Suggestions for cb in finicky 1894 .32-20

[Pureleadbarrel]

As you may have guessed from the title, I have a Marlin 1894 CL in .32-20. I shoot cast bullets in just about every centerfire that I have but I just can't seem to find an accurate cast bullet for this gun. Well, I did find one, the Lee 90 grain swc, but it's sharp shoulder will not allow the gun to feed normally, i.e., the cartridges have to be loaded singly into the chamber. Well that's no good so I've kept looking. I've read a couple articles that state that the Lyman 120 grain gas check is quite accurate but I can't find this mold anywhere. Anyone have any luck with any other bullets? Either Lyman, RCBS, etc? Of course, every gun is different and what works for one may not for another but is there a home-cast bullet out there that seems to be commonly accurate in this rifle? I ask because I'd hate to have to buy several $75.00-$100.00 molds and hope that one worked.

[btroj]

If you can find one the 120 grain groupbuy mould for the 32-20 works great. I find that it shoots well with almost any load. I love it with 5.5 gr Unique. Cheap on lead and powder and shoots very well. Regularly groups under 2 inches at 100 yards. I have a Lyman 311316 but have not spent much time trying it as the groupbuy mold works so well.
I do find that the my 1894cl is very veloicty sensitive. Loads that vary by 2200 to 400 fps will shoot 2 as much as 2 ft different in elevation at 50 yards. Not a big deal but it makes me keep to 1 load most of the time.

Brad

[6pt-sika]

I've got a pair of Marlin's in 32-20 from recent manufacture another from about 1990 and a fourth from 1906 . They all seem to do well with the Lyman 311316 bullet pushed by 5 grains of Unique .

A couple of my rifles also seem to like the Lyman 311419 which is about a 90 grain GC bullet . Again I load this one with 5 grains of Unique .

Of further note is the new "trial" Ranch Dog bullet , the 313-115GC . I have a test mold for this bullet but have been unable to give it a try just yet . But based on all his other molds I see no reason I shouldn't be able to get it to shoot fairly well .

[Nobade]

I used to have one of those. It shot Lyman #311008 over AA#5 very well. No need for gas checks at normal 32-20 speeds, but if you want to crank it up, the #311366 (I think that's the number - same bullet with a check shank.) over AA#9 will go close to 2000 fps in that rifle with good accuracy.

[Slow Elk 45/70]

Hullo Pure, and welcome. You might want to check out Ranch Dogs web site, he has a
.32 boolit mold that has been made just for the Marlin, his site also has all the info on the boolit and the loading data for it also. Price is $26 for a 2 cav. they are special order by Lee.

Good Luck and good casting

[Frank46]

The lyman 311316 has been the go to bullet for the 32-20. Mine is a single cavity so that gives you an idea of how old it is. Did great in an origional low wall in 32-20. Still wish I had it now. Frank

[Lloyd Smale]

my 3220 is a custom oct barreled gun reggie nonaman made. It loves a 120 lbt rfgc with 15 grains of lilgun. Now that is a stout 3220 load so i wouldnt shoot it in weak guns. My gun is a 92 and has no problem with it and it shoots into an inch at 75 yards with open sights.

[6pt-sika]

Hullo Pure, and welcome. You might want to check out Ranch Dogs web site, he has a
.32 boolit mold that has been made just for the Marlin, his site also has all the info on the boolit and the loading data for it also. Price is $26 for a 2 cav. they are special order by Lee.

Good Luck and good casting


I'm sorry to say the 32 cal mold he has available on his website is for the 32 Special and 32-40 . The mold for the 32-20 is still in the testing stage .

[35remington]

A good "cheapie" mould that casts an accurate bullet is the Lee C113F, also known as the Soup Can.

The double cavity will run you around 20 bucks, and it's usable in all your other .30 caliber rifles as well. Anyone that has a .308" or .311" barrel should have one.

Handled with some care, the Lee mould will last a good long time - certainly long enough to get more than your money's worth out of it.

[Dean D.]

I've never seen a 32-20 that did not like the Lyman 311316 112gr GC boolit. Just my opinion, YMMV.

By the way, there is a group buy in the works for a 5 cavity similar to the 311316 that you might want to check out.

[Jon K]

Yep, 311008 works good, and 311316, if you can find it. Both shoot great in my 1894CL 32-20 4.5-5.5 gr Unique. The 311316 will go faster with a multitude of powders. just make sure you get it to fit the barrel. I size mine .313 or .314.

