Both Smith and Colt made revolvers in .32-20 (Winchester?) which I understand was a small game sized cartridge. I looked it up in Wikipedia and it looks like a "big" bullet, especially compared to a .32acp.

Could someone give me a bit more detail on this caliber. Can anything else substitute for it? Does anyone still make 'em? Can components be purchased (I imagine brass would be hardest to find...bullets next? I'd reload for it if I found a gun in the right price range and in decent condition?) Are .32-20s strictly collectors pieces or do folks shoot 'em?

In other words, what's the story on these? ('Cause clearly, that just what I need, something else to "collect.")

I have had 6 or 8 revolvers chambered for the 32 WCF. Reloading components were not hard to find. Starline brass was a source for cases, powder and primer from the usual sources. Bullets? I cast my own and had several molds for that cartridge.

I still have one S&W chambered for the 32-20. It is a decent cartridge. In my opinion right up there with the 38 S&W Special.

Kevin

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I've had .32-20 revolvers and rifles. Fun to shoot, of course, but the cartridge is probably more useful in a rifle. If you have a .38 Special revolver, you're not missing anything by not having another revolver in .32-20.

Redcoat, the .32-20 is a 'vintage' cartridge that has been gaining a following in recent years. It's not 'big' maybe a little longer than a 357mag (too lazy to go down to my reloading room and measure). It is NOT a straight-wall case. I think it was originally a rifle cartridge and then morphed to the handguns. FYI, before they went out of business, US Firearms (USFA) was producing .32-20 SAA's (I have one here). Freedom Arms offered their Mod. 97's in .327Fed Mag caliber with an optional second cylinder in .32-20. As mentioned, Starline makes brass and .32 cal bullets are readily available. I don't know if anyone currently produces ammo for it, but I would doubt it (?). I've found plenty of reloading data however.

I believe Winchester still make ammunition, although they only make one run a year, so it might be hard to find. A hundred grain round nose flat.


You asked about comparable cartridges. When they first came out with it, the 32 H&R Magnum was basically a straight wall 32 Winchester. Then they weakened it a little bit. Now they have the 327 Federal . And the 32 Winchester falls about halfway between the 32 H&R and the 327.


It's a sweet cartridge. I've got three Smiths, two Winchester's and a Browning. Very enjoyable cartridge to shoot.

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I have a S&W and a Colt in 32-20. Caliber requires loading your own but it's easy. The cases and .312" bullets are readily available. I use a 115 lead over 4.5 grains of Unique.

When shopping for a 32-20 be aware of a possible bulged barrel. Many of these are seen in this condition likely due to early jacketed ammo shedding the jacket in the bore then the next round damages the barrel.

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The Winchester '92 was chambered in 32 WCF. My Dad kept on about rechambering his in .357mag. I think it would be cool but why hack a collector? Just buy a Rossi '92 in .357 and leave the originals for collectors. He listened and I have the rifle now.

Here's a pic of the two side by side, .357 on the left.

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In a rifle with the proper hand loads, I’ll use it on anything under 100 pounds. A 100gr xtp or 120gr wnfp is devastating on varmints. I have 3 rifles and 2 handguns chambered for the 32/20. It’s my absolutely favorite woods walking cartridge. Now if I could only get a factory self defense load with a 100/115gr xtp or gold dot, I’d carry a 3in k frame 32/20 for self defense.

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Dave
Regulators mount up!

Georgia arms makes it, not cheap but available.

HANDGUN - **SELECT BY CALIBER - .32-20 WIN - Georgia Arms

I highly recommend one of these if you can find one .32-20 Target:

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Jim
Many K and N Frames

As the name indicates, 32 WCF it started out as a centerfire cartridge in the Winchester rifle. Colt chambered the .32-20 in just about every frame size they made, from the SAA to the Police Positive Special. Smith just in variations of the Military & Police revolver.

Although most associated with lever action rifles, Marlin and Remington made some handy pumps while Savage chambered it in the Model 23 bolt action.

The John Pedersen designed Model 25 Remington makes a nice walking around rifle and a good companion to the 1925 vintage S&W revolver.

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Suitable for small game as well. Many guns have been chambered in this round over the years from Winchester low walls to the model 1892, and the model 53.

It would not be my first choice to take to a gun fight, especially in a pistol. But I am a big fan of the round. Browning did a short run of new production (Miroku) model 53s in 1990. I was fortunate enough to snag one and really am fond of it. Additionally I scored a brand new Uberti low wall chambered for it a long time ago. Great rifles. Factory ammo is still available for it here and there.

But I have worked up some good loads of my own. Hornady makes both 85 grain and 100 grain XTP bullets for it. Care must be taken when loading it though as the case walls on the neck are quite thin.

I shoot mine. As far as I know, ammo, brass, and bullets are readily available. So are reloading dies.


It is the same case as the 218 Bee and 25-20 Winchester.

Not an expert by any means, my readings tell me, the cartridge was frequently used in rifles and handguns to eliminate the need for multiple calibers.

Col. Jeff Cooper, in one writing stated the 32-20 was the smallest cartridge suitable for self defense.

One article I read mentioned the cartridge was a popular round with bank guards and the like.

The round has always been referred to, in many articles as a flat shooting cartridge.

