Win. 1894, need .32-40 loads

[1trapper]

Just purchased a Win., 1894, .32-40 for shooting lever action silhouette. I'll be using a 170 cast bullet, resized Starline .38-55 brass, since Starline doesn't make .32-40 and apparently has no immediate plans to.
So, I'm looking for loads for that caliber that will keep it within the ball park of original load date...
Thanks.

[John Boy]

http://www.dhicowboy.com/data/CowboyManualHodgdon.pdf

http://stevespages.com/321_2_170.html

[Bad Ass Wallace]

The cartridge is very forgiving with most loads BUT very critical on bullet design and diameter. My rifle (made 1927) has a bore of 0.321" and shoots the Lyman 170gn very well. Another '94 made 1919 with a good shiny bore won't keep its shots on paper and requires a Saeco 190gn 8mm mould sized 0.325" before groups became acceptable.

[OlDeuce]

Howdy.........:-) My 32-40 is 26'' Octagon 1st year production.....and almost misses the broad side of the "Barn" LoL..........No. A Family gun that needs
a reline job!!! But my other 32-40s shoot like a house a fire!!!! I shoot a 165gr O.E. cast and 24gr of RL7 :-) My Brass is all Winchester 32-40 ,with
some 30-30 formed ! shoots the same just a bit short :-( but still works well ...........Ol Deuce

[bob208]

I won a match with a 94 takedown rifle in .32-40. I used .30-30cases formed to .32-40. 35 gr. 2f and the 165 gr. lyman mold for the 8m/m. lubed with spg.

[1trapper]

Thanks guys.... all good info. Mine will be a 1904, Octagon, 26" bbl. when I get it from Cabela's in MN. I had the sales guy in the Gun Library take a real close look at the bore/chamber before I committed. Supposed to be real fine...we'll see. I do have a 3 day inspection time frame.

BTW, in case you all weren't aware, Cabela's will dicker on the asking price. I've gotten a couple of pretty goods deals dickering and making what I considered a fair price..as well as my top dollar....anyway, I digress.

I'll first slug the bore and give it a good cleaning. Probably will get another Accurate mold...their 32-170D seems to fit the old profile. Just hope the 170's have enough remaining KE at 200 yards to knock over the Rams.

[OlDeuce]

Thanks guys...

I'll first slug the bore and give it a good cleaning. Probably will get another Accurate mold...their 32-170D seems to fit the old profile. Just hope the 170's have enough remaining KE at 200 yards to knock over the Rams.

She will do good for sure!!! Mine will knock down the hog at 250yds :-)

OL Deuce

[17nut]

Could'nt get my 1903 to shoot worth a hoot with standard bullets.
Worn bore that has seen a lot of BP and corrosive primers and little TLC.

Made cases from 30-30 and thought to myself: How about a stopring bullet that wont slip down the case.
Took a hold of Tom from accuratemolds and now it shoots way better than my old crappy eyes can see.

10 shots at 50m~55yds, speed in the 1400fps range:

http://i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm153/Chickenthief/Skydning/Winchester%2094/R0011770_zpsa9fa6e2f.jpg (http://s295.photobucket.com/user/Chickenthief/media/Skydning/Winchester%2094/R0011770_zpsa9fa6e2f.jpg.html)

Bullet:
http://accuratemolds.com/bullet_detail.php?bullet=32-185N-D.png
First band is .333" and the remaining is .323"
It fills the chamber so there is no blow by.

[RickinTN]

I researched the same a few years ago as I wanted to see how it would parallel the 30-30. I found several references to IMR4227 as an accuracy load powder, and usually in the 13 to 15 grain range. I now shoot similar charges in my 30-30's with good results.
Good Luck,
Rick

[bob208]

that is the nice thing about take downs they got cleaned better from the breach.

[OlDeuce]

17nut.........? is that a 200gr cast Boolit..........Nice Group!!

http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee143/OlDeuce/IMG_3774_zpsctj4rv6b.jpg (http://s230.photobucket.com/user/OlDeuce/media/IMG_3774_zpsctj4rv6b.jpg.html)
http://i230.photobucket.com/albums/ee143/OlDeuce/IMG_3773_zps2vqavtou.jpg (http://s230.photobucket.com/user/OlDeuce/media/IMG_3773_zps2vqavtou.jpg.html)

Ol Deuce

[OverMax]

Unique powder. Works well.

Great site for any cartridges reloading recipes. (link)

http://castpics.net/dpl/index.php/reloaders-reference/cast-bullet-data-lookup

[17nut]

17nut.........? is that a 200gr cast Boolit..........Nice Group!!