Jon

[HABCAN]

+1 on using the LEE soupcan. If gas checks are problematical/expensive, drill it out as I did with a 5/16" drill bit, cast away and size to suit any .30 cal. Works like a charm!

[shdwlkr]

Just as a side note that sort of 311316 group buy that is in the works you might be able to get one with pb and not have to worry about gas checks. Also the design dimensions for it are .312 which should work in almost any 32-20, 32 H&R mag, 327 and some 30 calibers.
No is has not been decided yet if it will be pb, gc or just maybe both. Like I said there is a maybe with this group buy and nothing is final yet so keep watching. As I know I will post information there.

[dubber123]

If you don't feel like waiting for a group buy, my CL absolutely loves the RCBS 98 gr. SWC. Load over 5 grains of Unique. Vel is only in the 1,400 fps range, but it averages 1/2" for 5 shots at 50 yds. I have to seat so it crimps over the front driving band. Herco shoots just as good as Unique, same charge.

Accuracy remains the same until about 1,600 fps. and then starts to go away with the plain base boolit.

[Marine Sgt 2111]

My CL is of the 2007 vintage and loves the RCBS 98gr SWC sized .313 and crimped on the front driving band with 5.7 grains of AA-5. The SAECO 322, 118gr PBFP also shoots as well with the same powder charge.

I do have for the time being a RCBS 32-115FPGC which drops a .3105 bullet which I assume is for the contender. I cast some normal, seated the gas check and sized and lubed them at .313 (the bullet doesn't size just the gas check) then "beagled the mold .003" and cast/sized them to .313". Normal weight 119.9grains and beagled weigh 121.7 grains.

I have already assembled loads ranging from 9.0 to 12.0 grains of 2400 for both types of bullets, just haven't had the chance to set up the pact and check the speeds. More on that later.:Fire:

The rifle does have a case of the "marlin double feed"....

[shdwlkr]

Marine Sgt 2111
My bullet in this group buy when I get it all straightened out is going to be .313-.315 in diameter. I have been checking to see if I was nuts and Ken Waters sized his to .313 so I am in good company with my design.
Glad to hear you are having such good luck with your 32. Can't wait to shoot some of my bullet design down range and see what it can do.

[9.3X62AL]

I have a similar rifle, the Marlin 94 CCL from about 2004. It was unimpressive with castings at first, and I bit the bullet and bought 300 jacketed bullets for it--Speer .312" 100 grainers. I ran these pretty hard, 1800-2000 FPS. As the shooting continued, groups began to tighten up some.

I de-coppered the bore, and tried Lyman #311316 again. Better, but not as good as the j-words. Clean-out of the barrel was followed with 200 more jacketed bullets, this time some Hornady XTP 100 grainers. These did well, and improved as they continued. More copper removal, and after that process (total round count about 800) the Lymans started shooting pretty well for me. This past weekend I ran about 100 rounds loaded with 10.0 grains of Alliant 2400 under Lyman #311316 sized @ .313", and I was able to raise hell with a 4" dinger plate at 200 yards very consistently. That's about all I can ask of a lever rifle with buckhorn sights in this caliber.

[Marine Sgt 2111]

Here's from today's shooting, 10.0gr 2400, WSR primer, RCBS 32-115FP (bullet drops .3105 from the mold and I size the gas check to .313 and lube it with 50/50 alox, beeswax), starline case at 150 yds out of my marlin. I was concerned about the .3105 dia bullet vs .312 dia bore but it seems to work out. Chrono is down so no velocity records and the alloy of the bullet is 50% 92-2-6 and 50% pure lead.:drinks:

[shdwlkr]

Marine Sgt 2111
that is some good shooting with that little caliber. I will have to see if my original will keep them that close when I get a chance to go to the range. Just might change my powder also I like to use 4227, hp38, hs6 in mine just cause I can well used to be able to get them easier now nothing is easy to find.

[Marine Sgt 2111]

for light loads the HP38 was recommended to me by a canadian CAS. I was was comparing the pressure levels between 2400, 296 and H-110 and H-110 was 2500 cup's lower for the same velocity...

For what it's worth:Fire:

[shdwlkr]

Marine Sgt 2111
Guess I had better see if I can find some 2400 or 296 or h110 like anyone has any. Sure hope they get to the point where there is powder on the shelves.

[Cherokee]

I use AA9 in my heavier loads. YMMV

[shdwlkr]

Cherokee
right now I have 4227, unique, hp38, hs6 so I will have to load them and see how they do.