32-20 load for Practical Hunter Long Course

[contender1121]

I have a very good supply of 32-20 brass along with 110gr V-Max pills. I'm looking for a load that will take down BB rams at 200 for the PH class. I was thinking VV-N110 might be a good choice. I love their powders as they burn so clean.
I realize I'm asking a lot from that old cartridge but I'd like to stay in the Field Pistol family and not have to buy a different barrel and dies.
Any thoughts?

[Jimologist]

I shot 32-20 standing for quite a while until the .300 whisper became so popular. In my opinion you cannot push the 110 gr bullets fast enough to reliably take rams.
They may be adequate going as fast as possible to take CPT but not the rams.
Get some heavier bullets, 150 minimum. Even better would be 168 or 180. Slow and heavy is the way to go with a 32-20.

Jim K

[xp-100]

N110 is a very good choice for the 30/20 using 125 grain and up

[Richard Pickering]

As Jim K says, a light .30 bullet cannot supply the momentum needed to topple the B B Rams. EX: to supply the .75 pounds ft needed, (.75 is regarded as a minimum), a 110gr bullet must hit the Ram at 1535 fps. A 125gr bullet must hit at 1350 fps. A 150gr bullet must hit at 1130 fps. Skipping up to a 170gr, it must hit at 1000 fps. The heavier bullets rule in 32-20. The math used is 168900 / Bullet wt = impact velocity. RP

[contender1121]

After doing much research and listening to advice from those here, I am abandoning my quest to use the 32-20 for PH-LC. Asking too much of that one. As I wear out my 25-20 brass I'll convert my stash of 32-20 to that.
I am leaning instead towards the .300 Blackout. Any suggestions on this would be much appreciated.
New barrel and dies. Sigh.

[Richard Pickering]

The 32-20 is not a lost cause for PH-LC. (PH-LC is another way of saying UAS , usually with a scoped Production gun). It (and the 30 Carbine, and 30 Reece) are quite viable with a 165 gr bullet or more.
Think RCBS 165-Sil or Saeco 311 if you go cast. RP

[BADDOG-0302]

Before you go chasing a new bbl & dies, consider the following; case capacity of the 32-20 [30-20] 30 Reece, and the 300 BO aka 300 whisper,aka 300-221 ALL have case capacity within 1.0 gn.s of each other.
I used a 30-20 in US, and for local match's i used a M-2 bullet, that's a 30 Cal. FB FMJ 150 gn. bullet mainly because I got them for about 7 cents apiece. And as best I remember they clocked at about 1050-1100 FPS.
Ask , and see if anyone has a copy of an old ,old copy of the news letter aka paper with the articles titled "The Small Thirty's. Lots of 30-20 data.
I'll check the shop for some loaded 30-20's with the M-2's and let you know what load I was using.

Wayne Smith IHMSA # 566

[aggshooter]

Or you can just go to 7TCU. I have a 10" barrel with full length scope rib, Lansing-Bomar sights, Redding 3 die set & match prepped brass, all looking for a new home. PM me if interested. You can scope it & shoot UAS & US, then Practical Hunter, then pull the optics off & shoot Production & Standing.

[Richard Pickering]

Wayne, I believe I still have a copy of ''Loading the Little 30s'' by the late Ed Bulick. If someone needs a copy please email rp946@bellsouth.net . Lately I find that 13gr 4198 seems to do well in each with an rcbs 165 Sil bullet. This is my experience and it is ongoing, so I dont recommend it without the usual cautions. Richard

[contender1121]

Good information everyone. I'm still mulling my options. I've requested a copy of the Little 30s data from Richard. That should be interesting.
The only downer I have (from past experience) on the 32-20 is that the brass is very thin and delicate.