I am looking to buy a winchester 92 in 32-20 to go with my K frame revolver. I load my 32-20 with 3.2 grains of W231, small rifle primers and 100 grain LRNFP bullets. Will this load work also work in the rifle or do I need a different load?
32-20 load for winchester 92
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Andy Griffith
Member
It'll work just fine.
However, the rifle is capable of much more pressures than the S&W hand ejector platform.
Speer manuals have a section for "strong actions only" such as the '92, 1894 Marlin and Contender. Make certain to mark the box clearly if you load some hot rounds...as if you were to put them in the revolver...it would fly to pieces!
I load some hot loads myself, but I label the box clearly "rifle loads only!!"
However, the rifle is capable of much more pressures than the S&W hand ejector platform.
Speer manuals have a section for "strong actions only" such as the '92, 1894 Marlin and Contender. Make certain to mark the box clearly if you load some hot rounds...as if you were to put them in the revolver...it would fly to pieces!
I load some hot loads myself, but I label the box clearly "rifle loads only!!"
Smithhound
US Veteran
I have a few rifle/pistol combos, most I try to settle on the same load for both, but in the case of .45 Colt or .32-20 I have a 'hotter' load for the rifle, as mentioned this can lead to serious consequences if mixed up.
While the suggestion for labelling the box is good, and needs to be done, what I do for the higher pressure rounds is to take a big fat Sharpie or some other permant marker in Red ink and run it over the base and primer of each higher pressure cartridge, just put them in an ammo box insert and run it over the bases.
This will immediatly show up when chambering either rifle or revolver/pistol load.
The scenario of having two boxes of ammo on the bench at once, one higher pressure and one safe for the revolvers and having the individual rounds getting mixed up is too real. With the red bases it is an immediate 'Flag' so to speak to catch the eye.
The Sharpie ink wont affect the primer and after tumbling comes off. Usually tho' it is best to keep the higher pressure cases seperate from the low as case streching will shorten the life of the case.
Hope this helps.
RD
While the suggestion for labelling the box is good, and needs to be done, what I do for the higher pressure rounds is to take a big fat Sharpie or some other permant marker in Red ink and run it over the base and primer of each higher pressure cartridge, just put them in an ammo box insert and run it over the bases.
This will immediatly show up when chambering either rifle or revolver/pistol load.
The scenario of having two boxes of ammo on the bench at once, one higher pressure and one safe for the revolvers and having the individual rounds getting mixed up is too real. With the red bases it is an immediate 'Flag' so to speak to catch the eye.
The Sharpie ink wont affect the primer and after tumbling comes off. Usually tho' it is best to keep the higher pressure cases seperate from the low as case streching will shorten the life of the case.
Hope this helps.
RD
Last edited:
bmcgilvray
Member
Your load sounds like a real good one that would work very well as a combination load for both rifle and revolver. I'd be tempted to stick with just such a load as it will suffice for most .32-20 shooting.
I love the .32-20 and shoot a lot of it. I also like to use lead 100 grain bullets only I use Unique. A load using a 5.0 grain charge of Unique and a 100 grain bullet will chronograph 932 fps from the 4-inch Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector and 1317 fps from the Winchester saddle-ring carbine with 20-inch barrel.
The little Hornady 90 grain lead SWC (product No. 3250) is really grand in my particular revolver. 5.5 grains of Unique gives 969 fps from the revolver and 1509 fps from the rifle with this bullet. My revolver may be the most accurate handgun I own when shooting this load. This load does lead in the rifle.
The .32-20 may be hot rodded in the Winchester Model 92. Velocities of over 2000 fps are attainable with 100 grain jacketed bullets making the 32-20 similar in performance to the .30 Carbine round. The rifle must be re-sighted for use with the hot loads and they're bad about disassembling eatable game.
In more recent years I've determined to use loads that are adaptable to both the rifle and the revolver, yielding performance similar to original .32-20 ballistics. They work great for my purposes: plinking, paper punching, and small game hunting while hiking. It was great fun to work up the hot rifle loads and an eye-opener to ultimate .32-20 capabilities but takes the cartridge out of the realm of a low-powered fun round. My Model 92 was manufactured in 1896 and probably doesn't need to digest a lot of hot loads. I make regular use of the rifle and it needs to last out my lifetime.
I love the .32-20 and shoot a lot of it. I also like to use lead 100 grain bullets only I use Unique. A load using a 5.0 grain charge of Unique and a 100 grain bullet will chronograph 932 fps from the 4-inch Smith & Wesson Hand Ejector and 1317 fps from the Winchester saddle-ring carbine with 20-inch barrel.
The little Hornady 90 grain lead SWC (product No. 3250) is really grand in my particular revolver. 5.5 grains of Unique gives 969 fps from the revolver and 1509 fps from the rifle with this bullet. My revolver may be the most accurate handgun I own when shooting this load. This load does lead in the rifle.
The .32-20 may be hot rodded in the Winchester Model 92. Velocities of over 2000 fps are attainable with 100 grain jacketed bullets making the 32-20 similar in performance to the .30 Carbine round. The rifle must be re-sighted for use with the hot loads and they're bad about disassembling eatable game.
In more recent years I've determined to use loads that are adaptable to both the rifle and the revolver, yielding performance similar to original .32-20 ballistics. They work great for my purposes: plinking, paper punching, and small game hunting while hiking. It was great fun to work up the hot rifle loads and an eye-opener to ultimate .32-20 capabilities but takes the cartridge out of the realm of a low-powered fun round. My Model 92 was manufactured in 1896 and probably doesn't need to digest a lot of hot loads. I make regular use of the rifle and it needs to last out my lifetime.
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