Snakeoil
Well-Known Member
I've been noticing that when I clean my .32-40 Hiwall after a match, I'm getting a lot of tiny lead particles on the patch. But I'm also seeing larger flakes about 1/8" in diameter. They are really more oval in shape. I use Ed's Red and let it soak after a couple runs down the barrel. The flakes show up for several passes thru the barrel. So, since I'm using 30:1, I'm doubtful is is alloy hardness. I normally only lube the bottom two grooves of the bullet. For the match today, I lubed an extra groove so the bottom three were filled. The lube is 50/50 NRA from White Label.
When I cleaned the rifle after the match today, there were hardly any small flecks and only 2 large flakes. I also noticed that with the barrel cleaned a dry patch seemed to pass more freely thru the bore. I also noticed that the accuracy today was excellent. Now, I might just have been on my game today. But I consistently shot small groups in some changing and challenging conditions. At 300, I put just about all my shots into a sub MOA group, with the exception of one that went off the 12 inch target at 3:00, which was due to the wind doing something that I could not see. Several other shooter reported similar misses that they could not explain.
So, next match, or maybe on a practice day, I'm going to try lubing 4 grooves.
I don't expect anyone to remember the details about my rifle. This is an original Hiwall built in 1917 with an original #4 barrel. The bore and groove diameters are oversize for a .32 but not a .33 caliber. Usually, worn out target barrels were opened up to .33 caliber, referred to a "freshing-up the barrel". Harry Pope was well known for doing this. In talking to a few experts like Gary Quinlan, the thought it it was just slightly freshened up, but not enough to make it a .33 cal. I had a custom mold made by Accurate for a bullet to my specs which is breech seated. I cannot used fixed ammo because the chamber is per .32 cal specs and a loaded round will not go all the way home. It's fine with me cuz loading for a breech seater is a lot easier than making fixed ammo and the brass lasts forever.
I have used this rifle out to 500 yds in matches. In the past I've done well. But last couple of 500 yd matches, I struggled beyond 300 yds and it could be this leading issue. I may try it out to 500 at the next match with 4 grooves lubed to see if the accuracy out to 500 improves. The common belief is that the .32-40 is very accurate out to 300 and then falls apart. But that has not been our experience at Wilton with modern CPA 44-1/2 and Miroku Hiwalls. I guess we'll see. My original should shoot as well or better than those. I guess we'll see.
When I cleaned the rifle after the match today, there were hardly any small flecks and only 2 large flakes. I also noticed that with the barrel cleaned a dry patch seemed to pass more freely thru the bore. I also noticed that the accuracy today was excellent. Now, I might just have been on my game today. But I consistently shot small groups in some changing and challenging conditions. At 300, I put just about all my shots into a sub MOA group, with the exception of one that went off the 12 inch target at 3:00, which was due to the wind doing something that I could not see. Several other shooter reported similar misses that they could not explain.
So, next match, or maybe on a practice day, I'm going to try lubing 4 grooves.
I don't expect anyone to remember the details about my rifle. This is an original Hiwall built in 1917 with an original #4 barrel. The bore and groove diameters are oversize for a .32 but not a .33 caliber. Usually, worn out target barrels were opened up to .33 caliber, referred to a "freshing-up the barrel". Harry Pope was well known for doing this. In talking to a few experts like Gary Quinlan, the thought it it was just slightly freshened up, but not enough to make it a .33 cal. I had a custom mold made by Accurate for a bullet to my specs which is breech seated. I cannot used fixed ammo because the chamber is per .32 cal specs and a loaded round will not go all the way home. It's fine with me cuz loading for a breech seater is a lot easier than making fixed ammo and the brass lasts forever.
I have used this rifle out to 500 yds in matches. In the past I've done well. But last couple of 500 yd matches, I struggled beyond 300 yds and it could be this leading issue. I may try it out to 500 at the next match with 4 grooves lubed to see if the accuracy out to 500 improves. The common belief is that the .32-40 is very accurate out to 300 and then falls apart. But that has not been our experience at Wilton with modern CPA 44-1/2 and Miroku Hiwalls. I guess we'll see. My original should shoot as well or better than those. I guess we'll see.