Who will share some cast bullet loads for 32-20 WCF for a Marlin 1894CL?

[Doc Thornton]

I have a NIB Marlin 1894CL in 32-20 cal. coming from a Gander Mountain store
in southern Ohio. I got tipped off by someone on the Marilin Owners Forum
that the rifle had been in the store for a long time so I called Gander and the gun
guy told me that it had been there for almost 2 years and no one seemed to
want it. He is shipping the rifle up to the local Gander store here in northern Ohio,
no charge to ship it! The price, $ 549.97 is right. I'm excited!

So I ordered some Lee dies and a Lee factory crimp die from Mid South and also
some 100 gr. RNFP Magnus brand bullets, .313 in diameter.

Can anyone suggest some of their favorite loads using cast bullets of around
100 grains in the 32-20? I have a boat load of other Marlins which I reload for
but I have zero experience with a small caliber like this one. Fast or slow I will
consider all.

Thanks, Doc T.

[semtav]

I've got some 311316 bullets cast up, but I'm still shooting up all my factory loads so I'll have some brass.
You might try some 4198. Its worked best so far in my other two 1894CL's
218 Bee 11 gr 4198 w/46 gr bullet
25-20 10 gr 4198 w/ 65 gr bullet
so maybe try 9 gr 4198 to start

lot of people like the pistol powders tho

[btroj]

I've shot more of the 120 gr rnfp group buy bullet over 5 gr of unique in mine than anything.
I've also shot the same bullet over 3 or so gr of trailboss- it's very quiet and slow but groups well.
I will say I've never had a rifle that showed more vertical variation based upon velocity. I can shoot 2 loads that vary by 500 fps in mine and get 18 or so inched POI at 100 yards.

[.45Cole]

I just loaded up my own loads for my Browning m-53 using montana cast's (3118 and lbt's 115 grainer) with loads suggested by Brian Pierce and was very satisfied. I can look for the charges if you don't have Handloader (PM me or it's an article on the 32-20 and is a spring issue 2009) , but I was using unique and H110 (might try to sub AA#5 for unique as I usually do) I had two unique charges and one was about as loud as a short barrel .22lr rifle!! Straight as a laser with the heavier unique and H110 loads. Been trying to see how well it handles jackrabbits, but no volunteers so far. This rifle is becoming one of my favorites.

[WILCO]

If I had some, I'd share em........:-(

[Harry O]

I use 311316-GC bullets with 10.0gr of 2400 in mine. The load is considerably heavier than most loading books and would probably bend or break a handgun in that caliber. No problems with the Marlin. It is accurate and doesn't lead.

[missionary5155]

Good evening
I do not have a Marlin but a Winny 73. I use the 5 grain Unique loading with a 122 grain boolit (50-50) that drops out of an old Ideal reloading tool/mold. This is the only mold I have that casts large enough for my old worn throated Winny. But I know it will do in Wabbits &
head/neck shot ground hogs. Very quiet and the brass will probably last a LONG time. It is reasonably accurate to 35 yards but then the worn out muzzle lets the boolit wobble out to much to get any farther realiably.

[skeet1]

I'm not sure what the grove size is for you Marlin but at one time I had a .32-20 contender barrel that was actually .308 and I used the Lee Soup Can with various slow pistol powders. Most of the powders worked ok but the Soup Can was outstanding.

Skeet1

[brian]

these are hot loads but shoot really well in my 1894CL

311316 sized in a 0.314" sizer. LBT blue. GC of course. 15 gr. of H110.

it is a fun little rifle.

Brian

[dubber123]

I neck size only, and use the RCBS 98 gr. Swc sized .312", with the lube and crimp groove filled. Seat to the top of the driving band to function in my CL. Charge is 5.0 grs. of Unique. Small pistol primers. This load will print 5 into 1/2" at 50 yards more often than not. I much prefer the look of a RF design, but the flat out accuracy of the RCBS Swc keeps me coming back to it. I've never had much luck over 1,600 fps. with the PB design though. Enjoy the new toy.

