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32/40 problem (Read 809 times)

Jonathan Junior Member Offline Posts: 67 Location: THE GOOD PART OF NY Joined: Sep 5^th, 2025	32/40 problem Dec 10^th, 2025 at 1:43pm	Print Post
	About a year and a half ago I picked up a nice Stevens 44 in 32/40 with a bright crisp bore. This is a new cartridge for me and wanted to load a round that would give me exceptional accuracy with a bullet soft enough for reliable expansion on deer. At a gun show I bought 100 cast and lubed bullets sized to .323 and labeled as "hard cast", 165 grn. I could not find brass anywhere so I bought some Starline 32 Win Special cases and re-formed them to 32/40. My starting load was 8grns. of Unique and the results were promising - 3/4" at fifty yards. I then went to a softer bullet [ wheel weights] and my first six shots were spot on but after that I experienced severe leading and keyholing. The leading was all in the first few inches in front of the chamber but the bore is smooth and clean. I'm wondering if a gas check would solve the problem of if I should try different diameter bullets. The bore slugs out at .320 And as I said the hard bullets at .323 shot just fine but I will not hunt with them. Any suggestions would be welcome, Thanks


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calledflyer Frequent Elocutionist Offline Posts: 3878 Joined: Mar 9^th, 2015	Re: 32/40 problem Reply #1 - Dec 10^th, 2025 at 2:22pm	Print Post
	I would use a different powder, partial to 4227 at around 14 gr. But the leading may be more from an inferior lube if the bullets are sized like you say. I have fired a lot of bullets from a mix of half wheel-weight and half plain lead. worked fine. Never shot any straight ww. Of course, lead/tin works even better than any antimonious mix, and is far more likely to expand. Even then, few cast bullets do a good job at expansion I'm told.


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craigster Oldtimer Offline Posts: 789 Location: lost coast CA Joined: Feb 20^th, 2011	Re: 32/40 problem Reply #2 - Dec 10^th, 2025 at 4:14pm	Print Post
	I've been using both .321 and .322. 160 and 165gr plain base, 12.0grs 4227. Both work quite well, no leading. BHN 16.


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Jonathan Junior Member Offline Posts: 67 Location: THE GOOD PART OF NY Joined: Sep 5^th, 2025	Re: 32/40 problem Reply #3 - Dec 10^th, 2025 at 6:03pm	Print Post
	Thanks for the info. I'm pretty set in my ways and have used Unique with great success in the lower capacity rimmed cartridges but I'll try 4227 and see how it goes. With the Stevens 44 I tend to be very conservative as far as pressure goes and if I can achieve a velocity of about 1400 fps it would be adequate. I test all my bullets for expansion by shooting them into baled wet newspaper and with the right alloy they double in diameter and retain 95% of their weight. 14 BHN seems to be the best.


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Longdistance1 Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 468 Location: Amidon, ND Joined: Feb 11^th, 2013	Re: 32/40 problem Reply #4 - Dec 10^th, 2025 at 7:34pm	Print Post
	Jonathan I don't know what kind of lube you are using, but I was having the same problem years ago shooting WW bullets Lyman Moly lube cured the problem. Another thing try your lube, but pre lube your clean barrel before you ever fire a shot, smere some lube on a patch and run it through the bore 3 or 4 times. Hope it helps LD1


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Jonathan Junior Member Offline Posts: 67 Location: THE GOOD PART OF NY Joined: Sep 5^th, 2025	Re: 32/40 problem Reply #5 - Dec 11^th, 2025 at 11:21am	Print Post
	I think that you guys are probably right about the lube. Three years ago I lost 40 years worth of reloading equipment in a catastrophic house fire and I have had to go on the cheap to rebuild. Ergo I have been using Lee liquid Alox having lost my Saeco lubricator sizer. The stuff works o.k. in the 32/20, 32 S&W, 25/20 and 44/40 but With the 32/40 in this rifle maybe not. I plan on getting a new lube/sizer soon but until then I'll cookie cutter my bullets with a proven lube and see what happens. Thanks for the help.


