32-40, 33-40, 33-47

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andym79

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Hi guys, you may have seen from my other thread that I am looking at getting a 33 or 35 calibre rifle based on the 30-30 case.

The 32-40 (essentially a the same as a 38-55 or 30-30 case) is meant to be like the 38-55 a potentially very accurate cartridge. I read that harry pope had great success with a wildcat of his the 33-40. Which is simply a 32-40 chamber with a .338 groove diameter, but it must be breech seated rather than using fixed ammo. The 33-47 is the 32-40 chamber opened up to the 33 cal so that fixed ammo can be used.

The questions I have are:

1. does anyone shot 33-47, if so please share all you know about it.

2. I can get a 33-47 reamer from Pacific tool, the the 33-47 reloading die are however a much bigger problem. I could either buy or form brass to 32-40 and then fireform it in the chamber to the 33-47. CH4d however only make 33-40 dies, would these work or would the portion of the neck nearest to the mouth be undersized for the chamber and split after a few firings?

3. I assume that a 33-47 would cycle okay through a 30-30 94 action as the 38-55 does as and it much the same only wider at the neck?
 
I have the 38-55 at is a rel nice cartridge! Also got a 30-30, the 32 special always seemed a bit to similar to the 30-30 IMHO, he 32-40 however is a different animal from the 32 special. As to the 33-47 I wanted to fill a void between the .308 and the .378 projectile.
 
Can you find 32/40 brass? I am in the 38/55 camp on this one. Why would you make it so hard on yourself? A 38/55 will do anything that you want in a 33-40 caliber round. Brass is available from Starline and dies are available as well. Maybe a .375 Winchester if you need more power.
 
The .38-55 is a great cartridge but my favorite in that arena is the 32-40. I must admit to never having heard of a .33-47 and personally have no need to modify Winchester's offering of 125 years ago ( but that should not stop others).
Brass is readily available from Win. so not an issue and some accurate loads can be developed for the cartridge.
OP you must have a single shot that you can convert, it does not seem approriate to modify a lever action of yesteryear to this odd caliber.
 
I wanted to fill a void between the .308 and the .378 projectile.

Honestly, there is nothing between 30-30 and 38-55 that 30-30 doesn't do just as well if not better.
 
OP you must have a single shot that you can convert, it does not seem approriate to modify a lever action of yesteryear to this odd caliber.

To be honest I have been thinking to myself that it would be a more sensible project for a single shot like a Martini, high wall or Ruger 1.
 
The .38-55 is a great cartridge but my favorite in that arena is the 32-40. I must admit to never having heard of a .33-47 and personally have no need to modify Winchester's offering of 125 years ago ( but that should not stop others).
Brass is readily available from Win. so not an issue and some accurate loads can be developed for the cartridge.
OP you must have a single shot that you can convert, it does not seem approriate to modify a lever action of yesteryear to this odd caliber.
Ibemikey, where are you finding Winchester 32-40 brass? I finally gave up and form Starline 38-55 to 32-40.

OP. Your quest is ambitious. As I understand it, the 33-40 conversion was often done by HMPope on tired 32-40 barrels more as cost savings.

Since the 32-40 is an original chambering in the 1894, that would be my choice. Minimal headaches.

Oh, an afterthought: I think perhaps you can cut one or the other of your dies with your chambering reamer, or when you order the reamer for the chamber, tell the manufacturer that you would like a reamer to cut your sizing die.
 
I bought several bags of Winchester brass off the shelf at our local White Elephant which keeps a decent reloading area, powder and primers. i cannot imagine that store is the only one in existance with two bags of 32-40. Brownells has a "alert me when available" on their listing.
 
I am seriously considering building it as a single shot rifle based on either a Martini (could you get it to work on the cadet frame or would it need to be the enfield, I really hope it would work on the cadet as they are more common and cheaper ), Ruger 1 or High wall action.
 
I am seriously considering building it as a single shot rifle based on either a Martini (could you get it to work on the cadet frame or would it need to be the enfield, I really hope it would work on the cadet as they are more common and cheaper ), Ruger 1 or High wall action.

Cadets were sometimes rechambered to 32 Win Special, so it should be possible. However, a Cadet only weighs about 5 1/2 lbs, so you might want to think hard about whether you really want to be shooting 200 - 300 grain bullets out of one. :eek:
 
I bought several bags of Winchester brass off the shelf at our local White Elephant which keeps a decent reloading area, powder and primers. i cannot imagine that store is the only one in existance with two bags of 32-40. Brownells has a "alert me when available" on their listing.
Must have been old stock then as like many, I received the notification from Midway that Winchester won't be making anymore 32-40 brass for reloading.
 
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