1889 32-20

[stinkycat]

just picked up a 89 in 32-20, would like some ideas on loads. bore on this rifle is perfect condition, would like to shoot a cast 115 grain at about 1200.

[jlchucker]

just picked up a 89 in 32-20, would like some ideas on loads. bore on this rifle is perfect condition, would like to shoot a cast 115 grain at about 1200.

I've never loaded for this rifle or for the 32-20. I do have a copy of Mike Venturino's "Shooting Leverguns of the Old West" though, and he has a data section on the 32-20, starting on page 132. He talks mostly about loading cowboy ammo, but the data he's published is for the Lyman 311008 cast bullet at 115 gr, and for the RCBS 32-90CAS at 90 grains. His sample handloads are listed, for smokeless and black powder, and seem to match the velocities you are looking for in a couple of instances. You may want to check this book out. Mike doesn't say much about the Marlin 89, but goes into the early Marlin 94's a little deeper. You may find some data you can use in there.

[Old Skirmisher]

If you are interested in black powder, I get good results with a 115 lead bullet
(Lyman 311008) over 18 grains of Swiss fffg in my 1894 Marlin. That gave me 1250 fps.
Or, 11 grains of Triple 7 ffg at 1150 fps.

[AJMD429]

Whatever you wind up using, please post a range report. I have the same gun but with a pitted barrel, and I'm trying to decide on re-lining the barrel, since it is a family heirloom I'd not want to 'trade up' with.

[KirkD]

Well I started testing various 32-20 loads this past week and am not finished yet, so no range report BUT, already I found that 9 grains of IMR 4227 under a 115 grain RB 32-20 cast bullet sized to .312" came out the barrel at 1,149 fps with an extreme spread of 74 fps, and a standard deviation of 30 fps. Only fired 5 shots with that load so far, but all five bullets when into a 2 & 1/2" group at 100 yards, and I had the wrong glasses on to shoot so the front sight was a bit fuzzy.

HOWEVER! I found that the exact same bullet size to .313" shot all over the map with wobbling bullets. The moral of the story is that what works for my rifle (a Winchester Model 53 made in 1926 with a 22" barrel) may not work well in yours and vice versa. Very small differences can make a big difference in accuracy. My chamber has no throat. Your groove diameter may be slightly larger.

By the way, congratulations on acquiring such a fine classic rifle!

[jlchucker]

Kirk, as your post indicates in detail--cast bullets and their loads can be unique to each and every individual rifle. No pun or reference to Unique powder intended but it is listed as a powder of choice for a 115 gr cast bullet in 32-20 in the Lyman Reloading Handbook 48. Right along with your loading of 4227. Stinkycat will no doubt have plenty of fun working up a load for his Marlin. He'll have to note down his results in terms of powder, bullet diameter, and what groups he got, but I have no doubt he'll come up with a good one. That's a fine looking rifle he has there.

[stinkycat]

well i loaded up a few rounds with 4.5gr unique lasercast 115gr .313 diameter, will try them monday, never go to the public range on weekends too dangerous! also got some hunters supply 76gr might try to make up a squirrel load.

[Sixgun]

well i loaded up a few rounds with 4.5gr unique lasercast 115gr .313 diameter, will try them monday,

That will work--I've been using 5 grains with a 115 gr. plainbase/gas check for 35 years in a couple of dozen different makes and models of 32-20's and have yet to find it inaccurate.

Another load that is even better than that (but is weak) is 3 grains of Bullseye with the same bullet. Its only about 1,000 fps and has a terrible trajectory------------Sixgun

[stinkycat]

thanks sixgun, spring turkey starts in a couple of weeks would love to get one with a 117 year old rifle!

[Ysabel Kid]

Congrats!!!

[airedaleman]

Handsome rifle. Good luck with it! Have you measured the barrel? It looks longer than the standard length.

[jnyork]

My standard silhouette load is 10.2 grains 4227 with the lasercast bullet. Works well for me.

[stinkycat]

got out today shot 3 different loads at 25 yards staying at 1/2 inch or better. jugled the charge a bit all three shoot pretty much same spot. now will chronograph to see if the fps is what i'm looking for. if this rifle had a foolproof rear and a bead front i'm sure it would do 1 hole groups at 25 yards! this blade and buckhorn setup is a little hard on old eyes.

[KirkD]

That 32-20 is still a straight shooter! That makes it extra-enjoyable.

[AJMD429]

I just shot my 1889 and my modern 1894 ones a tiny bit this weekend with lead 100 grain Winchester factory rounds, and both with open sights (tang on the 1889 with it's old nickel-looking blade in front, and Williams FP with aperture and factory gold bead on the 1894). The 1889 with the old pitted barrel was getting 1-1/2" at 50 yds for 3 shots vs. 2" for the 1894, and the modern one strings with warming (I can hopefully fix that by loosening the dovetail magazine support like on the XLR's).

Love them old guns...