32-20 Winchester.

Eagleye

Eagleye

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I have recently acquired a Savage M23 bolt action chambered in 32-20.
Bore looks excellent, so I will see how it shoots.

I have some factory ammo, but it is loaded very soft in deference to
older, weaker pistols in this chambering.

Just wondering if anyone on here is loading this one to it's potential in
a newer pistol or a stronger rifle. Maybe share what you are using?
Thanks, Dave.
 
Eagleye said:
I have recently acquired a Savage M23 bolt action chambered in 32-20.
Bore looks excellent, so I will see how it shoots.

I have some factory ammo, but it is loaded very soft in deference to
older, weaker pistols in this chambering.

Just wondering if anyone on here is loading this one to it's potential in
a newer pistol or a stronger rifle. Maybe share what you are using?
Thanks, Dave.
Click to expand...

Occasionally I load a few mild ones with Cast Lead Slugs for my 1906 SAA Colt Bisley 12/6. Used to load a few stronger ones for the Mod 1873 Winchester I sold some time ago, never no problems either. If you want me to dig out my Data, just shoot me a PM and I will.

Cheers
 
I have a baby Martini that I up the loads in. The data I use in it is Contender carbine/pistol data so definitely pushing them. The powder I use mostly is Unique as I have a lot of it. Data is out of the Lyman manual in the contender section. Very noticeable increase in sound and recoil. 100 gr lead bullets I have chronographed over 1800 FPS. I occasionally use other powders in the 32-20.
 
Curious as to what opinions come out of this thread as well.

Picked up a Marlin Model 1894 in .32-20 about 25 years ago and never shot it. Picked up dies about 20 years ago, a few hundred new Winchester brass 10 years ago and some cast bullets last year.

Maybe now is the time to finally get some round loaded!
 
Lyman #46 manual uses a Savage 23 sporter for their load data.
Remington 100 Gr. jacketed sp
Powder. Start. Vel. Max. Vel

Unique. 4.5. 1169. 6.0. 1476
2400. 9.0. 1246. 11.5. 1700
IMR 4227. 13.0. 1720. 15.0. 1984
I have a Savage sporter that shoots very good. My loads are: 96 Gr. Lead (from the bullet barn) 8.0 Gr 2400, 1.585 OAL, vel. 1330. 100 Gr Hornady xtp 13.0 Gr IMR 4227, 1.560 OAL, vel. 1775. FYI factory Winchester 100 Gr lead was 1180 or 1200 fps.
 
I have Lyman #49 here - by then, they were using a Universal Receiver - 14" barrel, 1-20" twist, .311" groove diameter. Loads given are significantly less than listed in Post #5 for 100 grain Jacketed HP (Speer #3981 was used) - WSR small rifle primer was used. The text says that SAAMI set the MAP for 32-20 at 16,000 CUP. What they show as the "best load" - in bold - is with IMR 4198 powder at 10,100 CUP (1,122 fps). Hottest load shown was compressed loading of IMR 4198 at 16,000 CUP for 1,388 fps. Fastest loading shown was at 15,500 CUP with RX7 powder at 1,508 fps.
 
Potashminer is correct, Lyman #46 is out of date. The loads I listed are safe in MY rifle. A Savage sporter has a groove diameter of .313. The new data for IMR 4227 is 7.8 to 9.8 Gr. I developed my loads in the 90's and still shoot them but unless you are using my rifle, work up slowly.
 
Eagleye said:
I have recently acquired a Savage M23 bolt action chambered in 32-20.
Bore looks excellent, so I will see how it shoots.

I have some factory ammo, but it is loaded very soft in deference to
older, weaker pistols in this chambering.

Just wondering if anyone on here is loading this one to it's potential in
a newer pistol or a stronger rifle. Maybe share what you are using?
Thanks, Dave.
Click to expand...



Many if not most or all rifles in this chamber are quite old. I recently loaded a 93gr cast with powder coat with Unique powder for about 1000fps. Some rifle loads are listed past 1200fps but the guy's rifle was quite old so I stuck to a pistol/light load and reported that they shot really well. The winchester rifle was part of a rifle/pistol set used for trapping by a family member 100 years previous. Nice little heirloom to have but no information on the six shooter? I have doubts it was a matching set but I would suspect it was melted down with all the other gun grabs over the years.
 
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