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RJ-35-40 Senior Forum Member Offline Posts: 250 Joined: Dec 7^th, 2016	Re: 32/40 problem Reply #6 - Jan 27^th, 2026 at 6:53pm	Print Post
	RE: House Fire....That's really bad news.. If I smell smoke.... My evac plan follows this schedule...in order 1, The BP goes out to the car. 2, Rifles and docs from safe. 3, Smokeless and Primers 4, Tubs of dies etc. 5, I-Mac w Backup Hard drive 6, Pistols 7, Dog 8, Pre-cast bullets 9, Anything else in the safe 10, Reloading Equipment 11, Wake up Girl Friend. 12, Cell phone 13, Carry out girl friend. if otherwise immobile Jonathan wrote on Dec 11^th, 2025 at 11:21am: I think that you guys are probably right about the lube. Three years ago I lost 40 years worth of reloading equipment in a catastrophic house fire and I have had to go on the cheap to rebuild. Ergo I have been using Lee liquid Alox having lost my Saeco lubricator sizer. The stuff works o.k. in the 32/20, 32 S&W, 25/20 and 44/40 but With the 32/40 in this rifle maybe not. I plan on getting a new lube/sizer soon but until then I'll cookie cutter my bullets with a proven lube and see what happens. Thanks for the help.


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Babydriver Full Member Offline Posts: 227 Joined: Mar 22^nd, 2024	Re: 32/40 problem Reply #7 - Jan 27^th, 2026 at 7:08pm	Print Post
	Like Jonathan I’m set in my ways. And daily I am proven wrong. 🤣🤣🤣🤞


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jimmy Senior Forum Member Offline Now available in Oklahoma. Posts: 394 Location: Skiatook Joined: May 12^th, 2009	Re: 32/40 problem Reply #8 - Jan 27^th, 2026 at 9:43pm	Print Post
	RJ-35-40 wrote on Jan 27^th, 2026 at 6:53pm: RE: House Fire....That's really bad news.. If I smell smoke.... My evac plan follows this schedule...in order 1, The BP goes out to the car. 2, Rifles and docs from safe. 3, Smokeless and Primers 4, Tubs of dies etc. 5, I-Mac w Backup Hard drive 6, Pistols 7, Dog 8, Pre-cast bullets 9, Anything else in the safe 10, Reloading Equipment 11, Wake up Girl Friend. 12, Cell phone 13, Carry out girl friend. if otherwise immobile Jonathan wrote on Dec 11^th, 2025 at 11:21am: I think that you guys are probably right about the lube. Three years ago I lost 40 years worth of reloading equipment in a catastrophic house fire and I have had to go on the cheap to rebuild. Ergo I have been using Lee liquid Alox having lost my Saeco lubricator sizer. The stuff works o.k. in the 32/20, 32 S&W, 25/20 and 44/40 but With the 32/40 in this rifle maybe not. I plan on getting a new lube/sizer soon but until then I'll cookie cutter my bullets with a proven lube and see what happens. Thanks for the help.


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AJ Full Member Offline Posts: 208 Joined: Aug 25^th, 2011	Re: 32/40 problem Reply #9 - Jan 28^th, 2026 at 3:35pm	Print Post
	A couple years ago I started occasionally powder coating cast bullets. With wheel weight alloy with a bit of tin added, I got zero leading after 30 or 40 rounds with smokeless loads approaching 2000 fps. You might want to consider giving it a try.


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Drydock Participating Member Offline Posts: 25 Joined: May 20^th, 2025	Re: 32/40 problem Reply #10 - Jan 28^th, 2026 at 8:40pm	Print Post
	Leading at the chamber end generally means your alloy is too hard and you're getting gas cutting. Wheel weights can be unpredictable. You may very well have zinc in the mix.
	« Last Edit: Jan 31^st, 2026 at 10:22am by Drydock »

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