I've got a 32-20 hand ejector model of 1902 1st change that is really enjoyable to shoot, but the metallurgy of the day was such that shooting jacketed bullets generates too much pressure for the gun. I'm wondering what year model 32-20 S&W revolvers became strong enough to shoot jacketed loads. Anyone know?

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What could possibly go wrong?

Well, since they made them all the same until they stopped producing them around 1930, I guess none of them were strong enough if we subscribe to your hypothesis they were not strong enough to begin with. However, I believe the 32-20 was plenty strong enough to shoot jacketed bullets. They were made the same as the .38 M&P but had more metal in their barrel and cylinder walls due to the smaller diameter of the .32-20 cartridge. That extra margin should be plenty to allow shooting jacketed bullets. Just my humble opinion. YMMV.

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Guy
SWHF #474 SWCA LM#2629

I agree completely with Guy. I've run hundreds of jacketed bullets through my early .32-20 HE revolvers with no problems whatsoever.

It is true that, in 1919, the company started giving the .32-20 cylinders heat treatment, but there are contemporary notes from company officials saying that the steel in the cylinders were plenty strong before heat treatment was used. After the war, heat treated cylinders were no longer used on all but the magnum revolvers.

BTW, this puts the lie to all the blather we read about the "improved heat treating" that was used on .38 Special revolvers beginning in 1957 (as the "reason" that Plus P is okay for the Model 10, but not for M&Ps that lack model marking). It is just so much nonsense.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

That's nice to know. I've been warned many times about shooting anything jacketed through my 32-20 HE. I guess that's why you ask questions.

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What could possibly go wrong?

I would not sweat jacketed bullets through those guns. They were generally overbuilt at any rate.