.32/.20 ammo

[BreakerDan]

Stated reply is that the "High Speed" ammo is not suitable for revolvers. I countered with; ( box says "High Velocity" ) but had no further from Remington yet. Velocity and speed are kinda the same but box labeling, that is different. I'll hang in for a little longer as I know they are off work at 04:00PM in Arkansas, 20 minutes away, their time. One other thing; I almost dropped my teeth when the seller would not budge off of his price, glad I wasn't skinned too badly.

I collect vintage ammo and 32-20 is my specialty. Remington is indeed right. "32-20 Hi-Speed" was the Remington trade name for the rifle-only 32-20 loading. That name was not used after the 1960s. Western ammo usually said "Super Speed" or "WHV" on Winchester boxes. These loadings will be an 80gr full metal jacket bullet with a tiny hollowpoint. Some pre WWII "rifle only" loads had soft point bullets, but they are very rare.

The newer Remington ammo is marked "High Velocity" and is suitable for your gun. In fact, all Remington ammo is marked "High Velocity" now days. The last rifle-only stuff was made in the 1960s. Those last Winchester loadings will be in a yellow box and are clearly marked not for use in pistols. The Remington loads were never that clearly marked- not for use in pistols- but it will have the "HI Speed" not high velocity name and are the fmj with a hollowpoint.

If you have hollowpoint ammo, anything marked Hi Speed or WHV, it should not go in your gun. That load, even though marked rifle only, were ok in the big Colt SAA pistol. The hot 32-20 loads generated 20-25k in pressure and the SAA Colts could handle the 357 Mag back then, so they were fine with them.

If you see an all lead FACTORY load bullet, they are standard velocity- period. End of story.

Historically, Winchester loaded the 32-20 in:

100 and 115 grain cast lead with or without "Lubaloy"-copper wash
115 gr jacketed soft point pre WWII
100 gr jacketed soft point post WWII
100 grain "metal case" bullets for the fur trade
80 grain JHP "WHV" or "Super Speed" RIFLE ONLY loads.

Remington loaded the same way except they marked "Hi Speed"
RIFLE ONLY loads. There jaketed soft points and all lead loads
were all standard pressure after WWII. Even the standard pressure
32-20s were loaded down after WWII- and yes I have tested vintage ammo to prove that. Some calibers were hotter in the old days-some weren't. The ole' 32-20 was.

The rifle only loads have a great mystique to them and should rightly be kept from your S&W. They were fairly rare even back then. However, if you see all cast lead-feel safe that they are ok. WHV, Hi Speed and Super Speed have gotten very rare and unless you troll Gunbroker or specialty ammo sites, you wont ever see any. I have looked for years to come up with my collection of them.

Hope that helps. Enjoy your 32-20, they are perhaps the best small-bore handgun ever made.

 

[BreakerDan]

"I have looked at using black powder but still trying to tie down a safe load."

When you load BP, ALWAYS use either a full case, slightly compressed, or a filler (grits, cream of wheat, etc), on top of a reduced load.

Modern cases hold around 17-18 grains of FFFg BP, IIRC.

Modern brass is thicker than in the old days. That means that the case capacity is smaller by volume. Therefore, you cant even load a full charge to duplicate the old loads anymore. They are close, but not there. A case full of BP is very appropriate for an old 32-20.

 

[smitholdtimer]

BreakerDan and NiklasP, and all you guys, you have really hung in here with me on this .32/.20 ammo and I am thankful to you and for folks like you that are always willing and able to offer expert advice. Mr. Conrad, with Remington, has not made a reply to my "E" mail thanking him for his consideration regarding the "Gold" bulk .22 LR ammo. I also asked, in the same "E" mail, the question about the difference between High Speed and High Velocity marking on the boxes and have had no response concerning that either. I may have received all the information from Remington that I'm going to get since Mrs. Strickland was reluctant to give me his "E" address so I could thank him personally. At any rate, thank all of you for your help and patience with me on this matter.

 

[BreakerDan]

Check out this auction. This will show you what standard vs. hi speed
were in Remington from the 1950s. Even though they are .25-20 calibre,
the 32-20 was the parent case of the .25-20 and are very similar rounds.
The 60gr "mushroom" bullets are the rifle only high velocity loads.
The reason they are not marked "not for use in pistols" was because the
.25-20 was not chambered in pistols. The .32-20 was, hence the not for pistols label.

Here it is:

Remington Kleanbore, 25-20 cal, NIB, Pre '64 boxes : Collectible Ammo at GunBroker.com