Ol Deuce

Kind of!
The design is for 185gr (from WW) but my alloy of 97/3 gives an even 200gr.

PS: I cant shoot like that anymore:¨-(
As i get older i suffer from two diseases CRS and CSS.

Cant Remember Sh!7 and Cant See Sh!7

[bosterr]

My '94 .32-40, built in 1897, was my Great Grandad's. The 24" octagon barrel has a pristine bore. I thought I needed a bigger lube groove than Accurate's 32-170A, so I had Tom change it to the 32-180C. The bore slugged at .3215 and I size to .3230. Loaded with IMR 4895 it's extremely accurate with an old Lyman tang sight. I took a white tail doe with it right 120 yards.

[bob208]

I hope you are not shooting those john wayne cartages. I was at an auction a full box went for $60.

[1trapper]

Here's a question: Given the case capacity of the .32-40, .38-55, etc., are any of you folks using (successfully) any case filler, i.e. Dacron, corn meal, T.P., etc?
I know there's a lot of pro's and con's on this. I used it a filler (Dacron) at times with no ill effect. I can't say if it was necessary other than make me feel good to know the powder is against the flash hole.
But have any of you'll tested any of the fillers to see if it's really necessary and helped to improve groups?

[1trapper]

17 Nut....
You noted "14.2" gns of....? on your target, which was most impressive!! Are divulging the type of powder, though??

[OlDeuce]

I hope you are not shooting those john wayne cartages. I was at an auction a full box went for $60.

Hahah No but yes I have!!!! But I do have 2 boxes of the JW NOS..:-) The box I shoot out of was a Box of fired that I picked up at a Gun Show
some 30 + years ago!!!! The fun part of this is I take the box to the range and get tons of krap for shooting them LoL :-) :-)

Ol Deuce

[OlDeuce]

Here's a question: Given the case capacity of the .32-40, .38-55, etc., are any of you folks using (successfully) any case filler, i.e. Dacron, corn meal, T.P., etc?
I know there's a lot of pro's and con's on this. I used it a filler (Dacron) at times with no ill effect. I can't say if it was necessary other than make me feel good to know the powder is against the flash hole.
But have any of you'll tested any of the fillers to see if it's really necessary and helped to improve groups?

1Trapper.....I've not had any issues with my powder!!! I'm at the end of my RL7 and I'm going to make the switch to IMR4227 :-) I also have
used IMR3031 which does work well !!! ....I maybe could see using a filler if you were breach seating ! also been thinking of a slower powder to
get a fuller case!

Ol Deuce:2_high5::guntootsmiley::guntootsmiley:

[OlDeuce]

Kind of!
The design is for 185gr (from WW) but my alloy of 97/3 gives an even 200gr.

PS: I cant shoot like that anymore:¨-(
As i get older i suffer from two diseases CRS and CSS.

Cant Remember Sh!7 and Cant See Sh!7

Hahaha you think you have a couple bad diseases..........Well We suff from the CRS & CSS the same But I really have 1 Bad Disease and you
may contract it soon and that's CFS! :-) I have things in my hand....set them down and CFS sets in! "Ol Deuce"

LoL :-)

[Reverend Al]

I have two Winchester 1894's, a Marlin 1893, and a High Wall Winchester in .32-40 at the moment and all have been shooting well with an old Rapine 165 grain plain base cast fairly hard, sized to .321", and loaded over 12 grains of 2400. Not very fast, but very accurate in all of my guns ...

[OlDeuce]

I have two Winchester 1894's, a Marlin 1893, and a High Wall Winchester in .32-40 at the moment and all have been shooting well with an old Rapine 165 grain plain base cast fairly hard, sized to .321", and loaded over 12 grains of 2400. Not very fast, but very accurate in all of my guns ...

I just got the pound of 4227 <I'll give her a try> well see if it's worth the change !
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=192141&d=1490818446

Ol Deuce

[Reverend Al]

Well, 2400 and 4227 are similar performers in about the same burning rate so you might get good results with it too. I've never played around with 4227 very much since it's been much easier for me to get 2400 locally.

[17nut]

17 Nut....
You noted "14.2" gns of....? on your target, which was most impressive!! Are divulging the type of powder, though??

Vithavuori N 110

[DirtyGP100]

Hey Stub911. Some helpful info for that .32-40 of yours

[smkummer]

I hope you are not shooting those john wayne cartages. I was at an auction a full box went for $60. I was at an old gun shop and the owner want $100 for a box. I was polite and walked out.

