Author Topic: anyone familiar with the 32/40 cartridge? (Read 762 times)

hans g./UpS · « **on:** March 16, 2004, 02:16:39 AM »

A friend has a drilling with the rifle barrel in 32/40.
Is anyone familiar with this cartridge?,sources of brass and dies?, can it be fabricated from other brass?
Thanks.

Mikey · « **Reply #1 on:** March 16, 2004, 04:16:29 AM »

hans: it is an older black powder cartridge that was chambered in lever actions, I believe. I also believe that as with the Winchester 32 Special, it is/was also loaded with smokeless powders.

I don't believe there is much difference in the configuration of the case between the two, and I also believe you can probably get brass or loaded ammo from the Old Western Scrounger. You might even be able to get brass from Starline. This might be one of those calibers that is becoming popular again in the CASS. HTH. Mikey.

Roadtrash · « **Reply #2 on:** March 20, 2004, 06:35:02 PM »

The old 32-40 was big in the target guns around the turn of the century. A lot of the old Schutzen style rifles were chambered in 32-40 for the mid range competitions and was a very accurate round during its time. Right now I think Winchester is selling brass in 32-40 and from time to time other companys bring it out for a short run. I have one of the rifles made by Paul Shuttleworth on the old Stevens style and I really enjoy it. I don't get to shoot it much lately but I still enjoy looking at it and holding it from time to time.
Roadtrash

DLH · « **Reply #3 on:** March 26, 2004, 01:09:13 PM »

Boy is this strange. I just posted in the black powder reloading fourm, on a Ideal reloading tool in the 32/40. check it out.

Leftoverdj · « **Reply #4 on:** June 22, 2004, 04:24:23 PM »

Hans, brass can be formed from .30-30. You need to slug the bore, but jacketed bullet size should be around .320. Bullets for the .32 Win work fine, but I would not feed it 8mm. If that drilling has hammers, you need to get your loading data from the schutzen boys. That cartridge was hot rodded over the course of its life and some of the later data is a lot hotter than I would feed a hammer drilling. Look at any data that gives more than 1500 fps with extreme suspicion. Normal bullet weight is 170 or so.

gewehrfreund · « **Reply #5 on:** June 23, 2004, 02:09:31 AM »

A better choice for forming brass is the 38-55WCF, also readily available as ammo or brass from Winchester. The 30-30/32 Win Spec. will work, but the case will be shorter than the original 32-40 case was meant to be. If you have a good set of 32-40 dies and some Imperial sizing wax, the reforming from 38-55 is quite quick and easy.