I have a lever rifle (Browning Model 53) in 32-20 which I really enjoy and plan to hunt Rabbits and whatnot with it. Most of my loads are very mild (117 grain bullet in the 1,300 fps range), but I may load a few rounds much hotter (same bullet but around 1,900 fps or thereabouts) for coyotes or ? The hotter load may be out for all S&W revolvers, depending on your and loading manual advice.

I am considering looking for a S&W in 32-20. Use would be the same as my rifle. I know very little about S&W's in 32-20, but was the 32-20 only chambered in the 'Hand Ejector' Model of 1905? If so what change would be the best for my purposes. I am looking for accuracy, durability and hopefully parts availability.

Thanks,

Jerry

I'd say the later the better. So a Mod 1905 4th change (made up to 1940). They did make a 6" target version that would be fine for game.

I wouldn't be comfortable putting a 1900 fps load into any S&W revolver though. They used to have two different factory loads- one for revolvers, another for rifles.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

I've had a couple M&Ps in 32-20 in 4 and 6 inch. Both good shooters. As mentioned, the later the better, but they were most popular in the years right before and after WW1, so all will be relatively early pre-war era. Many of them will have rough bores, so I'd focus more on finding one in nice condition rather than worrying about age.

Hi

The .32-20 Winchester cartridge was chambered in the M&P from 1899 until about 1929, and has not been made since. Roughly 144,000 units were produced and the gun remained in the S&W catalogue until c. 1940. So, any revolver so chambered would be nearly 100 years old or more.

Now, your proposed loads are, in my opinion, much too hot to consider shooting them in a S&W revolver. Just don't do it. What reloading manual are you consulting for this? I can't imagine any of them recommending such a thing.

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Jack
SWCA #2475, SWHF #318

I have a reproduction 1940 Shooters Bible and it list a Western 115 gr. bullet for a rifle at 1280 fps. and a 6 in. pistol at 1030 fps. My thinking is that I wouldn't exceed those loads.
I load 4 grs. of Unique for 880 fps. in my pistol but I don't shoot anything but tin cans and cardboard boxes. Larry

Probably wouldn't need more for bunnies.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

i load 4 grains on Unique and a 94 grain lead flat nose bullet. All I hunt with it is paper tigers but I've never had one get away!

I love Smith and Wesson revolvers, and I love 32-20 but not together. I have a Colt Police Positive Special (too small), Army Special, Official Police and Ruger Vaquero. The cylinders are thicker (except the PPS). If you want to shot rifle level 32-20 loads in your revolver, get a Ruger Blackhawk or Vaquero (in that order). May be difficult to find, but they are out there.

Thanks for the replies.

I'll scratch any idea of the hotter load in a Revolver, as delcrossv notes really don't need a lot for small game.

The 1,300 fps load I referred to above runs 1287fps in my Rifle (22 or 24 inch barrel) and would be much less in a Revolver of course. Probably around 900 to a thousand, depending on barrel length.

I have been looking around but can not find what the "Changes" were. Mostly curious as how they affect Durability, and also how they affect parts availability (high wear parts).

A target would be perfect for hunting, but it seems as if there were few "Targets" made. They bring a premium I imagine?

Thanks,

Jerry

KarmannGhia,

I actually had one of the Ruger 'Buckeye' Specials in 32-20/32 H&R Mag. It was very accurate, but it was the poorest built Ruger Revolver I have ever seen... the grip frame to frame fit had serious overrun, I mean you could practically cut yourself handling it. I couldn't stomach it, I was shooting it at a public range and let a guy shoot it and I ended up selling it to him. Now of course, I wish I had just got a new grip frame and fit it to the gun and kept it.

I generally shoot S&W's much better than single-actions.

Jerry

Something to keep in mind. K frame 32-20 heat treating began in 1919 at approximate serial number 81,287. Prior to that the cylinders and frames were just steel. Now, the is a lot of steel around the 32 WCF chamber but I would not go pushing it too hard.

And it is strictly a serial number search to look for. Not sure what “change” it would be.

Kevin

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Unshared knowledge is wasted.

Good point Strawhat.

I load to two different levels for my 32/20s, although I use a 115 grain cast bullet (both GC and non GC) in both my S&W Hand Ejector (4th Model-Circa 1925) and my Marlin 1894.

The Marlin is fully comfortable with the GC bullet at 1,750 fps, but I keep the revolver loads down to 850fps with the plain base bullet design.

Good luck with your 32/20 project.

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Keep your powder dry.

After I find some ammo I'll have an intelligent answer about shooting this but one thing I know is that finding one of these won't be easy.



.32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 - 4th Change - Blue - 6" - 126260

.32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 - 4th Change

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Come and take it!!

It's a first change, so I wouldn't push velocities at all but it's really accurate with factory ammo (850fps)



I'm really liking Yoda's 4th change with the Wondersight. That's a woodsman's gun for sure 👍

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

The Colt Police Positive Special was also chambered in .38 special and when the .38/44 load came out in 1930, Colt stated in their ads that the .38/44 was safe in ALL Colt .38 specials, including the PPS. There is more steel in a PPS .32-20 cylinder than there is in a PPS .38 special cylinder.

