32 / 40

[adkpete]

Any body here shoot this old caliber. I just got my grandfather's 94 Winchester out if the gun safe. I would like to make into a cast boolit only shooter. Any help with mold selection and loads for Gramps gun would be appreciated.

[6pt-sika]

I have a Marlin 1893 in 32-40 of 1906 vintage . This old rifle is in pretty decent shape and I shoot it some . Even gone so far as to kill a deer with it a couple years ago .

I started with the RCBS 32-170GC bullet in this rifle . Thats the bullet I used to kill the deer . I powered it with 15 grains of XMP5744 and a CCI200 primer.

This bullet load combo works pretty well in my rifle .

I have since tried the no longer made Lyman 321297 mold . This thing is about a 175-180 grain GC bullet . With this one I stick to 13-16 grains of XMP5744.

I also like the not yet on the market Ranch Dog 323-170GC mold . I've had a test mold for this bullet about 2 months now and have had very good results with it using from 15-19 grains of XMP5744 .

All the bullets I shoot in my 32-40 are cast from WW's only . they are air cooled , sized to .323" and lubed with Thompson's Blue Angel .

Other's may use other things but these have worked for me in my 32-40 .

[Mike Venturino]

I load for a Winchester M1894 rifle and same model carbine. Both like the RCBS 32-170FN, and I stick with 16 grains of 5744. Both of my .32-40's barrels slug just a hair under .322 so I size to .323. Bullets are cast of 1-20 alloy and fitted with Lyman gas checks. Dies are those "Cowboy" types by RCBS. Both guns shoot pretty good, even though neither has perfect bores.

Finding some .32-40 brass may be problematic if you don't already have some. If you can't find any let me know as I think I might have some unfired brass. I ran into some new manufactured stuff by Winchester at a gun show several years back and picked up more than I needed. I think I still have some of it around here.
Mike V.

[Last Spike]

Winchester still makes fresh 32-40 brass - I picked up 250 pieces last weekend up here in Canada.

Mike, welcome to Cast Boolits, by the way.

[NickSS]

I have used 10 gr of unique and a lyman 170 gr GC mold in my 32-40 ballard. Shot real good.