Beemer-mark
Member
Sure were a lot of Colts and S&W made in 32-20. A lot more than rifles I'd bet.
.32-20 +P ammo-Safe??
- Thread starter lgeorge1
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Sure were a lot of Colts and S&W made in 32-20. A lot more than rifles I'd bet.
Alk8944
US Veteran
The .32 Winchester, aka .32 WCF, .32-20, was originally chambered in the 1873 Winchester rifle. It was adopted by Colt, also in 1873 for their Single Action Army, and by S&W in 1899 for the K-frame also chambered for .38 Special. The fact that there may have been more revolvers made for the cartridge does not alter the fact it was originally, and still is, a rifle cartridge. It was also chambered in Marlin rifles as the .32-21. SAAMI classifies it as a rifle cartridge too.
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I wouldn't shoot it in S&W either!
I have a Smith & Wesson in 32-20 and it is a nice gun, pleasure to shoot but expensive as all get out.
Mine shipped in October 1921 per Roy Jinks, S&W Historian. My serial number is 105093, and it is my understanding that S&W started heat treating their cylinders for this gun with s/n 81287 and it is further my understanding that if you do have the heat treated cylinder then the Cowboy Action 115 gr. lead flat nose ammo as manufactured by HSM (Hill States Munitions) is safe for use.
I don't know about Colt's at all...were they heat treated? starting when?, etc.
One last thing, I had the gun over a year before last Christmas when I was gifted 3 boxes of HSM ammo by the wife. All she told me about the costs was "don't ask". I did see the receipts later and this stuff is bucoo expensive, approaching $2.50 per round from the one source she found which was a vintage ammo dealer. IF you see ANY of this ammo at Midway or others at $1.00 per round or a little more...you need to grab it quick because 2 minutes later it will be gone!
HSM uses new Starline Brass and loads the ammo at their factory making it "factory ammo".
I have shot only a couple cylinders through my S&W and those were shot at the only outdoor range in my area as no indoor ranges will allow lead ammo at all....so there is that to consider if applicable to where you live.
The experts are right............a VERY good case for starting a new hobby....HANDLOADING!
I have a Smith & Wesson in 32-20 and it is a nice gun, pleasure to shoot but expensive as all get out.
Mine shipped in October 1921 per Roy Jinks, S&W Historian. My serial number is 105093, and it is my understanding that S&W started heat treating their cylinders for this gun with s/n 81287 and it is further my understanding that if you do have the heat treated cylinder then the Cowboy Action 115 gr. lead flat nose ammo as manufactured by HSM (Hill States Munitions) is safe for use.
I don't know about Colt's at all...were they heat treated? starting when?, etc.
One last thing, I had the gun over a year before last Christmas when I was gifted 3 boxes of HSM ammo by the wife. All she told me about the costs was "don't ask". I did see the receipts later and this stuff is bucoo expensive, approaching $2.50 per round from the one source she found which was a vintage ammo dealer. IF you see ANY of this ammo at Midway or others at $1.00 per round or a little more...you need to grab it quick because 2 minutes later it will be gone!
HSM uses new Starline Brass and loads the ammo at their factory making it "factory ammo".
I have shot only a couple cylinders through my S&W and those were shot at the only outdoor range in my area as no indoor ranges will allow lead ammo at all....so there is that to consider if applicable to where you live.
The experts are right............a VERY good case for starting a new hobby....HANDLOADING!
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Last week, I contacted Georgia Arms about resuming production of .32-20 ammunition. I received an e-mail back from them:
"Hello! Thank you for reaching out to us. We will more than likely run those again, however it will depend on when we are able to get all the components for it. Please just keep trying us back."
Dee Hunter
"Hello! Thank you for reaching out to us. We will more than likely run those again, however it will depend on when we are able to get all the components for it. Please just keep trying us back."
Dee Hunter
sigp220.45
US Veteran
I have a friend who was a rookie police officer in Sun Valley, Idaho before it was the big ski mecca it is now. When he started he was advised to get a .32/20 because "that's what all the boys use". He got an M&P and loaded with the whatever ammo they gave him, which he thought was "rifle only" stuff. I bet it was a common practice and may account for the .32/20's reputation to "shoot clean through a man", as the blues song says.
