Bullet size for 32-40

[Rbstuartjr]

Hello everyone, I've been trying to reload for my Winchester 1894 rifle 32-40 from 1919. When trying to decide which bullets to buy, I see there are bullets made for this caliber from .321 to .324. I did end up buying some lead Hunters supply 170gn fp .322. They shoot ok with 4227 and h4895. So, I then slugged the barrel to find its true bore size. So the lands measured .314 and the grooves at .318 measured with a digital caliper. The bore is nice and shiny with no pitting or any noticeable erosion. So based on the bore size, what would you guys recommend for a nominal bullet size? And would you think there would be any issue trying some of the jacketed bullets designed for the 32 Winchester special? Thanks in advance

 

[Bullseye]

They are using these bullets here on loaddata
https://www.loaddata.com/Cartridge/32-40/192

 

[Rbstuartjr]

Thanks for the link Bullseye

 

[Bullseye]

Your'e welcome! Must be a neat rifle you have there. Looks like 170 gr is common for it on loaddata and the 32 special as well.
I didn't find it in my Lyman book. I did find it on Hodgdon but only for heavier bullets.
http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

 

[243winxb]

SAAMI list a .321" bullet. Looks like 3 are available. http://www.midwayusa.com/32-special-321/br?cid=9020

Use a starting load. Bullets should swage down .003" with no problems. my guess.

http://stevespages.com/page8a.htm

 

[Sunray]

Since your barrel's grooves measure .318 you'll be fine at .322". Cast bullets from Hunter, correct?
SAAMI says .321 -003". Hodgdon shows .324". Other places .321".

 

[Rbstuartjr]

Yes, Bullseye she is a great gun. I'm a sucker for Winchester lever guns. She was a gift from my father in the late 80's. He also gave me 4 boxes of John Wayne ammo for it. So I did end up shooting a half box of am through it before someone told me it was hard to come by. So it sat in my gun cabinet for almost 20 years without being shot. I then began reloading about a year ago just so I could shoot this rifle. I didn't realize how hard brass was to come by though. I luckily saved the cases from the ammo I did shoot years ago though. Luckily, Midway had some Quality Cartridge 32-40 cases recently and picked up some of that. I also resized some 30-30 cases for it as well.

I was having trouble finding reload info for this caliber. I started with info that came with the set of Lee dies that I have.

243winxb thank you for that link. I was trying to figure out which bullet size would be better, given the bore size. I have the 170gn Hunters Supply .321 I bought from Midway. Then I saw there were 2 other sizes bullets for this caliber and was trying to figure out which one would work best. I have 4227, h5895, imr 4198 and Varget on hand, so I'm going begin with starting loads with these powders and see what I can come up with.

Sunray, that's what I was trying to figure out, which size bulletbwould be optimal given the groove size. So I'm going to keep working up loads with the 170gn fp Hunters Supply that I have. This is not going to be a hunting rifle. Mostly just a fun gun to shoot with at my range. Thank you guys for your help. This really is a great forum, glad to be here.

 

[DeadEye9]

Hello everyone, I've been trying to reload for my Winchester 1894 rifle 32-40 from 1919. When trying to decide which bullets to buy, I see there are bullets made for this caliber from .321 to .324. I did end up buying some lead Hunters supply 170gn fp .322. They shoot ok with 4227 and h4895. So, I then slugged the barrel to find its true bore size. So the lands measured .314 and the grooves at .318 measured with a digital caliper. The bore is nice and shiny with no pitting or any noticeable erosion. So based on the bore size, what would you guys recommend for a nominal bullet size? And would you think there would be any issue trying some of the jacketed bullets designed for the 32 Winchester special? Thanks in advance

I load for a rifle almost identical in model and condition to what you are describing and have excellent success with .322 170gr lead. I've tried 165gr .321 and .323 170gr as well as .324 180gr (all lead) but the best accuracy was realized with the 170gr .322". The particular bullet I use is a hard cast with a BH of 15. I run them around 1650fps.

 

[Rbstuartjr]

Deadeye9, thanks, I am going to try to work up some loads with the .322 170gn. Good to know that someone else has had success with this same bullet size. I was going to try some jacketed rounds as well sometime in the future as well. It will probably be one of the Hornady bullets made for the 32 Winchester special.

 

[Wis-Harpo]

If you go to Missouri Bullet Company site, they list a 32-40 Hi Tek coated .321 diameter 170 Grain Round Nose Flat Point with a Brinell hardness of 18. They will sell a sample package of 100 bullets to try out in your rifle. The bullets are made for lever rifles. I tried them in my Model 14 Remington in 32 Rem, but they did not shoot very well. The benefit of the Hi Tek coated bullets is they will not lead the barrel, and are easier on old barrels as compared to modern jacketed bullets.

 

[Wis-Harpo]

I forgot to tell you about the Speer 170 grain .321 dia Flat Nose bullets. Powder Valley Inc has them in stock for $25.01 / 100 . That is what I use in my Rem .32 cal rifle. So either the Hi-tec coated or Speer should work.

 

[Jim Watson]

170gn fp .322. They shoot ok with 4227 and h4895

So what's the question?
My .38-55 gets .379s because that is the biggest Mini-Snover I can get. It is a rebore with a long throat, I'd like to have it set back but I don't shoot it enough to be worth the trouble now I have the .40.
My .40-65 gets .411s for its .408" barrel. It is apparently the throat fit, not the groove fit that counts in that one.

 

[Rbstuartjr]

So what's the question

The question was trying to figure out size bullet would be optimal in the bore given the results from slugging the barrel. When looking for bullets for the 32-40 there seems to be a range from .321 to .324 and was looking for advice for matching the bullet diameter to the bore size. It seems the bullets I have already, .321 170gn, should work well. So I'm going to try to work up some loads to see what load works best. Thanks for your insight Jim

 

[Bullseye]

Thanks for the pics. What a beauty!
I really don't know a thing about this cartridge hardly, just was trying to be helpful with some links.
I like lever guns the most out of all firearms, and those and the SA 6 shooters.
Enjoy and good luck with that handloading project.

 

[Rbstuartjr]

Wis-harpo, thanks, I forgot about those Hi-trek bullets from MBC. I was going back and forth between just getting straight cast or coated bullets when I bought my last box. After I get a good load for the cast bullets I have, I'll try some jacketed ones. I've heard those Speer bullets are very close to what the factory put in the John Wayne ammunition.

 

[Rbstuartjr]

Thanks Bullseye! Getting one of those SA 6 shooters is on my short list. Would like to try cowboy action shooting one of these days.

 

[Don McDowell]

I would keep the bullet diameter to .321 or less. 13 gr. of AA9 makes a wonderfully accurate load in the 32-40.

 

[Rbstuartjr]

Thanks Don, I will add that to my list of powders to get when I place my next powder order.

 

[Don McDowell]

I was able to scare up a couple of pounds of it, but haven't been able to shoot the Ballard enough to make a dent in the first can yet. LOL