Last fall I took my Winchester Model 1894 32-40 (1905) 26" barrel, beautiful bore, to the range for the 4H small-bore shooters to try out.
By the end of the session, 8 people, 4 teenagers and 4 adults, had fired 26 rounds from the bench at the 19" steel gong at 300 meters. Only one other adult and I had ever fired iron sights at that distance.
The load was 11.5 gr H-110/158 grain LFN/W-W brass/WLR primers at @ 1115 fps.
Results were amazing. All rounds hit and the group was 6" vertical by 4" horizontal. All involved are still talking about the way the old 1894 shot that evening.

The .32-40 was for many years America's premier target cartridge.....including holding the record for the smallest ever 10-shot group by ANY rifle at 40 rods (220 yards) for 6 or 7 decades.

It is still winning championships in both Schuetzen and cast bullet benchrest shooting.

Not quite as powerful as the .32 Win Special, but sure no flies on the .32-40 as a deer killer, either.

I never believed in an "inherently accurate" cartridge, like there was something in the brass shape and DNA that made it accurate. But with a random load in a 108 year-old lever action of unknown history to do that well....

I think all cartridges are potentially VERY accurate...just depends on what you stuff into them, the pressures you operate them at, and the rifles from which they are shot.

having said that, there are some cartridges which are easier than others to find a highly accurate load for. I suspect a bit of that is somewhat affected by whether or not the powders commonly available have the exactly right burning speed for the case capacity and bullet weight.

But who knows? Maybe it has somet6hing to do with how many angels can dance on the head of a pen...

A bit of irony: A week after the 26 shot group was recorded, I took my Mauser 98 Standard Modell and my 1903 A3 Springfield out. Fired 12 shots, six from each rifle. I used old Federal 180 grainers in the '06 and some 150 grain Hornady handloads at @ 2600 fps in the 8x57. Only scored two hits. I was alone so couldn't see where the bullets were striking to make sight corrections. Some days are like that....More than I care to mention.

quote:

The load was 11.5 gr H-110/158 grain LFN/W-W brass/WLR primers at @ 1115 fps.

Can't be, everyone knows that H-110 needs a high loading density and high pressures to even be save. Stop using that load immediately!!!



j/k. H-110 is often used in schuetzen rifles with excellent results. Under the right circumstances it can be used outside of its original design purpose. Great report BTW.



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Actually, the H-110 load was entirely random. Ken Waters used a slightly higher load of 2400 in his 32-40 loading reports for weak actions. I originally loaded it for a Marlin 1893B in 32-40 as a "nitro for black" interpolation load. I sold the Marlin and just wanted to burn up the ammo to reload.
By the way, in Graeme Wright's LOADING FOR THE BRITISH DOUBLE book, there is a great section on why barrels ring, as in the bad ringing. Basically, in low density powder charges, if the powder's clustered at the rear of the case, there is a strong possibility of ongoing small ringing. If the powder is distributed throughout the case, no ringing. If the powder is at the front of the case, no ringing. There's more to it than that but when using low powder density loads, I used to elevate the muzzle to get the powder near the primer for better ignition and, by chronographic proof, higher and more consistent velocity. Now, I hold the rifle horizontally and gently shake it to try to evenly distribute the powder. I tell onlookers it's a traditional accuracy ritual.

Inherently accurate cartridges are scoffed at by many, mostly those with not enough experience to know better. They do exist I guarantee that..

Several include the 32-40, 38-55 and 25-35. Today I would suggest the 222, 250-3000, 308, 30-06, and 300 H&H, that's just to name a few that come to mind from my generation..

I believe its a matter of balance of powder and case capacity among other things and I suppose someone could write a book on it and the results would be the same.

Check out the big shoots and there always seems to be a champion caliber pop up and win most of the events...Lately the short fat 6mms seem to be taking home the dollars.

Is this important, probably not, but its interesting to know! can't hurt a thing! today accuracy is a one inch hunting rifle.

I have never shot a big game animal with a 32-40, don't know anyone that has, but I have shot enough big game with the 25-35 to believe the 32-40 would be as good or better.

I have long wanted to work with a .32-40, owing to its sterling reputation as a target cartridge. I have had wonderful accuracy with rifles in .25-35 and .38-55, just as Ray says.