When I have a desire to shoot one of my .32/20s (both K frames) I'll use .32 S&W Long if I don't have any proper stuff on hand. Yes, it works. The cases are goners afterwards but I don't reload anymore so it matters not to me.
It wouldn't bother me to shoot the BB stuff in a Colt Single Action. A Colt Police Positive would be a different matter.
When I have a desire to shoot one of my .32/20s (both K frames) I'll use .32 S&W Long if I don't have any proper stuff on hand. Yes, it works. The cases are goners afterwards but I don't reload anymore so it matters not to me.
It wouldn't bother me to shoot the BB stuff in a Colt Single Action. A Colt Police Positive would be a different matter.
"I don't know about Colt's at all...were they heat treated? starting when?, etc."
Colt used different steel. When WW I started and there weren't enough 1911s to go around, the US Gov't turned to Colt and S&W to build .45 ACP revolvers.
The S&W 1917s were required to be heat treated; the Colts weren't.
Colt used different steel. When WW I started and there weren't enough 1911s to go around, the US Gov't turned to Colt and S&W to build .45 ACP revolvers.
The S&W 1917s were required to be heat treated; the Colts weren't.
As for higher pressure .32-20 loads, Brian Pearce wrote an article on .32-20+P loads in the April-May 2023 issue of Handloader magazine. I'll quote a bit of it here:
[FONT="][emphasis added][/FONT]
I would not even consider shooting +P, or rifle only ammo, or any ammo with jacketed bullets in my Colt Police Positive Special in 32-20 WCF, made in 1911.
The only ammo I shoot in it is my own handloads, consisting of 92 grain plain base lead round nose bullets over 4.0 grains of Unique. This combo gives about 900 fps.
If I want more power I go to a bigger gun.
The only ammo I shoot in it is my own handloads, consisting of 92 grain plain base lead round nose bullets over 4.0 grains of Unique. This combo gives about 900 fps.
If I want more power I go to a bigger gun.
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DWalt
Member
Yes, the .32 Long cartridge will work in a .32-20 chamber. I once knew a guy who was fatally shot with a .32 Long bullet fired from a .32-20 revolver. It was an accident, he and a friend were butchering a cow. I never knew the details of how it happened as I was not present.
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Glenn R. McMannly
Member
Not always.
My '86 Ruger BH will put them on a nickel at 25 benched with Lake City.
I worked two different murders where the offenders used .32-20 revolvers loaded with .32 Long ammo.
oneeyedpete
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The Colt SAA is a very strong action! Having said that, it will be a lot more pleasent to plink with standard pressure ammo. As others said, it would be worth considering reloading, but there is usually no problem finding factory ammo. Here is the lowest cost ammo I just found on the Ammoseek website:
HSM 32-20 WIN COWBOY ACTION 115GR FLAT POINT ROUND NOSE 50RD BOX | Maryland Munitions Inc
Don't give up on shooting that old gal! They are a lot of fun to shoot!
HSM 32-20 WIN COWBOY ACTION 115GR FLAT POINT ROUND NOSE 50RD BOX | Maryland Munitions Inc
Don't give up on shooting that old gal! They are a lot of fun to shoot!
Failure? Seriously? The gun doesn't have to "fail" for you to destroy it. Shooting proof loads in it will stretch the frame. It's NOT a safety issue, though it could become one.
As stated above, there is no such thing as 32-20 +P.
It's marketing BS. 32-20 is a low pressure cartridge. Keep it that way.
silicosys4
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Proof loads?
Nobody is talking about firing "proof loads".
As I said,
Show me a .32-20 with a frame sprung from firing factory loads of any kind.
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Frankly, I wouldn't shoot anything in it! Display it or keep it in the safe, but don't take any chances. Not meant to be an insult, but if you have to come on a forum like this and ask a no-brainer question like that then your knowledge of ammo is limited enough to not want to buy anything modern to shoot in it. Enjoy it for what it is - a beautiful piece of engineering from a bygone era and family heirloom - rather than taking a chance on destroying it. Good luck, Merry Christmas!
