What is the consensus on the optimum twist, bullet length and weight, chamber and throat, powder and load for a 32-20 / 25-20 case reformed to 28-20?

Bob I don't know but I thought I should mention this as you are talking about a small case. When I built my 28 I used the the 357 Max case straight tapered to 28. The problem I had was I could not push the bullet fast enough to achieve the best accuracy as the pressure would exceed that need and the cases would not extract. The last time I shot it in a match I went through eleven cases some had to be extracted with the help of cleaning rod as they would swell at the web. Every case change would provide a different bullet location on the target so any hopes of placing went right out the gate. I played with it for about a year trying to get it work and it was the most frustrating and unsuccefull endeaver I have ever taken with absoulutly no signs of a means for success. Thus I re-chambered it to 28-35 and have I not encountered any signs of pressure and I have taken it well beyond 13grs. of 300MP with either a 147 or 155 gr. bullet but they both seem to like it a tad over 12gs. allot better than being pushed hard. In the Max case I could just barely get beyond 10grs. and not quite enough even for the 147gr. bullet. To try to go to a lighter / shorter bullet would have defeated the entire purpose of the rifle and that being to win matches and to be extremely competitve with the 32's and 33's of which it is now. Barrel is a 12 Twist DouglasXX and I beleave I can shoot a bullet a tad heaver than the 155gr. but it gets to a point when recoil and torque out weigh the extra weight as the gun is quite a bit calmer in the bags.

I know this was not what you were looking for but I thought it might save you time, money and frustration down the road or at least give you something to think about while you are still trying decide what it is you that you might want not knowing the intended purpose of the rifle. I also strongly beleave a case taking large rifle primers would also be a better choice based on my experiance with Max case. I actually bored out the primer pockets out to LRP on a few cases and all though using that case was a total flop I felt they did show an improvement.

JLouis

Thanks Frank.

Thanks John, certainly good to consider.  Not looking to reinvent the wheel. How are they getting the 32-20 to work?  It should hold nearly the same powder charge as the 28-20?

Bob if you are talking about the 32-20 CPA Jack Hughes would be your best source on its short comings all though it does shoot extremely well. If memory serves me right he would by 500 new cases each year due to case loss and case preperation. At one time and not to far back it was extremely popular with our group of competitors and now you don't even see a single one on the line. All but one that doesn't get used any longer, a record setting keep sake have all been re-chambered to 32-40 and the competitor with the keep sake also shoots a 32-40 as well that being Jack Hughes. What is also interesting is the 32 Miller Short used to rule the line here as well at one time and now you are lucky to see one of them show up.

JLouis

Pete,that would be interesting if they get enough 28s. I don't shoot iron sights any more so I doubt if I shoot the BP match    Good thing I shot tons of it when I could still see 

John, I'll have to check on the 32-20 a little more I guess.  Their is a fellow here shooting one in CBA.  He seems to be happy.  32 Millers and RKS seem to be the ones to beat here.  Chuck Bordman's Hoch was so good you didn't even have to know how to shoot to win with it 

What case is your 33  ELCO, Frank?

I'm thinking of having it done on a CPA action.  Is it good for the high pressure short cases?  28-35 is always an option 

The case design is extremly interesting on Pete's rifle but it wouldn't be right in my book for me to copy it. I have thought about putting a new 28 barrel on my CPA and have considered a shortend 32-40 straight tapered to 28 or something along those lines that takes a LR primer. It would just be for the sake of curiosity to see which case is better the bottleneck or the straight tapered and the possibility of it being just a tad better than what I currently have.

JLouis

I think Joe Weist  did a great job on the 28-30 Weist( gotta give him credit) I think it is very Traditional in looks and using the 25-35 parent case. I am glad I can shoot his gun , and hope at least that it is exceptable as A 28 Caliber . Thankyou Joe.... everytime I bring this gun out I think of you. Pete

One more question Frank. I have a very nice traditional Ballard with a barrel that has no marks of any kind - obviously somewhat later than the original barrel. It slugs to a 0.294" bore diameter, would it meet the T-28 rules assuming the case and rifle configuration will?