next project thinking 32caliber

[handishooter]

I have always been a big fan of the .32 for small game and since I am just about finished with my 50/70 project I am thinking of going in the other direction. When I built my 25/20 i used a barrel liner, has worked great and is still going strong. Considering I am using a low pressure cartridge, this would work for the .32 and probably be cheapest but I want to do something different on this one. I am thinking of re boring a .22lr to .312 and chambering for .32 s&w long. This way I retain the original barrel contours and sights. Anyone ever convert a .22 to centerfire?  I think a few have converted .17 to centerfire.

any thoughts?

[twoshooter]

No, but it sounds good. I would love to have a 32/20, but am not that mechanically inclined, and lack equipment. I hoped for a 327 mag when it came out, it could shoot 32 short, long, H&R mag, and federal, like the  357 max does 38 special, 357 mag , and the max. That did not happen either. Now I am hoping to get hold of a 300 AAC barrel and cut a rim slot so I could use 357 mag cases. I think a "32" is a great small game and plinking round. I used a 22 mag in the past, but that is loud and not reloadable, and most important, left with my grandson .  The 32 has a good rep for accuracy, very quiet, very cheap to load for. I will watch to see how it turns out, best of luck.

[cudatruck]

why not chamber for 327 fed? it could shoot all 4 32s. Are you planning on using a liner again, or have you found a .312 barrel for a stub project? Watching with interest......

[trotterlg]

I have made up a half dozen .32 H&R stubs, from 327 Fed to 32-20's, they are lots of fun and shoot great.  Look for a good take off 303 British barrel, they have very wide lands, (5) and shoot cast very well.  Go for  it, they are great barrels.  Larry

[petemi]

I have one of Larry's .303 Brit .32-20s and I love it.  The Maxi and the .32-20 are my go to rifles around the farm.  The .32-20 is extremely accurate and can be loaded down to a 500 fps. silent load up to a screaming 2200+ with a .312 100 gr. Hornady XTP.  It'll also shoot 7.62X39 and .303  bullets in .310 and .311 as well as cast in .313.  It's a lot of fun to experiment with.

Pete

[quickdtoo]

Anyone ever convert a .22 to centerfire?  I think a few have converted .17 to centerfire.

Yes, several members have rechambered 22 mags to centerfire cartridges for use on centerfire frames, I'm pretty sure Stimpy has a 218 Bee that started life as such.

Tim

[gcrank1]

Load 32-20 cast bullets in a 30-30 to 32-20 velocities and have fun. You will need to size then so they fit in a fireformed case neck and still chamber/extract nicely. Cases wont need to be resized this way. You will still be able to use full 30-30 loads if you ever want to. There are also some 120-130ish gr. lead spitzers that work well (not far off of the 115gr. FN 32-20) and fly nice.
Ive been doing this for 20ish years.

[handishooter]

Thanks for all the input, I appreciate it. I am going to send a .22 sporter barrel off to be re bored to .311 then chamber for .32 s&w long.  This will be my first rebore and should be a fun project. It is cheap to reload the .32 especially with cast bullets. I am already set up for this caliber and have dies and molds.  For small game I don't need the .327, if I need something more powerful, I would just rather use a different barrel. I am going for accuracy on this project and don't want the long throat, that the .327 would give me shooting the 32 longs.

[trotterlg]

If cost has any meaning to you, it will be far more cost effective to bore the barrel out and put in a liner, it is a dead easy job that you could even do at home, and you could hand ream the 32 long in about a half hour.  Take a look, and save your self about $300.00 Larryhttp://www.trackofthewolf.com/List/Item.aspx/637/1

[handishooter]

I made my 25/20 by relining a shotgun barrel, it has been going strong for many years now. The re bore will cost me $225 which is probably $100 higher than if I relined the barrel. The cheapest way for me to do this would probably be to stub a barrel, this is how I built my 10mm and my 6.5, In fact when I built my 6.5 i did it as a drop in from the breach with a barrel nut as you put in your post, thanks for that information, was a great help and learning experience since I am self taught.

 I am in the process of building a bigger workshop and won't have it finished for a few months so I am limited at what I can do myself right now, but once it is finished, I have a whole list of projects I want to complete.

[HoosierCub]

Gcrank1 - Thanks for the post below.  What powders do you use for this?  You don't need to list the charge weight I will sort this out.
 
What powders are the least charge position sensitive?
 
I have a Ruger #1 in 30-30 and want to find a load for the grandkids and something my wife can enjoy shooting.
 
 Thanks  Tim
 

Load 32-20 cast bullets in a 30-30 to 32-20 velocities and have fun. You will need to size then so they fit in a fireformed case neck and still chamber/extract nicely. Cases wont need to be resized this way. You will still be able to use full 30-30 loads if you ever want to. There are also some 120-130ish gr. lead spitzers that work well (not far off of the 115gr. FN 32-20) and fly nice.
Ive been doing this for 20ish years.

[gcrank1]

Tim, I hope you have a copy of the Lyman Cast Bullet Handbook at your disposal, if so just look up the 32-20 and use the top data for the bullet weight, they will be way easy on the gun and brass, and no worries. If not, Unique is a good place to start, and I can check my book and give you real loads in a PM. Ive been using Trail Boss with satisfaction for a while now, but not sure if Ive made any 30-30/32-20 equiv. loads with it, though Im sure it would work well. Id be glad to help talk you through trying this out.

[HoosierCub]

Gcrank1  Thanks for the info.  It will be a couple weeks till I get everything together to try this out and will let you know the results.  Tim