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Very Hot Topic (More than 25 Replies) .32-20 vs .32-40 (Read 28502 times)
LynnF
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.32-20 vs .32-40
May 25th, 2010 at 6:11pm
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I have a CPA .22 longrifle and am planning to purchase a .32 barrel for target shooting. Would a .32-20 or .32-40 be a better choice. I want something for up to 200 yd. I would appreciate any opinions.
LynnF
  
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kodiak1
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #1 - May 25th, 2010 at 7:11pm
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Lynn
The 32-20 might be alittle short on gas to be a good 200 yard gun.
The 32-40 would be a better choice for 200 yards.
Not 100 percent sure what you are doing here.  Going from 22 which is a rim fire to a a center fire don't know what you would all have to change. 
Ken.
  

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LynnF
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #2 - May 25th, 2010 at 7:17pm
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Ken,
The change is pretty easy on a CPA rifle, just the ejector and firing pin I believe. Is .32-40 brass available?
  
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Rich_Siegel
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #3 - May 26th, 2010 at 3:29pm
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I'd suggest talking to the folks at CPA.  I heard that they are experimenting with a .308 barreled 32/20 and because of the strength of their actions, they were firing heavier bullets at 32/40 velocities.  So, talk to them and see what they recommend.
Rich
  
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John Boy
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #4 - May 26th, 2010 at 3:33pm
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Lynn:  If you ask Paul Shuttleworth at CPA, he will tell you 32-20 is the best 200yd bullet.  He showed me a couple of his less than MOA targets he shot using a Stevens Pope and the Hoch mold.

If you were able to talk with Harry Pope, his 32-40, later reamed to 33-40 set some 200 yd offhand groups that haven't been beaten yet.

My choice?  The 32-40 Douglas barrel that I have on my CPA and the Hoch 321200 breach seater or the 322200 fixed cartridge bullet.  If you are planning on shooting BP only - go with the Badger barrel
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Is .32-40 brass available?

Scarcer than Hen's Teeth.  You can reform 30-30 brass
  
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LynnF
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #5 - May 26th, 2010 at 5:07pm
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Thanks All.
I have talked to Paul and he about has me talked into a .32-20. I'll let you know how it works for me.
Thanks again.
Lynn
  
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bobnh
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #6 - May 26th, 2010 at 6:31pm
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I recently got a 32-20 barrel for my CPA. Using a 208 gr Hoch Pope bullet (Cast soft) breechloaded I blew away my groups with the 32-40 Bbl I was using. The accuracy of this combo is unsurpassed!
  
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38_Cal
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #7 - May 26th, 2010 at 7:45pm
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And what load were you using, Bob?  Details, details, details...   Wink

David
  

David Kaiser
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kodiak1
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #8 - May 26th, 2010 at 8:06pm
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Lynn
That makes it a very viable change then.  If shooting paper would look at the 32-20 if shooting game I personnelly would use the 32-40.
Brass would be a breeze resize 38-55 brass.

Ken.
  

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bobnh
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #9 - May 27th, 2010 at 7:39am
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Load I was using: Bullet was a 208 gr Hoch tapered Pope bullet(very soft) with spg lube. The powder was 15.8 gr of 2015 and a cork wad at the mouth of the Rem case. (powder almost fills the case). Primer was a Fed small rifle. I was using 10.9 gr AA9, but Paul Trudel made me try the 2015 and I'm not looking back. This load is used @200 yd and gets there fast. (no crono)
  
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RCRBanjo
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #10 - May 27th, 2010 at 9:33pm
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I've shot both for many years, but mostly the .32-20 at 200 yards and have done fairly well, for my eyes, etc.  When you look at all the aspects of the .32-20, it is amazingly very similar to the .32 Miller.  My 2 cents worth for free.
  
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boats
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #11 - May 28th, 2010 at 8:14am
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To me the choice is traditional or not.  

If somebody is going for a short case 32 the 32/20 is as good as any.  There are well proven advantages to short case powder full cases.  Breech seating the routine is different with the short cases. Pre charged with a wad vs loose powder thrown from the mesure at the shooting bench.   

If taking that step why not internal adjustment scope flat forearm straight buttstock etc.   Guys that shoot those guns get good results but would not want my Daughter to marry one.

Boats

  
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rustyrelx
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #12 - May 28th, 2010 at 2:33pm
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I stand where you stand boats....Don    rustyrelx
  
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LynnF
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #13 - May 28th, 2010 at 5:29pm
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I may need some education here since this type round is new to me. Is this cartridge, .32-20, not a suitable one for 200 yd target shooting? I'll admit to being somewhat of a laudator temporis acti and always lean toward tradition (I started shooting muzzleloaders in 1960) and I eschew inlines and automatic guns of any kind. I shoot a .40-65 C Sharps at our monthly black powder silhouette match. They hold a fun shoot the day before the silhouette match (anything goes except bench rifles or 6mm PPC) and I thought a 32 caliber, either .32-20 or .32-40, would be a good choice for this match. 
I appreciate any opinions.
Lynn
  
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38_Cal
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Re: .32-20 vs .32-40
Reply #14 - May 28th, 2010 at 9:55pm
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bobnh wrote on May 27th, 2010 at 7:39am:
Load I was using: Bullet was a 208 gr Hoch tapered Pope bullet(very soft) with spg lube. The powder was 15.8 gr of 2015 and a cork wad at the mouth of the Rem case. (powder almost fills the case). Primer was a Fed small rifle. I was using 10.9 gr AA9, but Paul Trudel made me try the 2015 and I'm not looking back. This load is used @200 yd and gets there fast. (no crono)

Thanks, Bob.  I've been using about 13.0 gr. IMR 4227 in Starline brass in my Ruger No. 3, .308/32-20, 12" twist, modified Lyman 311299 breech seated.

David
  

David Kaiser
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