Savage 23C chamber question

[HWooldridge]

I have a Savage 23C in 32-20 that’s in almost new condition. I doubt it was ever shot with black powder and probably hasn’t seen much smokeless either. With that said, there is zero freebore ahead of the chamber and about the only cast bullet designs I can use are round nose types. However, I have a mold that Tom @ Accurate built which has a nice driving band that sticks out of the case, and my Colt 32-20 loves it, so I’d like to shoot the same load interchangeably. Right now, the rifle bolt is about 1/16” from closing, but seating deeper takes up case capacity and doesn’t feed as well from the magazine.

Looking for advice - should I just go with a different mold design or have someone cut some leade into the throat?

TIA, HW

[Outpost75]

In my .32 S&W Long and .32-20 revolvers, my Remington pump and Savage 23C I use Accurate 31-105T. Shape is similar to the factory lead bullets. Feeds well, chambers freely. And most of all accurate.

Acc31-105Tin32SWLand32-20.jpg1715742877492.jpg1697131072205~2.jpg31-105T-D-1.jpg

[HWooldridge]

I’m using his 31-112L… https://accuratemolds.com/bullet_det...bullet=31-112L

That front driving band works really well in the handgun, but too long in the rifle. I also like the gas check feature.

I’m thinking 31-115J might be better.

[405grain]

I could be mistaken on this because I read or was told this a long time ago, so this information might be incorrect. On the Savage model 23 the receiver and barrel are one integral part. That means that the barrel doesn't unscrew from a receiver. Instead the rear portion of the barrel was machined to become the receiver. If that's true (and like I said, I might be mistaken) any mistakes made trying to alter the chamber's throat will basically scrap the whole gun. If this is the case I would 100% recommend finding a better fitting bullet mold than trying to alter the rifle.

[HWooldridge]

I could be mistaken on this because I read or was told this a long time ago, so this information might be incorrect. On the Savage model 23 the receiver and barrel are one integral part. That means that the barrel doesn't unscrew from a receiver. Instead the rear portion of the barrel was machined to become the receiver. If that's true (and like I said, I might be mistaken) any mistakes made trying to alter the chamber's throat will basically scrap the whole gun. If this is the case I would 100% recommend finding a better fitting bullet mold than trying to alter the rifle.

Good point - now that you mentioned it, I seem to recall the same info on this model, and that makes it an easy decision for me. New mold it is…

[beemer]

I have a Savage 23b, 25-20, the barrel and receiver are machined in one piece. My rifle has no throat either, verified with a bore scope.

[Willbird]

Curious what rifling twist the barrel has ? That will let you know how long the bullet can be and still be stable. You could try sizing that band down into a bore rider.

[32-20]

You may not want to , but consider seating it a tad deeper? Must all loads I have done in the .32-20 have tons of free space inside...., unless you are loading something that actually compresses? Maybe your revolver won't mind it being a tad deeper either?

I have come close to buying one of these online....and hope too. Hope you really enjoy the classic gal!

[Outpost75]

I load 3.5 grains of Bullseye with Accurate 31-105T for all of my .32-20s. No need for a higher velocity load. Doing so defeats the purpose of a dual use rifle-revolver load. The slow 20-inch twist of rifling limits bullet weight to about 115 grains.

[HWooldridge]

I stuck with the 31-112L and seated it deeper in the case. Was the easiest solution and the rifle likes it. I am using a compressed load in the rifle - revolver gets a different load.

[Jhon]

I have the Savage Sporter rifle in both 22 Hornet and 32-20. IIRC they were sold from JC Penny for under $10 in the 1920s when they first came out. Yes they are all a unitary construction design, one piece of metal to make both action and barrel...why they were so cheap. Also why they are so accurate- same construction as many .22LR rifles over the decades. My Hornet has a pristine barrel. My 32-20 is a bit rough but lots of rifling. Both very accurate with jacketed bullets. Love them. Both mine have original mags..the 32-20 has the earliest "cheese grater" style mag. Worth more than the rifle.