Range Report: Winchester '73 .32 WCF

[Trapdoor1130]

I fired my (new to me) ‘73 Winchester this last weekend.
56 degrees with 54% humidity. 50 yards off a rest using new starline brass, Winchester small rifle primers, and running a range of 2400 starting at 6.6 grains and going up .2 grs each load to 75% of the max load which was 7.8 grains which, coincidentally, produced the best results. Furthest distance apart was 1-1/2” and two holes just touching. Not bad in my eyes for a 129 year old rifle and buckhorn sights!
Boolit is a Lyman 115 gr. FN. Alloy used is straight WW.
Next up I’ll see what the group looks like at 100 yards.
FWIW I stopped at 75% of max load because I figure with as old as the gun is, might as well keep pressures away from maximum as to not cause damage or undue stress. 318829

[Jeff Michel]

Good shooting, looks like a deer will have some serious problems at fifty yards.

[Trapdoor1130]

Thanks Jeff. I was also thinking about trying Unique as well; however 2400 is easier to come by where I’m from and I try to save my unique for my .44 spec 245 gr. Keith bullets.

[Thumbcocker]

Thanks for posting. Good shooting.

[HWooldridge]

I'm glad you have some brass - it's scarce as the proverbial hen's teeth.

Good shooting, too - I have a Savage bolt action in 32-20 that does about the same thing with 16.0 grs of Rel-7 and 120 gr cast.

[Trapdoor1130]

Thanks. I've been a long time "lurker" as they say. Hopefully I can contribute more to the group.

[Trapdoor1130]

Last time I checked gun broker, there was some Winchester .32-20 brass new in the package. I've always had good luck with Starline. From what I've read, Winchester products seem to be of diminishing quality latley? With 32-20 brass being as thin walled as it is, I'd rather get what I know to be good brass.

[Hickok]

For me, iron-sights, pistol-caliber carbine at 50 yards, 5 shots into 1.5"......"Good to go!":-D

[Outpost75]

Well done! I shoot 7.5 grains of #2400 with the same bullet and alloy in my Savage 23 and S&W Hand Ejector.

[gc45]

great shooting! I use that same weight boolit in my 32-20 low wall using 1680 powder getting really nice groups.

[35 Rem]

I use the same Lyman 115 grain bullet with 5.2 grains of Unique in my 32-20 Marlin 1894. Velocity is about 1,300 ft/sec and leading is nonexistent. Great squirrel load or for just plain fun shooting. One of the most fun rifles to shoot that I own. I've never tried to get more out of it than this load.

[ShooterAZ]

Nice shooting! May we please see some pics of the rifle too?

[Trapdoor1130]

Thanks for the replies, everyone! I apologize upfront with the late replies. I work the overnight shift so I don't get the computer too often... But I do enjoy hearing what works for other people in terms of load data. Might end up trying some Unique loads after all.

[Trapdoor1130]

Nice shooting! May we please see some pics of the rifle too?

Absolutely! Fun fact about this rifle. It was made in 1894. My great-great-grandfather received U.S. citizenship in 1893. To think he was a citizen for only a year when this rifle was made floors me. Also, I have a copy of a Sears-Roebuck catalog from 1902. A person could purchase a brand new '73 configured like mine (Round barrel, .32-20) for $11.55. Adjusted for today's inflation that comes out to $412.34. Talk about an appreciating asset! 318860

[ShooterAZ]

Absolutely! Fun fact about this rifle. It was made in 1894. My great-great-grandfather received U.S. citizenship in 1893. To think he was a citizen for only a year when this rifle was made floors me. Also, I have a copy of a Sears-Roebuck catalog from 1902. A person could purchase a brand new '73 configured like mine (Round barrel, .32-20) for $11.55. Adjusted for today's inflation that comes out to $412.34. Talk about an appreciating asset! 318860

Wow! She's in really great shape for her age. Thanks for sharing, and for the backstory.

[Trapdoor1130]

Wow! She's in really great shape for her age. Thanks for sharing, and for the backstory.

You bet! I’ll say too the stock was refinished along the way. I’m not sure about the bluing. It’s either in phenomenal shape or someone reblued it.. I’m not too worried about it though as the bore is shiny with strong rifling and it’s probably more accurate than my 28 year old eyes are lol!

