32-20 32wcf in original 1873

Evening all -

Want to make sure I'm on the right path here. Have read the PacoKelly page, a page or two over at Winchester Collectors, and about all of the search engine pages I can find. I keep seeing Rel7 listed but can't find any of it anywhere, so need to go another path.

I've got a late 1880s 1873 in 32-20 (3rd model). Internally, and the bore, it's in good condition. I slugged the bore and ordered some .313 sized 115gr coated pills from SNSCasting.

I'm looking to load for it, even though brass is about unobtanium right now - I did have a generous member offer some brass which will get me started. (If anyone else has any to sell that won't require me remortgaging my house to buy, I'm open and looking to buy more.)

For powders, I have: Win 231, Win 244, H110, Win 296, 5744, I4198, H4198, I3031, I8208xbr, H4895, I4895, I4064, RE15, Varget, Win 748, CFE223, Leverevolution, I4350, H4350, RE19, I4831, H4831SC, RE22. (Bold powders are ones I've seen listed or I think could work.)

I'm looking for about 1000fps nice and easy, just punching holes, trying to keep the loads safe on the old girl. I'm a bit surprised I don't see H110/296 listed - although I guess those are 'newer' and this is a clearly antiquated cartridge.

I think I've landed on a 8-9gr 5744 load, but want to put this out there for any other ideas. My only hangup with the 5744 is unburned powder - I've had that issue in the 45-70 trapdoor carbine and it can be kind of a nuisance. I've also found it to be somewhat position sensitive.

Regarding case fill, I've read that 4198 could basically fill a case and you wouldn't get into trouble - but perhaps the powder is just not fast enough in this application to produce accurate results.

Thanks all.

I use 16 grs Reloder 7 with 100 gr bullet but I’m shooting a Savage bolt action. There are no pressure signs in my rifle but your mileage may vary.

I’ve also always been partial to WW231 and I bet you could find a good load with that powder.

you could burn some black or black subsite?

My old Lyman book shows red dot, 700X, green dot, PB, unique and SR 7625. I haven't done any loading for my 1873 yet but have shot some factory through it. Need to get a higher front sight as it shoots a bit high. My 73 was found in the crawl space under a house that was tore down. It has a good coat of rust on the outside but the action still works fine. I did put a liner in it so the rifling is good. Rifle was made in 1893.

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IMPERIAL
METRIC
Your search returned 5 loads
Twist: 1:20.000"
Barrel Length: 5.500"
Trim Length: 1.305"
BULLET WEIGHT
115 GR. CAST LRNFP
CASE
REMINGTON
PRIMER
WINCHESTER SP, SMALL PISTOL
Starting Load Maximum Loads
Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
Hodgdon HP-38 BUY NOW 0.314" 1.580" 3.2 839 11,100 CUP 3.5 915 15,600 CUP
Hodgdon Titegroup BUY NOW 0.314" 1.580" 2.7 815 12,900 CUP 3.0 857 15,300 CUP
Hodgdon Trail Boss OUT OF STOCK 0.314" 1.580" 2.2 642 11,300 CUP 2.5 707 15,300 CUP
Hodgdon Universal OUT OF STOCK 0.314" 1.580" 3.0 808 14,200 CUP 3.2 869 16,000 CUP
Winchester 231 OUT OF STOCK 0.314" 1.580" 3.2 839 11,100 CUP 3.5 915 15,600 CUP


THis was copied and pasted from Hodgdon's reloading center under handgun.

https://www.hodgdonreloading.com/reloading-data-center

The powders you have identified from your list should provide you with enough data to get you started.

You should be able to come up with a load that will be safe and provide the accuracy node you’re looking for with those listed.

I personally use a load of 5.5 grains of Accurate Arms #7 and 115 grain .313 diameter bullets in my 73 chambered in 32/20.

It shoots ok (although the bore is rotten/looks like a family of hogs moved out of it) and gives about 1100 fps for velocity.

