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Caliber choice for BP (Read 3206 times)

Mick B Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1007 Location: 19 Ian Nicol St watson ACT aus Joined: Apr 11^th, 2013	Caliber choice for BP Aug 30^th, 2019 at 8:34pm	Print Post
	I'm kicking the idea around about getting a second barrel, or the barrel I already have relined, to a different caliber. 99% of our black powder clubs shooting is done at 100 m so knockdown powder is not a consideration. One of my rifles is in 40-65 and the other is in 40-60 Maynard, I'm considering something like a 32-40, does the 32-40 have a good reputation for accuracy using BP ?. Mike.


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GWarden Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 317 Location: Marshalltown Iowa Joined: Apr 18^th, 2004	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #1 - Aug 30^th, 2019 at 11:01pm	Print Post
	Mike I have had great results at 100 & 200 with my 32/40 and BP. I do breech seat . Bob

	Game Warden: what boys dream of being and old men wish they could have been
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Chuckster Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2313 Location: Colorado Joined: May 15^th, 2008	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #2 - Aug 30^th, 2019 at 11:06pm	Print Post
	From what I hear and see, the .38-55 is one of the easier cartridges to get to shoot with black powder. .32-40 more finicky and a little tougher with black powder. Chuck


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boats Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7732 Location: Virginia Joined: Apr 23^rd, 2004	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #3 - Aug 31^st, 2019 at 7:00am	Print Post
	Choice between 32/40 & 38/55 for Black Powder I would go 38/55. Main issue accuracy & Black Powder is controlling fowling. Bigger the bore easier it is to manage. Larger bore = more recoil. 38/55 is in a sweet spot between too small & too large. Boats


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frnkeore Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 7661 Location: Central Point, OR 97502 Joined: Jun 16^th, 2010	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #4 - Aug 31^st, 2019 at 11:25am	Print Post
	Breech seated, I could never get the accuracy in 32/40, as I could in 32/35 (.308 groove). 32/35 is a little harder to make brass for but, then trying to find 32/40 brass can be problematic. The 32/35, is made from 30/30 brass and you'll always be able to get it. It's 1 7/8" long, with a .402 head size. You merely shorten, swage the head to .390, turn the solid area, FL size, then load and blow it out, in the chamber. The rim, is unchanged. I'm sure that I never broke 240, and the 5 shot groups were over 3", with the 32/40. My 200 yard results, shot in matches, using a Douglas barrel. Frank

	ASSRA Member #696, ISSA Member #339
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art_ruggiero Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1222 Location: CT Joined: Dec 14^th, 2008	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #5 - Aug 31^st, 2019 at 2:06pm	Print Post
	i vote for 38/55 light recoil very accurate and better in wind easy to load accurately best art


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RSW Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1299 Location: Arizona Joined: Sep 8^th, 2006	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #6 - Aug 31^st, 2019 at 3:41pm	Print Post
	If one digs into target shooting history a bit, the facts are that the .32-40 was by far the most popular caliber back in the black powder Schuetzen days. After the mid-1890s when semi-smokeless and smokeless became available, the top tier shooters all switched to duplex loads (for both semi-smokeless and smokeless powders). As pointed out on this thread, .38-55 is easier to get to shoot well with black than the .32-40. After a couple of years of testing both with straight black and duplex I agree the .38 is easier to get to shoot well but once you get the hang of it the .32 is just as accurate especially when you are shooting at 100 or 200 yards.

	Randy W ASSRA 10211 - ISSA 125 There are indeed two Americas. Simply put, it is not the haves and have nots. The two Americans are in reality divided into those who do and those who don't.
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JLouis Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 10625 Joined: Apr 8^th, 2009	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #7 - Aug 31^st, 2019 at 4:20pm	Print Post
	Mike what type of shooting, cross sticks, offhand or benchrest. I am with Randy on the 32-40 comfort and being totally relaxed has always played a big part in accurate shooting. So it also depends on what you feel would be the better choice to provide both of those for yourself.

