Levergun, Brass and Bullets...Oh My!!!

[PaperPatch]

I've got a Winchester Wrangler in 32 Winchester Special that I'm going to assemble ammunition for using 170 grain cast bullets.

Could you fellas recommend a powder???

Thanks in advance.

[kimwcook]

No help on the loads, but can't wait to see the report.

[86er]

I like 33 grains of H4895. Not a hot load by any means but it works.

[Old Savage]

What velocity do you want?

[PaperPatch]

What velocity do you want?

I would like to load it to full throttle.


I should add a little history of this Winchester. I bought it in Hooksett, NH at Riley's about 10 years ago. I went in looking for a .22 to acquire....and instead this one leaped from the rack and demanded that I take it home. I complied.

Along with the rifle I purchased 100 rounds of Federal ammunition and reloading dies. I was unable to fire it until a year later, after moving to Nebraska. Federal ammunition shoots very well from it at 100 yards. I still have 3 boxes of that ammunition.

I understand the 32 with its slow twist to be cast bullet friendly....and come Spring time, I hope to give this rifle a good workout. I see a hunt in its future too.

[RIHMFIRE]

What velocity do you want?

I would like to load it to full throttle.

I should add a little history of this Winchester. I bought it in Hooksett, NH at Riley's about 10 years ago. I went in looking for a .22 to acquire....and instead this one leaped from the rack and demanded that I take it home. I complied.

Along with the rifle I purchased 100 rounds of Federal ammunition and reloading dies. I was unable to fire it until a year later, after moving to Nebraska. Federal ammunition shoots very well from it at 100 yards. I still have 3 boxes of that ammunition.

I understand the 32 with its slow twist to be cast bullet friendly....and come Spring time, I hope to give this rifle a good workout. I see a hunt in its future too.

i recommend you start in the middle....and work your way up and down
the scale til you find the right load for your gun...

[tdoor]

What velocity do you want?

I would like to load it to full throttle.


I should add a little history of this Winchester. I bought it in Hooksett, NH at Riley's about 10 years ago. I went in looking for a .22 to acquire....and instead this one leaped from the rack and demanded that I take it home. I complied.

Along with the rifle I purchased 100 rounds of Federal ammunition and reloading dies. I was unable to fire it until a year later, after moving to Nebraska. Federal ammunition shoots very well from it at 100 yards. I still have 3 boxes of that ammunition.

I understand the 32 with its slow twist to be cast bullet friendly....and come Spring time, I hope to give this rifle a good workout. I see a hunt in its future too.

I second the suggestion for H4895, use it for all my 32Spl's (including at least one which also lept from the rack @ Riley's )
tdoor

[mod71alaska]

I can't help you with a powder recommendation, but that Winchester 94 sure is beautiful...the stock and the large loop...well done!

[Griff]

My bad, I didn't notice you were looking for lead loads... If those are gaschecked, you might be get by with the following loads.

Cartridge: 32 Winchester Special
Load Type: Rifle
---------------------------------------------------------------------Starting Loads---------Maximum Loads
Bullet Weight (Gr.) Manufacturer Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
170 GR. HDY JFP Hodgdon Varget----- .321" 2.565" 34.0 2096 30,800 CUP 37.0C 2271 36,400 CUP
170 GR. HDY JFP Winchester 748------ .321" 2.565" ------------------------- 36.2 2240 32,500 CUP
170 GR. HDY JFP Hodgdon BL-C(2)---- .321" 2.565" 35.0 2152 31,300 CUP 37.0 2226 35,300 CUP
170 GR. HDY JFP Hodgdon H335------- .321" 2.565" 30.0 2021 29,700 CUP 32.0 2144 36,200 CUP
170 GR. HDY JFP Hodgdon H4895------ .321" 2.565" 32.0 2122 30,800 CUP 34.5 2283 36,100 CUP
170 GR. HDY JFP Hodgdon Benchmark- .321" 2.565" 30.0 2005 29,900 CUP 32.5 2175 36,600 CUP
170 GR. HDY JFP Hodgdon H322-------- .321" 2.565" 30.0 2111 32,100 CUP 32.3 2263 36,800 CUP

NEVER EXCEED MAXIMUM LOADS

Emphasis added.

And as a general cautionary advisement... ALWAYS start below maximum and work up to your best accuracy. I've almost always found my most accurate loads were below maximum. Sometimes maybe a grain or two, sometimes more, but I've never found the most accurate load right at maximum.

[JohndeFresno]

Great looking firearm! Nice touch with the fur rug.

[Borregos]

Nice wood

[PaperPatch]

Thanks for the suggestions....I've always started at the low end, and worked upwards.



Full throttle is what I seek...not where I begin.

[Chuck 100 yd]

I mostly shoot H4895 in mine.


Note how the bullets are tipping as they pass through the target?
The 170`s are stable and shoot just about the same.
Find your load in a load manual to be safe before using anyone's data from the internet.

[Old Savage]

That is a great little gun and some great advice here from guys that know.

[BenT]

My Wrangler shoots the Hornady 170gr fp excellent with 34 gr fo H4895. But I have not found a lead bullet load that it shoots that well. So I'm taking note to this thread. I'm using Ranch dogs bullets. I even tried Ranchdogs favorite load, which I believe was with H322. But most loads are with a 20 in barrel. So I don't know if the 1 in 16 twist in a 16 barrel may not be helping.