DZon
Member
- Joined
- Dec 19, 2019
- Messages
- 12
Hey everyone, there is a particular firearm I am eyeing. It is an 1894 Winchester, chambered in .32-40 Ballard.
How do I figure the pressures this thing is capable of withstanding? Why I say it is important, I'd only buy it, if it could handle modern smokeless loads, as opposed to being limited to just *cowboy* black powder loads. The current owner has told me, he himself hasn't fired it before, and advised on only using cowboy and weak target loads. The barrel is 26in, steel is said to be presumably good shape, no pits, little bore wear.
The difference, is quite major.
Black powder cowboy and target 165gr loads are about 1300-1400ft/s (sort of like upper .357mag loads)
A modern rifle using new box smokeless 165-180gr loads can push it to 1875ft/s (sort of like .30rem)
How do I figure the pressures this thing is capable of withstanding? Why I say it is important, I'd only buy it, if it could handle modern smokeless loads, as opposed to being limited to just *cowboy* black powder loads. The current owner has told me, he himself hasn't fired it before, and advised on only using cowboy and weak target loads. The barrel is 26in, steel is said to be presumably good shape, no pits, little bore wear.
The difference, is quite major.
Black powder cowboy and target 165gr loads are about 1300-1400ft/s (sort of like upper .357mag loads)
A modern rifle using new box smokeless 165-180gr loads can push it to 1875ft/s (sort of like .30rem)