Contender 32 Mag loads...308 bore

[rimfire]

Traded for a 10" Contender 32 Mag.  Load data for standard bullets is very hard to come by.  I am loading for small game and paper punching...not for IHMSA.  Currently considering trying Beartooth .308 diameter cast bullets, but would really like some suggested loads with other .308 flat point or HP bullets.

I don't want to use spitzer bullets as I seriously doubt they will expand at all at the velocities I can reach and I want some thump in case of a close range coyote.  Will most likely be using it for rabbits, squirrrels and groundhogs up through coyoets at close range, but a lot of light recoil paper puching and practice.

[Graybeard]

Back when I was using the 10" .32 H&R Magnum it was for NRA silhouette matches primarily but I did a fair bit of paper punching as well. I used the Hornady 85 grain JHPs and cast up bullets from the now discontinued Lyman 311316 (I think that's the right number going from memory here) which weighted out around 110-115 grains as I recall.

DO NOT take this as a load recommendation but check it from a book as I'm going on memory but I seem to recall I used about 5 grains of W231 with both. If you wanted to use those exact bullets I could likely search my old reloading records for you and verify the data but since it seems you'll be using different ones I'm just kinda giving you a ball park idea of what worked really well for me. I was able to get 2" 100 yard groups from the cast load and it never failed to take off a ram I hit with it.

[rimfire]

So you used the Hornady .312 in the .308 bore and felt it worked well?  I figured it would raise pressure for lower velocity being that oversized?

...and I do not cast my own so you know.

[Graybeard]

I didn't think you cast bullets and the mould I used is long since discontinued and about impossible to find anyway. Still plenty of similar bullets are readily available commercially as are moulds to make some what similar bullets. RCBS and Lyman both make moulds close enough to the one I used and all cast bullet suppliers likely offer something close enough to it.

Use of the larger .311" and .312" jacketed bullets in the .308" TC barrels is very common and I think even TC endorsed it. Book loads for the round keep pressures relatively low as the SAAMI pressures aren't all that high in comparison to what the TC Contender is capable of with standing. Yes for sure if you use a load from a book that lists the use of a .308" bullet and you use a .311" bullet pressures will be higher but if the bullet in the book is jacketed and you use cast that offsets it. Some of the data is derived using the TC barrels anyway.

For a weaker gun for sure you'd want to back off from max loads but as I recall what I used wasn't max anyway. I was looking for accuracy and mild recoil as I used a rifle scope on that handgun and needed to keep it out of my eye. The load I selected did that MOST of the time and generally when it bumped me it was gentlely enough not to hurt and never brought blood.

In those long ago days of NRA silhouette the use of the .32 Magnum and .32-20 barrels with rifle scopes and .311" or .312" bullets was very common at least here in Bama at the ranges. Most of the winning shooters used one or the other.