[Jon K]

Doc,

Slug, the barrel.......mine is .312"@breech end. I shoot .313 or .314 depending on mould. Saeco #322/Lyman 311316/311008. All do good w/ 5gr Unique/sm rifle primer.

Jon

[Doc Thornton]

Thanks all, for the responses. I picked up the rifle today at Gander Mt. and it looks real good.
Wood to metal fit is pretty fair for a now-a-days Marlin and it has some decent figure too.
I love the feel of this little rifle! I can see how it could easily become a favorite.

I actually have an old Lyman 311316 GC mold. I had already cast, sized, and lubed up some
bullets that I was going to shoot out of my 30.30 Marlin as a groundhog load and never
followed through with the project. I had forgotten about it completely so It was a nice
surprise to be reminded about that bullet by you good folks!

I've got some 4198 and Unique powder on hand but I will have to get out and pick up
a jug of H110. I've been wanting to try that in some other loads anyway.

Much obliged,
Regards Doc T

[Chuck 100 yd]

Lyman 311008 cast of WW +Tin and pure lead @ 50/50% lubed with Alox and sized to .314 over 7 gr. 2400.
Super accurate very mild load. My Uberti 1873 24" rifle just loves it.

[9.3X62AL]

Late to the party again! Congrats on your new-to-you Marlin 94CL in 32-20, that was a great price for a scarce variant.

My own Marlin in 32-20 is a newer (2004) variant, a 94CCL. Don't be surprised if the rifle takes a while to do its best work--I had to run 300 j-words and about 500 castings through the critter before it started acting right. #311316 @ .313" prompted by Alliant 2400 between 8.0 and 11.0 grains have all shot well from my rifle. IMR-4198 is clearly too slow for the application, but still shoots all right. Next in line will be AA-1680 in both 32-20 and 25-20, once my cataract surgery after-effects taper off.

[Southern Son]

One of the blokes at the shooting range has a 92 Win in 32-20. It is the most fun little rifle. I will try and ask him what his loads are (they won't be too heavy cause he uses them in a Spagetti Colt SAA clone).

[NHlever]

Late to the party again! Congrats on your new-to-you Marlin 94CL in 32-20, that was a great price for a scarce variant.

My own Marlin in 32-20 is a newer (2004) variant, a 94CCL. Don't be surprised if the rifle takes a while to do its best work--I had to run 300 j-words and about 500 castings through the critter before it started acting right. #311316 @ .313" prompted by Alliant 2400 between 8.0 and 11.0 grains have all shot well from my rifle. IMR-4198 is clearly too slow for the application, but still shoots all right. Next in line will be AA-1680 in both 32-20 and 25-20, once my cataract surgery after-effects taper off.

Maybe I gave up too early on the 25-20 I had. I only put 799 rounds through mine, and it just wouldn't shoot, as much as I wanted it to. :(

[JDBrowning]

Doc

The load I use the most is 5.0 gr Unique and Lyman 311008 with sm rifle primer for about 1300 fps. The old Lyman 47th edition shows this load but the new 49th edition has lowered the load to 4.5 gr. As usual, use caution and work up the load for your rifle.

[awaveritt]

Doc Thornton:
I picked up the rifle today at Gander Mt. and it looks real good.

Doc, care to post some pics of that bad boy?:coffee:

[9.3X62AL]

Maybe so, NH. The CL in 25-20 took about 1500 rounds to get its kit in one bag with castings.

Check for PM. I'm straying off-topic (as usual).

[quilbilly]

When I got my Contender 32-20 barrel I also picked up one of the Lee molds in the 113 gr flatnose with gas check. I experimented a lot with hot loads up to 1900 fps until I realized the barrel like semi-hot loads at about 1500 fps. I shoots great. That 10" barrel off of a rest with open sights gives me 2" groups at 100 yds. Any coyote that will sit still long enough for my old eyes to get a sight picture will die out to 175 yds. It is my favorite "walkaround/targets-of-opportunity caliber for critters up to 80 #.
I am using 9.6 gr of 2400 powder.

