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Load for .32-40 (Read 7528 times)

Kuchenreuter Newbie Offline Posts: 5 Location: El Centro CA Joined: Jan 28^th, 2013	Load for .32-40 Mar 24^th, 2013 at 9:55pm	Print Post
	I was given some very valuable advice on finding a load for a .25 cal rifle that I have some time ago and I wanted to see if any of you guys could assist with a 32-40 that I also have - and have had a lot longer than the .25. The bbl is a Douglas XX with a 15 twist and a groove diameter of .3193 When I bought the rifle from CPA it came with a mold that makes a bullet that weighs 201.5 grs and is 1.077" long. The band diameters ogive to base band are as follows: .316,.316,.318,.318,.321,.322,.326 I have tried many loads with this bullet/bbl and have used 4227 and H108 as well as some AA9. Across all loads the best 10 shot group at 200 yards I can get is betwee 2.75 and 3" and the bullets don't go into the target straight. You can see that the bullet is yawing as it passes through the target. I seat th bullet to where the base band hangs out of the barrel by about 40 thousanths. With the powders I have tried loads up to 13.5 grs. Any assistance would be greatly appreciated!! Thanks


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RSW Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1188 Location: Arizona Joined: Sep 8^th, 2006	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #1 - Mar 24^th, 2013 at 10:26pm	Print Post
	You didn't specify enough detail to provide much in the way of feedback but from the info you provided, your bullet base diameter is way too oversize for your barrel. A bullet of either full groove diameter, a thousandth over groove, or even two thou over should be workable. If the bullet diameters you provided are accurate, .0067" over groove diameter is a lot. It must take some real effort to breech seat them and when fired, my guess is you are getting long lead tail feathers drawn off the bullet bases. 14 grains of 4227 is considered standard for your bullet weight so you might up your powder charge a little. If you run the Greenhill formula, your bullet is about the right length for a 15 twist barrel. Providing of course that your rifle action is up to the pressure. If you are shooting a Stevens 44 or one of the other weaker actions, you should be careful not to push the powder charge too much.

	Randy W ASSRA 10211 - ISSA 125 There are indeed two Americas. Simply put, it is not the haves and have nots. The two Americans are in reality divided into those who do and those who don't.
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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 11462 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #2 - Mar 24^th, 2013 at 11:17pm	Print Post
	A groove diameter of .3195. Bullet diameter .326. Hmm? If that's what CPA provided, sold, they messed up. Surprised you're doing so well with such numbers. Call CPA and get the correct size mold as CL pointed out. Shouldn't cost you a dime. Joe.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 11462 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #3 - Mar 24^th, 2013 at 11:26pm	Print Post
	Forget to mention, once you get the correct size mold and before you shoot the rifle again, soak the bore with Hoppe's #9. Wrap some #4 steel wool on a patch (tight patch) and scrub your barrel out good. Joe.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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40_Rod Frequent Elocutionist Offline Extremism in the persuit of accuracy is not a vice Posts: 4285 Location: Knoxville, TN Joined: Apr 20^th, 2004	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #4 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 8:35am	Print Post
	It is a little hard to tell what bullet you are shooting. Given the dimensions it sounds like a Pope style. Popes bullets had very large base bands. Years ago when I got my first rifle from Paul (a 1:15" twist 32-40) I asked Paul for a bullet recommendation. He told me "call Jerry Barnett give him the twist and tell him its my throating. I still use that combination. The Barnett is a semi-spitzer 1.050" long with a .323" base band. In 25:1 it drops at 199.5 grains. It shoots well with 4227, AA #9S, WC820, and 4100 as long as it is loaded to give 1450 FPS. Paul still sells the Hoch copy of that bullet. 40 Rod


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JLouis Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 10625 Joined: Apr 8^th, 2009	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #5 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 10:45am	Print Post
	No need for the steel wool and I would shy away from its use, it will do your barrel no good, possibly just the opposite. Talk to Gail on the proper cleaning procedures and or Douglas. If you don't have the through bolt check to see that your tang screws are tight and that your butt stock is bedded tight to the back of the action. If not epoxy bed it, when this area is not tight the groups open up as you have stated and it is a common issue with the CPA's. Your bullet sounds like it is also a little on the large size but that bullet is good a choice for bench work. 300MP and Winchester Large Rifle Magnum primers is also a good choice in the 13.8 to 14.4 range, you will find the sweetspot within those parameters. J.Louis

	" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
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boats Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7545 Location: Virginia Joined: Apr 23^rd, 2004	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #6 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 11:00am	Print Post
	I was going to bet, would bet everything is right, just needs more powder. CPA has built many successful outfits with that combination Mine shot good groups with slightly oblong holes on paper & 200. Hard head that I am never changed the powder charge. Off this board got bump the charge advice and it's now shooting the same good groups with nice perfectly round holes. It only took a little bit more powder. Boats


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westerner Frequent Elocutionist Offline deleted posts and threads record holder. Posts: 11462 Location: Why, out West of course Joined: May 29^th, 2006	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #7 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 5:45pm	Print Post
	boats wrote on Mar 25^th, 2013 at 11:00am: I was going to bet, would bet everything is right, just needs more powder. CPA has built many successful outfits with that combination Mine shot good groups with slightly oblong holes on paper & 200. Hard head that I am never changed the powder charge. Off this board got bump the charge advice and it's now shooting the same good groups with nice perfectly round holes. It only took a little bit more powder. Boats You think the bullet being .006 oversize is correct? Not me. #4 steel wool will not hurt your barrel in the least. Myself and many others use it. Have used it in my RKS barrel to remove lead. The rifle still shoots 250s and has not been damaged in the least. Ron Smith uses steel wool. Steel wool will remove any lead you may have in the barrel due to the hugely oversize bullet. Assuming of course, your measurements are correct. Joe.

	A blind squirrel runs into a tree every once in a while.
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ledball Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1010 Location: syracuse, ohio Joined: Nov 20^th, 2009	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #8 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 7:12pm	Print Post
	Why would any mould maker let out of his shop a mould that throws a bullet of .326 dia. it sure won't fit any Douglas barrel I've ever seen. ledball


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JackHughs Oldtimer Offline Posts: 657 Location: Riverbank Joined: Sep 27^th, 2008	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #9 - Mar 25^th, 2013 at 9:09pm	Print Post
	ledball wrote on Mar 25^th, 2013 at 7:12pm: Why would any mould maker let out of his shop a mould that throws a bullet of .326 dia. it sure won't fit any Douglas barrel I've ever seen. ledball Because a customer may have asked for it. Once upon a time a young and inexperienced JackHughs asked Paul Jones to make a custom mould with a .325 base band. Paul was a bit reluctant, but Jack wanted it that way so Paul built it that way. Needless to say, Jack learned a lot about groove diameter from that experience. JackHughs

	The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. W.B. Yeats
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boats Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7545 Location: Virginia Joined: Apr 23^rd, 2004	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #10 - Mar 26^th, 2013 at 6:35am	Print Post
	Or the measurements are wrong. Boats


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irish66 Oldtimer Offline Posts: 534 Location: newbraunfels Joined: Apr 7^th, 2007	Re: Load for .32-40 Reply #11 - Mar 31^st, 2013 at 9:03pm	Print Post
	You said the bullet was sticking out of the barrel about .040 try seating it all the way in! I have a 32-40 barrel I got from paul about 1995 this is what worked with 13.5 grs of 4759 A cork wad on the powder useing large pistol primers. Fwiw it worked.


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