Colt discontinued after World War II, not sure when S&W did, I read somewhere but cannot recall right now.

I hope you find this helpful.

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I have a Marlin 1894 lever gun (2005 make) in 32-20 just because it's different. It's a very sweet shooter, though not much difference than shooting 38 specials out of the 1894 .357 carbine. Reloading it is a bit tricky as stated above. The case mouth is thinner than about anything I've ever loaded, but once they're loaded, their a blast to unload.

I sometimes keep it by the back door during the gardening months, just for critters. It's about 100 yards to the garden, so all I ever do is spook them a bit.

I'd buy it again, and I'd pick up a revolver in the caliber if I ever find one in the right condition at the right price. Not sure why, but probably just because it's fun to shoot.

I bought one of the Marlin .32-20s not long after they were (re)introduced around 1988 or so. I've fired mine a lot with cast bullets. I can see no advantage to jacketed bullets in a cartridge like the .32-20. These guns might be fine for short range varmint shooting or maybe wild turkey hunting, but I've never shot game or varmints with my rifle. With a receiver sight, it's not difficult to shoot groups of 3" or so at 100 yards.

Nowadays many like to hunt with minimal (actually unsuitable) cartridges for deer, etc., and I'm sure some use the .32-20 for such, but there are far better cartridges for deer hunting.

I have a late 1940's Marlin 1894 in 32-20 and 3
Smith & Wessons in 32-20. I bought ammo at Cabelas for about $35 a box I am set up to reload as well. It really is a great cartridge for the hand loader.

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Randy

I have a 1904 made Winchester 92 in .32-20, a Hand Ejector, circa late 20s in .32-20, and a Ruger Blackhawk Buckeye Special made in 1988 chambered in .32-20 with a separate .32 H&R Mag/.32 S&WLong, .32 S&W. I believe Remington still makes ammo for these along with some other companies. But it is EXPENSIVE. If you handload, be careful with it since the shoulder seems to be fragile and tends to be easy to crumple. Starline brass seems to have a stronger shoulder.

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It's an intriguing cartridge for me. I've always been fascinated by others writings on it, never owned one and never shot one. A few weeks back, I scored an old Colt Police Positive Special in .32WCF in shooter condition. I also found some HSM .32-20 rounds for $29 a box locally, so I'm looking forward to a range session. I'm already predicting an old SAA in my future for this caliber.

32 WCf/ 32-20 was introduced in 1886 for the Winchester model 1873 rifle.

I have this Cimarron .32 H&R and 32-20. I picked up a box of factory 32-20 ammo awhile back but have only shot the .32H&R.
Lightning 32-20/.32 H and R Dual Cylinder, 3 1/2 in. Case Hardened Pre-War, 1 Piece Walnut Smooth or Checkered, Standard Blue, Model CA3000

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These are what you need for a 32-20. Made by Winchester, The '92 and the tools.

The Cattle Dog is always fun.

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Before WWI Ideal (bought out by Lyman) created the 3118 bullet mold for 32-20 @ 117 grains. The mold is still made plane base or with a Gas Check. The bullet is useful in 32-20 and the 32 Colt New Police (32 S&W long case with 117 gr. bullet.)

Smith & Wesson made the last batch of 32-20 revolvers in 1929. Many sat in storage for years.

I have a S&W 4" 1902-No Change, made 1902 and a Colt Police Positive Special made 1919. I also have a 1989 Marlin 1894. It is the only gun I shoot jacketed bullets or high velocity rounds through!

Ivan

As I recall, a Colt Single Action in .32-20 with a 7 1/2" barrel was Elmer Keith's first center fire revolver. He spked highly of it as a small game gun/cartridge.

The usual caveat here: There were RIFLE-ONLY loads for this cartridge that should not be shot out of older revolvers.
A few decades ago we bought a house from an elderly couple in Oregon. He had been a logger and he was from was one of the two original American pioneer families in that area (Polk County). I finally got to meet him a few years later and he showed me his old Winchester rifles that he and his wife used. Both had short magazine tubes (to make them handier, he said), and were chambered in .32-20. They used them for deer hunting, going back to the '30s. He also had an old Colt Woodsman .22 fixed sight (also from the '30s). He confessed to shooting a deer with that, too! This was during the Depression, mind you.

Anyway, I can never see a reference to the .32-20 without thinking of that visit I had with him.

I have a 311 Ideal with gas check but it's for the 30-30 Winchester '94 also works well with 30-06.

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I think the gas checked 117 FN bullet is the most useful mold made! I size in .308, .309, .311, & .314 and load them in:

30 Carbine
32-20
30-30
32 S&W long/32 Colt New Police
303 British
7.62x54R Russian
7.62x39 for SKS
7.62x25 Mauser/Tokorov

I never needed 308 or 30-06, but I think I'll try some 300 Blackout.

I won 500 90 grain RNFP plain base as a door prize at a shoot, I see no reason for this bullet to exist!

Ivan

32-20 Blues by Robert Johnson - YouTube

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Many thanks to all who posted. As I no longer hunt, and adding yet another caliber to the safe isn't something I'm keen on doing, I think I'm going to pass on this flavor,. But I do wish I'd come across it a few years ago. And as always, I appreciate the educational insightsand personal stories. Stay safe.