32-40 bullets

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bpcr shooter
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32-40 bullets

Post by bpcr shooter »

I have a orig 32-40 highwall with a 14 twist, I am wondering what bullet would best suit the rifle/me?? it will be used for hunting whitetails, but its main job will be making me smile at the range. I would like to shoot targets out to about 500 max with it, hunting 50-75 yrds.


My initial thoughts were to have the elliptical bullet at 210ish grains?

any thoughts???? Thanks Matt
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SSShooter
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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by SSShooter »

A bunch of us (20, or so) on the ASSRA forum ordered molds for our 32-40s from http://noebulletmoulds.com/. NOE made a run of molds for us in various diameters (slug your bore) in weights around what you are suggesting. While we were primarily interested in 200yd accuracy for Schuetzen competition, the bullet should work equally well in dropping a deer or antelope, etc. NOE might also have an elliptical design. If you don't find what you need "off the shelf", contact ASSRA forum member 'frnkeore'. He has been very generous in providing bullet designs.
Glenn
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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by bruce m »

would elliptical be the best nose shape for hunting.?
the elliptical is at its best with hard alloys that do not expand that well also.
what bullet shape and alloy was the cartridge originally loaded with.
this is often a pretty good question to ask.
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bruce.
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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by gunlaker »

Are you certain that your original rifle has a 1:14 twist? Or has it been rebarreled?

My only advice is to keep the bullet relatively short. I have a few .32-40's and with black powder they will all show tipping bullets to some degree, on cold days at 200m. This is with your garden variety 200-ish gr target bullets. This is breech seated with a case filled to the top with BP.

In one of my original highwalls, 1:16 twist, I use the Saeco #632 which is a tapered bullet weighing about 165gr. It doesn't tip at 200m, but I haven't shot it past 200m.

Chris.
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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by bruce m »

when shooting targets at longer ranges low drag bullets are a priority.
this is where the longest bullet your twist will handle, and a low drag nose is helpful.
the elliptical is as good a nose as you can get for this.
long noses require hard alloys to be of any use.
all this translates into a bullet that will drive through an animal like a pencil - a poor choice for hunting.
these bullets only have to put holes in a target or make a piece of steel ring or fall over.
when taking the life of an animal, ethical considerations come into play.
you are morally bound to kill the animal as cleanly as possible, which means destroying is central nervous system or reducing its blood pressure as fast as possible which destroys the central nervous system.
the 32/40 has no excess power like a 45 might,so bullet placement and bullet design should be a major consideration.
the original load had about a 165 gn flat pointed bullet at around 1400 fps, and this might be as good as it gets for terminal performance.
the faster twist of this rifle might deal with about a 180 gn flat point similarly, but it would be slower.
also an alloy of 25:1 or 20:1 would expand better on game than the 16:1 or harder suited to the elliptical.
this might be a case of needing 2 bullet moulds and 2 alloys for 2 jobs.

keep safe,
bruce.
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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by bpcr shooter »

I did recheck the twist and it is 1 in 14. It was re lined be L. Shaver. So what Im gathering 2 bullet moulds are in order and that's fine. So with that said I could have a elliptical bullet made for target and a 165-180ish grain RNFP bullet made for hunting. with a 14 twist what would I be looking at for length (as a max/min) for the target bullet??


SSShooter thanks for the info I will look at the NOE web page and see whats available..........

Thanks Matt
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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by gunlaker »

The bullets I'm using in my 1:14 twist rifles are:

Hoch 322200 -> 1.071"
Brooks custom -> 1.048"
Saeco tapered -> 1.042"

These are all right around 200gr in 20:1.

I've never shot any of these past 200 though, and all of them are designed for breech seating.

Chris.
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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by gunlaker »

Maybe another data point. I own an original highwall by A.O. Zischang. I haven't measured the twist, but apparently he favored 14-7/8:1 :-)

The rifle came with three original bullet molds, the longest is about 0.975" believe it or not. It is also a 200 yard/40 rods rifle.

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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by John Boy »

but apparently he favored 14-7/8:1
Douglas 32-40 bores are 1:15 twist
Regards
John
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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by bruce m »

matt,
here are some numbers for what it is worth.
this is for mv = 1300 fps in a 1:14" twist.

length weight Sg
1.0" 180 2.016
1.0" 165 1.85
1.1" 180 1.54
1.1" 165 1.41

figures taken from jbm ballistic calculator.
keep safe,
bruce.
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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by bruce m »

more.
1.1" 200gn Sg1.7.
interesting how increasing weight for the same length increases stability.
my own choice would be to look for Sg about 1.7 - 1.8, but the opinions of those more experienced with 32 cals would be interesting.
the longer the range shot the higher the Sg suits the job.
higher Sg also aids penetration of flesh, as it reduces bullets tumbling.
Sg will vary a little with velocity, but not as much as with twist.
keep safe,
bruce.
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Re: 32-40 bullets

Post by bpcr shooter »

Thank you guys!! I will look at a few different bullet styles and go from there... Thanks again
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