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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,984
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,984 |
I've had a Winchester Traditional Hunter 1885 (Miroku reproduction) .32-40 for a good while. I generally shoot cast bullets in it, but it can be loaded to the point it comes very close to .30-30 ballictics with cast or jacketed bullets. I wouldn't be hesitant to hunt with it for deer-sized game out to the same ranges I'd use a .30-30, maybe 125-150 yards.
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Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 10,223 Likes: 8
Campfire Outfitter
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Campfire Outfitter
Joined: Feb 2018
Posts: 10,223 Likes: 8 |
I started to go that route, but I had a 30-30 rebored to a 38-55 instead. It is easy to reform 30-30 brass if needed. It has a nice thump to it......sort of like a mini 45-70.
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Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,984
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Apr 2008
Posts: 1,984 |
I started to go that route, but I had a 30-30 rebored to a 38-55 instead. It is easy to reform 30-30 brass if needed. It has a nice thump to it......sort of like a mini 45-70. Much better cartridge for deer hunting than the .30-30 or .32-40. I've never reformed .30-30 brass to .38-55 because .38-55 brass was easy to find. May not be nowadays.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,163 Likes: 7
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,163 Likes: 7 |
Yeah, much as I love .32-40's (bought another one last night), if building a dedicated deer rifle from scratch for shooting cast bullets, bigger is always better and the .35's and .38's trump a .32.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 526
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Feb 2003
Posts: 526 |
Every now and then I see a New Model 1885 pop up for sale and they're always really tempting. I never thought about re-boring a 30-30 until now, that might be a cheaper route.
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Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,163 Likes: 7
Campfire Ranger
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Campfire Ranger
Joined: Nov 2005
Posts: 23,163 Likes: 7 |
If .32-40 is the goal I don't think its reamer will clean up a .30-30 chamber after re-boring.
"You can lead a man to logic, but you cannot make him think." Joe Harz "Always certain, often right." Keith McCafferty
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Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 531 Likes: 2
Campfire Regular
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Campfire Regular
Joined: Jun 2013
Posts: 531 Likes: 2 |
T/C TCR with a healthy charge of 2015 under the Hornady 170 FP. This is such a cool rifle! The only .32-40 I have ever fired was an 1893 Marlin. Super nice rifle and cartridge.
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Joined: May 2008
Posts: 127
Campfire Member
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Campfire Member
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 127 |
My TCR 83 in 32-40 is now up for auction sale at DurysGuns.com.
And why am I selling it? I'm in my 80's now and none of my kids had any interest in my TCR collection.
Over the years I have harvested White Tails with the 32-40 using spitzer jacketed bullets in my TCR.
Years ago, I read how you could size down 8mm (.323) jacketed bullets to .321 using a Lee Sizer. I bought the Lee sizer and over the years used it to size down various 8mm bullets.
I found that my TCR shot the 150 grain Speers (or Sierra's) quite well getting near 1" in 5 shot groups, and they worked dandy on white tails.
With modern single shot rifles, load development of the 32-40 approximates the 32 special. The 32 special has functioned as a deer caliber for many many decades and has served as fodder for the hot stove crowd over the years.
As a second note, I had used the Hornady 165 FTX which is intended for the 32 Special as well. Though they did good groups, I found my sized down 150's proved tighter groups. Also, for the lever action rifles they are a good option.
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