.32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Post by **Hobie** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 3:54 pm

I have a Marlin 1894CL .32-20 coming. Hadn't exactly planned on it so I'm playing catch up a bit (provided I actually get time to go shooting). What loads do you use in yours? What do you hunt with it?

PS For those that care to know a Williams FP will be mounted on this gun as well as a Ludwig crossbolt safety replacement.

JerryB · Post by **JerryB** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 4:43 pm

Hobie my good friend,I have just set me down to start a post on my latest endeavor towards a satisfactory round for my old 92 24 inch 32wcf and you have ask this very question. It will be used to (attempt) take a certain buck that has been around here a few years. The shot won't be over 40 yards. I have been working with 5744 powder and I really do like it with the Hornady XTP-HP 85 grain and the 100 grain.I sent some results to Kirk and he said to go up to 11.1 grains of 5744 with the 100 grain for 1424 fps. my old rifle likes it real good, very accurate too. I have loaded 8.7 grains of 2400 with the 85 grain XTP-HP for about 1386 fps.That is a good dog load too.So far I have not had real good luck with cast, but I think the 5744 powder is going to work for this too. I have used Unique in the past also.

jnyork · Post by **jnyork** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:21 pm

Hobie, I use mine to hunt metalllic silhouettes, 8.5 gr Lil Gun with the Hornady 85 gr works great, never missed a target due to ammo.

I also have shot the Lasercast .312 bullet, I think they are 115 grains or so, shoot as well as the Hornadys.

I am using Remington small pistol primers.

I tried both 2400 and Unique, couldnt get either one to shoot worth a hoot. YMMV.

2ndovc · Post by **2ndovc** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:42 pm

4.5 Grs. Bullseye & 115 gr. LFP from Oregon Trail. The Cast Performance w/ the GC is an outstanding bullet too. Very accurate.
Both my 92s like this load.

jb

Dewight · Post by **Dewight** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 5:47 pm

This is what my 1894 CL likes in order.

100 gr Hornady 7.0 unq

85 gr Hornady 7.0 unq

118 gr Bear Creek Moly 7.2 Blue Dot

marlinman93 · Post by **marlinman93** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:03 pm

I'm a big fan of Unique, so it's 5.5 grs. of powder with a 115 gr. cast lead bullet. Seems to work well in both pistol and rifle, with good accuracy. I've never hunted with a .32-20, but it's in my top 5 calibers for rifle or pistol!

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:14 pm

Well, I would suggest staying away from the RCBS 90 grain plain base cast bullet. First off, it has such a fat olgive that it hits the lands when shoving it into the chamber on my Winchester Model 65 32-20. Second, I've shot this bullet with all kinds of different loads and powders from Unique on up, and in two different 32-20's with good/excellent bores and nothing gives really good accuracy with this bullet. I'll be getting my own mould, and will stick with a bullet weight around 110 grains or so.

AJMD429 · Post by **AJMD429** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:21 pm

Have any of you guys chronographed these loads (in Rifle or Pistol)?

I'm curious as to velocity.

I just got a Ruger Buckeye conversion revolver as a 'buddy' to my Marlin 1894 CL and will want to start reloading (the factory ammo is like cat-sneeze loads!).

Post by **Chuck 100 yd** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:49 pm

My Browning 53 likes the Lyman 115gr. PB bullet sized to .314 cast of WW and pushed along with 7 gr. 2400 and a CCI 400 cap. Very accurate and just the slightest hint of leading that wipes out with a dry patch. Have fun!

Sixgun · Post by **Sixgun** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 7:54 pm

I'm with Marlinman, I have been using 5.5 of Unique behind the 115 Lyman plainbase and gas check since 1975 out of 1892 Winchesters, Model 25 Remingtons and heavy frame handguns. Probably 15 or 20 thousand of these loads have been pushed down the barrels. Good for 1400

3 grains of Bullseye with the same bullet get shot out of K-frame Smiths, Colt Police Postives and a Colt Lightning rifle I have. Good for 1050.

I've shot a bit of jacketed bullets with the same load but I never could see why anyone would go to the expense of jacketed bullets when the cast will do better.---------------Sixgun

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:29 pm

I like the Lyman 311316 which is a 115 grain GC bullet and I also like the Lyman 311419 which is also a GC bullet but weighs about 90 grains . I load both of these with 5 grains of Unique and a small rifle primer.

Both these loads work well on the Pistol Cartridge silhouettes in my lever action matches !

And I've also used the 311419 load to pop some grey squirrels .

Now I also have a load I got from Handloader magazine . Brian Pearce wrote an articla on the 32-20 in the April 2008 edition . He claims that the 311316 backed with 12.5 grains of H-110 goes about 1,960 FPS from his 24" barreled Winchester 1892 . He also goes on to say that he's wacked a few deer with this load in a revolver I think . So at some point in time I have a Marlin 1894 in 32-20 of about 1906 vintage that I may very well test this one out myself ! However I will keep the yardage at 40 yards or less ! Kinda like bow hunting with a rifle so to speak !

I've done some work in the 32-20 with jacketed bullets but for the life of me I cannot remmember the loads I used or where the data is for that stuff !

Post by **Hobie** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:32 pm

Thanks for the replies so far. I know there's lots of .32 WCF (.32-20) shooters on this forum.

45Jack · Post by **45Jack** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:39 pm

http://www.accuratepowder.com/data/PerC ... %20354.pdf

http://www.leverguns.com/articles/paco/3220wcf.htm

6pt-sika · Post by **6pt-sika** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 8:41 pm

Also if you don't care to cast or purchase the moulds . I had pretty decent results with the Hornady swaged 90 grain SWC in a couple of my 32-20's .

I have a fairly broad range one from 1906 , another from 1988 I think and then two more that were built after 2000 !

And so far they all seem pretty satisfied with cast bullets !

jdad · Post by **jdad** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:09 pm

9.5 gr of 2400 under a Laser Cast 115gr. (.313) It does work.

Post by **Hobie** » Mon Sep 22, 2008 9:27 pm

jdad wrote:9.5 gr of 2400 under a Laser Cast 115gr. (.313) It does work.

Now that is a testimonial!

AndyM · Post by **AndyM** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 6:42 am

I use the laserCast 115 gr lead with 2400 - I beleive it is 8.5 grains. I've also had good luck with the Hornady 85 gr with the same load. I tried Titegroup powder but went back to 2400. I've also always used CCI small pistol primers and the Lee Crimp Die.

KirkD · Post by **KirkD** » Tue Sep 23, 2008 8:41 am

AJMD429 wrote:Have any of you guys chronographed these loads (in Rifle or Pistol)?

I chronograph all my loads.

Model 65 with 22" barrel with a 90 grain cast RCBS bullet:
9.5 grains 5744 ... 1,252 fps
10 grains 5744 .... 1,290 fps
11.1 grains 5744 . 1,424 fps
9 grains 2400 ...... 1,504 fps

85 grain Hornady JHP out of a Winchester 1892 with 24" barrel:
9.5 grains 2400 .... 1,434 fps
10 grains 2400 ..... 1,512 fps
10.5 grains 2400 .. 1,703 fps
11 grains 2400 ..... 1,800 fps

.32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

.32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?

Re: .32 WCF (.32-20) Levergun Loads. Whatcha got?