This should be fun !

[Ben]

I missed out on a 32/20 T/C barrel recently.
Yesterday I managed to obtain an orig. ( in excellent condition ) 32 H & R mag. , 10 " Bull Barrel.
I also thought about the .30 carbine in my T/C, but something about the rim on this cartridge vs. a rimless case for me was still appealing. I would have purchased a 32 S & W Long barrel, but I have had no luck finding one.



I should have the barrel in about 5 days.

I have 100 pieces of Starline 32 H & R mag. brass on the way from MidWay.
I already have the reloading dies.
I have a Lyman 313492 double cav. mould.

I also have a Lyman 311419 , 88 gr. g/c mould and many
other assorted moulds that are appropriate for this caliber.

I want to use this barrel for target work, not " hot - rodding ", might even shoot some 32 S & W Long W/Cs in it also.

Wonder what the bore will measure in this one ? I once read that T/C has standardized on .308 " bores in these barrels, not .311 - .313 ". I can go in either direction, but I'd prefer to shoot .310" and .311 " cast bullets in the barrel with a standardized .30 barrel.

I have plenty of the Lee micro band 92 gr 32 cal. pistol bullets lubed and sized to .311 for rifle use, may also be able to shoot these in the new T/C barrel.

Any opinions on this one ? ?

 

[Brad]

Should be a good shooter, if the throat on the barrel isn't too large and long.

Lad and powder will go a long way with that one. Just one question, 100 cases? Not 500? I ask because I find that many times when I want to try a new load my cases are filled with other loads.

 

[Ben]

Brad,

Decent question.
After buying the 686, the new 32 H & R Barrel, etc., etc.

I thought that 100 cases would get me started, I'm certain there will be more ordered in the near future. Part of being poor I guess........................
You make a real good point.

Ben

 

[Rick]

If you should find a 30 Carbine TC barrel there is no reason not to use 32/20 brass and have a rimmed case. That's what I do with 30 Carbine.

 

[Ben]

Rick,

How can that work in a T/C barrel ? ?
I know that is done in Ruger revolvers, but a T/C barrel ? ?

 

[Rick]

It's still a chamber just no barrel cylinder gap. Most TC barrels are deep throated though so almost like a barrel cylinder gap. Will blow out (fire form) the case to the chamber, will need to use the 32/20 sizing die to reload and return the case to 32/20, the thinner brass won't hold the bullet unless you do. Probably harder on brass but I've not lost any cases yet. I've heard of people that had to trim the brass but I've not had to, all of my 32/20 brass turns out just a tick shorter than 30 Carbine and of course headspaces on the rim which is the whole point.

 

[Rick]

Oh wait, I forget about the TC not being recessed for the rim. Oh well, was a good idea at first huh?

 

[Ben]

Rick,

Yes, I'd already read of " Beagle " and others doing this very thing with .30 carbine , Blackhawk Revolvers, but with a T/C barrel I could not see how the idea would have application .

Best,
Ben

 

[Ian]

Ream it and have a .30 Carbine Rimmed.

Ben, how about a case full of FFFg behind those? Big smiles and easy to clean the gun. Plenty of lube groove on the bullets, too.

 

[Ben]

I tried Black powder when I was about 20 yrs. old ( 46 yrs. ago)
I didn't have a real good experience.
I've kept my distance from Black powder since then.

I'm not certain at this point in time that I want to do anything to it except load 32 H & R mags. and head to the range to test the barrel and my loads.

Ben

 

[Dale53]

Ben;
I have a .32 H&R Magnum barrel for my TC. However, after learning that TC's barrels were bored .308" and I had already .32 H&R revolvers, I decided to buy a custom J.D. Jones barrel for the .32 H&R. It is bored conventionally and shot really well past fifty yards. Hunter Pistol was new to me (and our local club) so I NEEDED hundred yard accuracy. I ended up with a .30 Carbine barrel and actually kind of pioneered the use of heavy bullets in the TC .30 Carbine. A friend and I experimented and ended up with a 165 gr. .30 caliber bullet that shot extremely well with a serious load of RL-7. There was NO data for RL-7 and heavy bullets so I had to truly "work up" a load.

I was competitive with the .30 Carbine in Hunter pistol. I never cleaned the course, but shot several in the 38x40 category. Sometimes it was down to 32-35x100, too. I'll tell you one thing: the 25 yard chickens were literally picked up and slammed against the backstop (several feet behind the targets). 100 yard rams were taken down with authority! The advantage of the .30 Carbine with heavy bullets was that I didn't have to change the sights. I held dead on the chickens, pigs, and turkeys and held at the top of the back for the rams. That simplified the whole operation, for me. Recoil was quite manageable, too. Frankly, I thought it was the absolute best prescription for hunter pistol.

On the other hand, I'll bet you get excellent results at 25 and fifty yards with your bullets and that may be all you need...

Just a thought or two...

 

[Ben]

I doubt that I'll be doing much long range shooting.
Like you say 25 yards or so with my cast bullets.

