As I'm a rather 'cheap' person, I thought it might be a good idea to get my 32-20 up and running with BP. After all, most BP matches here are 100m, so the round should be ideal - and the powder and lead consumption would also be minimal  :wink: 

The test bed? The BSA Martini 12/15 that was converted to centerfire and got a take-off Palma match barrel: more specifically, a (Danish) Schultz and Larsen cut-rifled barrel from way back when - the shochamber end lopped off, and chambered for 32-20 - even if the barrel is standard .308. So more like a .30-20. However, it still has the original BSA 12/15 micrometric sights (Parker-Hale 7A rear, BSA aperture front). I plan to replace the 7A with a more classic-style tang sight (probably a BSa no.8) in order to get it looking right.

Next issue was the bullet - I couldn't really find something to my liking in the standard range, so I designed something myself . The rifling twist is 1:15, so pretty slow for a .308 - which is why I erred on the safe side in limiting bullet weight to about 150grs. The result was a 3-groove RN bullet weighing in at 151grs exactly when cast in 16/1 alloy. Some shallow but wide grooves, and a pretty long nose (well, relatively speaking). Still these are pretty small bullets when compared to my .45's... Also, casting is pretty easy.

I did a 1st test last sunday - stomped some powder (17.5 grains) in fireformed starline cases, seated a lubed bullet on top, even compressed the powder with the bullet (shame on me...). So I did pretty much what one shouldn't do in order to get some cartridges ready to go.

Sounds like you have a excellent start and I think you could gain a wind drift advantage with subsonic loads.

I've just started smokeless, subsonic testing with my wife's (.308) 32/20 with promicing results for the one time out. Your most likely, not to far off subsonic anyway.

Since you can make your own molds, you can gain BC by putting a elliptical nose on the bullet for subsonic flight.

If you don't have a chronograph, you can just load down, untill the sonic crack goes away.

Frank

Quote:
Your putting moisture in the chamber that is not conducive to good sealing of the cases to the chamber wall
I carry in the range box a marked plastic tube for every caliber I shoot to fit in the chamber so only the moisture goes into the bore

Martin, for blow tube material, try a motorcycle shop and look for fuel lines, they may have a better selection and perhaps the right size that you need. Another source would be a shop that works on lawn mowers and other lawn and garden power equipment, they should have a variety of hose sizes for fuel lines and such.
Sam

To be honest, I was surprised too...  Some thrown-together loads, oversize bullets, so-so lube, a smokeless barrel with wide lands - I wasn't really expecting what I got.
And wiping clean between shots - I'd need to get a thin flexible wiping rod for that - But I don't have one yet.  Another way just doesn't work in a Martini, unless I take the innards out every shots - not really a good idea.

Paper patching?  maybe somewhere in the future, if I can find a decent way to wipe between shots.  a .30 barrel means I need a 5 or 6 mm delrin rod to wipe, if that will work decently.  The current bullet is GG, but I'm not excluding PP.  I'm actually switching my .45's to PP for the coming match season...
And I'll also need a wad punch, and a compression die, some 3Fg powder, and...

Check out a medical supply house for small diameter tubing or even a pet shop that has a bunch of fish tanks. they most likely can supply you with some small diameter clear tubing especially if they pump air into the tank to oxygenate the water. drill out the primer pocket for 1/4" copper tubing and solder one end into one of your cases and stick one end of the tubing on the other end of the copper tubing. Instant caliber specific blow tube. Frank