As the title says I picked up 32-40 lever action and plan to start running hand loads for it. Any of you guys have any experience with this caliber that may be able to offer some pearls of wisdom.
Getting into a 32-40 is there anything i need to know before i start building loads?
- Thread starter jonnybassist
- Start date
Mike Venturino wrote about .32-40 lever actions in the February-March 2007 issue of Handloader Magazine (#245). Obtaining brass will probably be your biggest challenge.
If you cast, then boolits won't be a problem. A snippet from that article...
"For levergun use, we do have to take heed of the overall loaded cartridge length factor and also the safety issue of tubular magazines. That latter factor necessitates a flatnose bullet. Among the many cast bullet designs cataloged by RCBS, Lyman and Redding/SAECO, there are only four suitable .32-40 bullets: Lyman 319247, a 165-grain flatnose; Redding/SAECO 632 and 732 for 165- and 200-grain flatnose bullets, respectively; and hidden away in the dim recesses of its special order mould section, RCBS has 32-170-FN, which as the number indicates is nominally a 170-grain flatnose."
And some load data...
The Venturino article goes into considerable depth on the .32-40 and would be worth your while to obtain a back issue of, if you don't already have it.
Ken Waters profiled the .32-40 in his Pet Loads column in the September-October 1972 issue of Handloader Magazine (#39). That issue would also be worth your time.
Should be a fun project. Keep us posted.
If you cast, then boolits won't be a problem. A snippet from that article...
"For levergun use, we do have to take heed of the overall loaded cartridge length factor and also the safety issue of tubular magazines. That latter factor necessitates a flatnose bullet. Among the many cast bullet designs cataloged by RCBS, Lyman and Redding/SAECO, there are only four suitable .32-40 bullets: Lyman 319247, a 165-grain flatnose; Redding/SAECO 632 and 732 for 165- and 200-grain flatnose bullets, respectively; and hidden away in the dim recesses of its special order mould section, RCBS has 32-170-FN, which as the number indicates is nominally a 170-grain flatnose."
And some load data...
The Venturino article goes into considerable depth on the .32-40 and would be worth your while to obtain a back issue of, if you don't already have it.
Ken Waters profiled the .32-40 in his Pet Loads column in the September-October 1972 issue of Handloader Magazine (#39). That issue would also be worth your time.
Should be a fun project. Keep us posted.
Hello I was looking to reload the same 32-40. I found some hornady .321 bullets. Did you use something comparable to this?
The official bullet diameter of the 32-40 is .319" and the .32 Win Spl is .321". But some early 32 Win Spl barrels used the 32-40 barrels with the 1-16" twist and the .319" groove diameter. I think sometime after WW2 they changed the .32 Win Spl to .321" and 1-14" twist. I have 5 lever guns in .32 Win Spl and only one has the .319" groove 1-16" twist, it's a 1952 Marlin. There was a fair amount of .32 WS ammo with .319" bullets still in circulation when they made the change to .321" and it helped cause the old wives tale about .32 WS rifles being inaccurate.
What year was your rifle manufactured? It may be best to "slug" your barrel if not a recent production.
I have an Winchester 1885 Tradiitonal Hunter bought new around 2010. I shoot it with cast bullets. I size bullets in a .323" die. Best pwders I've found include Reloder 7, SR4759, IMR4227, H4895, and 5744. If I was limited to one powder it would be H4895 which gives good accuracy with mild loads or full velocity loads.
Loaddata. com should have fairly current data in addition ot the other sources already listed.
Loaddata. com should have fairly current data in addition ot the other sources already listed.
Some years back I had a Winchester Model 1894 in 32-40, worn bore, usual condition from corrosive ammo.
I just assumed the bores were the same as I used the Hornady bullet. I don't even remember what load data I used.
As for the .32 W. S. being inaccurate my dad believed the .32 W.S. was mor accurate than the .30-30 WCF.
I agree with your Dad.
I have had a few 94 .32 Specials, everyone in my close family has or had one, me, my dad, my brother, my uncle each had one at one time.
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