I scrounged 80 pounds of lead and have a couple promises of wheel weights.

I would appreciate advice on the best/first mould to try. The rifle is a Marlin 1894CL.

So far I think either the Lyman 115 grain or RCBS 98 grain.

My dad taught me how to cast when I was a kid but I haven't done any since I was a teenager. Hopefully, with good advice from here, it won't be too hard to pick it back up.

Our Marlin 1894CL shoots both bullets very well.

I prefer the Lyman 311008 as it feeds a little smoother

Thanks, William.

I will swap you a full box of Hornady 85 grain XTP bullets, for 2 each of whatever 32-20 bullets you have a mould for.

The 93 & 100 grain Lee RN also work well if you're only looking for plinking bullets. If you plan on hunting with this one, I'd opt for the Lyman or RCBS because of the FN but the Lyman does have the extra weight advantage.

There is always the possibility that your rifle is going to be picky on what length/weight bullet it likes. I would suggest buying some small lots of bullets cast from or similar to these molds and try them before buying any mold.

So far I think either the Lyman 115 grain or RCBS 98 grain.
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Two good choices, had to choose between them. My preferance is for the Lyman 31108.

Good advice...get some sample bullets of close to the same weight and style before buying a mold (gun barrels are individualistic critters).

I will swap you a full box of Hornady 85 grain XTP bullets, for 2 each of whatever 32-20 bullets you have a mould for.

I'll take a look at what we have cast up and send you a pm. I have the light rn Lee bullet and it is a good plinker in the handguns.

I'll have to go back and look at my load notes but I remember the Marlin did not do well with short bullets. Our rifle shot better with longer bullets giving more bearing surface. The rifle may well have been new when I was looking at this and if so the barrel had three tight spots that may have had an affect on this.

I am sorry to say it has been awhile since I looked at Marshals offerings but I have shot some commercial cast .32 caliber LBT style bullets in this rifle and they shot very well. If Marshal has a 100 to 115 grain LBT style bullet you may find that it will shoot a little better than the Lyman 311008.
For many years now I have had Veral Smiths Ogival wadcutter on my wish list. I believe this would make a fine all around bullet for both the rifles and pistols.

EDIT] I went to the bullet section and as I thought Marshal has an excellent bullt for $11.00 a hundred and you can pick one of several sizing diameters. If a guy was smart... Not saying I am you understand - he would try two orders, one at the standard 22 bhn and the other at 14 bhn or so. I believe you will find the softer bullets more accurate but your rifle might be more of an individual! If I have some 14bhn Lyman 311008's I'll for sure try to get some to you. I believe I can say all of my .32's shoot better with a little softer than 20 bhn bullet.

I hope C. E. Harris is still lurking on the board as I would like to read his thoughts on bullet hardness for the .32 rifles. We have four now, A Savage M-23 and the Marlin 1894 in .32-20 and the two .32 Magnums, the Marlin and the TC. All of the throats are "generous" and I use all cast bullets as cast and either hand lubed or tumble lubed.
I dont remember what size throat Mr. Harris had cut for his rifle.

I have a good supply of the Beartooth 115 grain bullets. They shoot OK but it is annoying that I can't seat them to the crimp groove because of the short throat in my rifle.

This is one reason I'm leaning towards the RCBS 98 grain.

I have a good supply of the Beartooth 115 grain bullets. They shoot OK but it is annoying that I can't seat them to the crimp groove because of the short throat in my rifle.
This is one reason I'm leaning towards the RCBS 98 grain.

Are you using a Lee Factory crimp die?
The good thing about the RCBS bullet is that it has a good long nose. This does help feeding in the Marlin. The RCBS bullet will still require a little "jiggling" on ocassion to help it feed.
My NEI 100 grain bullet has a shorter nose than the RCBS bullet and it does not feed as smoothly.
Using a factory crimp die Marshalls bullet looks like it will feed well. The Lyman 311008 does not have a real crimp groove and I seat this bullet with all of the grease grooves in the case and crimp on the smooth portion of the nose above the top grease groove.
I treat the Lee 310 grain .44 caliber bullet the same way for the .444 Winchester Timber rifle. Due to the wide meplat I have to seat the bullet deeper than the crimp groove.The factory crimp die eliminates all of the worry aboutcrushing the case when crimping using the roll crimp feature of the seater die.

the 98 rcbs is about my favorite .32 bullet.

Lloyd, what do you shoot those bullets in?

Have you looked at the Saeco #322 118gr RNFP?
I like the generous grease grove.
PM me, and let me know what diameter, I'll send you some samples.

Jon

Ken
You might check these molds out...
They were a group buy from LEE custom cut for the 32-20...
They cast a 120 grain Flat Point bullet that shoots like crazy from my Model53...
http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=4627

About all I can add here is that I've been shooting the 311316 through my '92 for many years. Having it in a 4 banger helps, too. ;)

I will say that getting 6 boolits for every mould fill (as in the Cast Boolits Group Buy) is a VERY GOOD thing! :D

I use a Lee round nose 100 grain in .314 dia. I shoot an original 92 winchester made in 1897 and anything smaller keyholes. But I guess you shooters of modern .32-20 don't have that problem. I'm getting 2 to 3 inch groups at 100 yards, if that's bad, it's me, not the rifle...

sp101 single six custom 92 rossi in 3220. Lloyd, what do you shoot those bullets in?

Lloyd, you ought to come around more often. :)

How does that Rossi shoot? I've got an interesting (mostly to me) post on the "Leverguns General" section with some cast bullet load data.