George,
To give you a brief history on the "modern" 32/20. You can blame it on the success of the 32 Miller Short. Like every successful thing, people were looking for even better so, CPA tried necking up the 32/20, it had a case capacity simular to the 32 Miller and no real work to form it, like the Miller. Thus, the CPA 32/20 (.321) came about.

TC chambered a lot of their pistols in 32/20 (.308) with a faster twist rate and to my knowledge, that is how that 32/20 became popular with a faster (heavier bullet) twist rate.

In my "case", I got involved because I had a 44 Stevens (model 45) that had been a 32/40 and I wanted to build a lighter but, competitive rifle for my wife. For the 44 I needed as small a case head as possible to reduce the thrust on the 44 breech block so, I decided to use the 32/20 case. I would have used the 32 Ideal case (same size case head) but, finding them is a problem!!!

I had heard that people were have problems with the .321 32/20 but, I had a fast twist barrel and intended to hold velocity to <1300 fps with H108 powder but, it wasn't working. I seperated 1 case and had several partials. 

Then one day I found this XX Douglas, 12 twist, 32/20 barrel on Ebay. All set up for a small thread HW and what did I have in my safe? Of course a small thread HW that I wasn't using. Call me a slow learner I of course know why it was a "take off", he ran out of cases I am getting better case life with the 296 powder though.

Any way, I may rechamber it to use a 357 Mag case and put this case problem behind me. A good secondary effect will be to help in the cause of less confusion regarding the 32/20.

To answer your question about velocity, I'm getting 1400 fps with 10.0 gr of 296 in a 26" barrel.

Frank

George I have seen bullets over 200gr. bullets pushed to 1500fps, thats where it shines in one particular rifle. One of the powders of choice is AA4100 and its asking allot out the case. I like to think of them as little time bombs, right on the upper limits of maximum pressure and it doesn't take much to send one over the top. Case life is short, 10 to 12 shots and you have to keep an eye on signs of case seperation. It was very popular here for awile and those that were shooting them have since re-chambered and went back to the 32-40 and right where they started. There is one exception of which sits in a safe and that fellow also went back to shooting one of his 32-40's. I might also add that they shoot extremely good if you have the patience of Job and big pockets for replacement cases.

JLouis

Brice my understanding is it does meet the traditional rules but please don't take that as being Gospel.

I might also add there are some clubs who do not have a 200yd. Range for their Schuetzen matches so they shoot the Matches at 100yds. I do not believe they have to push their 200gr. bullets as hard and that case life might not be an issue for them or a lesser one?

JLouis

George don't give up on the 25WCF it's a match winner and its extremely popular out the this way with just about everyone at our club and Jerry_H's as well are using it now. Jerry_H has shot 2ea. 250's in seperate matches and I believe he is the only one to do so to date. Feel free
to PM him if you would like the specific.

JLouis

George, I may have missed it but are you shooting fixed ammo or breech seating. All this about case seperation problems is new to me in single shots. Have seen in in modern rifles where the brass was over sized and the case failed in front of the web. I don't see how that should be a problem with breech seating bullets. I also have a 25-20SS. Mine is a Stevens 44 in great condition, but with fixed ammo it shoot around 2MOA. I'm in the proess of buying a mold to cast a tapered bullet designed for breech seating. I believe this should help with accuracy.

                              Sendaro

George check your PM's.

JLouis