[35 Rem]

Surely it has been refinished. It looks like a new rifle. Congratulations on getting a fine example of such a classic! Shooters who don't have a 32-20 have no idea what they are missing. :)

[Trapdoor1130]

Surely it has been refinished. It looks like a new rifle. Congratulations on getting a fine example of such a classic! Shooters who don't have a 32-20 have no idea what they are missing. :)

Thanks! This is definitely the crown jewel of my collection. I’ve never owned or shot a 32-20 before this one but I’m so glad I have it now. Such a pleasant shooter and doesn’t require much lead or powder for a fun outing at the range.

[dverna]

I would be very pleased as well. A fine gun that shoots well.

[45workhorse]

Mighty fine rifle, and shooting!
Can't go wrong with a 32-20!!

[HWooldridge]

I had a 1889 Marlin in .32-20 that shot that well with JSP pills - but it didn't like lead factory bullets. Also couldn't reload for it because the cases split on the first firing, from chamber erosion. It was deadly on deer and smaller game, back when my eyes were much better with open sights.

[Trapdoor1130]

I would be very pleased as well. A fine gun that shoots well.

I foresee many outings with this rifle in my future both near and far.

[Trapdoor1130]

Mighty fine rifle, and shooting!
Can't go wrong with a 32-20!!

It has quickly become one of my favorites!

[Trapdoor1130]

I had a 1889 Marlin in .32-20 that shot that well with JSP pills - but it didn't like lead factory bullets. Also couldn't reload for it because the cases split on the first firing, from chamber erosion. It was deadly on deer and smaller game, back when my eyes were much better with open sights.

That’s very unfortunate about the case splitting.. I would like to purchase a marbles tang sight for it very soon. Buckhorns are blurry at times even at 28…

[quack1]

32-20 one of the most fun calibers I shoot. My 53 Win. likes the Lyman 3118 with 5.5gr unique and 6.5gr AA#5 equally. Both are going around 1375-1400 fps out of a 22" barrel. I'd suggest trying small pistol primers in place of small rifle. They are usually a bit more accurate in smaller cartridges.

[Trapdoor1130]

32-20 one of the most fun calibers I shoot. My 53 Win. likes the Lyman 3118 with 5.5gr unique and 6.5gr AA#5 equally. Both are going around 1375-1400 fps out of a 22" barrel. I'd suggest trying small pistol primers in place of small rifle. They are usually a bit more accurate in smaller cartridges.

That’s very interesting. Any idea why they’re more accurate? Also, along those same lines it’d be interesting to group two loads, both being identical except one has say Remington 1 1/2 and the other, CCI 500.

[atfsux]

That warms the cockles of my heart. It is a duplicate of my own family heirloom rifle, although mine was made in 1905. Similarly, someone in the family many decades ago also reblued and refinished my sample, as back then it was just a used gun that was common as dirt with no collector value, unlike today.

[quack1]

That’s very interesting. Any idea why they’re more accurate? Also, along those same lines it’d be interesting to group two loads, both being identical except one has say Remington 1 1/2 and the other, CCI 500.

My thought is SPP provide a softer ignition then SRP in smaller cartridges, thus better accuracy. Notice I said usually more accurate. Some guns don't show a difference. Some powders might not show any difference, too. My 25-20 is a model 23 Savage. When I first got it, I tried various powders, found an accurate load using SRP and then substituted SPP in the same load and got increased accuracy. A buddy has the same model, and with his favorite load, switching primers made no difference.
I figure in any small cartridge, it's worth a try. A few groups will tell you if switching primers is worth it or not.
It's a simple thing to try.

[Trapdoor1130]

My thought is SPP provide a softer ignition then SRP in smaller cartridges, thus better accuracy. Notice I said usually more accurate. Some guns don't show a difference. Some powders might not show any difference, too. My 25-20 is a model 23 Savage. When I first got it, I tried various powders, found an accurate load using SRP and then substituted SPP in the same load and got increased accuracy. A buddy has the same model, and with his favorite load, switching primers made no difference.
I figure in any small cartridge, it's worth a try. A few groups will tell you if switching primers is worth it or not.
It's a simple thing to try.

I’ll give it a go and see what ends up happening. That’s one of the many fun things about hand loading. Always something new to try!