.32 rifle loads

[camerl2009]

ok im getting a kit to build a flintlock .32 cal but cant find load data from goex(thats the only real blackpowder here)
i need some help

[Pvt. Lon Grifle]

FWIW, my .32 caplock with a .323 ball and tight patch, 39 inch barrel, shoots 1350fps @15 grains, 1650 fps at 30 grains fffg Goex. Same poa @ 25, a little higher @ 50 for the heavier charge.  Lon

[BrownBear]

I'm just shooting a cheap 32 capper (Traditions Crockett), but it's very "forgiving" on charges.  It shoots very well with any powder charge under a .311 ball and ticking, so I adjust the charge for the use.  Best I've found for small game is 15 grains of 3f Goex.  More than that is really destructive, blood-shooting shoulders even on neck shots.  If I was varminting with it, I'd be perfectly happy with 30 grains.  Wow, is that ever snappy!

[Dphariss]

Start with one grain per caliber in rifles to 45.
This will make for a hotter load in a 32 than a 45 but its a place to start.

Go up or down to suit the requirements of the barrel.

Dan

[mainiac]

My .32 shoots its tightest,with 24 gr. of shuetzen fff,and a lee .311 ball.Lehigh valley lube,with pocket drill patch.

[Daryl]

cameral2009 - I have a 38" bl'd .32 Tennessee Rifle that will make a dime sized hole at 25 yards with as little as 20gr. of powder. The problem is, somewhere between 25 yards and 50 yards, that 20gr. group opens to about 2 1/2". It's useless in my rifle, for anything much past 30 yards.
If you don't shoot past 30 yards, a light charge is probably all you need. I've now hit a bunny target (about like a cotton-tail) at 100yards about 50% of the time with this rifle. It's very rewarding on a difficult target.

For all range, I found 35gr. of 3f GOEX to be the best load for my rifle.  I'm using a .311" pure lead ball, with a 10ox denim or .0215" ticking patch- measured with calipers - squeezed hard on the jaws between finger and thumb. My 1" Mitutoyu micrometer makes that same material at .019".  The denim I also use, is 10oz. that measures .0225" with the same calipers, or .021" with the mic.

This rifle is a favourite for the trail walk - fun to shoot - targets range from about 8 yards, to 109yards - I use the same charge all ranges. Zero'd at 25 yards, it is virtually zero'd at 50 and only about 2 1/2" low at 100.  It's easy to hit the large gongs with at 100- as long as you feed it. Drop the charge even 5gr. and I pick up a bunch of misses past 50yards.

With 35gr. it shoots very cleanly - never needing wiping - for over 80 shots in a row.  Doesn't matter if I'm using norjmal -35 to -45 Winter WWFluid + some Neetsfoot oil or track's mink oil for lube.

[Kermit]

When I still had a .32, I shot a Lee molded .311 ball, .015 patch with spit, powered by 20 grains fffG Goex until I discovered it fouled less and shot about the same with 15 grains of powder. Worked fine on limb-sittin' grouse and bunnies. The bunnies were not on limbs.

[Daryl]

Kermit- I'm surprised you saw a difference between 15gr. and 20gr. in amount of fouling.  I see no difference between 20gr. and 40gr., but settled on 35gr. as being the most accurate for my rifle - ie: 1" for 5 shots at 50 yards, repeatable.  I could not get them closer.  40gr. and 30gr. both shot into 1 1/2".  As I noted, 20gr. oepned those to 2 1/2" - totally useless for shooting 50 yards or further.

[Kermit]

Hi, Daryl--the difference in fouling was inferred. I got more shots out of the bore before needing to wipe. Not a lot, but seemingly worth it at the time. And 50 yards? Mostly I was shooting it at 50 feet--or less. Different strokes, eh?

[cahil_2]

In my 32 flinter, I shoot 30 grains of fff goex with a 311 ball cast in a lee mold and I use a .023 patch.  I'm happy with that load.  I found that mine opened up with lower powder charges.

[Daryl]

Hi, Daryl--the difference in fouling was inferred. I got more shots out of the bore before needing to wipe. Not a lot, but seemingly worth it at the time. And 50 yards? Mostly I was shooting it at 50 feet--or less. Different strokes, eh?

Kermit -  my .32 never needs wiping while I'm shooting - whether it's 10 shots, 20 shots or 80 shots - the fouling does not build up so there's nothing to wipe - and, the accuracy remains exactly the same from start to finish.  I'd lay odds cahill_2 has similar results - if he uses enough lube, that is.  An inadequate supply of lube is the only way I could see a ..023" patch failing with a .311" ball in a .32.

[cahil_2]

I use Shenandoah valley and don't have to clean between shots at all.

[hanshi]

My .32 is a Crockett.  A .311 Lee cast ball and .015-.018 pushed by 30 grains of Goex 3f can deliver a 1" to 1.5" groups at 50 yards if I do my part.  At 25 yards a tiny group is a given.  If I go lower accuracy suffers some but not all that much.  I've never tried a heavier charge.  I lube with Hoppes and can shoot an afternoon without wiping, as Daryl has reported.  I've never shot past 50 yards, though.

[Frizzen]

I can't understand all these undersized balls.  I shoot a "0" Buck .323-.325  in my Crockett
with .015 patch.  30 grs FF works real well.

