32-40 Range Report

[Wind]

After the silhouette match last weekend, I decided to work up a stouter 32-40 load which will be more effective on turkeys and rams at 150 and 200 yards respectively. I’m using a 170 grain gas checked bullet and have found that eight grains of Unique in my rifle produce a safe and accurate load. It’s just not enough to knock over a ram consistently!!

Some of my loading manuals show loads with 2400 and I’m starting the search for the perfect 32-40 ram load there. Initially the first batch was printing seven inches higher at 50 yards than the Unique loads at my lowest sight setting.

After installing a taller front sight today, I set a target out at 100 yards to check the windage on the new set up. In the first picture, the first three shots are under the masking tape. The second three are not taped and I can live with them.

Now I had four rounds left. A normal person would have probably set the target back to 150 yards (turkeys) and shot two, and then moved it again to 200 yards (rams) and shot the last two. Not me! I can’t help myself!! I had to launch them at the three hundred yard dinger.

I make my dingers out of six inch well pipe shackled together. This one is sixteen inches long. The air was light and variable but feeling around with the first two rounds for the hold netted two hits with the last two. Windage here looked pretty good too. The Pygmy Polar Bear is watching my back as I’m fiddling with the camera!!

I ballast my target stands with eighty pound lead ballast bars and they show some interesting marks from bullet strikes. The last picture is a close up of the lead bar.

For your dining and dancing pleasure as always. Best regards. Wind

[2ndovc]

Nice shooting and COOL Dog!

jb

[kimwcook]

Hey, Wind. Sounds like you're almost ready for next month's match. Good luck and best wishes.

[Hobie]

Nice shooting and COOL Dog!

jb

That is a cool dog! But heck, I'm a sucker for smart looking dogs.

[Chuck 100 yd]

What can I say??? COOL !!

[pokey]

Nice shooting and COOL Dog!

jb

yup

[AJMD429]

Can't stay logged in this morning long enough to get the pics to view (still haven't fixed the cookies/Blue Sky thing, but I'll get to it someday).

Anyway, nice range report.

We'll see if this dang thing wil post now...

[TX Gun Runner]

You might try IMR4227 powder and a fed 150 pistol primer .

[Wind]

Nice shooting there tn gun runner! 4227 would be the next powder on the list. I would love it if this ol' 1893 could shoot groups like that, but the 113 year old, less than perfect barrel, may just not be up to it. It is showing some improvement from tests earlier this week swinging the new Ram-O-Matic target I made up. We'll see how it plays at the December silhouette match. Best regards. Wind

[bsaride]

If you really want to work up a serious load I have a vintage adjustable mould that
will cast a bullet up to about 1.10 long (shallow grooves) and a Saeco 200gr mould (1.04 long).
Both of these are not gas checked.

I might be willing to loan either out as I won't be working on 32-40 anytime soon.

[Pete44ru]

Thanks, wind - .32 guns sure are fun !

.

[TX Gun Runner]

Here my favorite target bullet molds , I made all these molds .

[Wind]

bsaride - Thanks for the offer. The bullet I'm using is working out well, being gas checked in a rough bore. Earlier experiments with plain base bullets showed that roughness created some leading and accuracy problems. The real issue is getting enough knock down at 200 yards while hanging on to accuracy. If things go well tomorrow, I'll try to post another range report.

Pete44ru - Yes in deed, I'm a real leverslut. They all are fun!!

tn gun runner - Nice work! I've seen some pictures of your rifles posted here and there. You obviously have too much time on your hands! Again, seriously nice shooting.

Best regards. Wind

[Ysabel Kid]

But, but, but - where is the picture of the gun???