Hunting with a Not Vintage Winchester

[DonMountain]

In reference to the recent "Hunting With A Vintage Winchester" column, I plan to deer hunt here in Mid-Missouri with my Winchester Model 94 in 32-40 Winchester, a vintage round. The rifle is not what I would call vintage, since I bought it new in about 1980. Its one of the John Wayne Commeratives. I recently worked up some loads for it using reformed 30-30 brass and an RCBS 32-170 grain gas checked, flat nosed boolet. I worked up to 26.5 grains of IMR-3031 powder over WLR primers and seemed to get some pretty good targets shot at minute-of-deer angles. I don't know what the velocities are that I am getting, or if the boolets are moving fast enough to kill a deer. I plan to use the rifle in the woods where the range will be less than 100 yards. Does anybody have any suggestions for powder types and loads for this cartridge and boolet that might improve the velocity and range for deer hunting? Or is IMR-3031 ideal for this round?

[runfiverun]

I see nothing wrong with your load.
off the top of my head I'd say your in the 1650 range.
which airc is close to the 32-40's original loading.
the 32-40 at one time was considered a great deer cartridge for the closer shots.
if it's accurate and you can shoot it well I wouldn't bother worrying about it and just shoot it some more.
and maybe mess about with making the boolit or just it's nose softer.

[ole_270]

Planning on hunting a couple hundred miles west of you with a 1979 built 336c rebored to 38-55. Got loads from 1235 fps up to nearly 1600 that shoot well with 250 gr cast from fairly soft alloy. Don't have any doubt about a well placed shot with any of them

[6pt-sika]

I killed a deer maybe 7 or 8 years ago with a Marlin 1893 in 32-40 . Used the RCBS 32-170 and I think it was 15 grains of XMP-5744 . Load was straight from Venturino's book and was something in the 1300 FPS neighborhood . Shot a small buck at about 40 yards behind the shoulder he woobled maybe 20 yards and laid down in a thicket . I walked over after a bit and he still had his head up but couldn't get up and of course I finished him . Over the years I've thought perhaps I should have had more velocity i that instance or maybe not . Anyway I enjoyed the 32-40 a great deal . Over time I also shot the Lyman 321297 and Ranch Dog 323-170GC in that gun with rather nice results .

[dubber123]

Biggest deer shot in my neck of the woods was by a friend with his great grampas Winchester in 32-40. 1 shot, in a heap. 200# 10 pointer. :)

[TXGunNut]

Sounds like you have it all worked out, just need a handful of rounds and some time in the field. As you probably know the Winchester commemoratives are very well built and finished rifles. R5R is spot on with his velocity guesstimates, according to MV's Shooting Leverguns of the Old West. The first 1894's were chambered in 32-40 and 38-55, as a matter of fact one of my early 1894's started out life as a 32-40, now a 38-55.
A bit of trivia; Michael Wayne reportedly chose the 32-40 chambering for the John Wayne commemorative because it was considered an obsolete round. I think it's a fine round, hope to add one to my stable some day.

[smkummer]

Your bullet at that velocity will probably pass clean through the deer at most angles and closer ranges. It most likely will not expand if its hardened in anyway. While a soft lead jacketed bullet may be more effective since it has very high chance of expanding, you load is good and as usual if you do your part. And of course since your gun is modern, some higher velocity loads are acceptable in it should you choose.