	" It Is Better To Now Have Been A Has Been Than A Never Was Or A Wanna Be "
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beltfed Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 1826 Location: Central Wi Joined: Dec 20^th, 2007	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #8 - Aug 31^st, 2019 at 5:54pm	Print Post
	Mick, Why not stay with the 40-65. They are known for their accuracy. See attached example at 100yds. 370 gr DDEPP bullet clocking 1400fps. Light recoil and very accurate. This old Frt has placed a couple times at 200yds Schuetzen matches with this load. beltfed/arnie


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gunlaker Frequent Elocutionist Online Posts: 2612 Location: lower mainland, B.C. Joined: Dec 13^th, 2010	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #9 - Aug 31^st, 2019 at 8:04pm	Print Post
	If shooting offhand I would pick the .32-40 for sure. When shooting breech seated with BP and a good fitting bullet at 100m you should be able to get into the 1 to 1.25 minute of angle groups with a little effort and very careful attention to fouling management. If shooting from anything other than offhand, I would pick the .38-55 over the .32-40 with no hesitation. I've found mine easier to get shooting well with BP. My .32-40's are very picky with the bullets they like. Of the .32-40's that I've used with any regularity, I have a couple of CPA Schuetzen Jr's, a Ruger #1 with an RKS barrel, and a C. Sharps highwall. All were easy to get shooting pretty well at 100m but only with the right bullet. Each shows a very strong preference for a different bullet. It makes me wonder how much improvement could be made with the perfect bullet. I've found 200m to be often quite tricky as the bullets are only marginally stable, especially in winter which seems to be when I use these rifles most. There is no room to jack up velocity as the cases are always completely full of powder of course. Of course I could use a shorter bullet for BP, but then I need 4 more molds In my .38-55's, they all seem to work pretty well with the same 2 bullets and have never shown even the slightest tendency to tip. Maybe I'm just lucky. Chris.


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Skalkaho Oldtimer Offline Posts: 864 Location: Montana Joined: Sep 29^th, 2006	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #10 - Sep 1^st, 2019 at 10:28am	Print Post
	I sure like the 1-18 twist RKS Barrel I put on my Highwall. Shooting a 225 gr bullet 40-1, 17.5 4227.A joy to shoot with little recoil. Will be working up a BP load for the Fall Jim Gier Match, Butte ,MT............. Added this is a 38-55 !
	« Last Edit: Sep 1^st, 2019 at 1:41pm by Skalkaho »
	May the Bullet Gods be with you.......
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CW Oldtimer Offline Posts: 533 Joined: Feb 20^th, 2018	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #11 - Sep 1^st, 2019 at 12:52pm	Print Post
	Skalkaho I will be interested to know what you get up and running with the 32-40 and BP. Will you be using fixed ammo for the Butte match? If breach seating, the time period allowed to shoot your 25 will keep you busy. Please report as you go with load development. Few besides Cody Smith last year using the 32-40 in that match. -CW


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CW Oldtimer Offline Posts: 533 Joined: Feb 20^th, 2018	Re: Caliber choice for BP Reply #12 - Sep 1^st, 2019 at 1:03pm	Print Post
	Mick B wrote on Aug 30^th, 2019 at 8:34pm: I'm kicking the idea around about getting a second barrel, or the barrel I already have relined, to a different caliber. 99% of our black powder clubs shooting is done at 100 m so knockdown powder is not a consideration. One of my rifles is in 40-65 and the other is in 40-60 Maynard, I'm considering something like a 32-40, does the 32-40 have a good reputation for accuracy using BP ?. Mike. The 35-40 is getting a small following in BPCR silhouette and some really good scores have been made with it. If I were not vested in the 38-55 I would look at it as a really good half way point between 32-40 and 38-55. If you are willing to get off the beaten path, and I see you have a 40-60 Maynard so I guess you are, the 35-40 Maynard made from 38-55 brass might be a good compromise. -CW


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