Need bullets for my 32-40 Marlin lever action

[Crazy Horse]

I just sent an old Marlin 1893 32-40 off to get it relined. I have brass, dies and powder. I need some bullets that will seat deep enough to work through the action of the Marlin. I do not cast and am not in good enough shape to try and get set up to do it. I just want to find some I can buy to reload. Cast or jacketed would be fine. Let me know if you know who to contact. I saw these on Acme bullets, but the nose is probably too long.
https://acmebullet.com/product-category ... s=no-brand

[Griff]

Here's what I bought while I waited for my mold: Missouri Bullet Company .32-40 170 grain cast. I bought mine with a BP friendly lube. Works well with either BP or smokeless.

[Crazy Horse]

Thanks Griff. I wonder if they sell in a smaller quantity like 100. I won't live long enough to shoot 500. Ha. I will be looking for a smokeless powder load.

[Crazy Horse]

Griff were you using these in a leveraction? I have some old factory loads I can mic and see how long they are overall.

[Griff]

Griff were you using these in a leveraction? I have some old factory loads I can mic and see how long they are overall.

No, I use them in an 1885... but it you look at the description, you'll see they state, "for lever guns." And I know a couple of guys that buy them for their lever guns.

[marlinman93]

Don't waste money buying bullets before you get your Marlin back! You wont know the exact size you need until you have it and can slug the bore to measure groove diameter. Even if the gunsmith knows the groove, it can still be slightly different.
Once you have it back slug the bore, measure the groove and then order bullets .001" larger than the measurement.
Take a look at The Bullshop Bullets site once you know the diameter you need.

[FLINT]

If you plan to hunt with it, I highly recommend Hawk bullets.

if you want lead, I've used the RCBS 82024 FNGC bullet sized to .322. That bullet is really for the 32WS, but it was the only one that had a gas check and I've heard from others that it works well in the 32-40 as well. Since the crimp groove is in the wrong place for the 32-40, I just seated all of the bullets down to the max length of 2.50 inches and crimped them good with the lee factory crimp die (that was special made for this caliber). I weighed the bullets and they turned out to be 183 grains. I used new winchester 32-40 brass and cci primers.

Here's the leverguns topic where I discussed this a few years ago. scroll down and find my post, and there's a couple links to previos posts about the bullets and loads I've used.

viewtopic.php?t=78608

[Ray]

Flint, that is an excellent reply to a great o.p.

Looking at the o.p. date.....near the end of 2020 seems like a lifetime ago with all that has happened since then.

[marlinman93]

Flint, that is an excellent reply to a great o.p.

Looking at the o.p. date.....near the end of 2020 seems like a lifetime ago with all that has happened since then.

"near the end of 2020"? I'm confused, what is the 2020 you referred to?

[Shasta]

Crazy Horse, you are in luck. I sold my .32-40 Winchester and have a good supply of cast lead bullets on hand. One is the RCBS 32-170-FN, a gas check design, and the other is an Accurate 32-180T, a plain base design. Somewhere in my collection of nearly a hundred molds is a Lyman 319247, also a plain base design. I will send you a hundred of each, no charge. I'm making you this offer because back in 2018 I got burned out in the Carr Fire here in Shasta County, CA. The good guys here on this forum got together and sent me some reloading equipment as well as a check for $1,000 to help me get back on my feet and back to reloading. I have not forgotten this generosity and I try to pay it forward when the opportunity arises.

PM me your name and mailing address and I will see you get some bullets.

Shasta

[Crazy Horse]

Wow! PM coming

Shasta, I sent a PM. I hope it went through.

[4t5]

https://www.montanabulletworks.com/prod ... 0gr-fn-gc/

[geobru]

You can't do any better than what Shasta has offered, but when you need to buy some cast lead bullets I recommend Bullshop. Bullshop has done a great job for me for a couple of pistols and my Winchesters in 40-82 and 44-40 that both require oversize bullet diameters to fill the bore.

I just looked on their website and found out that they can't accept orders though the internet. You have to place your order through email.

bullshop@3rivers.net

I'm not sure why or what happened, but I usually communicate with Dan before I order anyway so he knows exactly what I need. He is very experienced making custom bullets for his customers and has a wealth of knowledge about bullet designs and reloading.

[Bill in Oregon]

God bless you Shasta!

[fordwannabe]

Hey Shasta...WELL DONE, SIR!

[EdinCT]

I seem to remember a man who hunted in Vermont telling us he used 30-30 brass blown out which was a little short for 32-40. But then he seated a Speer 170 gr soft point(for the 32 Spcl) over a dose of 30-31 and they turned out a good hunting load for his Winchester at the right overall length. He certainly killed deer and I couldn't believe the weak old cartridge could do it lol. He had them loaded around 1900 fps if I remember correctly. It's been 40 years.

[High Desert Hunter]

You can't do any better than what Shasta has offered, but when you need to buy some cast lead bullets I recommend Bullshop. Bullshop has done a great job for me for a couple of pistols and my Winchesters in 40-82 and 44-40 that both require oversize bullet diameters to fill the bore.

I just looked on their website and found out that they can't accept orders though the internet. You have to place your order through email.

bullshop@3rivers.net

I'm not sure why or what happened, but I usually communicate with Dan before I order anyway so he knows exactly what I need. He is very experienced making custom bullets for his customers and has a wealth of knowledge about bullet designs and reloading.

I've known Dan since he was in Delta Junction Alaska! He is the real deal and I learned a lot about casting bullets from him. I still buy his NASA lube for all of my black powder loads!

[High Desert Hunter]

Shasta, your post is why I keep coming back to these old forums! I applaud you sir!

Dave