[OlDeuce]

I was at an old gun shop and the owner want $100 for a box. I was polite and walked out.

It's really krazy on the pricing of 32-40 ! the old guns and parts...WoW I'm glade to have what got.....My oh My.........Ol Deuce

[OlDeuce]

Just purchased a Win., 1894, .32-40 for shooting lever action silhouette. I'll be using a 170 cast bullet, resized Starline .38-55 brass, since Starline doesn't make .32-40 and apparently has no immediate plans to.
So, I'm looking for loads for that caliber that will keep it within the ball park of original load date...
Thanks.

1trapper...........have you got her shooting yet??????? Ol Deuce

[OlDeuce]

Any more 32-40 shooters out there?????????? OL Deuce

[Thin Man]

I am just starting load development in a Winchester 1894 32-40 with a 26" barrel built in 1898. The bore in this rifle is "fair" at best, but it is what it is so we go with it.
Currently I have 2 molds for the 32 bore and both cast boolits slightly below 200 grains. These odd molds can create either plain base or GC boolits and are described in the Molds Maintenance and Design section, thread "What mold did you get today", post 15. I am using gas checks on these boolits at 0.321" and 0.323" diameters. My loads have included 14 grains of IMR4227 and 20 grains of IMR4198 in reformed 32 Special brass. From having seen notes here about using reformed 38-55 brass that will also come into play. All loads with IMR4227 have a very slight tendency to stick in the chamber but not so with the IMR4198 loads. Further, all loads with the larger 0.323" boolits group tighter than the 0.321" boolits.

[OlDeuce]

I am just starting load development in a Winchester 1894 32-40 with a 26" barrel built in 1898. The bore in this rifle is "fair" at best, but it is what it is so we go with it.
Currently I have 2 molds for the 32 bore and both cast boolits slightly below 200 grains. These odd molds can create either plain base or GC boolits and are described in the Molds Maintenance and Design section, thread "What mold did you get today", post 15. I am using gas checks on these boolits at 0.321" and 0.323" diameters. My loads have included 14 grains of IMR4227 and 20 grains of IMR4198 in reformed 32 Special brass. From having seen notes here about using reformed 38-55 brass that will also come into play. All loads with IMR4227 have a very slight tendency to stick in the chamber but not so with the IMR4198 loads. Further, all loads with the larger 0.323" boolits group tighter than the 0.321" boolits.

My old 1894 26'' has a barrel like you described and my best is with .323 dropped ,hand lube, and I can get maybe a 3'' group at 100yds ! My next load up is going to IMR4227 and do some testing with the 700x ?????

Ol Deuce

[kjorgy]

I have an 1893 Marlin with a 28" barrel excellent bore. I have been shooting a 170 gr with a GC &
24 grains of IMR4895. I have had excellent accuracy with this load.

[West Creek]

I've got an 1893 in 32-40 with a relined barrel that just flat out shoots. 14gr of 4227 under an LBT 170 lfn lubed with Felix lube gets me about 1375 fps and with original buckhorn and newer Lyman front bead will shoot a 1-1/4 group at 80 yards all day long. It's my go-to rifle when I need to make a hit. Friends were over shooting their new AR-15 at a 180yd gong with open sights. I jump in with my 93 being the only center fire rifle I have in rifle caliber. Bumped the elevator up a knotch and bang ting again and again. Just love that rifle.

[trapperP]

From Ideal Hand Book No 38:
319247 165gr No 4759 9.0 gr 1107 fps
319247 165gr No 4759 13.2 gr 1427 fps
319247 165gr No 2400 13.6 gr 1545 fps
321232 170gr No 4759 13.2 gr 1400 fps
319295 170gr No 4759 16.0 gr 1700 fps (E)
319289 185gr No 2400 11.0 gr 1250 fps
(Load for Schuetzen rifle)
319273 185gr No 4759 13.0 gr 1350 fps (E)

Hope you find this of interest. BTW, I'd drop back a bit and work up to the heavier loadings - the book recommends this. Also, I sure these loads may have been worked up in S/S rifles but that is not mentioned.
"Shoot straight, shoot safe and shoot often!"

[OlDeuce]

For my carbines I use the 165gr Boolit from a Winchester 1894pat. mold The mold does a great job and the carbines shoot it well! 3031 has been the powder used ! I picked up a pound of IMR4227 just to see how they do!!!....My old Winchester rifle is going for a re-line soon!!!

Ol Deuce