Twist in a 32 swamp barrel?

[house]

Thinking of having a gun built with a 32 caliber swamped Rice barrel. The only thing is it is in 1-70 twist. Most of the smaller caliber barrels that I've seen have a faster twist. Will I be able to shoot light squirrel hunting PRB loads out of it?

 

[Rifleman1776]

Interesting question.
My thought is: No.

 

[George]

I have no experience with a .32, but I do have a slow-twist .30. It has a 1:56" twist, and it's very accurate at any range with loads from 15-30 grains 3F Goex. Group at 100 yards with 25 grains is slightly more than 2".

Spence

 

[Hermit]

The 32 cal. Douglas 1 in 48 I built in the 70's was and still is a real good shooter with loads from 10/15 to 45 grains fff, shot the best with 45 grains, won and placed in a lot of matches. right Ed?
Hermit

 

[hoochiepapa]

The barrel on my .32 is a Green Mountain, I have no idea what twist it is, it's not stamped. But I get superb accuracy with a 25 gr. hunting load, and the 6 gr. I use in my back yard on sqwerls and bunnies. What fun!!!

 

[Zonie]

Are you sure about that twist rate for a .32 caliber?

The reason I ask is the Rice website says they use a 1:48 twist for the .32 and .40 caliber barrels.
http://www.ricebarrels.com/

A 1:48 twist is also the twist rate that Green Mountain used for a .32 back when they were making muzzleloading barrels.

 

[galamb]

Interesting question.
My thought is: No.

That would be my initial impression as well.

The modified Greenhill would say you could get away with a 1:40 twist in a 32.

My 38 cal is a 1:48 and don't think I would want any slower with that.

If your goal is "less powder" then "more twist" is in order.

 

[Grimord]

My CVA ,32 Grey Squirrel rifle has a 1:56 twist. It shoots one hole groups at 25 yds with 22grns of 3f, providing I do my part. I have shot it out to 75 yds, and get 2.5 inch groups. The wind really blows that little 32 pill around. I try to limit my shots to 50 yds or less.

 

[Rat Trapper]

I would not want a 32 with a 1-70 twist. 1-30 to 1-48 would be better. A faster twist allows you to use less powder and eat closer to the bullet hole.

 

[Alden]

They swamp a .32 barrel? Why!?

 

[Zonie]

Some are straight, some are swamped.

Why swamped?

If there were any caliber barrel that can be heavy, the little .32 would be the candidate. It has the least material removed from the inside.

Also, .32 caliber was sometimes used back in the days before straight barrels became popular.
At that time, almost all barrels were swamped so, if someone was building a .32 from that time period, a swamped barrel would be the only way to go.

 

[George]

If there were any caliber barrel that can be heavy, the little .32 would be the candidate. It has the least material removed from the inside.

Or you could just use a smaller barrel. My .30 is in a straight .665" octagonal barrel 38" long, and I never thought of it as heavy or poorly balanced.

Spence

 

[hanshi]

....and my .36 SMR (38") has a straight 3/4" barrel that feels great yet still has a shade of "muzzle hang".

 

[Alden]

Yeah, I would expect the barrel to be thinner in the first place. I have originals and they are... But more modern than to be swamped, they're caplocks, by that time.

 

[ohiochuck]

I am ordering a Rice swamped barrel in .32 cal with a special twist of 1-30. Plan to use it for hunting squirrels with 22 LR velocity.
Jim

 

[Walks with fire]

That should be about perfect.

 

[Rat Trapper]

I think you will be real happy with that barrel for what you intend to use it for.