Any thoughts on a recommendation for a cast bullet for this one , Dale ?

Ben

 

[Dale53]

Ben;
I use a Group Buy 100 gr. SWC for the .32 S&W L and the .32 H&R magnums. It shoots quite well at 25 and 50 yards. However, in all truth, my favorite bullet is the RCBS 98 gr. SWC. It allows for more powder room due to its design and I have had excellent results for accuracy. It also works well for edible small game. However, and this is important to me, it only comes in a two cavity mould. I am a BIG fan of multiple cavity moulds. So, that was a deal breaker for me but may not be for you - just a personal preference for me.

Since you like TL bullets, another bullet that is gaining traction with me is the Lee (from a six cavity mould) 90 gr SWC TL bullet. It has been available in a six cavity mould (I have one) but, unfortunately, Lee only offers that in a two cavity mould. It shoots quite well with Ben's LL in my Model 16 (I haven't tried it in the TC but expect even better results in that). With a six cavity mould, you can really turn out the bullets and tumble lubing them speeds up the operation considerably with no loss of effectiveness or accuracy. Lee used to make a six cavity for a 90 gr. Wadcutter, too, but it has not been offered for a LONG time. I have one of those, too. Mine is rather oversize but I haven't given up on it, yet. I want to try it with tumble lubing and using Ed Harris' method of loading (do NOT resize, but decap only, re-prime, drop the powder and flare only, then seat the bullet and crimp the bullet and simultaneously size it by use of the Lee Factory crimp die. I like wadcutters for both target and edible small game. However, Lee no longer offers ANY wadcutter moulds for the .32's (worse the luck).

Again, RCBS has a great wadcutter for the .32 (a 90 gr.) but only offers it in a two cavity mould.

If you can abide a two cavity mould, then either (or both) of the RCBS moulds will do you proud. Keep in mind, that they are dimensioned for a "normal" groove diameter barrel.

NOTE: I just went back and read your original post again, and I see that you have a considerable number of Lee micro groove bullets that are sized for your new barrel. They should do the job just fine.

Keep us posted on your results.

FWIW
Dale53

 

[Ben]

Dale,

That's great info., just what I was looking for . Facts from someone who has actually shot the bullets.

The 2 cav. isn't a big issue with me, but I'm like you, I like my 6 cavity moulds.
I checked NOE to see if Al had a nice 100 gr. SWC, if he had one, I missed it and didn't see it.

My friend Beagle says my T/C barrel in 32 H & R Mag. should be a standardized .308" dia bore barrel, not the .312 , .313 that we see in some .32 S & W long manufacturers.
He says he has had excellent accuracy with .310 and .311" dia cast bullets in his T/C 32 H & R Mag. barrel.

Using his information, I ordered a 2 cav. Lee ( Soup Can ) , C 309 - 113 F 110 grain, g/c mould from Midway, to go with the many moulds that I already own that " MAY " work well in my new barrel . Might be useful if I can get a good round .311 dia. gas checked bullet with the mould.

Seems it is about 10 grs. or so heavy for the cartridge, but it may work just fine ? ?

 

[Dale53]

Ben;
That ought to shoot just fine. I am not a fan of gas checked bullets due to extra effort to use and expense (when not needed) but I have little doubt that they should shoot VERY well in your TC barrel.

Dale53

 

[Ben]

Dale,

As to the Lee ( Soup Can ) , C 309 - 113 F, we will see ? ?

I always have the option to plain base one of the cavities and remove the g/c shank.

Ben

 

[Tony]

Ben,

Over at the NOE forum there is a discussion thread for a NOE copy of the RCBS 32-98 SWC. The discussion has garnered a fair amount of interest. I suspect that Al will start a sign up thread soon and that moulds will be available in a few months. I'm thinking of signing up in the event that I stumble across a nice S&W revolver in .32 S&W Long.

TJ

 

[Ben]

TJ,

Thanks for the heads up, I'll keep an eye on that one.

My only concern is I don't think I'm going to need a mould that throws a .313 - .314" diameter bullet. I'm noticing that most " 32 Cal. pistol moulds " are .314" or so.

Based on everything I'm hearing and reading, My T/C will shoot a .310 or .311" dia. cast bullet just fine.

Ben

 

[fiver]

if that throat gives you any grief rcbs also makes a nice 98gr rnfp that should help mitigate the issue.
the rnfp jumps those gaps and re-aligns itself rather nicely. [they do it all the time in lever guns]
it is the boolit I use in my 30 carbine revolver in 32-20 brass sized to 312, it also fits in regular 30 carbine brass and feeds in my rifle just fine too.

one thing you might find yourself doing is partial neck sizing your 32 cal brass in a 30 carbine die to get good neck tension on the smaller diameter boolits. [maybe not]

 

[Ben]

Yes, that is a good point.
I've already begun to wonder about neck tension with .310 and .311 " dia. bullets.

Ben