[Jack Stanley]

I haven't got to loading my Model fifty-three heavy as of yet . So far these light loads are just way to much fun to be legal . I use three point two grains of Bullseye and a Hensly and Gibbs number sixty-seven bullet . I don't remember the case or the primer ( other than the primer is a Winchester ) but the velocity is right at a thousand fifty feet per second .

Now that my cases are all empty , I'm watching the thread too for a Unique load that will do about fourteen or fifteen hundred with the same bullet .

Jack

[358wcf]

Ken Waters did several writeups of this fine old cartridge in his Pet Loads books over the years. Using his well-researched advise, I've standardized on a load consisting of:
98gr RCBS SWC, plainbase, Win Small Pistol primer, and 6.5gr Unique in my Browning 53, sized at .313".
This is a fairly zippy load that groups 5 shots into 3/4" at 50 yards all day long, sometimes a little better. My old eyes are assisted by a Lyman receiver sight, which really helps! An eight-pound keg of Unique lasts virtually FOREVER!
Enjoy your fine new rifle and a classic old cartidge! For fun, small game and relaxed target plinking, you can't do much better-

358wcf [smilie=1:[smilie=1:[smilie=1:

[Newtire]

I had great luck with the RCBS 98 gr. SWC PB using small doses of hs-6 and the 122 gr. group buy at .313" using H110 for Stout loads and 2400 for some mid-pressure loads. Can't remember the powder charges offhand but not near the top. I also had great luck using the RCBS 95 gr. Cowboy boolit with light charges of hs-6. A great caliber. Have the Marlin 94, a Win. 92, a couple of Smith's and a Colt Police. The .32 gets addicting. The 1907 Savages keep popping up. I don't own a .32 acp....😈 not yet..😵.

[Outpost75]

Published data from The Fouling Shot:

Table 1 – Factory .32-20 Ammunition in Rifle and Revolver

Ammunition Description___________Colt Police Positive 5”_____Savage Sporter 25”

Rem-UMC 100-grain lead
Kleanbore “Dogbone” box 1930s______898, 44 Sd, 116 ES________1302, 15 SD, 38 ES

Peters 100-grain softpoint
Kings Mills, Ohio 1940s______________870, 28, 71______________1150, 44, 137

WRA 100-grain lead
Red & yellow box 1950s_____________854, 33, 87_______________1263, 18, 53

W-W 100-grain lead
Rounded primer, yellow box, 1970s____800, 11, 31______________1241, 9, 22

W-W 100-grain lead
Flat primer, white box, 1990s_________778, 27, 69_______________1172, 18, 65

R-P 100-grain lead
Bridgeport, CT 1970s________________780, 24, 67_______________1181, 17, 52

R-P 100-grain lead
Lonoke, AR current production________716, 21, 55_______________1140, 12, 35

Column Mean by Gun_____________5” Revolver______________25” Rifle
Avg. Vel. of Factory Loads____________814 fps.________________1207 fps

Table 2 – Group 1 Standard Pressure Loads for Rifle or Revolver

Bullet, Little Dandy#, Pdr. Chg.____Colt Police Positive 5”______Savage Sporter 25”

Remington .311” 100-grain JSP____930 fps, 16 Sd, 45 ES________1230 fps, 26 Sd, 79 ES
LD#4, 4.9 grains AutoComp

Accurate 31-105T
LD#1, 3.2 grains TiteGroup_________858 fps, 22 Sd, 61 Es_______1133 fps, 30 Sd, 67 ES
LD#4, 3.4 grains Bullseye__________861 fps, 19 Sd, 47ES________1173 fps, 18 Sd, 54 ES
LD#3, 4.5 grains AutoComp________912 fps, 19 Sd, 53 ES _______1260 fps, 21 Sd, 55 ES
LD#4, 4.9 grains AutoComp________ 943 fps, 32 Sd, 71 ES_______1315 fps, 32 Sd, 118 ES
LD#10, 7.5 grains Alliant #2400_____991 fps, 24 Sd, 65 ES_______1348, 29 Sd, 69 ES DO NOT EXCEED!
LD#13, 10.0 grains IMR4227_______985 fps, 25 Sd, 61ES________1280 fps, 53 Sd, 176 ES
LD#17, 13 grains IMR4198________974 fps, 21 Sd, 94 ES________1326 fps, 46 Sd, 138 ES

