ASSRA Forum - 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience

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32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience (Read 5122 times)

S99VG Oldtimer Offline Posts: 509 Location: CA Joined: Feb 1^st, 2020	32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Feb 25^th, 2023 at 12:43pm	Print Post
	This is probably a dumb question but I was under the belief that the 32-20 CPA was a 30-caliber cartridge. Is the correct? If so, the CPA really has me intrigued. I have a 044 1/2 that I'd like to rechamber to the CPA cartridge as I see it as good target and all around fun cartridge. I also see it as an intresting companion to my 44 1/2, which will be getting a 303 Savage barrel sometime in the hopefully not too distant future. But for now I'm interested in hearing what you all have to say about the 32-20 CPA. Thanks!


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bpjack Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 2839 Location: East Olympia, WA Joined: May 18^th, 2008	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #1 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 1:18pm	Print Post
	While I don't have one, I believe it is actually a 32 cal designed for .321 bores. Jack

	ASSRA # 11318 just a bit of a hoot.
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Otony Full Member Offline Posts: 197 Location: Bandon, Oregon Joined: Jun 5^th, 2021	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #2 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 1:23pm	Print Post
	Jack is correct, it is a true (truer?) .32 You may be remembering when Thompson Center made their .32-20 barrels, those were actually meant for .30 caliber bullets


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RayH Oldtimer Offline ASSRA # 10880 Posts: 753 Location: Oldest City, FL Joined: Jan 4^th, 2012	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #3 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 3:36pm	Print Post
	I suggest that you contact Gail Shuttleworth at CPA Rifles in Dingmans Ferry, PA. She and her dad, Paul were the innovators responsible for this cartridge. They are beyond reputable and will prove to be courteous and helpful. Careful research on this forum will disclose the answers to most questions you might have. Having competed for 10+ years in ASSRA bench rest matches with my CPA rifle chambered in .32-20CPA, I have found it to be my cartridge of choice. It is more than capable of winning matches and scoring "250's".

	In GOD We Trust
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S99VG Oldtimer Offline Posts: 509 Location: CA Joined: Feb 1^st, 2020	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #4 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 3:53pm	Print Post
	Thanks for the helpful information and tolerating my dumb question. I am intrigued with this cartridge.


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scharfe Oldtimer Offline A good plan today beats a perfect plan tomorrow. Posts: 542 Location: ny / pa line Joined: Dec 18^th, 2006	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #5 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 5:00pm	Print Post
	(You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links)


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boho Full Member Offline Posts: 196 Location: NY New York Joined: Feb 6^th, 2012	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #6 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 6:22pm	Print Post
	Don’t plan on breech seating,with a single case if you do your cases will not last long. I had my rifle chambered in 32-20 and because I was using only a single case,I was going through several cases a day at any given match. I used 10 grains of AA9 but even with 9 grains the cases would either split down the side or separated at the neck. I guess if You plan to use multi cases you will be fine and the results speak for themselves. But remember with multiple cases it’s a constant battle to make perfect cases all with the same dimensions and charge. The 32-20 case has a wall thickness of about .007” a .357 max case is around.010-.011” and the 32-40 about the same. Frank E, once made me some 32-20 he made up from .357 max cases it was a big effort that didn’t payout. At one point I actually had RMC make me some heavier cases they didn’t work out either. I don’t want to step on any toes but that’s my story of the 32-20. FYI the bullet weighed 189 grains (.30) I rechambered it to 32-30 REM (.30) and am enjoying great success with my scores and didn’t have to change the bullet. You should ask yourself why there are so many 32-20 CPA rifles for sale.


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S99VG Oldtimer Offline Posts: 509 Location: CA Joined: Feb 1^st, 2020	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #7 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 6:29pm	Print Post
	scharfe wrote on Feb 25^th, 2023 at 5:00pm: (You need to *Login* or *Register* to view media files and links) Thanks!


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S99VG Oldtimer Offline Posts: 509 Location: CA Joined: Feb 1^st, 2020	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #8 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 6:34pm	Print Post
	boho wrote on Feb 25^th, 2023 at 6:22pm: Don’t plan on breech seating,with a single case if you do your cases will not last long. I had my rifle chambered in 32-20 and because I was using only a single case,I was going through several cases a day at any given match. I used 10 grains of AA9 but even with 9 grains the cases would either split down the side or separated at the neck. I guess if You plan to use multi cases you will be fine and the results speak for themselves. But remember with multiple cases it’s a constant battle to make perfect cases all with the same dimensions and charge. The 32-20 case has a wall thickness of about .007” a .357 max case is around.010-.011” and the 32-40 about the same. Frank E, once made me some 32-20 he made up from .357 max cases it was a big effort that didn’t payout. At one point I actually had RMC make me some heavier cases they didn’t work out either. I don’t want to step on any toes but that’s my story of the 32-20. FYI the bullet weighed 189 grains (.30) I rechambered it to 32-30 REM (.30) and am enjoying great success with my scores and didn’t have to change the bullet. You should ask yourself why there are so many 32-20 CPA rifles for sale. What do think the problem was? It sounds like thick or thin brass had nothing to do with your results. And why do you think the REM (.30) is working better? Interesting and thanks.