That said, I wouldn't fire "Rifle Only" .32-20 ammo in any pre WW II revolver.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I've killed plenty of Coyotes with the lowly 22LR. I would imagine a standard load 32-20 round placed anywhere in the the heart lung area would shut one down quick.

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Randy

My brother had a PPS and we shot some loads with 158 gr. SWC and 12 grs. of 2400. That load will do 1194 FPS out of a 6 in. barrel. Right much recoil. I'm thinking that is faster than the factory .38/44. We were young and dumb and didn't know any better and really didn't care. I'm sure that load didn't do the pistol any good and I wouldn't hot rod an old 32-20. Larry

Do you have a good recipe for whatnots? I’ve always found them to be quite tuff even in a slow cooker.

I saw that a person posted to wrap doves in bacon and soak in Italian dressing. If that makes doves fit too eat it should work with whatnots. Larry

A friend talked his dad out of one for a market price and claims it will be the last gun to leave if he sells it all. It is a keeper.

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Front sight and squeeze

The first 32-20 I owned was from 1907. In the 1970s there were only a handful of reloading options for this load out there, but I got out my father's Lyman No. 40 Reloading Manual and found a 100 grain load for revolver. I believe it was just under 6 grains Unique. Loaded a box of ammo and went to the range. I found the load to be quite snappy, giving a very sharp report but worked well. I finally bought my first chronograph in the 1980s and found out those loads were running over 1200 fps - supersonic! I still own and shoot that revolver and it still operates like a new one, but with a load that produces around 750 fps and it is still accurate. These old manuals often print some loads that are questionable, so best to run them over a chrono before putting them into standard use. This is one reason why I will never reload without a chronograph!

800-900 fps is plenty good enough to "shoot clean through a man" as the old advertisements said. The 32-20 Target revolver is a joy to shoot at the range.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

32-20 out of a handgun is a different animal than out of a rifle. I would not hunt without very good ear protection if I were packing a 32 WCF handgun.

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Front sight and squeeze

I did the same thing in a 4" PPS when I was in my 20s. The load was maximum in the reloading books I had. I fired most of those loads in a M19.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I don't have a way to test velocity but here are the 3 loads I shoot in my 1905, 3rd change S&W 32/20 which have proven to be very accurate:
2.2 grains of Trail Boss pushing a 115 grain lead flat point,
2.5 grains of Trail Boss pushing the same projectile, and finally
3.0 grains of Unique pushing again the 115 grain lead flat point.

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Ed

The 32-20 is a great, forgotten caliber.

I have a 1905-produced Winchester model 92 and I shoot 4.5 grains of Unique with a 115 gr. lead flat point. It runs right at 1300 fps out of the 24" barrel and I'm sure it's very mild for a gun like the model 92.

BUT, believe me, that load is plenty for all small game, including coyotes. It's basically a 9x19 +p with better sectional density!

That load should be plenty safe in a good M&P too. the 1905 4th change is a great gun. I don't have one in 32-20 but rather 38 special and it would be a good platform for small game plinking too.

Guys,

Thanks for the replies... But can you quit posting pictures of your 32-20's, it's driving me up the wall.

Those 6-inch Targets would be perfect. Seldom see them for sale though. Just wondering out loud if I ought to just pick up whatever 6-inch I can, as it may be a long look before I find a Target (that I can afford anyway!).

Thanks,

Jerry

Sorry you don't want to see any more pictures. I was just going to post this one from 1902 but I won't now.

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1902 32-20.jpg (191.1 KB, 40 views)

There's 79 .32-20's on GB right now, including a 6" 4th change

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

You have to help me out here. I search and find only 22 active auctions for 32-20 Winchester on GB starting bids from $599.99 to $1975.00 and not one of them with a single bid. Looking them over, I bet that none will sell. How did you get to 79 guns?

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Advanced. Search term is "32-20" with quotes and search "pistols" in the drop down. (got 78, not 79 , 'poligies.)
Lots of Colts, some S&W

2 targets, one nice, one in need of some serious TLC.

Plop a Wondersight on the beater, get some K frame RB's and you're off to the races.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

Ah, I just searched for S&Ws. Who wants those ugly Colt HEs anyway!

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Rambler,

You know, You're not really helping...

In fact you're enabling!!!

Jerry

Longwalker, I’ll help contribute to your trip down the 32-20 rabbit hole. I have 6 32-20s now a 92src, 1885 high wall, #2 rolling block and 3 HE S&W’s 2 target and an M&P. My all around load is 8-9grs of 2400 with a 115gr fp or 100gr xtp. This is favorite small game combo for now.

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Dave
Regulators mount up!

I whimper every time I see that rolling block chambered in .32-20. That's one of my grail guns.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!

I have owned a number of .32-20 revolvers and my best shooter is a 5" Official Police. The sights are much better than the ones on a S&W.

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John 3:16
WAR EAGLE!