I was just wondering if anyone has any experience with snarky loads for this fine cartridge. I have long been a little underwhelmed with the crop of anemic loading data available. I quite some time ago discovered an article by Ross Seyfried chronicaling his develoment of a modern version of an old Kynoch special loading. It was an 185 grain bullet at 1800 fps. This loading certainly was being sold before everyone sued everyone else, but I would think it should be safe. I just dropped his loading by 3 grains, and used a 200 grain cast. No problems, no pressures signs, and accurate. A 200 grainer at 1700 fps in an original Marlin 1893!!! Anyone else trying this?
.32-40 Magnum loads???
- Thread starter gabrielguitars
- Start date
It's the same as a lot of other old cartridges, some of the rifles orig. chambered for the .32/40 can not take the higher pressure safely, such as the Ballard, early RBs, etc. Either way the .32/40 is one of my favorite cals., though not necessarily for hunting.
I have used .32 Special data to load 32-40s in a 94 & a 99 Sav.
No pressure signs & make a good deer hunter out of them.
Only in 32-40 rifles that is also chambered for the 32S.
There used to be heavy loads available at the hardware store for the .32-40, among others, but they seem to have passed into the great beyond.
Local fellow doesn't handload, has his grandfather's 94 and so drops his .32-40 cases off here. I made him up some fresh cases out of .30-30 (a little short, but they work) and made him up 2 small batches, one copying the old-time Ballard loading and the other copying the "High Velocity" loading that was available back in the 1930s. Bullets were 170-grain RNSP slugs sold for the .32 Special. Yes, they are .001" oversize and 5 grains too heavy...... but they are still available. Powder was IMR-4198.
He reported back that recoil was too heavy with the HV loading AND that his rifle was MUCH more accurate with the original sorta-wimpy Ballard loading.
Theorising that if you don't HIT the target, you aren't going to damage it, I load no more "High Velocity" rounds for the .32-40. My neighbour gets his deer every year, using his grandfather's rifle....... and the deer has no idea that it isn't being shot with a HIGH VELOCITY loading.
Both loads are to be found in COTW-6.
.
Local fellow doesn't handload, has his grandfather's 94 and so drops his .32-40 cases off here. I made him up some fresh cases out of .30-30 (a little short, but they work) and made him up 2 small batches, one copying the old-time Ballard loading and the other copying the "High Velocity" loading that was available back in the 1930s. Bullets were 170-grain RNSP slugs sold for the .32 Special. Yes, they are .001" oversize and 5 grains too heavy...... but they are still available. Powder was IMR-4198.
He reported back that recoil was too heavy with the HV loading AND that his rifle was MUCH more accurate with the original sorta-wimpy Ballard loading.
Theorising that if you don't HIT the target, you aren't going to damage it, I load no more "High Velocity" rounds for the .32-40. My neighbour gets his deer every year, using his grandfather's rifle....... and the deer has no idea that it isn't being shot with a HIGH VELOCITY loading.
Both loads are to be found in COTW-6.
.
