questions about .32

[gman10]

I know a lot of people shoot .32 cals here. I have a few questions.

1) how do the 32 maxi balls shoot as far as accuracy? and what grains of powder should I use?

2) how much are the 32 T/C maxi ball molds now? I have one that is still factory wrapped. just curious to the value of it.

 

[mooman76]

That would depend on the barrel twist and other factors on how good they shoot. They don't make the 32 maxi moulds any more but I think some other companies do. Value is depending on the buyer but you could fetch a good price because they aren't made and yours unused.

Most 32 seem to come with a 1-48 twist. IMO if you are thinking of getting one, you would want to get one with a tighter twist. Some people do get the 1-48 twist to shoot maxis ok but I think most do not(mine didn't) and you would need a short maxi. Use 3f or equivalent and you will have to work up the load to see what shoots best if at all. Start at about 10-15gr and work up a few grains more at a time.

 

[galamb]

Agree.

If you plan on shooting Maxi's (or any conical for that matter) and that will be "what you shoot", you should get a barrel custom cut to shoot them.

Conicals of most description will "always" shoot better with a faster twist (compared to roundball) and shallower rifling.

Now if you consider "shooting well" to be an inch or an inch and a half at 50 or 75 yards, then a "generic barrel" that you (used to) find on many of the "off the shelf" rifles will do that.

If you are looking for single hole accuracy at 100 yards (and I say 100 because we are talking about a 32 here), you probably won't get that with a 1:48 twist with 10-16 thou rifling lobbing "mortar rounds" down range

Looking at my Lyman tables, by the time you hit 45 grains you would be making some "very serious" pressure. I would take that (45 grains) as my "Grizz load", and probably load no more than 30 or 35 grains depending on what/how far and how well it was shooting.

 

[BrownBear]

The TC Cherokee 32 cal has a twist rate of 1:30". Not sure about the Seneca, but I can't imagine them turning out a separate 32 barrel rifling setup for it. The Cherokee has a sterling accuracy record with the 103 grain Maxi. A bud has one and I've watched him do some pretty startling shooting at 100 yards and beyond with the combo.

I tried his Maxi's in my Crockett (1:48), and accuracy was only so-so until I got the charges up to where they were getting worrisome. Even then it couldn't come close to what his Cherokee would do at longer range.

Edit: I just found a source, and Seneca 32 is 1:30" twist as well. Read all about it here.

 

[frogwalking]

I used to have a TC .50. It shot great with the Maxi-balls. I recently built a .32 with which I shoot round balls. Here are my first 10 shots at 25 yards before it was finished. I haven't had a chance to take it to a range since it was complete. I expect it to shoot much better after some load development and sight adjustment.



The last 6 shots went through that hole in the middle.

 

[don hepler]

I have a 32 Cherokee that shoots one hole groups at 20 yards. I just shot it Sunday. I have never been able to find any Maxi-balls. I did find a couple boxes of .36 but have not tried them yet. 15 grs. and a round ball are a lot of fun, but Maxi's would make it better for larger game.

I know an old store in W.Va. that still has some old TC stuff, but it might have been flooded. They got 9 inches of rain, and several people died. I'm going up there tomorrow, I'll check it out.

 

[gman10]

to everyone who replied.

thanks for the info

 

[Gene L]

I don't know about .32 Maxi balls, and can see a limited use for them (coyotes?) but for me, a .32 is a round ball gun.