Question on function Garate 32-20

[crazy mark]

I have a Garate 32-20 and a S&W 1905 in 32-20. I was shooting the same loads out of both. 100 gr swc, 5 grs Unique, CCI sp primers and win cases. The problem is after firing some of the rounds the cylinder would turn hard on the Garate and then turn freely. Sort of like the cases might be backing out. Not the same chamber and not every time. The S&W didn't have any such problems. Cylinder gap is around .004 on both and no excessive end shake. The SWC's were the only ones to do this. The 90 gr RN's with everything else the same didn't have this problem. No sign of shaved lead either. Any ideas.
Thanks, mark

[dubber123]

Check the primers on the fired cases. A too lare firing pin hole, (among other things), will allow the primer to flow back and drag or hang up in the firing pin hole, or recoil shield. Once you get it past that point, by either shaveing off or swaging the primer cup out of the way, it will turn freely again.

The only cure is fixing the large hole problem, or shooting lighter loads. The lighter boolit you were shooting made less pressure, and didn't cause the issue, is my guess.

[cuzinbruce]

I have several SW 1905's and I don't load that much Unique. They were a little difficult to eject at an even lower level. Bullet is RCBS 32-098SWC. I would try some with less powder and see if the problem doesn't go away.

[crazy mark]

Thanks for the suggestions. I will look at the primers. There didn't seem to be any difference at first glance. The 1905 ejects and functions fine. I had shot some 4 and 4.5 gr loads of unique in the 1905 about a month ago and at 25 yds they were shooting about 6" low. These were only about 1"-2" low. Mark

[9.3X62AL]

Mark--

My 32-20 revolvers with fixed sights all have seem(ed) to be sighted for 115-120 grain bullets at 900-1000 FPS. A boolit of that weight ahead of 5.0 to 6.0 grains of SR-4756 has been my "go-to" load for 32-20 revolvers since Ken Waters wrote about it in "Handloader" many years ago. More specifically, my pre-war M&P x 5" dotes on any 115-120 grain-class boolit and 5.5 grains of SR-4756. These go right to the sights at 25 yards, and are pretty close at 50 yards, too. They group as well as I can hold, so their accuracy operates at a bit of driver-induced misdirection, methinks. Still, jackrabbits HATE that load and it launchers, with considerable passion.

Most of the revolvers chambered for the hyphenated Winchester calibers like 32-20, 38-40, and 44-40 seem to run their best and shoot to the sights at 900-1000 FPS, a performance level they achieve(d) with black powder. In rifles with blackpowder-level loads, the loads run about 1200-1250 FPS. Not over-powering by any means, but very useful for small to medium game you want to eat and not shred.

[crazy mark]

Thanks Al,
I'll have to try some 4756 when I can find some. Haven't seen any around here for over 2 months. Mark