32-20 Hand Ejector Model of 1905 - 3rd change

[Dvus]

Picked this up at a local gun show recently. I wasn't looking for one, but it was cheap and I'm a sucker for old revolvers. Has about 20% of its original finish and is in excellent condition mechanically. I understand that modern rifle ammo should not be used in it.
What would be an approximate value for this gun? And what are my options for ammo? Cartridge conversion?

 

[S&WsRsweet]

Any 32/20 ammunition made today should be fine as long as it is loaded with lead bullets without jackets.I understand the warnings you see about “rifle only “ammo in this caliber but it is rarely encountered today.The 32/20 is a rifle caliber so the box may say express rifle but the high pressure stuff will clearly say “rifle only “ and will be loaded with jacketed bullets.You can find Remington or Winchester brand (I like those as I save my brass for reloading)on line .Order yourself two boxes as when you start shooting you will burn thru the first one quick as they are great shooters at least mine is .You have a 250 to 300 $ gun although values are depending on the person doing the buying but that is what it would sell for in this area .as far as caliber conversion I wouldn’t as the 32/20 is a great caliber especialy if you pick up a good carbine to go with you’re revolver.Back in the early 80s guys were loading this caliber to near 30 carbine levels in contender pistols .It can be loaded mild or wild depending of course on your firearm and needs .I carry my old handejector quite a bit around the farm and backwoods .Shoot it and enjoy .

 

[Art Doc]

Any factory ammo is fine. They haven't made the "rifle only" ammo for many decades. This caliber demands reloading. I use a 115 grain lead SWC over 5 grains of Unique which seems to work fine in both my S&W and my Colt Army Special.

I have the same gun.

 

[DWalt]

Ammo is a little hard to come by and expensive, but still available. Most who like shooting .32-20 guns will load their own. Correct lead bullets will be .312-.313". The high velocity rifle loads have not been factory loaded since the early 1960s.

 

[FifthWheel]

I ordered Ultramax ammo online. At that time it was about $30 for a box of 50.
This is my 32-20 from 1921. Hope you enjoy yours.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

32/20 Hand Ejectors

Nice find. I hope you have as much fun with yours as I do mine.

Here's my Hand Ejector in 32/20. It was made in 1908 as far as I can investigate. It really shoots cast 115 grain cast RN bullets well. The faster pistol powders like Bullseye to Unique work well in it, although one should keep the pressure levels down compared to modern iterations of the 32/20.

I have the original grips in storage as it is much easier to shoot it with these modified K Frame target grips.

 

[Alk8944]

After quite a few years I am really getting tired of posting this over and over and...............


THERE IS NO "MODERN .32-20 AMMUNITION" FOR RIFLES ONLY!!!!!!!


.32-20 was and is a rifle cartridge, since it's introduction for the Winchester model 1873 in the 1870s. However it was first adopted for revolver use by Colt in 1882. ALL CURRENTLY MANUFACTURED .32-20 ammunition is safe for use in any revolver in good mechanical condition. Any commercial ammunition of any period with flat-point bullets, whether Lead or jacketed, is appropriate for revolvers.


There was at one time a single load specified for RIFLE USE ONLY, and that was an 80 grain load with a jacketed round nose hollow-point bullet that looks like this one below. As Art Doc pointed out, this type ammunition has not been manufactured for decades. I have seen dates from the 1960s clear back to pre-WWII for the end of production for it. The head stamp usually would be H-V, Super Speed, or something similar to indicate it was for 1892 and similar rifles, it was not for model 1873 Winchester rifles.

 

[S&WsRsweet]

Just a quick note there is one 32/20 “high speed” brand advertised on the web under Ventura brand .They advertise a current manufacture rifle only I think with an 85 grain jacketed bullet .Thats why I feel it is good to not say there is no modern manufactured rifle only ammo for this caliber you never know when someone new might run across this on say the Ventura website and accidentally order a box .Anyway OP enjoy your firearm and heck let us know how it shoots and how you like the caliber .

 

[DWalt]

The original HV .32-20 load used an 80 (or 85, I don't remember) grain full jacketed hollow point bullet and was cataloged until the early 1960s. There were also similar HV rifle-only loads made in .38-40 and .44-40 prior to WWII using lighter than standard bullets. In any event, the HV .32-20, .38-40, and .44-40 cartridges are distinctive in appearance, not easily mistaken for standard loads.

I don't know anything about Ventura's HV offering.

 

[Scharfschuetzer]

There is a lot of info out there on loading for the stronger 32/20 weapons that just isn't applicable to these hand ejectors.

The point being made is to not hot rod the old girl when using 32/20 ammo in an old hand ejector. That is easily done when handloading, particularly if you mix up your Marlin 1894 rifle ammo and stick in your older Smith.

I've never shot a factory load through my hand ejector as I'm an inveterate handloader and I use cast bullets for 90% of my shooting. The 32/20 is a very good platform for such endeavors. Of course if you don't handload, then there should be no issues with data for the modern iterations of the old cartridge intended for stronger guns.