.32cal rifles for small game?

[squirrel-shooter]

How many people use a .32cal rifle for small game?

I picked up a TC Cherokee .32 a few months back and cant wait to head out after my favorite quarry. So far my pet load seems to be 20grs Pyro P under a .315 RPB. At 25 yards this is producing less than 1" groups, about what my unscoped .22lr woods rifle produces, so I am confident with it so far.

squirrel-shooter

 

[rick_reno]

I'd love to have one of those - sounds really nice and fun to shoot.

 

[saltydog452]

.32 caliber rifle load..

(Moderators, if you feel that this post isn't appropriate here, please feel free to move it.)

Not quite 'off topic'...not quite 'on topic' either..but,

If anyone has information regarding the avilability of 32.20 smokeless commercial ammunition loaded with jacketed ammunition to velocities stronger than the baloon busting speeds of the SASS , I'd appreciate hearing from you.

The factory ammunition that I have found so far is a 100 grain lead bullet @ transonic velocities. My '92 Winchester 32.20 was made early in 'smokeless era' and I would really like to shoot jacketed ammunition in the '92. The bore of the '92 isn't exactly 'awful', but neither is it 'good'. I suspect it has had lots of black fired powder ammunition fired through it and with the cleaning techniques that were common at that time, the bore has suffered.

I understand that 100 grain jacketed bullets were loaded to approx 1500+ fps with smokeless powder. Jacketed ammunition SHOULD do better in this '92. Thats about what I'm looking for. ( I THINK )..

Your suggestions/comments are appreciated.

Thanks,

salty.

 

[Podster]

You WILL enjoy it. We have a customer that has hunted squirrels with his 32 for years. He finds a good location and sits... waiting for the game to come to him. It shoots as well as a lot of 22's and the only handicap is fast 2nd shots. But after all, we aren't going hungry. He has a blast! Great gunning...

 

[Third_Rail]

I've heard they can be good for direct shots at squirrels, rabbits, etc., or for barking squirrels. I wouldn't mind a nice .32 myself!

 

[Tinker2]

I have and shoot a .32 & .34 cal. I think they are great.
My .32 shoots good with from 15 to 25 grains of 2F black
powder. My .34 shoots best with 70 grains of 3F black
powder.
I have muzzleloaders from .28 to .75 cal. I like my .32 &
.34’s the most.

saltydog452

Do you reload? Factory loads are made to be safe in the
worse guns made. I have had 32/20 & 25-20’s that didn’t
have great looking bores. Most of them still shot well, some
only with jacketed bullets. You can get a barrel liners form
Brownells in 32 cal. If it doesn’t shoot well.

 

[saltydog452]

Thanks Tinker2, but no, I don't reload. 32.20 factory ammunition is available, but loaded to transonic velocities with lead bullets. The lead is so soft and fit loosely in the case that deformation occurs during the loading/un-loading process. Remington lists (or did) a jacketed bellet loaded to approx 1500 fps. The factory ammunition that I have been able to locate seem to be marketed primarily for the SASS re-enactment crowd. That ammunition doesn't shoot worth a flip in this paticular 32.20.

I am looking for a source of loaded ammunitioon using jacketed bullets hopefully steping out to around 1500 fps.

Thanks for your reply.

salty.

 

[Third_Rail]

saltydog452, you may want to look into reloading. A small setup to do what you want (not including powder, cases, bullets, or primers) would not be too expensive at all, nor would it take up much room if you were to get a Lee hand press.