.32-40

[richhodg66]

The protrusion was enough that they wouldn't go in the shell holders when it came to reload them, I had to deprime with a punch, no big deal, I often do that anyway.

Went to a gun show yesterday, no much of a show, but a guy had some reloading odds and ends including a box of plain based, flat nose 165 grain bullets already sized to .323 and lubed. Not commercial cast, but he couldn't remember who he got them from. Cheap enough and a few hundred, gonna give them a try when the similar ones I've been shooting dry up. Might be a while before I really start casting for this rifle.

Someone mentioned the 8.15x46R and it interests me because there's a shop not far away that has a beautiful German stalking rifle so chambered. When I did a little quick research, it seems very similar to the .32-40, but apparently had no real standardization. The rifle is kinda pricey, but I'd love to have it if making ammo for it wasn't labor and cost prohibitive.

 

[RicinYakima]

Someone mentioned the 8.15x46R and it interests me because there's a shop not far away that has a beautiful German stalking rifle so chambered. When I did a little quick research, it seems very similar to the .32-40, but apparently had no real standardization. The rifle is kinda pricey, but I'd love to have it if making ammo for it wasn't labor and cost prohibitive.

The cartridge was "Normalized", or made to spec, in about 1909. While labor intensive, like any antique round, they are made from 30/30 brass and then just neck sized. I use a Pope 32/40 bullet mould and light loads of 4227. Dies are made by Hornady and commonly available.

 

[Bret4207]

I wonder if you could leave the bullet extra long so it hits the throat and puts the base in firm contact with the bolt face? On firing the brass should form to your chamber more, even with out a real shoulder. Then just neck size the minimum reqd and see if that helps.

 

[BudHyett]

Closing the action on the Savage 99 can affect accuracy. Working up loads for the .243 and .250-3000 with jacketed many years ago, I was closing the action slowly at the bench most of the time.

Simulating hunting, I tried closing the action from standing, then sitting down with the rifle on the bench to fire the loads. I had noticed the bolt would not always come completely up flush with the receiver with a slow close, but came up flush with the fast close.. Better accuracy with the fast close.