I decided to rechamber the longer 26-inch .32 S&W Long barrel for my Bunny Gun to the .32 H&R Magnum. I did so because I have another 18-inch barrel in .32 ACP which is more handy, but as accurate and better suited for very light “.30 cal. CB Cap” loads I like. I thought that because the .32 S&W Long reamer I originally used has a revolver-style .315 cylindrical throat and was longer and “fatter” than I wanted, lengthing it to reduce the cylindrical ball seat a bit wouldn't hurt anything. In spite of the oversized, too-long throat the little rifle shoots well with my normal revolver handloads using the 94-gr. Meister .312” flatnose and the LBT .312-105FNBB with 2.5 grs. of Bullseye, giving inch groups at 25 yards with iron sights. The Saeco #325 SWC didn't do quite as well, but was still under 2 inches. The barrel is a 16” twist, .310 groove diameter, six groove normal form. So I stuck the .32 HRM reamer in, and shot it again... UPDATE: .32 S&W Long loads with heavier 100-130 grain bullets seated out, and loaded subsonic with 2.5 grs. of Bullseye, which shot best before in the original revolver-style chamber still do. They group no worse, but there was no improvement either. They will just average 2 inches at 50 yards for a series of 5-shot groups with iron sights. My brother's 1894 Marlin is more consistent, but heavier (my Bunny gun weighs 4 lbs. 6 ozs.) and is easier to shoot. My .32 S&W Long revolver loads 122-gr. Saeco #322 crimped in the normal crimp groove, with 2.5 grs. of Bullseye, or NEI 130-gr. #82 loaded similarly do the same as before, about 2-1/2 to 3 inches at 50 yards, and the shorter 98-gr. Saeco #325 and 94-gr. Meister about 3 inches. This is OK plinking accuracy in a very light rifle with iron sights. None of the .32 H&R Magnum revolver loads I tried using the above cast bullets with 3.5 grs. of Bullseye powder did any better than my best .32 S&W Long loads whether seated out or not. Heavier loads are no more accurate, only louder. Heavier .32 H&R Mag loads than listed in some manuals have been published for use in the Ruger revolvers by gun writers whom I won't name. These caused some ugly looking primers which give a good visual indication of excessive chamber pressure with the large shotgun firing pin and un-bushed breech face! However, 8 grs. of #2400 in Starline HRM brass with 100-gr. Hornady XTP hollowpoints drive nice clover-leafs at 25 yards and group about 2 inches at 50 yards, which will work fine to approximate a .32-20 if I want something more powerful than my popgun bunny loads. I will stick to my normal .32 S&W Long "rifle” loads with the Saeco #322 or NEI #82 bullets seated out and crimped in the top lube groove with 2.5 grs. of Bullseye for most uses. If I need to shoot revolver ammo using the same bullets and loads, crimped in the normal crimp groove, I'll can do so for expediency, but will settle for somewhat impaired, but adequate plinking accuracy... I consider the experiment successful only because it gives me some greater flexibility in brass and ammo. My preference is for light, quiet loads, so I see nothing to recommend the .32 H&R Mag. over the .32 S&W Long in the “Bunny Gun” scenario, unless that is the reamer and brass you've got. My brother's Marlin 1894C lever-gun has the XS “ghost ring” peep sight and white-line Patridge blade front sight. It gives consistent 2” or smaller groups at 50 yards over a long series firing either the Lyman 115-gr. #3118, Saeco 122-gr. #322, Saeco 98-gr. #325 or 130-gr. NEI #82, all bullets as-cast, unsized at .314-.315,” tumbled in Lee Liquid Alox, and using 3.5 grs. of Bullseye in Starline .32 HRM cases with WSP primers across the board. If anyone else is using the .32 H&R Magnum in a rifle with cast bullets I'd like VERY much to hear what bullets and loads you are using and the results you are getting.
73 de KE4SKY In Home Mix We Trust From the Home of Ed's Red in "Almost Heaven" West Virginia