Triple 7 in the 32-20 cartridge

I have a couple of unopened LBs of Triple 7 saved only for shortages since I have been warned off from other reports of heavy fouling. This is a very different sugar-based concoction (what is gluconic acid)? Maybe if you spill some it can go on your oatmeal instead of into a house plant?
 
Brooks:
I think that's a good plan.
I just came from the pro shop at the gun club. They had one 500 count box of Badman Bullets .314, 115 grain rnfp. I didn't really want to buy 500, just in case they didn't shoot well in my revolver, but I bought them anyway. From all the posts and articles I've read, that weight bullet is popular. Gonna give'm a try. Hoping for the best outcome. Gotta look forward to sump'n. Eh?
 
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I prefer the heavier bullets for 32-20.
I am shooting Bear Creek Supply Bullets, 118gr .313
Although the last batch I bought measured .3145, and the weight was 122gr.
But, the throats on my S&W are .314 and groove diameter is .314 and they shoot the best!
 
"They worked!"
115 grain Badman Bullets. Two loads with Herco powder. 4.3 grains, 4.9 grains respecfully
4.3 grain load: COL. 1.560.
Hi = 986 fps
Lo = 734
Av = 859
ES = 252
SD = 71
10 shot group centered windage, 1.5" high of dead center. Group 1.5" with 5 shots in one ragged hole.
4.9 grain load. COL. 1.560.
HI = 1038 fps
LO = 870
Av = 987
ES = 168
SD = 45
10 shot group centered windage, centered vertically. Group, 1.25" by 1.25" .
Both these loads are literally half the size of any groups I have tried. The little revolver must like the heavier, longer bullets. Now, I will try to keep the tight groups, while trying different powders to bring the ES and SD lower. The Herco 4.8 grain load is too hot. There was sticky extraction, and velocity is more than I feel comfortable with. I have CFE-Pistol, BE-86 to try again with the heavier bullet.
 
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Why do you need loads that approach the speed of sound? SD is way to high in my mind. I would back down to 4g or less to average 750fps or lower and call that good. As far as SDs, you should aim for something under 10. Something not right about your load? How much of the case is filled with your powder?
 
In my opinion Herco is too slow burning to produce consistent velocities at these low pressures. Hence the excessive extreme spreads. You will get better results with a fast burning powder that isn't position sensitive in the relatively large 32-20 case like Titegroup or Bullseye.
 
Gary
I don't need loads that are approaching the speed of sound. I don't know where you came up with that notion. I used Herco powder because it takes up more space in the 32-20 case than other powders I have tried. What I am shooting for (pardon the punn) is 800 fps +/-. So, with that said, and using a heavier and longer bullet, I have to start somewhere, right?
Alliant flake powders never were famous for dropping consistant powder charges, at least that's my findings after loading ammunition for 60 years. I'm going to try BE-86 in my next testing. I am looking to get lower ES's, and lower SD's. I have used both of these powders when I first started with this cartridge, while using the 100 rnfp bullet. Apparently, with this last range test yesterday, the revolver really favors the heavier bullet. The speed of sound has nothing to do with my testing. I have to start somewhere, right?
 
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alwslate
I agree with you about the Herco powder being one of the slower powders. It does its best performance with higher pressures. I wanted to see how it compared with the heavier bullet against the lighter 100 grain bullet. The same as I'm going to do with the BE-86 powder. Beginning my testing about 3 weeks ago, I also used 3.5 grains of HP-38 with the 100 grain bullet. That load grouped about baseball size at 15 yards. I'm going to give that another try with the heavier 115 grain bullet. I don't have any BE, or Titegroup as of now. So I load what I have in stock.
 
That's a good day/report!
I'm shooting 5.0 gr Herco with the 118gr bullet, but out of a Taylors/Uberti 1873 Cattleman 4.75 inch barrel, and it's hotter than my 4.3 grains of Unique. I won't shoot this Herco load out of my 1908 S&W HE. But it is still under the speed of sound. Probably similar to a 32 mag load. Not interested in going over the speed of sound.
The 4.3 gr of Unique out of the S&W I clocked at 875fps and I think that is about it for the S&W.
I don't think Herco is too slow of a powder for the 32-20, and I like it because it fills the case pretty well... it's a fluffy powder, but it does like to be pushed up to medium loads. I am using Lee dippers and can get consistent weight with the dippers. I have a Lyman powder measure but never use it.
I prefer not to use the faster pistol powders because they don't fill the case well, and the 32-20 has a longer case similar to 357. And it's really a rifle cartridge....a "pistol like" rifle cartridge.
 
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