.32-40 Ballard

The .32-40 Ballard, also known as .32-40 Winchester[1] is an American rifle cartridge.

.32-40 Ballard
.32-40 cartridge between .223 Remington (left) and .270 Winchester (right)
TypeRifle
Place of originUnited States
Production history
Designed1884
Produced1884–present
Specifications
Case typeRimmed, straight
Bullet diameter.320 in (8.1 mm)
Land diameter.315 in (8.0 mm)
Neck diameter.338 in (8.6 mm)
Base diameter.424 in (10.8 mm)
Rim diameter.506 in (12.9 mm)
Rim thickness.063 in (1.6 mm)
Case length2.13 in (54 mm)
Overall length2.59 in (66 mm)
Rifling twist1 in 16 in (410 mm)
Primer typeLarge rifle
Maximum CUP30,000 CUP
Ballistic performance
Bullet mass/type Velocity Energy
165 gr (11 g) 1,440 ft/s (440 m/s) 760 ft⋅lbf (1,030 J)
165 gr (11 g) 1,430 ft/s (440 m/s) 755 ft⋅lbf (1,024 J)
155 gr (10 g) 1,460 ft/s (450 m/s) 786 ft⋅lbf (1,066 J)
165 gr (11 g) 1,740 ft/s (530 m/s) 1,109 ft⋅lbf (1,504 J)
Test barrel length: 20 inches (510 mm)

Description

Introduced in 1884, the .32-40 Winchester was developed as a black powder match-grade round for the Ballard single-shot Union Hill Nos. 8 and 9 target rifles.[2] Using a 165-grain (10.7 g) bullet and 40 grains (2.6 g) of black powder (muzzle velocity 1,440 ft/s (440 m/s), muzzle energy 760 ft⋅lbf (1,030 J)), the factory load gained a reputation for fine accuracy, with a midrange trajectory of 11 inches (28 cm) at 200 yd (180 m).[3] It was available in Winchester and Marlin lever-action rifles beginning in 1886.[3]Both the .32–40 Winchester and the .38-55 Winchester were chambered for the Model 1894 Winchester when it was introduced to the public in 1894.[4] It stopped being a factory chambering around 1940.[3]

It can be used for varmint and predator hunting, including coyotes and wolves. H. V. Stent has said that for a time the .32-40 Winchester and .38-55 Winchester were considered by some hunters to be usable for moose and elk at woods ranges, but sales of the Model 1894 in .30-30 Winchester (.30 WCF), a cartridge introduced a year later, soon outpaced the two because of its higher speed, higher energy, and flatter trajectory.[4]

More recently, the .32-40 Winchester in a Model 1894 built in 1905 was successfully used by John Royer, from Pennsylvania, to show that it can still be used on whitetail deer at close range. He wanted to keep the shot within 75 yd (69 m).[5] The range at which the .32-40 Winchester is suitable for deer is a matter of debate. Its common muzzle energy of less than 800 ft⋅lbf (1,100 J) is equal only to current 150 gr (9.7 g) and 170 gr (11 g) grain flat nose or round nose loadings of the .30-30 Winchester (in a 20 in (510 mm) barrel) at about 200 yd (180 m), which is often considered to be the maximum range of the .30-30 Winchester.[6] However, it has been said that in a modern rifle it can be loaded to equal the .30-30 Winchester up to 300 yards (270 m).[3]

The .32-40 Winchester also served as the basis for Harry Pope's Wildcat cartridge called the .33-40 Pope.

See also

References
  1. Barnes, Frank C., ed. by John T. Amber. Cartridges of the World (Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972), p.67.
  2. Max chamber pressure - saami specs. Return to the index to LASC. (n.d.). Retrieved May 1, 2023, from http://www.lasc.us/SAAMIMaxPressure.htm
  3. Barnes, p.47.
  4. H. V. Stent, "The Model 94 Winchester," Gun Digest 1980.
  5. Leatherwood Outdoors (2018-12-15). "Deer Hunting with 113 Year Old Winchester 32-40 Model 1894 Rifle (HEART SHOT) 2018 Whitetail Season". youtube.com.
  6. Grits Gresham, "The .30/30," Sports Afield August 1980. Gresham says PMC tested the MV of its 150- and 170 grain .30-30 Winchester loads from a Model 94 carbine, which resulted in a reading of just under 2000 fps, resulting in about 800 fpe at 200 yards.

Sources
  • Barnes, Frank C., ed. by John T. Amber. Cartridges of the World (Northfield, IL: DBI Books, 1972),


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