RMFnLA
Member
A perfect candidate for handloading.
Starline occasionally has brass in stock; buy a few hundred rounds and you'll never look back.
Sweet SAA, btw.
Starline occasionally has brass in stock; buy a few hundred rounds and you'll never look back.
Sweet SAA, btw.
Yes, definitely shoot it. Use low powered handloaded ammo made with home-cast lead bullets, and it will last forever.
I have a 44 caliber German Reichsrevolver Model 1883 that is a family heirloom. I shoot my own cast bullet low powered ammo in it. BTW, this is a black powder handgun, but I have never shot a single round of black powder ammo in it; only smokeless.
My grandfather brought with him when he emigrated to the US from Germany.
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Buick
Member
Watch out for ammo scammers!
Oneeyedpete posted a link to what he said was the lowest 32-20 ammo he could find and he saw that on ammoseek. Maryland Munitions has the lowest possible credibility factor there is (2.7 out of 100) indicating that it is probably a scammer. I don't like to blast any seller, but I hate scammers and have been a victim before so I will tell you as far as I know NO LEGITIMATE SELLER has 32-20 HSM factory ammo for less than $1.00 per round, and MOST that do truly have ANY in stock are in the $2.50 to $3.00 per round area for true HSM 32-20 Cowboy Action ammo.
Just as always....use due diligence and look at reviews, Google if "Company X is a scam?"
If someone on here has actually dealt with this firm and had good experiences than please post a note about same and I will stand corrected, but there is even a warning that clicking on their website could bring a trogan malware into your computer.
Oneeyedpete posted a link to what he said was the lowest 32-20 ammo he could find and he saw that on ammoseek. Maryland Munitions has the lowest possible credibility factor there is (2.7 out of 100) indicating that it is probably a scammer. I don't like to blast any seller, but I hate scammers and have been a victim before so I will tell you as far as I know NO LEGITIMATE SELLER has 32-20 HSM factory ammo for less than $1.00 per round, and MOST that do truly have ANY in stock are in the $2.50 to $3.00 per round area for true HSM 32-20 Cowboy Action ammo.
Just as always....use due diligence and look at reviews, Google if "Company X is a scam?"
If someone on here has actually dealt with this firm and had good experiences than please post a note about same and I will stand corrected, but there is even a warning that clicking on their website could bring a trogan malware into your computer.
CMudrock
Member
GOOD CHOICE. S&W made a superior product IMO, & will perform better. Old Colts are collectible, & increase in value faster with less wear. I could enjoy maintaining & fondling IT
I enjoy shooting MY old wheel guns (none of them are Colts). But my modern Steel DA/SA hi-capacity, self loaders get used most often, for practice & practicality.
Best Wishes, C.
silicosys4
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Sheesh.
Consider selling it then.
I've been looking for a .32-20 SAA for a while, I handload for the .32-20.
You can get set up to hand load for less than the cost of an afternoons worth of shooting factory .32-20 at $3/round.
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jsfricks
Member
Georgia Arms makes good ammo. I've been to the factory years ago and bought a lot in person of various calibers. They have decent prices, especially for reloading components.
There is no point in running hot rod ammo in an old Colt or S&W revolver.
In both Colt and S&W revolvers and Win, Marlin and Savage rifles I've found moderate, the old standard factory loadings with a 115 cast bullet preform best. I forgot to mention a Ruger that I thought might do well with jacketed bullets and a bit juicy load. No, it didn't do bad with jackets but only at moderate velocity, did much better with cast. I have boxes of REM
JSP bullets I bought years ago and always end up shooting the cast 115gr.
In both Colt and S&W revolvers and Win, Marlin and Savage rifles I've found moderate, the old standard factory loadings with a 115 cast bullet preform best. I forgot to mention a Ruger that I thought might do well with jacketed bullets and a bit juicy load. No, it didn't do bad with jackets but only at moderate velocity, did much better with cast. I have boxes of REM
JSP bullets I bought years ago and always end up shooting the cast 115gr.
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