[northmn]

I used to use a 319 ball in my 32's with no problem.  Maybe a 010 patch but also 015.  Have a 33 barrel designed to shoot 0 buckshot I need to get started.  Maybe I will finish one of my other guns some day.  As a rule I found the 32 wuld work with lighter charges like 15-20 grains on squirrels up closer, whcih means at ranges normally shots are normally taken.  The heavy target charges for in excess of 25 yards seemed to be used more at Rondy's.  Practically speaking I found a 40 to be a better rifle for that type of shooting and converted a 32 to a 40 because of that.  Those that shoot them at Rondy's with heavy loads enjoy them and that's why we shoot that sort of thing.  It is kind of fun to outdo someone with a 54 at a longer shot with a pipsqueak.  Do not hold any misunderstanding about a 32's effect on small game.  When loaded to accuracy levels they hit about like a 22 mag hollow point.  I saw a snow shoe rabbit's head totally shredded with one and a 20 grain load.

DP

[Daryl]

Frizzen - I have a box of 0 buck to try at some point - have had it for a long time, but never got around to testing them. They measure .322" to about .324" on the mic.  The .311" RB's I'm shooting form a Lee mould actually measure .311"x.312".

I will test the larger balls, but really don't hold out much hope - my .32 barrel has very narrow grooves, wide lands - exactly opposite of what is usually required for large ball with a decent patch.

[willyr]

I tend to agree with Frizzen. I have fired upwards of 5000 shots out of .32 caliber rifles and have never gotten acceptable accuracy beyond 25-30 yards using undersized balls. Just about anything you put down the barrel will shoot with acceptable accuracy at 25 yards. My current .32 rifle has a GM barrel- I shoot it with 35 grains ffg GOEX, a .323 ball from a Lyman mold, .017 patch material lubed with soapy water for target shooting and olive oil for hunting. This rifle will  stay in the eight ring at 100 yards offhand when I do my part and read the wind right.
Be Well,
Bill Ridout

[Daryl]

What is acceptable accuracy Bill?

 Mine will quite easily make 1" groups at 50 yards off the bags but that's it & the groups are round, ie: open, not stacking any of the balls in the groups as would show better accuracy potential with better sights.  I am using .0215" and .0225" patches with .311" balls.  

With my .40 and .45 & .58's, I can make 1/2" to 3/4" groups at 50 yards.  I'm happy with 1" at 50 yards with the .69, as it shoots 1" to 1 1/2" at 100 for me as well.

I'm wondering if going to a larger ball in my .32 cal. barrel's narrow grooves, will work - guess there's only one way to find out. Trouble is, the Hornady .32 buckshot I have is the hard stuff.  Perhaps I'll buy the Lyman .319"mould.

[willyr]

The only time I do any bench shooting is when I am establishing loads that give the most consistant small groups. Acceptable accuracy to me is consistantly being able to pop a squirrel in the head and being competitive in the offhand matches I shoot- 25, 50 and 100 yards.
      Case in point. I loaned one of my older .32 rifles to my cousin's 15 year old son. I was concerned that a youngster might have a hard time loading a tight combination, so I got him some .315 balls. they grouped as well offhand at 25 yards as the .323's did, but at 50 yards the group opened to 3 1/2- 4 inches.
     Be Well,
Bill

[Daryl]

 Interesting- I don't think I can shoot a 3" offhand group at 50 yards with my .69 - which will shoot 1" at 100 off bags.

[willyr]

Very interesting. While not a .32 caliber, I tested this very thing just before the squirrel season opened with my .36 caliber. I fired ten shots offhand at a 50 yard big bull target using .350 balls. Then I fired ten shots offhand at a clean target using .360 balls. Same powder charge ( 40 grains GOEX fffg), same .017 patching, soapy water patch lube applied to the patches with a spray bottle, patches cut at the muzzle. The .350 balls yielded a group that stayed in the scoring rings, but was about a 6" group. The .360 balls were all in the 9 & 10 rings and measured 1 7/8" by 1 3/4". I can't shoot that good all the time, but the .360 balls were visably more accurate. This is the same thing I see when shooting the .32 with .315 versus .323 balls.
Be Well, 
Bill

[Frizzen]

Right On,    I use .323 "0" Buck in my 32's     .408 in my 40      .454 in my 45  and .575 in my
Zouave 58 cal Musket.   All with thick .020 patch & Teflon lube

[Daryl]

Well, yes- just recalled a thread I started a couple years ago.  The thread had to do with group size off bags in comparrison to what that load would do offhand.

At the time, some here said claimed bench grouping accuracy didn't matter much as they were merely shooting offhand.

As I recall, I used my .40 rifle and .400" X .400"balls as opposed to the other group with .395" X .400" balls.  These came from the same set of blocks - a DC Lyman mould. I also used LHV lube, 65gr. 3f and .018" or .019" pocket drill patching - very close weave.

The 'round' balls cut a 1/2" group off the bags centered and about 1 1/2" offhand, also centered - both 5 shot groups.  The oblong balls made a 1 1/2" group off the bags climbing to 10 o'clock and 3 1/2" offhand - same directional dispersion.  Not sure why the climb- but everything else in the load and hold was identical. I shot the bench groups first, then both offhand groups.

The rifle had had perhaps 40 to 50 shots through it prior to the 'test'- with no wiping.  At the time, I was quite impressed with both offhand groups, but especially with the best group, bench and offhand.

With large steel targets, either load would have hit every time - however, the accurate load would allow more things to go wrong, than the poor load.

Obviously, barring the odd fluke group, it is impossible to shoot more accurately than the gun is capable of, rather the reverse & usually as a multiple of the gun's capability.