Accurate 31-114D

LD#3, 3.0 grains Bullseye_________741 fps, 35 Sd, 92 ES________1041 fps, 26 SD, 78 ES
LD#4, 3.2 grains Bullsye__________861 fps, 20 Sd, 54 ES________1173 fps, 18 Sd, 52 ES
LD#13, 10.0 grains IMR4227______962 fps, 27 Sd, 62 ES_______1268 fps, 62Sd, 224ES
LD#15, 11.5 grains IMR4198______777 fps, 43 Sd, 101ES_______1248 fps, 36 Sd, 114 ES

[cwlongshot]

My most fun load is a soft 115g swc on top of a splash of PB. Awesome squirrel and “yard” loading with very small report.
Harder cast W same boolit and stiff load of H110 has taken one deer for me. As well as a couple small and med sized critters.

Before I got a Black out this 32 WCF Was my all time favorite. I havent shot it much in the last 6-7 years. But I still love it!

I picked up a new lyman mold for it, so Ill have them out this summer
For sure. I havent tried PC bullets thru them yet.

I have a 1894cl in 32/20 as well. Great gun! I like it better than the 1920’s ‘92 rifle. If the ‘92 was a carbine it would likly be a toss up.

CW

[northmn]

When I brought my 32-22 CL home I decided to try a 120 grain round nose bullet thrown by a Lee mold I already had on hand. It was for a 308 bore but dropped as cast at 311 or slightly better. It has shot very well. I tried a 32 handgun mold dropping a bullet at around 98 grains but went back to the 120 grain bullet. I coat them with Lee Liquid Alox and get no leading. I load on the mild side as I have no use for a hot load in the 32-20. If I want to go hot I use a 30-30.

DEP

[Drm50]

I have 2 keepers in 32/20, a Win 53 and Mar 94 both originals with excellent bores. I'm shooting an old Ideal 100gr FN over 6.0gr Unique with SRP.- sized .312. Both rifles do under 1" at 40yds. Neither rifle does as well with jackets. I had a Savage 23/ scope that did 1/2" at 40yds with same load. I shoot the RCBS 98g SWC in a couple old S&W HEs with 3.5gr Tite Group/ SPP. Mild load. They aren't target models and do about 3" at 25' off
rest.

[salvadore]

I also picked one up at a discount due to lack of interest. My best results were achieved with 1680 for gc cast 115gr and jacketed to100gr. For a leisurely 1100fps load I use hp38 with a pb cast 115gr. My and hopefully yours was accurate right out of the box. My first serious cast load shot ten rounds into 2.25" at 100yds with 7 going into 1.25". It's a joy.

[Alloy]

I have a 1990 Mfg. version of the Marlin 1894 CL in 32-20. Lyman 66 Receiver Sight. Have two Ideal (Lyman) moulds which this rifle likes. No. 313316 H.P. G.C about 112 Gr. lubed sized using Lyman No. 2 alloy also Ideal 313419 H.P. G.C. about 85 Gr. lubed sized using Lyman No. 2 alloy. I find H-110 works well in 13.5 gr. loads. I have also used WW-296, 12 gr. loads with success. Starline brass. Winchester small rifle primers. I have not chronographed these loads so I do not know the velocity through the 22 inch barrel.

Starline brass bought new has lasted at least 7 loadings so far.

As someone mentioned above, shooting this rifle becomes quite addictive.

Good luck with you new rifle.

[PAndy]

I would like to shoot faster powders in my '94 CL, but it has not been accurate. Many guys shoot 4.5 or 5.0 gr of unique with great results. I also see guys shooting w231 and Titegroup at silhouette matches for mild target loads. Mine shoots best with 4227 and either of the 4198s. The latter is 'too slow' and leaves unburned kernels...and can't generate much speed...but accurate in my particular rifle. 2400 is also worth a try for sure.