Looking at a 32-20 hand ejector from 1909.
Haven't looked up the serial yet in my S&W book, but I believe this was before they started heat-treating cylinders. Gun checks out mechanically and seems to just have mostly bluing wear on barrel and cylinder. (sorry, no picks yet)

I do not reload and wanted to run 2 loads by you guys to get your opinion on whether they would be safe to shoot in this gun.

Black Hills 115 grain, 800 fps (currently on backorder)
Ultrmax 115 grain, 1050 fps (currently available)

Appreciate your advice.

Casehardn, have a couple of 32-20s in the safe. The one made before 1920 has 32WCF on the barrel, the one made in the 20s has 32-20 on the barrel. From what I have found online is that they swapped the designation about the same time as the heat treating change.
The Blachhills would be OK to shoot and most likely the Ultra. No one has made the Rifle specific ammo in years and seems it was all in the <100 gr.
32-20 is a good round but if you are not reloading already it is not a good round to learn on (bottle neck cases).
Hope you can work a deal on the one you are looking at and post some pics.
Larry

Thanks Larry!
The one I am looking at still has decent grooves in the barrel. Shiny bore, but looks a tad worn if I compare to some of my other smiths. Never owned this caliber before. How do yours shoot?

Shoot great. Been using Remington ammo in them and as normal they outshoot me. I'm currently waiting for brass to be back in stock at Midway USA where I can shoot them a lot more.
Larry

Casehardn,

Why do you believe it is about 1909? That year would be in the 45,000-50,000 or so SN range and be a 1905 3rd change.

Heat-treating of the cylinders began, nominally, at #81287, sometime about 1918-1920.

How does the caliber marking read? If it is .32-20 then the gun is newer than 1922. Caliber marking for the "Winchester Model" read .32 Winchester Cartridge from 1899-1914, .32 WCF from 1914-1922, and .32-20 from 1922 to end of production.

Although I have shot handloads in my 1902 First Change made in 1905 that were definitely in the "rifle" category. I think I would want to know a lot more about the Ultra-Max load before shooting it in a revolver. What was it shot in for the 1125 FPS velocity? If it was a rifle then it's OK for a revolver. If they claim that from a 4" revolver then that is quite a high pressure load. I have two .32-20 revolvers I will shoot very heavy loads from, one a 5 1/2 Uberti SAA, and getting much over 1100 is getting up there.

__________________
Gunsmithing since 1961

To answer your question as to why I think it is pre-heat treat, the serial number on the gun was 22XXX. Barrel stamp is 32WCF. I will be going back tonight to evaluate the gun in more detail. I did end up emailing Ultrmax and they said the round was fine for revolvers that weren't meant for black powder only. Am I correct in assuming that the S&W hand ejector of this early a date would be for smokeless powder??

I have a 32-20 made in 1907. I have shot Black Hills and Winchester through it and they did fine.

If it was me, I would stay away from the UltraMax if the velocity that high. I just don't see the reason to beat up these old guns if you don't have to.

after more research, I found out that the black hills fps rating of 800 was for revolver. The Ultramax 1050 fps was out of a rifle, which is somewhere around 750 out of a revolver.

I ordered a box of each and will report back after I try them.

By the way, I picked up the gun and even got an extra $55 off the price.
My note taking skills were a little shoddy the other day. Serial is actually 25xxx which puts it as a model 1905, 1st change.

I'm estimating around 1907. Pics to follow.
Thank's for everyone's help. Gave me the confidence to pick up this ol' gal.

casehardin, shoot that Ultramax with confidence....I went through a box today with my 32-20 and rest assured this ammo won't blow up a thing, even your old gun.....
It is smokey, low flash, but in mine the cases come out clean...and the big plus is mine is loaded with Starline brass, which, according to the interweb, is the best for reloading.......

Just took a few pictures. Thanks for the input.
Hoping to get to the range next week.

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Nice looking old Smif.

The convex topped grips indicate pre 1910. Are they numbered? The pencil makings tend to come off easily.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Yes, There is a faint hand-written serial number in pencil on the right hand grip. All serial numbers on butt, under ejector rod, on cylinder and grips match up.

Casenardn, you are going to enjoy that one. Picked up a '38-'39 32-20Sat. no where as nice as that one.
Larry

Wondering about ammo as well. I have a model of 1902 1st change around 1903-1904 mfg. date.

And ammo I found at one of our local gun shops is remington 32-20 100 grain but I see no where on the box for rifle or revolver box is like this without express rifle on it.

Ammunition To Go : 50rds - 32-20 Win. Remington 100gr Lead RN Ammo [R32201] - $42.95

If it will work I will definately go buy all he has.

Thanks
Troy

1FF,

That Remington ammo will be safe in your revolver, assuming it is safe to shoot in the first place.

The price seems high to me, 'course, I was looking at some brass and found some .45 Colt in a Remington box that cost $8.60 for 50 rounds. I believe that ammo was bought in 1973 and the Ruger Blackhawk costs $96!

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Thank you for reply, that post is not the actual ammo I'm looking at but similar, the exception of what I found is that the box doesn't have express rifle on it and they have it for 29 bucks a box, I did more research and pretty sure Itll be ok for revolver.
Thanks again

I was thinking that the 32-20 rifle shells were 80 gr. jacketed bullets. A few months ago Dillons had a bunch of 32-20 brass. Larry

"I was thinking that the 32-20 rifle shells were 80 gr. jacketed bullets."

They were 80 grain jacketed hollow points. IIRC, the case head was marked "HV" as well.

__________________
John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

Hi
Looks like a pretty nice little .32-20 HE. I would agree that it fits the number range for a Model of 1905, First Change. You can confirm that it is a 1st Change by looking at the extractor star and not finding dowel pins.
Also, the grips appear to be pre-1911 grips, which are appropriate for this gun.
Personally, I would not shoot it a lot. It is definitely older than the heat treating process and it deserves retirement - or at least extreme caution in what you run through it. I have a Model of 1902 that letters to 1904. It is basically retired and the only loads it will ever see again are light handloads, if I shoot it at all. There comes a time when you should just let these old guns catch a break.
The .32-20 is a great old cartridge, but you might consider finding something newer to shoot it in if you just have to shoot a .32-20.
My humble opinion.
JP