OK, this is my first post and I know that screams greenhorn (I’m not even that in the single-shot world) but I cast and load for a lot of old Marlins – and like this site for the depth of experience and discussion -- and I figured if anyone knew the 32-40 it would be folks on this forum.    

So,  I have a Marlin 1893 in 32-40 I’m just getting a good start on.  I’ve tried 2400 (10.7 for 1300fps gives best accuracy so far in the desired range) but I wanted to try IMR 4227 and while I’m at it two, maybe three others powders(4895 being the maybe).

About the rifle… it is a Black Powder barrel, and the rifle was produced in 1904.    The bore is excellent but for the first four inches.   A compressed slug from the breach end measures .325 and after the first four inches the bore slugs consistently at .3225; a chamber cast shows the wear even better from the throat on.  I had an 163gr LBT LFN  made to drop at .326 and I size to .325.     Bullet is a LFN – 163gr GC.

Using Smokeless I plan to stay between 1250 and 1400fps.   Was hoping to figure start loads as close to 1250 as possible and then test out in small increments – not creeping over 1400fps.

Would be grateful for a sanity check on what my current starting points are - there is a lot of extrapolation from several reloading handbooks and from information I find here, with an attempt to factor in modest differences in bullet weight and barrel lengths.   

I’d appreciate any comments on these starting points or any other related comments.   
** IMR 4227 @ 12.5gr
**IMR 4198 @ 14gr
**SR 4759 @ 11gr
**IMR 4895 @ 13.5   

I guess the accuracy loads mentioned so often are a little out of my velocity/pressure ranges.

Thanks Much!!
John

Marlin 1893. That's a lever action rifle, not a single shot, right? 

This is a single shot forum.  

We have a Off Topic Chatter section. It's at the bottom.

I forgot, welcome to the forum. 

   Joe. 

westerner wrote on Mar 24^th, 2014 at 12:27am:

And another thing, the question is about loading the 32-40. Maybe it should be in reloading?  That would work, no need to say what rifle it's for. 

   Joe.

Curmudgeonizm. It happens. 

  Joe.

MT Chambers and 40_Rod,   Thanks for the response.    And Bullshot, appreciate your sense of manners.    I’m not a newcomer to forums in general and recognize C/S.

I parked this under General Discussion because it says:
“This is the place for talk about firearms or shooting not covered in other topics”. 
My bad for missing the “Chatter” section.

I just joined a couple days ago. When I registered they wanted to know why before accepting the registration… understandable and appropriately selective.     
My rational and answer to that question:
“I collect Marlin leverguns, mostly of older vintages from around the turn of the century.  I also cast for all calibers I own (30-30, 32-20, 32-40, 32spcl, 35REM, 375, 38-55, 45Colt and 45-70) and am constantly on the web looking to share or obtain advise.  I have noted on several occasion that this site offers great information from knowledgeable people.  That is what prompted me to register”.

That said, this is for you Westerner… how would anybody interpret “Marlin 1893. That's a lever action rifle, not a single shot, right?  This is a single shot forum.”?

My hat is off to you for knowing what an 1893 is but you can park your smiley face wherever you want to; those icons can still be used to show more than a smiley face… if you were a woman I'd have said it was just plain catty.   Or if you had added something that addressed the topic I would have said "ok, now I know better than to use this General forum and looked for the Chatter section".

If that’s a little racy for this forum then my apologies.   I like to talk firearms and related info of any kind and I appreciate learning from people more knowledgeable than me.    I sure didn’t come here to pick a fight with my first post and I do hope I’m not in the wrong place.   But if the moderators deem that I am in the wrong place I’m sure you’ll survive without me.

SgtDog0311, welcome aboard. I started out in the mid fifties shooting lever Action repeaters in just the same calibers. Never regretted it and still own a few. I feel that this website is big enought to handle any reasonable questions having to do with shooting. No need to be catty. We are all shooters. HTH, Regards.
FITZ.

Gentlemen, thanks for the help... I made a few adjustments and a couple additions.

Appreciate it.
SgtDog