Page Index Toggle Pages: 1 Send TopicPrint
Normal Topic Stevens .32 Ideal (Read 2727 times)
Adrian
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 122
Joined: Mar 2nd, 2015
Stevens .32 Ideal
Mar 23rd, 2015 at 7:57pm
Print Post  
It appears that i will become the proud caregiver of a Stevens model 47 with DST chambered in .32 Ideal. Would you please suggest some fixed loads with smokeless powder? The rifle is well made and in good condition, with a tight action, but still, a 44 type with heavy frame and thick walls, not the stronger 44 1/2. I will be shooting 130 grain (old Ideal mold) and perhaps a 140 gr. bullet made by a custom mold yet to be designed and ordered, after taking a cast of the chamber and throat...
The rifle has a 1:18 twist and it appears to have originally been made as a .32.   
I have at my disposal satisfactory quantities of IMR 4227, Unique, A5744, and i can also buy some of the powders commonly used in the .223 class cartridges, as they seem to be available.   
It appears that RMC is the only source of brass,  of which i intend to purchase 100 soon. Correct? 
Any loading tips or information about loading for this cartridge is much appreciated. 
Thank you.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Kurt_701
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 1050
Location: Missouri
Joined: May 20th, 2004
Re: Stevens .32 Ideal
Reply #1 - Mar 23rd, 2015 at 10:53pm
Print Post  
This load was shot in a 32Ideal Winchester Highwall.  The larger holes on the left are binder holes. You might start your loader lower and work up.
Kurt
  

M-14 3rd Battalion 27th Marines RVN 68'69'
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
uscra112
Frequent Elocutionist
*****
Offline



Posts: 4079
Location: Switzerland of Ohio
Joined: May 7th, 2007
Re: Stevens .32 Ideal
Reply #2 - Mar 25th, 2015 at 7:29am
Print Post  
If the rifle is tight, any smokeless load that yields the canonical 1450 fps will be OK, save maybe for very fast pistol/shotgun powders.   By tight, I mean that the back of the breechblock is in contact with or no more than .001" off the shoulders in the frame, with the action fully closed.  Test it with a feeler made from 0.4 mil plastic sandwich bag.   

I've got a 44 in .32 Ideal, almost like new.  Have yet to fire it, but Quickload suggests 12 grains of 4227 or 5744, and 15 grains of 1680 with the 130 grain bullet.  Pressure computed is only 11k psi.   My experience w/5744 is that it likes much more pressure, so I'd pass it by.    I will also try around 10 grains of AA#9, just because I have a lot of it and it works reasonably well in the .25-21. 

There has been a guy been trying to sell some Bertram brass on Gunbroker for what I can only call an insane price.  If you can get RMC, so much the better.   It can be made from the European 5.56x50R, but there's precious little of that around.....
  

<div class=
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Adrian
Full Member
***
Offline



Posts: 122
Joined: Mar 2nd, 2015
Re: Stevens .32 Ideal
Reply #3 - Mar 25th, 2015 at 10:29am
Print Post  
all, thank you for your replies. I already was thinking of trying 10-12 grains of 4227, thank you for confirmation. The fact that the load is low pressure is good, the rifle will be the Queen of my collection and i won't abuse it or expose it to over pressure. 
Yes, A5744 appears to burn well and accurately at certain threshold pressure, otherwise velocities are erratic and i find un-burned grains in the bore, sometimes they slide back and gum the action. 
As far as the 5.56x50R, it is not much cheaper than RMC, i hardly see justification to order it and do the work for just a few dollars saved. It may an option if the resulting product fits the chamber better, which i will look into.
  
Back to top
 
IP Logged
 
Page Index Toggle Pages: 1
Send TopicPrint