32/20 Winchester

[ACC]

I have a new to me Marlin 1894 in 32/20 and some of you have recommended some great cast boolits. But I need a load for them. I have ten pounds of Blue Dot. Any suggestions. I would like velocity in the 1500 to 1600 range if possible.

Thanks in advance
ACC

[bosterr]

I have a 1897 made 94 Marlin in 32-20. I feed it an Accurate Molds 115 gcrfn and 14.0 gr. Accurate and get 1550 fps. It's a tack driver.

[Outpost75]

This doesn't address your question, but I have been happier with .32-20 loads of modest pressure and velocity approximating the original blackpowder loads, but using smokeless powder, which are accurate and interchangible in both my rifle and revolvers.

IMHO having high velocity rifle loads not useful in the wheelgun, and which blow edible small game to flinders sort of defeats the purpose of a dual-use rifle and revolver small game round which is primarily a meat getter which enables you to eat up to the bullet hole.

Most of the time I use Accurate 31-105T with 3.4 grains of Bullseye.

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[Czech_too]

In a Marlin model 1889, I've had success with 4.4 gr. Green Dot with an RCBS 32-98-SWC, velocity unknown.

The Lyman Cast Bullet book has a number of loads listed, though none with Blue Dot.

[cwlongshot]

Agreed I have had 6-7 32/20’s and none did real well with hot loads accept my SMLE barreled H&R.

My fav. ALL TIME FAV is a splash of PB and a swadged 115 swc that was molly coated!! I didnt even make them!!! A better shooter I havent found. Vel was probably 7-800. NO EAR PRO NEEDED. In rifles my 92 had a super long barrel anyhow. I could head shoot squittels with buck hornes if I could see the head!! ( Yes I was younger)

I seem to remember one Marlin shooting XTP 100’s fast and well. I shot a deer with it and it worked well enough.

Why do you feel ya need such velocity?

CW

[hockeynick39]

I use the Accurate 31-100F, drops at 103 gr with COWWs and sized to .312. It gets loaded over a charge of 11.8 gr A2400 and a small tuft of dacron batting (1/4" x 1/4" piece fluffed up) for approximately 1995 fps out of my original Winchester 1892. If you are going to use Blue Dot, I would work up to 8.5 gr and use a small tuft of dacron. It should get you where you need to be. Use this data at your own risk. FWIW, I use the dacron tufts to fill up the case with any charges below 75% case fill. It works for me, haven't seen any issues in any of the rifles or cartridges that I use it in, and it has proven to be more accurate in my rifles than cartridges without the dacron. Good luck and be safe.

[Dan Cash]

I use the Accurate 105T bullet cast fairly soft over 9.5 grains 2400 with Rem small rifle primer. This load gives decent accuracy in an Army Special Colt and Uberti single action and my 94 Marlin. Velocity is 1200 + from the revolvers and 1550 in the rifle. Brass life seems unlimited. Upping the charge to 10 grains is very hard on brass.

I use these guns for pest shooting and personal defense and the above load meets that criteria. I have hit prairie dogs at 100 yards with the rifle but these are not varmint loads. They do provide sufficient accuracy to win lever action gong matches with targets exceeding 250 yards.

[earlmck]

One of my better loads for my Savage m23 has been 7.5 grains of Blue Dot pushing a 117 grain Ranch Dog gas checked bullet. Just under 1500 fps, mild pressures. 10 pounds of Blue Dot? That's a nice stash of one of my favorite powders!

[oldsalt444]

6.5 - 7.0 gr. Blue Dot under a 115 gr. boolit for 1400 fps. Quite accurate, too.

[osteodoc08]

Please remember all 32/20 are not made equal. A modern Marlin is up to any reasonable load you can concoct for the 32/20 many of the older turn of the century (20th) are BP or equivalent pressure only rifles. The OP did not say what era his 94 is from.