Any suggestions for loads for a 32-20 to used in 1900-1940's S&W?
Thanks.

I use 3.2 grains of Titegroup under a 100 grain PC RNFP. OAL 1.622 around 900 fps from a four inch Colt Police Positive Special. Keep in mind that TG is case sensitive in such a long case. I use cotton filler to keep the powder against the primer. Before I started using the filler I tried to shoot a snake, and got a squib. The filler solved the problem of squibs when shooting almost vertical.

I haven't had a .32-20 revolver in a while, but consider that bore and cylinder throat dimensions may be all over the place. I've tried bullet diameters ranging from, I think, .311" to 314".

Try fillers if you like, but use a suitable powder and you won't need one. If I recall correctly, Unique (a powder I'm not real fond of because it doesn't flow through my Redding measure well) is good in rifle loads but worth trying for revolver loads as well.

In a Colt Army Special, I tried bullets ranging in weight from about 90 grs to 120. The 90 gr. cast from an RCBS mould shot very well with Bullseye and Unique. Never had good luck with 231, 1680, 5744, 640/HS-6, or #2400.

The Colt liked a .313" bullet. If you have a choice on bullet diameters, shoot the largest that will chamber without difficulty. It will likely be the most accurate.

I still shoot a Marlin .32-20 rifle but haven't loaded any ammo recently. I've always used small rifle primers in the .32-20 regardless of whether the ammo is intended for a rifle or handgun, but you might verify if that is a recommended practice. Good luck-

I use 3.2 - 3.5 grains of W231 with a 100 grain LRNFP projectile.

I use these loads in my 6" Colt 1919 Police Positive Special & a 4" S&W 1902 M&P.

117 gr. (Lyman 3114) 2.5-2.8gr Trail Boss
3.2-3.5gr HP-39/WW231

These are good for Winchester and Marlin lever guns also.

Ivan

Over the years, I have tried about 20 reloading recipes, but now rely on two. I started out with Trail Boss and found that 2.6 grains with a 95 grain bullet was only 455 fps in a 6" S&W, way to slow for accuracy. Standard revolver loads should run from 800 to 900 fps. Light bullets will keep pressures down and seem to be quite accurate, so I mostly use a 32 Long 95 grain bullet. 115 grain RNFP is a good shooter and the standard in loading this caliber, but I prefer the lighter bullet. Another light load option would be 32 S&W bullets. I also have a box of 76 grain RN 32 S&W bullets and want to try those for target loads.

My most accurate reloads are 4 grains Unique and 115 grain RNFP that run around 850 fps and 3.5 grains of Promo with 95 grain RN at 815 fps.

I worked up and down the velocity scale using Promo powder and settled on the above 3.5 grain/95 grain bullet for accuracy, lower pressure, and velocity. I have loaded up to 1200 fps and down to 700 fps, but the standard velocity range is where one will obtain the best groupings in my experience.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

4 gr. Unique, 115 gr. Laser Cast, 880 FPS. I have never shot a bear or deer with this load but it will punch a hole in a cardboard box and kill a tin can deader than 4 o'clock. Larry

Thanks all, gives me a good starting point for a gun I don't even have yet. 32-20 just has caught my interest and I'll have to add one to my collection.

It's important to note that in addition to no 32-20 rifle ammo in the handguns, the cylinders in the early 32-20s were not heat treated. My gun was shipped June 20, 1919 and according to the information I have they began heat treating cylinders in September of that year.

Attached Images

32-20 Target Non Mediallion - R.jpg (63.6 KB, 19 views)

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Dave
SWCA #2465

. . . but the M&P revolvers from the start were designed to handle any standard 32-20 revolver round. Original rounds ran 900 fps and if loadings are kept at or below those speeds you should not have a problem with any S&W in good condition. I regularly shoot all my 32 Winchester M&Ps.

One must remember that a 32-20 S&W has the same external dimensions as a 38 Special, so the cylinder and barrel are substantially thicker, resulting in a very strong revolver. Max pressures for a 32-20 is around 16,000 psi and 38 Special is 17,000 psi, so with the added steel in the cylinder and barrel, the 32 Winchester M&P of any age is a gun easily capable of handling mild to standard loads. Standard structural steel of the early 1900s ran around 35,000 psi.

Attached Images

P1010007.jpg (109.0 KB, 14 views)

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Gary
SWCA 2515

I've never, ever understood this caution and I've seen it in many a reloading manuals. Modern ammunition is built to SAMMI pressure limits which is 16,000 CUP. SAMMI doesn't give different pressures for rifles or handguns. So the point is moot. SAMMI also assumes that the ammo could be used in any gun, no matter when made. Almost, if not all, hand loading manuals hold maximum pressure to SAMMI limits.

A point in case is the Colt SAA revolvers made (forget the precise date) after 1905, which is when Colt started heat treating the cylinders. By SAMMI pressure limits a 45 Colt pressure limit with pencil thin walls is 14,000 CUP. A 32-20 Colt SAA (having the same OD at the 45) is held to the 16,000 CUP for those non heat treated cylinders. A number of authoritative sources give a pressure limit of around 25,000 psi for Colts after 1905.

To each his own.

There was no such thing as SAMMI in 1919 and some early rifle and pistol ammunition was different.

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Dave
SWCA #2465

My 1902-vintage Colt SAA Bisley Model needs the .314" bullets so I stick with cast lead. 110-grain RNFP over 4.0 grains of Unique does pretty well in that old antique.

Recommend that you carefully measure your chambers and slug the barrel. That will tell you more about how to proceed than just about anything else. Huge variations exist, particularly in the older revolvers, and the key to success will be bullets that fit your revolver properly.