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boho Full Member Offline Posts: 196 Location: NY New York Joined: Feb 6^th, 2012	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #9 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 7:42pm	Print Post
	I don’t remember what the issue was with Franks custom made cases they probably lasted longer but there may have been extraction problems. One thing is for certain the cases won’t last long if you use only one. They are simply weak thin cases almost any other case would be stronger and just as accurate why ask for trouble. The CPA32-20 is basically a straight case when you expand it to a true .32 ,mine was still a bottleneck and possibly this had something to do with separation issues.The 32-30 REM was a quick changeover also a necked cartridge. I already had the .30 barrel and the reamer was available to me. The cases are formed in one shot from .357 max cases using a CH4D 32-30 rem die. I now had a new cartridge that lasted for several matches but I was still struggling for good scores. At that time I was shooting a offhand traditional schuetzen rifle from the bench and just couldn’t do it consistently I never really knew where my bullet would go. I was also using a 15X scope. I bought a CPA with a bench rest stock and heavy barrel chambered with the same 32-30 rem reamer as mine and a Weaver 36X scope , same case same bullet. My groups and scores immediately improved. Someday I will go back and try the Schuetzen rifle again but for now it will be used for offhand only.


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BudHyett Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 262 Location: Pacific Northwest, WA State Joined: Jun 25^th, 2011	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #10 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 8:05pm	Print Post
	I have two CPA Stevens 44 1/2 rifles chambered in .32-20 CPA. These rifles have a Ron Smith gain twist and a Shilen 1:14 twist barrel. The results from each barrel are very good. My experience has shown AA #9, AA #4100 or Ramshot Enforcer are the best powder choices; Remington 7 1/2 or CCI BR4 primers work better; and a harder 20:1 alloy at 1375 to 1400 fps is best for 200 yards. I'm experimenting with a separate John Schauf mold for each rifle custom bored to throw a 205 grain bullet. I've used molds from from a SAECO 180 grain to a NOE 217 grain and get the best results in the 205 grain range. I've never had more fun shooting cast bullets than with these two rifles. Both shoot better than I can hold them.

	Country boy from Illinois living in the magical Pacific Northwest
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JackHughs Oldtimer Offline Posts: 657 Location: Riverbank Joined: Sep 27^th, 2008	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #11 - Feb 25^th, 2023 at 8:50pm	Print Post
	I have a lot of experience with the CPA .32-20. With the right barrel, the right load, and the right bullet it can be incredibly accurate. The problem is that loading for accuracy is no fun at all - at least in my rifle. I was an early adopter for the .32-20 CPA. Paul built my rifle in March 2010 using an 8-groove .320/.312 Shilen Barrel. Shilen stopped making the 8-goove barrels about then. I think that mine is the only .32-20 rifle with this barrel. It took me seven months of constant tinkering to make it shoot and, when it did come around, the perfect load (13.0 grains of AA 4100 was so hot that breech seated cases would last between 5 and 10 firings before showing signs of incipient case head separation. This was shooting pre-loaded multiple cases.. I'd buy Starline cases in 500 piece lots. The best bullet was a MOS "standard" bullet that cast approximately 212 grains using 20/1 alloy. In my opinion, shooting a .32-20 CPA is like owning a Ferrari - very rewarding when it works but really high maintenance. JackHughs
	« Last Edit: Feb 26^th, 2023 at 12:07pm by JackHughs »
	The best lack all conviction, while the worst Are full of passionate intensity. W.B. Yeats
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boho Full Member Offline Posts: 196 Location: NY New York Joined: Feb 6^th, 2012	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #12 - Feb 26^th, 2023 at 7:25am	Print Post
	Thanks Jack, that was well said. I believe at the time I wasn’t ready for this cartridge. I was moving from BPCRS to our sport. I picked ,not the wrong cartridge but one too difficult for a beginner. Instead of learning how to shoot from a bench I was struggling with the case and the issues it presented. I think a more mature or seasoned shooter that has the patience and experience to constantly manage his brass would be better suited for the CPA 32-20. I see this chambering of the CPA rifle more than any other for sale on the exchange. Most say almost never shot. I believe the sellers just gave up on trying to reach the point that Jack and others have obtained. I believe I shot with Paul at his last match, at least up here in the east. He came with Gail for just the day left when he was done. He sat to my left at the bench next to me. He had his 32-20 cases all in trays and his bullets were pre- made they looked like they had been knurled and the lube was in there somewhere. He used 2 plugged cases to seat his bullets each a different length. He shot a 249 at 100 yds. He was hoping for a 250 and was upset. RIP


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RayH Oldtimer Offline ASSRA # 10880 Posts: 753 Location: Oldest City, FL Joined: Jan 4^th, 2012	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #13 - Feb 26^th, 2023 at 8:22am	Print Post
	Best stated by JackHughs. We share many years of the love/hate relationship with our passions. I still love my .32-20CPA and should never have sold my '64 Ferrari Lusso Berlinetta.

	In GOD We Trust
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S99VG Oldtimer Offline Posts: 509 Location: CA Joined: Feb 1^st, 2020	Re: 32-20 CPA - Looking for Opinions and Experience Reply #14 - Feb 26^th, 2023 at 10:37am	Print Post
	Thanks for all the information but this has got me wondering why the 32-20 CPA is such a finicky round for brass. The 32-20 in its original form doesnt seem to have this reputation. Is it the repetitive use of the case that this type of shooting involves or the types of loads, both powder charges and bullet weights? Is it standardizing on the 320 bullet that causes it? If the latter, then would necking the case down to fit a 308 bullet make any difference? I ask this becasue I think a 30-20 would be interesting considering the wide selection of bullet shapes and weights that are available. Thanks again


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