Does anyone have a good hunting load for the 32-40 for New England White Tail? Most of our shots are under 100 yards. 

I'm using s Steven's 44 1/2 I'd like to use a cast bullet in the 180gr range. A jacketed load would be acceptable if that's all anyone has.   

Thanks.

Franks advice is good for velocity and powders. And need a harder bullet for higher velocity. Hard and fast makes for a different set of problems though.

Not many will agree with me but deer and cast bullet I would want a larger bore or if limited to the 32 caliber expanding jacketed bullet loaded to 30/30 velocity. Personally I think 30/30 is the bottom limit of small bore moderate velocity effectiveness on deer except under sharply limited range and shot placement conditions. You hit him right cast 30's are fine not exactly right very hard to track wounded with a small bullet hole in and out.  Hard cast bullets don't expand at all.

It's true older barrels do best with lead, don't know what kind of shape yours is in, if perfect might want to avoid jacketed. If rough jacketed will work better than lead bullets. Don't run many rounds through it wear from Jacketed will be negligible. 44 1/2 is easy to set up with a 2nd barrel too. Modern steel for high velocity jackated loads.   

One opinion only

Boats

Thanks everyone, I have been hunting whitetail here in N.H. For years, mostly with T/C pistols in the 30 & 357 Herrett calibers.  I've taken a few, never lost one...very lucky. I do have an old Lyman 180 mold so I think I'm going to work on that bullet as my base. My rifle is new to me, it does have an excellent bore. It was owned by a concientios target shooter before I was lucky enough to come across it. I'm getting older and the eyes seem to like the sight radius of a rifle for hunting! 

Thanks all my fellow shooters! You are a wealth of knowledge.

Thanks Marlinguy, I'm a bit of a stickler to the one shot program. It's primarily the reason I only hunt with a single shot. If you don't have the best shot possible, don't take it. I'm going to work that 180 gr. Ideal mold until I have it down. I have a 165 flat nose I might try too. I'm thinking with a softer cast and a gas check I might get good expansion at the 50-75 yard range. The 180 seems like the best choice for a bit of distance. If any of you have ever been up in this corner of the country you know the crazy combo's of terrain. 

Your two T/C pistols with expanding bullets hit lot harder than a cast 32/40 , it's probably not as effective as a cast bullet in a 357 Mag revolver.

Of course deer are not real hard to kill if hit right. Friend of mine just took one with a 40 Cal round ball.

Boats