there was some smoke (not lots, but more than with a jacketed bullet).

Thoughts?

[Outpost75]

I think your H380 powder is too slow to tolerate reduced loads and is not the best choice for plainbased bullets in the .32 WS. Your velocity standard deviations are rather large, which tells me that the load is not working. In refined loads a velocity standard deviation for a 10-shot sample which doesn't exceed 10% of the mean velocity is readily attainable. 20% of the mean is acceptable, but over 30% tells me to not use that powder.

If you have other powders, I think you would get much better results using 16 grs. of 4198, 18 grs. of RL7, 22 grs. of IMR3031 or 24 grs. of either 4895, 4064, RL15 or Varget for 1500-1600 fps.

[Hick]

Outpost75-- Thanks for the thoughts. I've got several of the powders you suggested (since I use them in my other rifles)--Just didn't have a proper benchmark for what kind of standard deviation to look for. Now all I need is good enough weather for a few more experiments.

[richhodg66]

My late '40s Marlin in .32 Special shoots cast well. I have an old Lyman mold for a .32-40 bullet (can't remember the mold number now) which is plain based. It shoots quite well with 9 grains of Unique. For a hunting load, I settled on the NOE 325-180 Grain FP with 30 grains of IMR 4320 and a small tuft of dacron.

[Outpost75]

Plainbased bullets will do the job for hunting, if a suitable alloy is used. My .30-30 load approximates .32-40 bullet weight, velocity and energy and has proven effective on whitetails at woods range within 25-75 yards. If I need to shoot further I change loads to a higher velocity one with gaschecked bullet, but 16 grains of 4064 for 1370 fps from a 20" barrel with this 175-grain cup-point cast 1:30 tin/lead brings home the venison. FYI this mold started life as an RCBS 30-185FN which I had modified by www.hollowpointmold.com boring out the GC shank to provide a .312" diameter base band, because the original RCBS blocks cast WAY undersized in soft vhunting alloy, then truncating the nose to provide a larger .25" meplat, versus the original .187" and also cup-pointing with a .15" diameter cone with 60 degree draft angle.

153343

[Hick]

Great stuff. One question I've run into: I'm using 0.322 CB which seem to work quite well in the 32 WS (0.321)-- but I've ruined a couple of cases when loading due to the plain base being slightly larger than the case. Is there a special die or something I should be using? I can get them to seat if I'm gentle, but I occasionally forget and pull the handle too quickly.

[TXGunNut]

I like the RCBS Cowboy dies for the 32WS (and other cartridges) because they have a third die for sizing the case neck. This die sizes the neck for CB's and bells it a bit for flat-based cast boolits. They also sell this die a la carte or you can buy the Lyman M-Type neck sizing die. The advantage of the Cowboy die set is that the sizing die doesn't unnecessarily size the case neck so brass loaded with these dies is not worked more than necessary.

[Hick]

The dies sound like what I'm looking for-- thanks TX

I tried out the loads for 3031 and 4064 this morning-- in spite of impending snow and a cold wind. my carbine loves IMR4064 with the 170 grain flat nose CB. 23.8 grains gave me 1399 fps with a standard deviation of only 12.4-- Thanks Outpost75 for the great info.

They were also hitting the target pretty decent-- not real good but with the cold wind whipping up my back I was shooting pretty sloppy-- so I'm sure it's me, not the load