Here’s a 50 yard group with my aforementioned load.
https://i.postimg.cc/26jbnrs2/A32F8F...CA0E358964.jpg

My 73 has a whole lotta miles on it but I feel is a decent looking rifle for its age (dates from 1886).

I’d send it to John Taylor for a reline but I don’t think it would be worth the expense for an accuracy upgrade reference the type of shooting I do.

Either IMR or H4198 work well in the 1873 .32-20 with 115-grain #3118 cast 1 to 30 tin-lead filling the case to provide 1/8" compression with the seated bullet in the same manner as loading black powder. This is a full charge load which approximates the original black powder velocity.

I shoot 32-20 guns for SASS, hand guns and rifle .The rifle being a 1873 clone. I load 3.3 or 3.4 grains 231 or HP-38 with 115 gr. .313 sized bullet. Nice easy shooting load.
TGM

Good info here. I have the Colt Saa in 32-20 and plan on shooting it so these 73 loads should be fine in a modern steel gen 3 Colt. Like the OP though, I need brass as right now only the gougers on GB seem to have it.

Thank you ALL for these great loads. I particularly am interested in the 4198 and W231 loads. Will try to get her to the range here shortly.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gc45

Good info here. I have the Colt Saa in 32-20 and plan on shooting it so these 73 loads should be fine in a modern steel gen 3 Colt. Like the OP though, I need brass as right now only the gougers on GB seem to have it.

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There's a guy selling some on 24hour campfire right now if you can stomach $1 a round. To each their own I suppose.

Thanks, appreciate the notice; I just refuse to bit on $1.00 per round for brass then shipping on top. I can look at my gun awhile longer until Stareline runs more brass.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by gc45

Thanks, appreciate the notice; I just refuse to bit on $1.00 per round for brass then shipping on top. I can look at my gun awhile longer until Stareline runs more brass.

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I agree

Red Dot or Unique gets me there with a easy one the rifle load.

Shot 3 groups today...

10, 10.5, 11gr of I4198

The 10.5 and 11gr both ran very accurate, great groups...

But seems like quite a bit of unburned kernals, even with a nice crimp.

I'll try the w231 and unique next.

You will have unburnt kernels with that powder. My 25/20, 38 and 44/40 do also. All with good crimp.
But as you, they shoot accurate.

I have been running Titegroup in my .32-20s lately, what ever the manual says, don't recall the load. Just be really careful re-sizing the cases, they are paper thin. Also only flare the mouths the bare minimum. Eventually you will have to trim them if you run them in a revolver, more sensitive to excess length than most rifles.

Just about any mouth dent cant lead to a disaster at times when resizing. I now inspect them, and use one of the mandrels from the Lee case trimmers (old style) to manually remove mouth dents. Either a .30 caliber or 8mm mandrel works wonders. Sadly I just crunched a case lip the other day not paying attention.

IF you do crunch one, you might be able to "iron" out the crunch against one of the same mandrels listed above, as the brass is so thin. I have recovered a couple that way, but not always.

My #2 rolling block loves 12.5gr of Reloader 7 under the Lyman 311008 bullet. This is good for about 1200fps. BTW. Bruno's has Reloader 7 in stock. I received a 5lb jug yesterday.

I have used the 3.5 grain, 231 load listed for my Browning 53 with both the 311-316 and the NOE clone of the RCBS 32-98 SWC with complete satisfaction. I wish I had bought a clone of the 311-316 that was PB, as the gas checks are a pain in the neck (and wallet, now). Mine won't shoot well without a gas check.

1st if you want to know the accuracy potential of that rifle get 1 pound of Goex 3F.
Use 115 grain 40-1 cast. One cereal box wad between powder and slug. You want to compress the power about 1/8".
Load 10 and check that group at 50 yards.
2nd ... Try and beat that group with smokeless.
5 grains Unique with a 115 grain 40-1 cast as fat as will chamber works well in all 1873 rifles / carbines.